## Understanding the .DAT Files

While the PC-DMIS registry entries store most of PC-DMIS's settings, several files with a .dat filename extension are also used by PC-DMIS to store information. While you can edit some of these files in a text editor, many you can only edit within PC-DMIS. You can, however, delete most of these files to return PC-DMIS to its original state for the deleted item. Items that should not be deleted are noted in the Description column.

Important: In order to comply with newer operating system standards required by Windows 7, PC-DMIS 2010 MR2 and later versions have changed where user-specific .dat files are stored. See the "Understanding File Locations" topic as well.
When you first run PC-DMIS, several .dat files are copied from your folder where you installed PC-DMIS into your AppData (Vista/7) or Application Data (XP) user folder. From then on, the user-specific file is what PC-DMIS uses. You can, however, with Administrator rights, modify the original factory-based file if needed. An asterisk character (*) by the file name on the table below indicates that the original factory-based file exists in your install directory.
In addition, functionality was added into the PC-DMIS Settings Editor that allows you to backup, restore, or clear user-specific files and settings. Rather than manually deleting or restoring individual files on your own, we recommend that you use the tools provided in the Settings Editor instead. See the "PC-DMIS Settings Editor" documentation for additional information.

The following table details many of the .dat files available, their filenames, if they can be edited in a text editor, and where they're stored on the computer:

Filename | Can Edit? | Location | Description
colors.dat | No | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file stores your modified Edit window colors. PC-DMIS generates this file only if you modified Edit window colors. The file gets created when you exit PC-DMIS. Deleting this file reverts your Edit window colors to the default settings.

See "Defining Edit Window Colors".

custommenu item.dat | No | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local
\WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file contains information for the default items and user-defined items found in the User Defined Commands list of the Menu tab of the Customize dialog box. Deleting this file removes any user-defined menu items. The default automation wizards that ship with PC-DMIS are regenerated in a new .dat file. If, after deleting the file, you have a toolbar.dat file from a previous version of PC-DMIS, you will get them back, regenerated after a next execution of PC-DMIS.

See "Customizing the User Interface" in "Navigating the User Interface".

elogo.dat * | Yes | In the directory where PC-DMIS was installed. Old? XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file controls the format of the Edit window's footer for the last page.

DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. Doing so erases the footer on the last page of the Edit window.

See "Modifying Headers and Footers" in "Using the Edit Window".

executebarstate.dat | No | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file contains the layouts of toolbars and dockable windows during part program execution. PC-DMIS switches back and forth reloading these two files (gbarstate and execbarstate) as well when you start and finish program execution. Deleting this file restores a default layout.

gbarstate.dat | No | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file contains the layouts of toolbars and dockable windows within the part program (but not during execution). Deleting this file restores a default layout.

header.dat * | Yes | In the directory where PC-DMIS was installed. Old? XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file controls the format of the Edit window's header for all pages but the first. See "Modifying Headers and Footers" in "Using the Edit Window".

DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. Doing so erases the header on the affected pages of the Edit window.

illumination.dat | No | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\ProgramData\WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file is used for vision machines. It stores the defined illumination quick sets (basically information containing the machine's lamps – which bulbs are on and their brightness). If deleted, any custom quick sets are lost, though PC-DMIS will recreate this file to contain a few default quick sets.

layouttoolbar.dat | No | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file contains a list of any layouts when you save a layout using the Window Layouts toolbar. Deleting this file removes your window layouts from the Window Layouts toolbar.

layout#.dat | No | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

These files store information about a specific layout stored in the Window Layouts toolbar. You will have one file for each stored layout. (similar to the gbarstate.dat). PC-DMIS automatically increments # for each newly created layout. Deleting a specific Layout#.dat file remove the related layout button from the Window Layouts toolbar.

lightingmaterials.dat | Yes | In the directory where PC-DMIS was installed. | This file defines the relative pathway to the default system defined lighting and materials settings stored in default.txt. This appears as DEFAULT in the Archive tab of the CAD and Graphic Setup dialog box. The comments at the beginning of this text file explain the file's format. In the file, the characters "L", "M", and "U" are used to specify into which list each item will appear ("L" for Lighting, "M" for Material, and "U" for User Recall). Note that default.txt is not human readable.

DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. Doing so will cause the CAD and Graphic Setup dialog box to not know anything about the lighting or material files. You would then need to recreate the file by hand or perform a reinstall of PC-DMIS.

logo.dat * | Yes | In the directory where PC-DMIS was installed. Old? XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file controls the format of the Edit window's header on the first page. See "Modifying Headers and Footers" in "Using the Edit Window".

DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. Doing so erases the header from the first page of the Edit window.

machine.dat * | Yes | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file defines the virtual machine definitions. Virtual machines are animated in the graphics display window as a representation of the real machine.

DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE. Instead, use the usermachine.dat file for customization of machine.dat entries.

DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. If deleted, the machine models will not be available.

menu_<language> .dat | No | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file stores customized menus for the user. In the filename <language> is the three letter language code for the language you are using to display PC-DMIS. Deleting this file removes any menu customizations made.

messageboxoptions.dat | No | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file stores a list of the warning messages you have turned off. Deleting this file causes all warning messages to appear again.

probe.dat * | Yes | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file displays all the probe components available within PC-DMIS. When you go to build your own probe file, PC-DMIS uses the information in this file to populate the Probe Utilities dialog box.

DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE. Instead, use the usrprobe.dat file to create or display customized probe hardware.

DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. Doing so erases the library of probe components available, making it impossible to modify and create probes.

probechanger.dat | Yes | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\ProgramData\WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file defines the virtual probe changer definitions. Virtual probe changers are animated in the graphics display window and displayed within the volume space for collision detection. It is a representation of the actual probe changer.

DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE. Use the tools PC-DMIS has provided to define your animated probe changer.

DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. If deleted, the probe changer models will not be available.

reportingtoolbar.dat | No | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file contains a list of the saved report templates and custom reports on the Reporting toolbar. Deleting this file removes any saved items from the Reporting toolbar.

quickfix.dat * | Yes | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file displays all the quick fixture items available to add into the Graphics Display window.

DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. Doing so erases the library of quick fixture items available making it impossible to work with these files.

templreppicker list.dat | Yes | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file contains a list of report templates you have added to the Template Selection dialog box. Deleting this file removes those files from the Template Selection dialog box, but it does not delete the actual report templates themselves.

toolbar.dat | No | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file contains all customized toolbars definitions (buttons) and names. PC-DMIS creates this file when you customize or create any toolbars. Deleting this file removes any customized toolbars.

usermachine.dat | Yes | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\ProgramData\WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file defines any custom animated machines. You can also copy machines (listed as items) from machine.dat and paste the info in this file and customize them as needed either directly inside the text file or by using the Load Virtual Machine dialog box. Whenever you access that dialog box later, PC-DMIS will then read this file in addition to the machine.dat file when displaying available machines. Deleting this file removes any custom machines.

usrprobe.dat * | Yes | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\ProgramData\WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file you need to create manually. You can then copy probe information from probe.dat and paste it into this file and customize that info as needed. PC-DMIS will then read both this file and the probe.dat file when displaying probes in the Probe Utilities dialog box. Deleting this file removes customized probe information.

userlighting materials.dat * | Yes | XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ Local Settings\Application Data\ WAI\PC-DMIS\<version> Vista/7:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\
WAI\PC-DMIS\<version>

Where <username> is your window's login user name and <version> is the PC-DMIS version.

This file is created automatically whenever you use the Archive tab on the CAD and Graphic Setup dialog box to save a custom user configuration of lighting and material settings. As with lightingmaterials.dat, it defines relative pathways to any custom configuration settings files you saved.

* See the Important note at the beginning of this topic for information on what asterisk character indicates.

Other Dat Files to Document

flextool.dat

portable_layout.dat

portable_menu.dat

vwflextool.dat

customtables.dat

TempRepPickerList.dat