Working with the Configuration Utility

This document covers the following topics:


Creating a New Parameter File

You can create your own parameter files and customize them to your requirements. You can then invoke Natural with one of these parameter files. See Invoking Natural with an Alternative Parameter File for further information.

Initially, each parameter file that you create contains Natural's default settings.

Tip:
It is recommended that you create your own parameter file instead of modifying the default parameter file NATPARM which is delivered with Natural.

Start of instruction setTo create a new parameter file

  1. From the File menu, choose New.

    Or:
    Choose the following toolbar button:

    Toolbar button

    Or:
    Press CTRL+N.

    A new parameter file with the default name "NEWn" is now shown in the tree. The default name is selected so that you can immediately enter a new name. Any text you enter automatically deletes the selection.

  2. Enter a name for the new parameter file.

  3. Press ENTER.

    Or:
    Click any other position in the tree.

    The parameters in the new file are set to the default values. You can set all parameters as required.

Note:
You can also create a new parameter file by copying an existing file or by saving an existing file under a new name.

Locating and Changing a Parameter

You can locate a parameter in different ways:

  • If you know in which parameter group and category the parameter can be found, you can expand the tree and locate the parameter as described below.

  • If you do not know the parameter group and category, you can search for the parameter. See Finding a Parameter.

Start of instruction setTo locate and change a parameter

  1. Expand the node for a global or local configuration file or for a specific parameter file.

  2. For parameter files: expand the node for a parameter group (for example, Natural Execution Configuration).

  3. Select the category containing the parameter that you want to change (for example, Buffer Sizes).

    The parameters are shown on the right of the window. In the case of a parameter file, the names of the Natural profile parameters are shown in parenthesis on the right of the window, behind the label of the corresponding control.

    Or:
    Expand the node for a category.

    Descriptions for the parameters are shown in the tree, below the node. When you select a description in the tree, all parameters for this group are shown on the right of the window. For the description that has been selected in the tree, the corresponding parameter is also selected on the right of the window and can be modified immediately.

  4. Set the parameter to the required value. See Overview of Configuration File Parameters or Overview of Profile Parameters for further information.

    Notes:

    1. The following applies for check boxes: when a check box is selected, the corresponding parameter is set to "ON"; when a check box is not selected, the corresponding parameter is set to "OFF".
    2. A browse button, which shows three dots, is available for several parameters. When you choose this button, you can select the required setting(s) in a dialog box.

    When a parameter has been changed, an asterisk (*) appears next to the corresponding node name in the tree.

  5. Save your changes as described in Saving the Changes.

Finding a Parameter

If you do not know in which category a parameter can be found, you can search for it. The search is always performed in the currently selected parameter file, global configuration file or local configuration file.

Start of instruction setTo find a parameter

  1. Select a node which belongs to the parameter file or configuration file in which you want to search for the parameter.

  2. From the Edit menu, choose Find.

    Or:
    Press CTRL+F.

    When the toolbar is currently not shown, it is automatically activated and the drop-down list box containing the parameters is opened.

    Note:
    When the toolbar is already visible, you can simply open the drop-down list box, without having to use the above command.

  3. Select the parameter from the drop-down list box in the toolbar.

    Note:
    When a configuration file is currently selected, you can select a category (for example, Printer Profiles which belongs to the global configuration file) from the drop-down list box.

    The category containing the selected parameter is shown on the right of the window.

Saving the Changes

Different save commands are available. An asterisk (*) appears next to each node name in the tree where a parameter has been changed.

Start of instruction setTo save the changes for the selected configuration file or parameter file

  1. Select the node for the file that you want to save.

  2. From the File menu, choose Save.

    Or:
    Choose the following toolbar button:

    Toolbar button

    Or:
    Press CTRL+S.

Start of instruction setTo save a parameter file under a different name

  1. Select the node for the parameter file that you want to save under a different name.

  2. From the File menu, choose Save As.

    A new parameter file with the default name "NEWn" is now shown in the tree. The default name is selected so that you can immediately enter a new name. Any text you enter deletes the selection automatically.

  3. Enter a name for the new parameter file.

  4. Press ENTER.

    Or:
    Click any other position in the tree.

