Configuration file

The GROMA system stores all the settings in a text configuration file. The configuration file is located in a standard place determined by the operation system type, or you can define its location explicitly.

Standard location of the configuration file

The GROMA system stores all the settings in a text configuration file. Unless the file location is explicitly determined, the file will be stored in a standard place determined by the type of the operation system:

  • Windows NT, 2000 and XP: In these operating systems, the system variable %USERPROFILE% is used for location of the configuration file. This variable points to a private directory of the logged in user, therefore it ensures that each user has his/her own configuration.

  • Windows 95, 98 and ME: In these operating systems, the system variable %USERPROFILE% isn't set; therefore, the configuration file will be placed directly into the Windows system.

Forced location of the configuration file

If, for some reason, the standard location is unsuitable, you can explicitly set a different location. The reason can be, for example, the need to place the configuration file on the network disc in the user’s home directory so it has the same configuration when logging from any station on the network. The location of the configuration system can be set in two ways:

Configurations file definition using the initialization parameter

The file location can be set using the parameter -u=path\filename. This parameter has to be entered in the definition of the command line of the icon, or in the record offered upon Start. The parameters are separated from the program name with at least a space character.

If the path to the configuration file contains spaces, the path (or the entire parameter) must be closed in quotes (e.g. -u="file name with path and spaces" or "-u=file name with path and spaces")

When defining the path, you can use the system variable or the items from the registry. The variable names are closed between the characters %%, and the registry items by brackets < and >.These names will be replaced with the relevant values.

Note

The registry items are taken from HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

Examples:

c:\Groma8\Groma.exe -u=h:\Config\groma.ini

c:\Groma8\Groma.exe -u=%USERPREFS%\groma.ini

c:\Groma8\Groma.exe -u="<Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell folders\Local Settings>\groma.ini"

Forced location of the configuration file in network.ini

Instead of the initiation parameter, the location of the configuration file can be defined in the network.ini, file, which is located in the directory of the GROMA system. The advantage of such a setting is that you do not have to adjust all the icons on all the computers on the network network.ini file is common for the entire installation). Another advantage is that the setting also applies to all the plug-ins of the GROMA system.

Since this setting applies to all modules of the GROMA system which use their own configuration files, only the path to the configuration system can be defined in this way, not its name (which is different for each system component).

The file location is defined using the variable ConfigFilePath of the network.ini. file. In this variable the path where the configuration file should be placed is entered. It doesn't matter if the path is terminated with a backslash or not. The system will add the specific name of the configuration file to this path for the pertinent component.

The rules for using system variables and registry items are the same as for definition of the command line.

Control of the location of the configuration file

To find out the current location of the configuration file, follow the steps below:

  • In the system menu, choose the command Help-About program

  • In the displayed dialog window, press the button (Other). If such button is not in the window, press both of the keys <Shift-Ctrl> and double click on the picture.

    In the next dialog window, find the name of the configuration file under the item Preference File. The entire name will not be displayed if the path name is too long. In such case you have to point in the window with the mouse and move the cursor to read the entire path.

Sample configuration file

If GROMA doesn't find any user's configuration file at the relevant location (the standard location or on the location determined by one of the above described ways), it will copy for the user the standard file with settings. Such file is located in the directory with the GROMA installation, and the name is groma.ini.

If you want to change some of the basic settings, you can adjust the system configuration or copy a file of some other user into GROMA as the sample file. All the users not having their own configuration yet will get a copy of the basic configuration.