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Project-specific configuration

By 17. September 2020November 3rd, 2020WSCAD SUITE

Project-specific configuration

In the WSCAD SUITE you can adapt the predefined standard  settings to your projects under Tools | Settings (options). Some of these settings apply to all projects and others can be defined depending on the project.

The settings are divided as follows:

  • Application-specific:
    These settings are global and apply to all projects, e.g., the settings for project backups or revision management. When defining the settings, no project is open or only a project in which the project-specific configuration is deactivated.
  • Project-specific:
    For these settings you can choose whether they apply globally or only to one project. The settings are project-specific if the project is open and the project-specific configuration is activated; otherwise, they are global. These settings include, for example, the display of interruption points and potentials, the type of numbering for components and cable cores as well as the part database used.
  • User-specific:
    These settings only depend on the Windows login (account). Different Windows users can thus define their own representations of the cursor or the colors of the elements. User-specific settings remain user-specific in all cases.

You can specify whether the project-specific settings should be saved for each project when creating the project (see below Project-specific configuration when creating a new project) or later via the project properties of the opened project (see below Activating or deactivating a project-specific configuration later).

If you use a different project as a template when you create a new project, the project-specific settings are adopted from the template, provided the template already has project-specific settings and you leave the project-specific settings enabled for the new project.

If you disable the project-specific configuration in the project properties of the open project, the project-specific settings for this project are reset to the global settings.

If all projects are closed and you change project-specific settings, these changes are applied to all projects contained in the project management for which the project-specific configuration is disabled. For projects in which the project-specific configuration is enabled, their project-specific settings still apply.

A list of which settings are project-specific and which are still application-specific or user-specific even when the project-specific configuration is active can be found at the end of this article.

Advantages

The project-specific configuration is useful if

  • different clients demand different representations from you.
  • you want to create projects with different part databases.
  • in a project that has been created once, the display should always remain the same, even if you now prefer different settings for new projects.

Disadvantages

You should not use the project-specific configuration if

  • you want a uniform presentation for all projects.
  • new or changed parts (e.g., replacement types or changed prices) should also be available immediately for other projects.
  • in the case of revisions, old projects should also be adapted to changed specifications for the presentation.
  • if you import a project from a colleague and accompanying data (such as additionally used fonts) cannot be supplied.

“User Rights” Add-On

The WSCAD user administration is available to you with the “User Rights” Add-On. This allows you to create WSCAD users and lock individual settings for each user.

Tip

If an unspecific problem occurs with a WSCAD SUITE project and it is not possible to understand why, it is advisable to first back up the project and then delete the project-specific configuration. If this solves the problem, you know that it is due to the project-specific settings. The project-specific configuration is also saved when the project is backed up.

Project-specific configuration when creating a new project

When you create a new project, you can decide in step 3 of the wizard whether you want to leave the radio button Project-specific configuration activated (default) and thus be able to customize all project-specific settings for this project or whether the global settings should apply to the project (radio button deactivated).

Important:
If you change project-specific settings in an open project with a deactivated project-specific configuration, these settings also apply to all other projects with deactivated project-specific configurations.

If you change application-specific settings in an open project, these apply to all projects anyway.

Activating or deactivating a project-specific configuration later

You can use the properties dialog of the open project to subsequently change whether the project should use the project-specific settings or the application-specific settings.

If the entry ON -> Create project-specific configuration is selected in the External configuration drop-down list, there is a distinction between project-specific and application-specific settings. If you change project-specific settings in the open project, they only apply to this project.

If OFF -> Delete project-specific configuration is selected instead, all existing project-specific settings are deleted, and the global settings are applied instead.

Important:
If the radio button is deactivated, please note that the project-specific settings for this and other projects may change automatically. This occurs when all projects are closed and project-specific settings are changed, or when the project-specific settings are changed in another open project with the project-specific configuration also deactivated.

Configuration files

The project-specific and user-specific settings are saved in the configuration files.

  • If you change a project-specific setting, this is entered in the corresponding section in the file
    <WSCAD project directory>\Settings\project.wsCFG.
  • If you change a user-specific setting, this is saved in the corresponding section in the file
    <WSCAD installation directory>\Settings\<Windows-User>\user.wsCFG.

