Default directories
During the Tekla PowerFab installation procedure, you need to set default directories. Default directories are the folders where Tekla PowerFab saves information by default. Default directories are used in the program to manage external files.
The intended functionality requires that certain shared directories are set on each Tekla PowerFab user workstation.
If the default directories are to be located on the same server, the server setting should always use the local path to the folders. In turn, each user sets their default directories pointing to the same location.
On the client machines, the shared directories are best set using IP addresses or UNC file paths. The use of mapped drives is not recommended even though they may work.
It is possible for individual users to have their own default directories, but this is not recommended, with the exception of the Log directory.
See also Document Index.
For troubleshooting, see File access issues in Tekla PowerFab.
Set the default directories for saving files
To ensure that the default directories are consistent on all computers, you can copy the settings.ini file from the first client Tekla PowerFab installation to C:\Users\Public\Documents\Tekla\Tekla PowerFab\Settings for all later installations.
Preset default directories
You can add any number of preset directory settings with one preset selected as the default. The default preset directory settings are applied to all the machines automatically.
- Only users with administrator rights can add, update, or delete the presets.
- If you have multiple databases, preset default directories are available only in the database where you created them.
You can set the default directories for specific databases by selecting Separate Default Directory Settings by Connection Details on the Other tab in .
To save the changes, click Save.
To use the default preset, select Use Default Preset in the Default Directories dialog.
If a default preset is selected, every time a new workstation is installed, the default settings are applied. When users log in after changes have been made in the directories, the changes are applied automatically to each work station.
Directory descriptions
Directory | Description |
---|---|
Backup | Location for Tekla PowerFab database backup files. |
Export | Initial location selected for exported files. User preference. |
Import | Initial location opened for the selection of import files. User
preference. Once a file type has been selected, the location defaults to the last opened location. |
Log | Location for import log and error log text files. This is typically set to a local path on each device so as not to combine information from different devices in the same error logs. |
Document Index | Location for files that are linked or attached to records in the
program and to be shared among other users. A shared network
location required. See also Set the standard categories for attached documents. |
Drawing | Drawing directories for each project, type, log, and revision are automatically created within this directory. Drawing files are copied to the appropriate directory during import. A shared network location required. |
Update | Location for Tekla
PowerFab update files. With the new update file placed in the directory, the user is prompted to run the update when they open the program. A shared network location required. |
Custom Report | Location for all customized report files. This directory is not created during the installation and, therefore, you must add it. |
Extension | This directory is not visible by default. It must be activated in
the administrator settings. See Define Tekla PowerFab administration settings. The purpose of this directory is to allow external software API extensions developed by others for combining and cut lists to be added to the program. See also Use customized extensions for combining. |
For Document Index, Drawing, Update, and Custom Report, it is best to use an IP address or an UNC file path. These need to be set to a shared network location normally on a server.
Default directories for server
- Backup - C:\Users\Public\Documents\Tekla PowerFab\Backup
- Export - %USERPROFILE%\Desktop (User preference)
- Import - %USERPROFILE%\Desktop (User preference)
- Log - C:\Users\Public\Documents\Tekla PowerFab\Log
- Document Index - C:\Users\Public\Documents\Tekla PowerFab\Documents
- Drawings - C:\Users\Public\Documents\Tekla PowerFab\Documents
- Updates - C:\Users\Public\Documents\Tekla PowerFab\Updates
- Custom Reports - C:\Users\Public\Documents\Tekla PowerFab\CustomReports
Default directories for client
The recommended directory structure for clients is the following:
- Backup - \\(IP Address)\Shared Folder\Backup
- Export - %USERPROFILE%\Desktop (User preference)
- Import - %USERPROFILE%\Desktop (User preference)
- Log - C:\Users\Public\Documents\Tekla PowerFab\Log
- Document Index -\\(IP Address)\Shared Folder\Documents
- Drawings - \\(IP Address)\Shared Folder\Documents
- Updates - \\(IP Address)\Shared Folder\Updates
- Custom Reports - \\(IP Address)\Shared Folder\CustomReports