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 and later 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)
Since December 2008 for first-time installs the default folder name has been Greentram instead of SDA, though the file name remains (for backward compatibility reasons) SDA_Apps.ini, so a typical new install on a Windows 7 or later 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)
Windows Vista/7/8/10: Although the nominal registry key for program settings is above, Windows UAC (if active) will not allow this to be changed by user programs (such as ours) so the storage location is redirected to an alternative location, on our Windows 7 box HKLM\Software\Classes\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Greentram and on Windows 10 to HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Greentram
Two things to note:
The case of the filename is immaterial (on Windows systems 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
User Settings file: The name and/or location can be on the User Setup dialog, File Names and Locations page. If the new file does not exist, existing data will be copied over.
Program Settings file: Computer-literate users only: Close the program if running. Optionally copy your existing INI file to the new location - if you don't you'll have to start again setting up colours, heading etc and will need to re-enter your activation key. Start the Regedit program and locate the appropriate hive - on 32-bit systems, HKLM\Software\Greentram, on 64-bit systems probably HKLM\Software\Wow6432\Greentram and the AppsMasterIniFile key. Double click on the key name to display an edit box in which you can enter the new file path and name. Close Regedit and restart the program. Check that your change has worked on the Configuration, Information screen.
Legacy information 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).