# 4.1.6: 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
* ...

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 %}