> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.enercalc.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.enercalc.com/sel-faq/using-the-software/files/storage-location.md). # Storage Location Where ENERCALC SEL stores its database and project files on Windows and how it locates them. ## Where does ENERCALC Store Files? In the programming world there is a standard notation for file locations that, when used in program code, allows Windows to return the location depending on the currently logged in user. This is a more uniform method of file storage than prior methods, which typically involved storing files in a "Data" subdirectory of the actual program directory. The common Windows notation for file locations starts with "**CSIDL**" (**c***onstant* ***s**\*\*pecial* ***i**\*\*tem I**D*** ***l**\*\*ist*). When your ENERCALC software is installed our installation program asks Windows for the drive and directory locations corresponding to: CSIDL\_COMMON\_DOCUMENTS and CSIDL\_PERSONAL. We store two types of ENERCALC non-program files: Non-changing database files and changing user-created files. * Non-changing files are the database files....steel sections, wood sections, seismic response, etc. are stored in CSIDL\_COMMON\_DOCUMENTS. * Changing files (i.e. ENERCALC Project Files) are stored in CSIDL\_PERSONAL. ## What are the typical locations for Windows? In all cases \ is your personal folder under My Documents. * CSIDL\_COMMON\_Documents `C:\Users\Public\Documents\ENERCALC Common Data Files\` * CSIDL\_PERSONAL `C:\Users\\Documents\ENERCALC Data Files\` ## How does the software know where to look for these files? When ENERCALC SEL is launched it looks in the Windows Registry for the current user and extracts the ENERCALC file locations established by that particular user on the Settings > General Settings & File Locations screen. All of these values are stored in the Windows Registry for the current user. This allows different users of a computer to have their project data files and user-created databases accessible in their own folders. ## What are the various files where ENERCALC stores databases? ![](https://1076748670-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FtBL2fEQRwrlKSM2irFL0%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1667be1433b5ff96daebce2f69d4eb7549a28ca1%2FDatabase_File_Locations.jpg?alt=media) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## 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, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.enercalc.com/sel-faq/using-the-software/files/storage-location.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. 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.