Typical initialization files (.ini files) and their reading order

Initialization files are read in a default order when Tekla Structures starts up. If different files contain the same settings, settings in files that are read later override settings in files that were read earlier.

To check which files were read when you started Tekla Structures and the order in which they were read, select File menu > Logs > Session history log.

This image shows the default reading order of the .ini files, excluding language-specific files and optional files:

This table lists the typical initialization files that are read when Tekla Structures starts up. The table lists the default location of each file. The exact location of the files might vary depending on the folder in which you install Tekla Structures.


Order	File	Description
1	fonts_<lang>.ini	Do not change these settings. These optional files contain fonts for languages that use special characters. These files are only needed if you use Tekla Structures in languages that use special characters. For example, the fonts_jpn.ini file is the fonts file for the Japanese language. These files are automatically installed in the \bin folder when Tekla Structures is installed. The default location is ..\Program Files\Tekla Structures\<version>\bin\.
2	teklastructures.ini	Do not change these settings. This file contains basic system settings, such as the location of software and environment files, that are needed for Tekla Structures to run. This file is read when Tekla Structures starts up. This file is automatically installed in the \bin folder when Tekla Structures is installed. The default location is ..\Program Files\Tekla Structures\<version>\bin
3	lang_<lang>.ini	Do not change these settings. This file contains the language settings for the Tekla Structures user interface. The language file that is read when Tekla Structures starts up depends on the language that you have selected in File menu > Settings > Change language in the previous Tekla Structures session. The languages that you have selected to install during the software installation determine which lang_<lang>.ini files are available. This file is automatically installed in the \bin folder when Tekla Structures is installed. The default location is ..\Program Files\Tekla Structures\<version>\bin\.
4	env_global_default.ini	Do not change these settings. This file contains the global default settings for all environments. You can use environment-specific env_<environment>.ini files to override the settings in this file. This file is automatically installed in the \Environments\common folder when you install the common environment installation package. The default location is ..\ProgramData\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\Environments\common\
5	Any .ini files defined in the startup shortcut or on the command line with the case-sensitive parameter `-I <name>.ini`	Usually none.
6	env_<environment>.ini	These files contain advanced options that have environment-specific settings. The settings in these files can override the settings in the env_global_default.ini file. The content of the env_<environment>.ini files is typically defined by your area office or reseller. The env_<environment>.ini file that is read depends on the environment that you select when Tekla Structures starts up. Each env_<environment>.ini file is installed in the \Environments\<environment> folder when you install an environment. The default location is ..\ProgramData\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\Environments\<environment>. Which env_<environment>.ini files are installed on your computer depends on which environment packages you have installed. You can optionally define specific settings for roles in your environment and store these settings in role-specific folders under the ..\ProgramData\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\Environments\<environment> folder. In the env_<environment>.ini file, each role has an option where you can add the paths that point to the folders in which you have stored the role settings. Do not change any other settings in the env_<environment>.ini file. For example, `XS_STEEL` (\Steel), `XS_CONCRETE` (\Concrete), `XS_ENGINEERING` (\Engineering) and `XS_PRECAST` (\Precast) each point to the folders that contain settings specific to that role. Example for the steel role: `set XS_STEEL=%XSDATADIR%\environments\Steel\master_drawings\;``%XSDATADIR%\environments\Steel\model_filters\;``%XSDATADIR%\environments\Steel\model_settings\` For example, `XS_GENERAL` points to the \General folder that has content common for all roles and settings. When defining role settings in XS_SYSTEM, you use the role options defined in the env_<environment>.ini to point to the role-specific settings. You do not need to add the folder paths in `XS_SYSTEM`. They are defined in the env_<environment>.ini file.
7	role_<role>.ini	Do not change these settings. These files contain advanced options that have typical role-specific settings. The role_<role>.ini file that is read depends on the environment that you select when Tekla Structures starts up. These files are automatically installed when you install an environment. The default location is ..\ProgramData\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\Environments\<environment>. Which role_<role>.ini files are installed on your computer depends on which environment packages you have installed. For example, the role_Engineer.ini file in the \Environments\uk folder contains all the settings for the Engineering role in the UK environment.
8	Any .ini files defined in the startup shortcut or on the command line with the case-sensitive parameter `-i <name>.ini`	Usually none.
9	company.ini	This optional file is useful when you want to unify enterprise-level settings. This file is read only if the advanced option XS_COMPANY_SETTINGS_DIRECTORY is set, from the folder specified with the advanced option. To use this file, you must create it. It is not automatically created by the installation.
10	user.ini	This file contains each user's personal settings. The user.ini file is created when you start Tekla Structures for the first time, and create and save a model using the current version. When you change settings in the Advanced Options dialog box, the settings are saved in the user.ini file. The default location for this file is C:\Users\<user_name>\AppData\Local\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\UserSettings. Advanced options that are set in the user.ini file override advanced options that are set in other .ini files. For example, if the same advanced option is set in another .ini file, in a file in the environments sub-folder, and in the user.ini file, Tekla Structures uses the value in the user.ini file.
11	options.ini in the system folder	This file contains the system settings. The options.ini in the system folder is always read when Tekla Structures starts up. The folder for this file is specified with the advanced option XS_SYSTEM.
12	options.ini in the firm folder	The options.ini files that contains firm-specific or project-specific model settings are saved in and read from user-defined locations specified with the advanced options XS_FIRM and XS_PROJECT. To use these files, you must copy or move an options.ini file to these locations. You can only update model-specific and user-specific advanced options from the Advanced Options dialog box or the options.ini file in model folder. You cannot use options.ini files in the firm or project folder to update model-specific or user-specific advanced options. The options.ini in the firm or project folder is read when you start Tekla Structures or open the model.
13	options.ini in the project folder
14	options.ini in the model folder	This file contains the model-specific settings. The options.ini file in the model folder is read when you open the model. Note: Changing a model-specific advanced option value in an .ini file located outside the model folder does not affect existing models.