# 4.1.6: Default Program Settings

Karamba3D settings are organized into five hierarchical levels, with higher levels overriding lower ones:

1. **Default settings**: Defined internally within Karamba3D.
2. **Global "karamba.ini" file**: Located in the installation directory, applies to all users on the computer.
3. **Global "karamba\_user.ini" file**: Also in the installation directory, this file persists between updates and applies to all users.
4. **User-specific "karamba.ini" file**: Located under `%appdata%\Karamba3D`, applies only to the specific user.
5. **Units system and geometric units settings**: Stored in individual Grasshopper definitions. These settings reflect the active configuration when the definition was created and can be modified through the "Karamba3D\Physical Units" menu.

On startup, Karamba3D determines the appearance and behavior of a definition by processing these setting levels in order.

* The **global "karamba.ini" file** can be found in the Karamba3D installation folder and is editable with any text editor. To retain custom settings when upgrading Karamba3D, rename this file to **"karamba\_user.ini"**. Administrator rights may be required to modify the global file.
* **Per-user settings** are located in `%appdata%\Karamba3D\karamba.ini`, which only exists if user-specific settings are active. These settings can be conveniently modified via the "Karamba3D/Settings" menu in Grasshopper.

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"**. 

{% hint style="info" %}
Administrator rights may be needed to overwrite the global **"karamba.ini"**-file.
{% endhint %}

The per user settings can be found in "%appdata%\Karamba\karamba.ini". This file exists only if there are per user settings in place. A comfortable way to change the per user settings is to navigate to "Karamba3D/Settings" in the Grasshopper menu.

The global "karamba.ini" file includes a description of syntax rules and provides detailed explanations for each property, including its meaning, default value, and potential modifications. The following settings can be changed, among others:

* System of physical units (e.g., "SI" or "Imperial")
* Limit distance for snapping together neighboring nodes
* Value of gravitational acceleration
* Verticality limit for inclination
* Number format and display properties of output values
* Default material properties


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