Open the Data Files Folder

VisualAnalysis is quite customizable and most of the customizations made within the program or through other IES tools are stored in data files on a per-machine basis. Go to Tools | Custom Data to open your data files folder in Windows Explorer or go to C:\Users\<your.login>\AppData\Local\IES\Customer. This folder includes data for the following:

• History Projects
• Load Combinations
• Materials
• Moving Truck Loads
• Plot Settings
• Response Spectrums
• Shapes
• User Loads
• Preferences
• Custom Unit Styles

XML Data Files

Many of the customizable data files are text files using XML (Extensible Markup Language). These files can be manually edited using Notepad. There are better editors available, including free tools like Notepad++, or XML Notepad. Do not edit these files in Microsoft Word or other tools that might change the format. Manually editing these files is typically not needed, but it may provide an easier way to insert some new data, remove something that is obsolete, or to merge files from two different machines.

Customized Data

• Sharing Data - Customized data files can be shared with other engineers, users, or put on a different computer by copying the file(s) to the same folder on the other machine. The existing file can be replaced or merged.
• Customized Data Backup - If you make lots of customizations in VisualAnalysis, include the AppData\Local\IES folder in your backup plan.
• Restore Default Data Files - Reset the default data by deleting one or more of the files. The default file will be automatically generated when VisualAnalysis is restarted. For example, you can restore the custom unit styles by deleting the CustomUnitStyles.xml file.
• Installation - When VisualAnalysis is installed, the default data files are placed into an "All Users" location. Upon running VisualAnalysis, the files are copied or updated as necessary in the "Local" data file location. Therefore, each user (logon account) on a computer has their own independent customized files.
• Uninstall - When VisualAnalysis is uninstalled, the custom data files are not removed. Corrupt data files can cause problems, so if issue arise, manually remove data files before reinstalling the software. This is referred to as a "clean uninstall", where the following folders or registry sections are deleted. Consider deactivating the IES software licenses before performing a clean uninstall.
  • C:\ProgramData\IES
  • C:\AppData\<your.login>\Local\IES
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\IES
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\IES