The Settings item in the main menu provides access to several selections that control how various aspects of the Structural Engineering Library operates. A selection of one of the first four items will open the Program Settings window and preselect the appropriate tab for the chosen item.

 

 

 

General Settings & File Locations

 

 

Default Project File Location: Specifies the default location where the program will point when using File > Open or File > New from the main menu. This location can be wherever you desire, however we ask you to remember that Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 have introduced new suggested locations for storing user data.

 

The path to the Default Project File Location shown on the screen capture above is: C:\Users\Chris\Documents\ENERCALC Project Files\.

 

Because modern operating systems allow multiple users per computer, Microsoft suggests that software manufacturers create their own folder under Documents and set that as the default location for user-created files. The program conforms to this recommendation by suggesting an appropriate directory during the installation process.

 

 

Database File Location: Specifies where the program should look for the steel database, wood database, and other files that contain the databases of standard values. This location needs to be accessible to all users on a specific computer. Microsoft suggests that software manufacturers set the following as the default location for data files that are referenced by the software, but not modified by the user: C:\Users\Public\Documents.

 

The path to the Database File Location shown on the screen capture above is: C:\Users\Public\Documents\ENERCALC Common Data Files\.

 

 

Load Database File Location: Specifies where the program should look for the load combination database file and other files that are potentially edited by the user.  Because this is a file that can be customized by the user, the default location for this file is the same as the default location offered for storing Project Files.

 

The path to the Load Database File Location shown on the screen capture above is: C:\Users\Chris\Documents\ENERCALC Data Files\.

 

 

Automatically create backup files:  With this box checked the software will automatically create a backup file with the EC6_BKUP file extension in the same folder as where the original master file is located. The backup file is created when a file is OPENED.

 

 

Automatically create & save calculation reports when saving a calculation:  When this option is selected, the program will produce and store a report for each calculation when it is saved.  This offers the convenience of instant Project Printing, but requires some additional disc space.  The alternative is to deselect this option, in which case the reports will need to be compiled by issuing a Regenerate All command at the time of Project Printing.  This method will conserve a little disc space, but will require some additional time to regenerate when a Project Print command is issued.

 

 

Use memory mapped Project Files during program operation:  This option is particularly oriented toward users who store Project Files on network drives, USB memory sticks, or other storage locations that are not on the local hard drive.  When storing files in this way, some users experience slow performance within the Structural Engineering Library.  This is not an issue with the Structural Engineering Library, but rather with the file handling system of the network or attached storage device.  If this applies to you, try selecting the option to "Use memory mapped Project Files".  When this option is selected, the program reads an entire Project File into RAM (Random Access Memory) on your computer, and it can greatly improve the performance of your computer when running the Structural Engineering Library.  When this option is deselected, Structural Engineering Library Project Files continued to be saved only to the source drive and location. 

 

 

Calculations added at current highlight, highlighted calc moved down: This applies to the way calculations are inserted when using the Project Manager.  When this box is checked and you use the [+Add] button, it adds a new calculation to the project, and the calculation is inserted directly above that position. What you see is that the new calculation takes that spot in the list, and the highlighted item is moved down. If this box is unchecked and you use the [+Add] button, the new calculation is inserted BELOW the highlighted item.

 

 

Display Size

 

Display Settings: Provides options to set the display resolution.

 

Disable Sketch Sub-system: Provides a checkbox to disable the sketch sub-system within the Structural Engineering Library. This is provided for the specific purpose of addressing a rare problem that occurred only with the Windows® Vista operating system.

 

 

Printing & Title Block

 

 

Title Block: These six entries correspond to the six lines in the upper-left corner of the printout.

 

 

 

 

Logo File: Provides an option to specify a graphics file to be printed at the LEFT edge of the title block.  If used, the six lines of Title Block information will be printed immediately to the right of the logo. Logos can be Windows BMP, JPEG, GIF, and WMF formats.

 

When a logo is specified, the height is adjusted to fit into the title block area and the right-side "floats" according to the width of the image.

 

What to Print - Title Block: Check this box to print the title block at the top of the report.  With this item unchecked the printout begins with the calculation title bar (shown as "Masonry Column" in the image above)

 

What to Print - Date & Time: Check this box to print the computer date and time on the report as shown below:

 

 

Select Printing Color Mode: This sets the default mode for printed reports created from the Structural Engineering Library.

 

 

Web Update

 

 

Click here to check for updates: This button will download the updating program from our server. This program will check your computer for a non-expired Maintenance & Support Plan and update the software to the latest version.

 

Click Here for web update overview

 

Internal Values

 

Internal Filenames: Displays folder names and file names for the current configuration.