When you start Software AG Designer for the first time, you are prompted to select a workspace. You can accept the default location (c:\Documents and Settings\[Username]\workspace), or choose a different location.

Stored in this directory are:

If you switch workspaces using File > Switch Workspace and choose a new directory, you will no longer see the same items as above. Each workspace contains its own set of rule projects, preferences, and local metadata.

After you selected a workspace, you must specify in the preferences settings to use UTF-8 for text file encoding. By default, Software AG Designer uses Cp1252 encoding. To modify this setting, navigate to Window > Preferences > General > Workspace, select the Other check box in the Text field encoding field, and select UTF-8 from the drop down list.

By default, Software AG Designer prompts you for a workspace every time you start it. You can choose to have it accept a default workspace and not prompt you. You can configure this option at startup by selecting the Use this as the default and do not ask again check box in the Workspace Launcher window, or at any other time by going to Window > Preferences > General > Startup and Shutdown.