> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://enercalc.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://enercalc.com/docs/sel-user-manual/main-menu/program-settings.md).
# Settings
How to configure general settings, online backups, file locations, title block, engineer's stamp, and update behavior in ENERCALC SEL.
The **Settings** item in the main menu provides access to several selections that control how various aspects of **ENERCALC SEL** operates.
A selection of one of the first five items will open the Program Settings window and preselect the appropriate tab for the chosen item.
### General Settings
The General Settings tab.
**Number of session backup files:** Sets how many backup files are created each time you save a calculation during a session (recommended: 3). Backups are stored in the SEL Backups folder (set in File Locations) with unique names. Backups from prior sessions are kept until the total exceeds 4x your per-session limit, then automatically deleted as needed.
For a detailed walk through on the retention policy of these backup files, see [Understanding Project File Backup Limits: A Practical Walkthrough](/docs/sel-user-manual/main-menu/program-settings/project-file-backup-limits-wal.md).
**Enable Conflict Checking:** When selected, the program performs conflict checking each time a project file is saved. This is done as a test to see if the project has changed externally, and is an attempt to detect situations where the project file may be in use by multiple people at the same time. This feature should normally be enabled, but if it gives repeated false positives, you can disable it.
**Use Relaxed Conflict Checking:** Some syncing systems can change the time of a file without actually changing anything else. The time discrepancy can trigger a false alarm file conflict. This relaxed setting will add more leeway to the comparison.
**Select where new calculations are inserted...:** This applies to the way calculations are inserted when using the Project Manager.
* When the first option is selected and you use the \[**+Add**] button, it adds a new calculation to the project, and the calculation is inserted at the currently highlighted location (currently highlighted item is shifted down).
* When the second option is selected and you use the \[**+Add**] button, it adds a new calculation immediately below the currently highlighted location.
**Set Application font sizes to X points smaller:** Provides a way to scale fonts down, for high resolution displays.
**Eliminate redundant Load Combinations for ALL calculations:** With this box checked the software will only run load combinations that are unique. It will automatically eliminate any load combinations that result in a combination that is redundant.
### File Locations
Because modern operating systems allow multiple users per computer, Microsoft suggests that software manufacturers create their own folder under Documents and set that as the default location for user-created files. The program conforms to this recommendation by suggesting an appropriate directory during the installation process.
**Executable File Location:** Reports the location where `ENERCALC.exe` is located.
**Default Project File Location:** Specifies the default location where the program will point when using **File > Open** or **File > New** from the main menu.
**Backup Files Location:** Specifies the location where backup project files are saved from each session.
**Database File Location:** Specifies where the program should look for the load combination database, steel database, wood database, and other files that contain the databases of standard values. This location needs to be accessible to all users on a specific computer. Microsoft suggests that software manufacturers set the following as the default location for data files that are referenced by the software: `C:\Users\Public\Documents`.
### Printing & Title Block
**Title Block:** These six entries correspond to the six lines in the upper-left corner of the printout.
**Logo File:** Provides an option to specify a graphics file to be printed at the LEFT edge of the title block. If used, the six lines of Title Block information will be printed immediately to the right of the logo. Logos can be JPG or JPEG formats only.
When a logo is specified, the height is adjusted to fit into the title block area and the right-side "floats" according to the width of the image.
**What to Print - Title Block:** Check this box to print the title block at the top left of the report. With this item unchecked the printout begins with the calculation title bar (shown as "Masonry Column" in the image above)
**What to Print - Project Information:** Check this box to print the Project Information at the top right of the report.
**What to Print - Date & Time:** Check this box to print the computer date and time on the report as shown below:
**Select Printing Color Mode:** This sets the default mode for printed reports created from **ENERCALC SEL**.
### Professional Engineer's Stamp
This tab allows a graphic image of the user's PE stamp to be uploaded. Then the stamp can be placed on printout by selecting the checkbox.
### Update
**Click here to check for updates:** This button will download the updating program from our server. This program will check and update the software to the latest version.
### Online Backups
When you close a changed project, **ENERCALC SEL** saves a copy to secure online storage. Use online backups to restore work when a project file is lost, damaged, or unavailable on its original computer. They supplement the local session backups on the **General Settings** tab.
Online backups apply to your ENERCALC license. You can restore a project backed up on one computer from another computer signed in to the same license.
ENERCALC automatically skips online backups when the primary contact uses a `.gov` or `.mil` email address. No action is required for these licenses.
Backups run in the background. If ENERCALC can't upload a backup because you're offline, or you close the program immediately, it queues the backup. ENERCALC uploads it the next time you open the program while online. Online storage keeps every saved version.
The Online Backups tab, reached through Settings.
#### Restore a backed-up project
1. From the main menu, select **Settings**.
2. Select the **Online Backups** tab.
3. Select **Refresh** if you don't see a recent backup yet.
4. Review the list of available backups. Each row shows the **Project** name, the date and time it was **Backed Up**, and the **Computer** it was backed up from. Times are shown in your computer's current time zone.
5. Select the backup to restore.
6. Select **Restore Selected**.
Backups listed by project, backup time, and originating computer.
{% hint style="info" %}
**NOTE:** Restoring doesn't overwrite existing files. ENERCALC saves the restored project as a new copy with `(restored ...)` in its name, placed in your `ENERCALC Backups\Restored` folder.
{% endhint %}
Select **Open Folder** to open the folder containing the selected backup.
#### Turn off online backups for a computer
To stop a computer from uploading backups, check **Disable automatic online backups on this computer**. ENERCALC still creates local backups as specified on the **General Settings** tab. This setting applies only to the computer where you set it.
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