> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.inels.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.inels.com/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-settings-and-preferences.md).

# Settings and Preferences

*Part 3 — Reference.*

***

## 27.1 Two different dialogs

|            | **Settings**                    | **Prefernces**                                      |
| ---------- | ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| Opens from | `[☰]` → **Settings**            | `[☰]` → **Prefernces**                              |
| Contains   | how **iDM3** behaves on your PC | how much of the **CU's capacity** this project uses |
| Changes    | your working environment        | nothing — it is a read-out                          |

> **"Prefernces" is spelled that way in the software.** It is a typo in the menu, not in this manual.

***

## 27.2 Settings

### Program settings — Localization

| Setting             | Notes                           |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| **Select language** | English, Czech, Slovak, Spanish |

This manual uses the **English** labels throughout.

### Connection settings

| Setting               | Notes                                                          |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **IP address : port** | The central unit's address                                     |
| **Timeout (ms)**      | How long to wait before giving up                              |
| **Ping test**         | Checks the CU answers — **run this first when anything fails** |

### Init project from

Which template a new project starts from:

| Option              | Result                                                |
| ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Default project** | The factory default, with its 61 predefined functions |
| **User default**    | Your own saved default                                |
| **Empty project**   | Nothing predefined                                    |

**Set this to User default once you have built a company default** — [Tutorial 10](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/tutorial-macros-and-function-blocks.md).

### Floors image opacity

Background-image opacity, set **per workspace tab**:

| Setting         | Applies to     |
| --------------- | -------------- |
| **Design:**     | Design tab     |
| **Groups:**     | Groups tab     |
| **Functions:**  | Function tab   |
| **Simulation:** | Simulation tab |

A strong plan helps while placing devices; a faint one keeps wires readable while programming.

### Visual effects

| Setting                              | Effect                               |
| ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------ |
| **Show device wires animation**      | Animates connections between devices |
| **Show group connections animation** | Animates group membership lines      |

Helpful when learning, distracting later. Turn them off on large projects.

### Other settings

| Setting                                            | Effect                                                                                                 |
| -------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Enable manual change consumer value**            | Allows changing a consumer's value by hand                                                             |
| **Enable scroll floor items**                      | Scrolling of floor items                                                                               |
| **Auto open wire detail**                          | Opens the wire detail automatically when a wire is selected                                            |
| **Auto restore project at the CU**                 | See [Chapter 23](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/connecting-and-uploading-to-the-central-unit.md) |
| **Save function blocks templates to project file** | Embeds function block templates in the `.elp`                                                          |
| **Show hidden objects**                            | Reveals hidden objects                                                                                 |
| **Show registration**                              | Whether the registration dialog appears at startup                                                     |

**Turn on "Save function blocks templates to project file"** if your projects use custom function blocks and are opened on more than one machine. Templates normally live in `funcBloks\` outside the project, so a project that uses them is incomplete elsewhere.

**Turn on "Auto open wire detail"** while programming — it removes a click from the most repeated action in iDM3.

***

## 27.3 Prefernces — project resource limits

Progress bars showing what your project uses against the central unit's maximum.

|                         |                           |                          |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| **AllModules count**    | **AllDevices count**      | **ThermoDrivers count**  |
| **Users count**         | **Cards count**           | **Readers count**        |
| **EZSZones count**      | **Timers count**          | **Counters count**       |
| **Controllers count**   | **PeriodicalProgs count** | **ContinualProgs count** |
| **TwoStateProgs count** | **WeekPlans count**       | **DayPlans count**       |
| **SystemBits count**    | **SystemInts count**      | **Groups count**         |
| **UserFunctions count** | **Wires count**           | **VirtualWires count**   |
| **MessageIncome count** | **MessageOutcome count**  | **MessageSMS count**     |
| **Contacts count**      |                           |                          |

Known maximums: **64** timers, **64** counters, **500** system bits, **500** system integers.

> **Check this early on a large project.** Discovering you are out of wires or system bits after programming three floors is an expensive lesson. The **Wire manager** also shows used/maximum wires at the top of its window.

***

## 27.4 Where settings are stored

|                  |                                                         |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| **UserSett.hdb** | Your personal settings — **survives reinstalls**        |
| **IDM.config**   | Program configuration                                   |
| Registry         | `HKCU\Software\ELKO EP\iDM3` — install path and version |

See [Appendix F](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/idm3-files-and-folders.md).

***

**Next:** [Chapter 28 — Opening older projects](/inels-bus/inels-design-manager-idm3/opening-older-idm3-projects.md).