Program and Project Directory

Program Directory

The ProtaSteel program is automatically installed with the ProtaStructure suite setup. The directory of default installation is currently "C:\Program Files (x86)\Prota\ProtaStructureXXXX\ProtaSteel"

The "db" sub-directory will hold at least 2 files containing the "Profile" (PROFILES.GDB) and "Bolts" (BOLTS.GDB) databases. These databases can be accessed and modified from within ProtaSteel (hence do not manually edit or change files)

The "Plugins" sub-directory stores the plugin DLL's that have been installed along with the program and will depend upon the configuration you have purchased.

ProgramData Directory

A folder called "ProtaSteel xx" will be created in windows ProgramData (hidden folder) > Prota folder.  

It contains many folders & files holding data specific ProtaSteel. For example, the "Preferences" directory is where most of the general preference folders & files are stored,  e.g. Macro Settings. 

Project Directory

Whenever you save a ProtaSteel model it is saved with its own directory structure. If you have launched ProtaSteel from within ProtaStructure, this directory will be created inside ProtaStructure Data Folder:

/<Project Data Folder>/<Project Name>/ProtaSteel/<Project Name>/

The contents of the ProtaSteel directory folder looks like this :

Projectname.px2 file is the main project file which you should pick if you wish to open the project in ProtaSteel.

All Drawings generated by the user are stored in the "Drawings" directory. These may include "General Arrangement Drawings", "Steel Assembly Drawings", "Steel Single Part Drawings", "Concrete Formwork Drawings", "Concrete Rebar Drawings" and "Electrical Cable trays and raceway drawings" etc.

The "Exports" folder is the default directory for drawings exported as dxf (this can be changed during export). 

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The "Preferences" directory holds any local preferences which are specific to this specific model and which therefore override any general preferences which may have been specified at another place.

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