Start of instruction setTo save the changes to all files

  1. From the File menu, choose Save All.

    Or:
    Choose the following toolbar button:

    Toolbar button

Restoring the Last Saved Version

It is possible to discard your changes and return to the last saved version.

Start of instruction setTo return to the last saved version of the selected configuration file or parameter file

  1. Select the node for the file for which you want to discard your changes.

  2. From the File menu, choose Restore Saved.

    Or:
    Choose the following toolbar button:

    Toolbar button

    The settings of the last saved version are restored.

Copying and Pasting a Parameter File

You can also create a new parameter file by copying an existing file and pasting it in the tree.

Start of instruction setTo create a new parameter file

  1. Select the node for the parameter file that you want to copy.

  2. From the Edit menu, choose Copy.

    Or:
    Choose the following toolbar button:

    Toolbar button

    Or:
    Press CTRL+C.

  3. From the Edit menu, choose Paste.

    Or:
    Choose the following toolbar button:

    Toolbar button

    Or:
    Press CTRL+V.

    A new parameter file with the default name "NEWn" is now shown in the tree. The default name is selected so that you can immediately enter a new name. Any text you enter automatically deletes the selection.

  4. Enter a name for the new parameter file.

  5. Press ENTER.

    Or:
    Click any other position in the tree.

    You can now set all parameters as required.

Renaming a Parameter File

You can rename the parameter files in the tree.

When you invoke Natural with a parameter file that has been renamed, make sure to changed its name in the corresponding shortcuts. See Invoking Natural with an Alternative Parameter File for further information.

Start of instruction setTo rename a parameter file

  1. Select the node for the parameter file that you want to rename.

  2. From the File menu, choose Rename.

    Or:
    Press F2.

    The name is selected so that you can immediately enter a new name. Any text you enter automatically deletes the selection.

  3. Enter a new name for the parameter file.

  4. Press ENTER.

    Or:
    Click any other position in the tree.

Deleting a Parameter File

You can delete the parameter files in the tree.

When you invoke Natural with a parameter file that has been deleted, make sure to adapt the corresponding shortcuts. See Invoking Natural with an Alternative Parameter File for further information.

Start of instruction setTo delete a parameter file

  1. Select the node for the parameter file that you want to delete.

  2. From the File menu, choose Delete.

    Or:
    Choose the following toolbar button:

    Toolbar button

    Or:
    Press DEL.

Exporting a Parameter File

When you export a parameter file, a text file is generated which contains the values of the current parameter file. Such a text file can be used on Windows and Linux platforms; to use it there, you have to import it.

Start of instruction setTo export a parameter file

  1. Select the node for the parameter file that you want to export.

  2. From the File menu, choose Export.

    The Export dialog box appears. The name of the selected parameter file is proposed as the file name. The extension of the resulting file is "LST".

  3. Optional. Specify another file name. You can also select another folder.

  4. Choose the Save button to export the file.

    If you have not selected another folder, the file is stored in the Natural folder which has been defined for the temporary files. See also Installation Assignments.

Importing a Parameter File

You can import a parameter file which has previously been exported. The import generates a binary parameter file from the text file with the extension "LST" which has been generated during the export.

Start of instruction setTo import a parameter file

  1. From the File menu, choose Import.

    The Import dialog box appears.

  2. Select the file that is to be imported. The extension of such a file is "LST".

  3. Choose the Open button.

    When a file with the same name does not yet exist, the imported parameter file is shown in the tree.

    When a file with the same name already exists, you are asked whether you want to overwrite the existing file. When you choose not to overwrite the existing file, the new file is created with the name "NEWn".

Using Help

The Help menu provides different ways of accessing help for the Configuration Utility.

Start of instruction setTo access the Configuration Utility documentation

  • From the Help menu, choose Help Contents.

    Or:
    Choose the following toolbar button:

    Toolbar button

Start of instruction setTo invoke context-sensitive help

  1. Select the node or parameter for which you want to invoke context-sensitive help.

  2. From the Help menu, choose Context Help.

    Or:
    Press F1.

Start of instruction setTo display information about the Configuration Utility

  • From the Help menu, choose About Natural Configuration Utility.

    A dialog box appears, displaying information such as the current version number.