6.

3 Creating and Managing User Accounts

In the case of an installation with a local database, the default name for a PowerFactory user is the

Windows user name, which is automatically created when PowerFactory is started for the first time. (see

Chapter 5: Program Administration). In this case the program will automatically create and activate the

new account, without administrator intervention. In order to create other PowerFactory users if required,

the ’User Manager’ object can be used as described below:

In multi-user database installations, the administrator creates new user accounts by means of a tool

called the ’User Manager’, which is found in the Configuration folder.

To create a new user:

• Log on as administrator. You can do so by starting the PowerFactory 15.1 (Administrator) shortcut

in the Windows Start menu or by switching the user via Tools → Switch User in the main tool bar.

• In the left pane of the Data Manager click on Configuration folder to display its contents.

• Double click on the User Manager icon ( , right pane) and press the Add User. . . button.

The User edit dialogue will be displayed:

• In the General tab, enter the new user name and password.

• If a licensed version with a restricted number of functions is used (i.e. you may have 4 licences

with basic functionality, but only 2 stability licences), the License tab may be used to define the

functions that a user can access. The Multi User Database option (bottom of the tab) should be

checked for all users that will access the multi user database.

The administrator can edit any user account to change the user name, set new calculation rights or

change the password. To edit an existing user account:

• Right-click on the desired user and select Edit from the context sensitive menu. The User edit

dialogue will be displayed.

Any user can edit her/his own account by means of the User edit dialogue. In this case only the full

name and the password can be changed.

Note: The administrator is the only one who may delete a user account. Although users can delete

all projects inside their account folder, they cannot delete the account folder itself or the standard

folders that belong to it (i.e. the Recycle Bin or the Settings folder).
6.4 Creating User Groups

Any project or folder in a user account may be shared. This action can be performed selectively by

sharing only with certain user groups. User • In the User manager dialogue that appears press Add

Group. . .

• Enter the name of the new group, optionally a description and press Ok.

• The new group is automatically created in the User Groups directory of the Configuration folder.

The administrator can change the name of an existing group by means of the corresponding edit

dialogue (right clicking on it and selecting Edit from the context sensitive menu). Via the context

sensitive menu, groups can also be deleted.

The administrator can add users to a group by:

• Copying the user in the Data Manager (right click on the user and select Copy from the context

sensitive menu).

• Selecting a user group in the left pane of the Data Manager.

• Pasting a shortcut of the copied user inside the group (right-click the user group and select Paste

Shortcut from the context sensitive menu).

Users are taken out of a group by deleting their shortcut from the corresponding group.

The administrator can also set the Groups Available Profiles on the Profile tab of the Group dialogue.

For information about sharing projects please refer to Chapter 18 (Data Management).

6.5 Creating Profiles

Profiles can be used to configure toolbars, menus, dialogue pages, and dialogue parameters. By

default, PowerFactory includes “Base Package" and “Standard" profiles, selectable from the main menu

under Tools → Profiles. Selecting the “Base Package" profile limits icons shown on the Main Toolbar to

those that are used with the Base Package of the software. The “Standard" profile includes all available

PowerFactory icons.

Profiles are created in the Configuration → Profiles folder by selecting the New Object icon and then

Others →Settings→Profile. An Administrator can create and customize profiles, and control User/User

Group selection of profiles from the Profile tab of each group.

Figure 6.5.1 shows the Profile dialogue for a new profile, CustomProfile, and Figure 6.5.2 illustrates

aspects of the GUI that may be customized using this profile. This section describes the customization

procedure.

Use Multiple Data Manager When enabled, more than one data manager dialogue can be opened at

a time. When disabled only one data manager may be opened at a time and pressing the New

Data Manager button will pop up the minimized data manager.

Use operating system Format for Date and Time The operating system date and time settings are

used when this is checked.

Use Default Graphic Converter.

Edit Filter before Execute Presents the filter edit dialogue when a filter is selected, allowing the user

to edit the filter before application. However, this is sometimes irksome when a user is applying a

filter several times. Thus one may choose to go straight to the list of filtered objects when the filter

is applied by un-checking this option.

Always confirm Deletion of Grid Data When this option checked a confirmation dialogue is popped

up when the user deletes grid data.

Decimal Symbol Selects the symbol selected to be used for the decimal point.

Use Standard Database Structure In order to simplify the operation of PowerFactory for users who

do not use the program often, or who are just starting out certain restrictions may be introduced

into the database structure, for example, allowing only ’Type’ data to be placed in Library folders

(when this option is un-checked). However, this may be irksome for advanced users or those who

are used to the standard database working where a great deal of flexibility is permitted, so as to

suit the users needs, and thus the standard structure may be engaged by checking this option.

System Stage Profile The ability to create system stages may be limited by this option. Existing

system stages will still be visible but the right menu options that create new revisions or system

stages will be removed. This is once again a tool that may be used to ’simplify’ PowerFactory for

users not familiar with the program by limiting the operations that they may use.

Retention of results after network change when the option “Show last results" is selected,

modifications
to network data or switch status etc. will retained the results, these will be shown on the

single line diagram and on flexible data pages in grey until the user reset the results (e.g. by

selecting Reset Calculation, or conducting a new calculation).

7.2 Graphic Windows Settings

The graphic windows has the following settings.

Cursor settings

Defines the cursor shape:

• Arrow A normal, arrow shaped cursor.

• Tracking cross A small cross.

General Options

Valid for all graphs:

• Show Grid only if stepsize will be least Grid points smaller than the selected size will not be

shown.

• Show Text only if height will be least Text smaller than the selected size will not be shown.

• No. of Columns in Drawing Tools Floater Specifies the width of the graphics toolbar when this

is a floating window.