# 3.0.1 Settings ## Default Program Settings On start-up, Karamba3D sets its default appearance and behavior according to the values listed in the **"karamba.ini"-**file. This file is located in the Karamba3D installation folder (double-click on the Karamba3D desktop icon to get there) and can be opened and manipulated with any text editor.\ The file starts with a description of the syntax rules for defining the default settings. Each paragraph that follows contains a description regarding meaning and effect of a specific property and its default value. Among other things these settings can be changed: * System of physical units ("SI" or "Imperial") * Limit distance for snapping together neighboring nodes * The value of the acceleration of gravity * Limit inclination for verticality * Number format and display properties of output values * Properties of the default materials * Colors used for displaying rendered calculation results * ... In case you want to keep your changes when upgrading from one version of Karamba3D to the next rename the initialization-file to **"karamba\_user.ini"**. This however incurs the risk, that newly introduced properties are missing. In such a case hard-wired default values take their place. {% hint style="info" %} Administrator rights may be needed to overwrite the original **"karamba.ini"**-file. {% endhint %} ## User-defined Settings The "Settings"-component offers a convenient way of changing the Karamba3D settings for one specific definition without manipulating the karamba.ini-file (see fig. 3.0.1.1). It takes the "karamba.ini"- or "karamba\_user.ini"-file as the starting point. The input-plug "Settings" expects a list of name and value pairs and sets the corresponding parameters for use in the current definition. The component outputs the updated settings-text on the right side. When plugged into a pannel and streamed to file this can be directly used as a valid karamba.ini-file. In order, that the settings-component gets executed before all others on loading the definition, one needs to select the settings-component and press Ctrl+B before saving (see ) - otherwise it might happen, that the changes take effect only after performing a recompute. ![Fig. 3.0.1.1: On-the-fly change of the number of legend colors via the Settings-component. ](/files/-MgzaWzVSLVHaDtGMCQf) The drop-down-list on the Settings-component provides a shortcut for setting the unit of length used for handling geometry imported from Rhino. The changes via the Settings-component do not affect the karamba.ini-file. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://manual-2.karamba3d.com/3-in-depth-component-reference/3.0-settings/3.0.1-settings.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.