Changing INI (configuration) file names and/or locations in SuperBeam, ProSteel and EuroBeam
Where settings are saved
On each of our programs the Configuration, User Setup dialog, File Names and Locations page contains two entries which store the names and locations of the INI files used to store the program settings.
The first file stores settings that will be common to all users of the program (e.g. the name/location of the help file) and default values for things such as standard load names. This file should be stored in a location that is accessible to all users of the machine. Its location is stored in the registry HKey_Local_Machine section, key Software\SDA\AppsMasterIniFile or Software\Greentram\AppsMasterIniFile.
The second file stores individual settings such as preferred colours and fonts. Where you have multiple users this file should be located in a directory only accessible to the current user. Its name is stored in the registry HKey_Current_User section, key Software\SDA\AppsMasterIniFile or Software\Greentram\AppsIniFile.
File names and locations
Each file is named SDA_Apps.ini by default. On older installs these two files are combined into one, saved in the current Windows directory, C:\WINNT on Windows NT and 2000 systems, C:\Windows on Windows XP. This location cannot be used on Windows Vista/Win7 systems.
On first time installs done from mid-2007 or later CDs or downloads, the default locations are as follows:
Program settings: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SDA\SDA_Apps.ini (XP systems) or C:\ProgramData\SDA\SDA_Apps.ini (Vista/Win7)
User Preferences: C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Application Data\SDA\SDA_Apps.ini (XP systems) or C:\User\UserName\Local\SDA\SDA_Apps.ini (Vista/Win7)
On post Dec 2008 first-time installs the default folder name has been changed from SDA to Greentram, though the file name remains SDA_Apps.ini so a typical new install on a Windows 7 computer would have
Program settings: C:\ProgramData\Greentram\SDA_Apps.ini (location stored in registry key HKLM\Software\Greentram\AppsMasterIniFile)
User Preferences: C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\Greentram\SDA_Apps.ini (location stored in registry key HKCU\Software\Greentram\AppsIniFile)
Two things to note:
The case of the filename is immaterial (sda_apps.ini is the same as SDA_Apps.ini). When you install an update from CD or from a download, the existing INI file locations will be maintained. The one exception is when an install to a Vista/Win7 system detects an INI file in the C:\Windows folder: this is moved to the default location.
Changing the file location - simple method
Pressing the 'V' button on the User Setup dialog, File Names and Locations page will generate the system preferred options for these files and copy existing data across to them.
Error messages
If you then get error messages, you may need to ensure that the first of these is accessible to all users: on a Windows 2000 system with Administrator rights, from 'My Computer' select Tools, Folder options, View and select 'Show hidden files and folders' (you can go back and change this back afterwards), drill down to the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data folder, where you should see an SDA folder. Right click, select 'Properties', 'Security' and make sure that all users have, at a minimum, read and write access.
On Windows XP Pro systems the procedure is similar, but you will first need to go to Control Panel, Folder Options, View and uncheck 'Use simple file sharing' or you will not see the security tab (again you can change this back afterwards).