Settings table

Abbreviations:
A : Application-specific (program-specific) settings
P: Project-specific settings
U: User-specific settings

Tools | Settings (options). … Explanation                                A P U
General Automatically load drawing on program start. x
General Save image position and zoom with every drawing. x
General Orthogonal drawing mode x
General Snap x
General Quadrant zoom x
General Show flag for multilingual text entry. x
General Multilingual text entry x
General Zoom via mouse wheel x
General Work direction x
General Shortcut for aux. lines x
General Copyright x
General Copyright notice x
Language Language program x
Language Language help area x
Language Remaining settings x
Safety Audio signal for incorrect user input x
Safety Deleted files into the recycle bin x
Safety Prompts for creating a project backup x
Safety Create automatic backup every … minutes x
Safety Create automatic backup x
Directories Data directory x
Directories Directory – Projects x
Directories Directory – Libraries x
Directories Directory – Databases x
Directories Directory – Data sheets x
Directories Directory – Help files x
Directories Directory – Global logos x
Directories Directory – Pattern x
Directories Directory – Backup x
Directories Directory – Temporary files x
Directories Directory – Templates x
Directories Directory – Macros x
Directories Directory – Project Wizard macros x
Directories Directory – Plugins x
Directories Directory – 3D x
Internet WebHelp x
Internet Remaining settings x
View Color scheme x
View Coordinate display x
View Date x
View Tiles minimum width x
View Match background color to interface design x
View Ref. desig. – Font weight x
View Ref. desig. – No leading sign x
View Ref. desig. – Always show complete ref. name x
View Logo x
View | Cursor Settings for cursor x
View | Element colors Predefined colors for elements x
View | Cabinet colors Predefined colors for Cabinet x
View | Colors xxx | Custom User-defined colors (64 colors UC065 – UC128) x
View | Text Definitions for texts x
View | Lines Definitions for lines x
View | Layer Definitions for layers x
View | Contact comb Settings for contact combs x
View | Connection Settings for connections x
View | Default Defaults x
View | Symbol Editor Settings of Symbol Editor x
Printer Definition printer x
Paper sizes Definition of paper sizes x
Project Separator x
Project Suffix x
Project Norms x
Project Auto-PDF export on closing project x
Project Retain all structure identifiers when copying documents x
Project | Templates Definitions for templates x
Project | Structure templates Structure templates x
Project | Structure identifier Definitions for structure identifiers x
Project | Defaults Defaults (Additional information) x
Project | Revision management Definitions of Revision Management x
Master data No settings
Master data | Part Settings – Part x
Master data | Data point management Settings – Data Point Management x
Master data | Lexicon Settings – Lexicon x
Master data | Addresses Settings – Addresses x
Master data | Color code Settings – Color code x
Master data | Online documents List – Online documents x
Symbol Settings for symbols x
Symbol | Properties Show electrical properties from EI in EE as well x
Symbol | Additional texts Definitions – Additional texts x
Symbol | Black box Definitions – Black box x
Symbol | Component box Definitions – Component box x
Symbol | Structure area Settings – Structure area x
Symbol – Parent/Child Properties – Parent/Child element
Symbol | Cable Properties – Cable and
predefined symbols for cable
x
Symbol | Terminal Properties – Terminals and
predefined symbol for terminals
x
Symbol – Plug/Socket Properties – Plugs/sockets and
predefined symbols for plugs and sockets
x
Symbol | Contactor Properties – Contactor and
Predefined symbols for contacts
x
Symbol | PLC Properties – PLC x
Symbol | PLC special texts Definitions PLC special texts x
Numbering No settings
Numbering | Reference Settings – Numbering – Reference x
Numbering | Cable wire Settings – Numbering – Cable wire x
Numbering | Terminal Settings – Numbering – Terminal x
Numbering | Plug Settings – Numbering – Plug x
Report Expand text <data content> with ref. name x
Report Use installed Microsoft Excel version for Excel export x
Report Build project database for overall report x
Report Use increment from form x
Report Library – Graphical terminal chart x
Report Library – Graphical cable chart x
Report Format for length specifications x
Various lists and plans Remaining settings x
Cross-reference Settings – Cross-references x
Technology cross-reference Settings – Technology cross-references x
Labels Settings of submenu items x
Installation Settings – Installation x
Installation Create plan – Distance left x
Installation | Installation zones Positions of installation zones x
Installation | Wall hatching Wall hatching x
Installation | Cable Styles – Cable x
Installation | Laying system Styles – Laying system x
Cabinet Settings – Cabinet x
Cabinet | 3D Settings – Cabinet 3D x
Cabinet | Routing Settings – Cabinet Routing x
Fluid Settings – Fluid x
Building Automation Settings – Building Automation x
Building Automation – Medium connection line Definitions – Medium connection line x
Building Automation | Building Automation Plugin Definition of “BKS_Open” plugin x
P+I Diagram P&ID settings x
P+I Diagram | Medium connection line Definitions – Medium connection line x
Add-On Project Wizard Project Wizard Settings x
Add-On Project Wizard | Positions Definition of positions x
Add-On Project Wizard | Variable Definition of variables x

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Thomas Janowicz, Technical Writer
Documentation Management