What is a Library?

A library is the name given to the collection of folders in which PcVue keeps the files that define its mimics, mimic templates, symbols, images and SCADA Basic programs. Whenever you open a mimic, paste a symbol, load a program etc. you can select the library where it is located.

There are two distinct library types, differentiated by their location within the PcVue folder structure.

Local libraries - Located in the folder specific to a particular project and only available to that project.
The Common library - A library located at the same level as the Bin folder and available to all projects.
Shared libraries - Named libraries located in the LIB folder at the same level as the Bin folder and available to all projects.

About the local libraries

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By default, there is a single local library for each project identified by the name LOCAL. This library cannot be deleted. When you are developing the HMI, if you do not change the library selection, everything is saved in this library. The library is located in the project root folder and it is composed of the following folders.

Folder	Contents
3D	3D mimics
B	Images
P	SCADA Basic programs
S	Symbols
SCR	VBA scripts
Templates	Application Architect templates and parameters
W	Windows (Mimics)
WT	Window templates (Mimic templates)

Additional named local libraries, created using the Application Explorer as part of the project configuration, are located under the LIB folder that is located under the project root folder. There is one folder for each library that is created. Each folder contains the same eight sub-folders as described in the table above.

The name by which a library is identified is not necessarily the same as its folder name.

About the common library

By default, there is a common library accessible to all projects that is located at the same level as the Bin folder. This library cannot be deleted. It is composed of the following folders.

Folder	Contents
BMP	Images
GIS	Persistent data retrieved from map control providers. Includes map tiles.
PKI	Built-in certificate store.
PRG	SCADA Basic programs
SCR	VBA scripts
SYM	Symbols
WIN	Windows (Mimics)
WTP	Window templates (Mimic templates)

About the shared libraries

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Shared libraries are in the Lib folder that is located at the same level as the Bin folder and are accessible to all projects. Each subfolder contains a shared library. It is composed of the following folders.

Folder	Contents
3D	3D mimics
B	Images
P	SCADA Basic programs
S	Symbols
SCR	VBA scripts
Templates	Application Architect templates and parameters
W	Windows (Mimics)
WT	Window templates (Mimic templates)

If you chose the Typical setup when installing PcVue, several predefined libraries are installed with names such as shared_ARROWS, shared_MOTORS etc.

If you use the shared libraries in your project, and you copy the project to another location, make sure that you also copy the shared libraries you have used.

Changing the location of the shared library folders

The -b command line argument changes the location of the shared library folders and the projects root folder. See the topic Command Line Arguments.

Note the difference between the project root folder and projects root folder.

The project root folder is a folder, with the same name as the project, located under the projects root folder USR.
The projects root folder is, by default, is located under the PcVue root folder.

Managing the libraries

The libraries are managed using the Application Explorer. Using the Application Explorer you can:

Add new libraries.
Remove libraries from the PcVue configuration and optionally delete the corresponding folders.
Change a library's properties.
Add images to a library.
Delete individual mimics, mimic templates, symbols, programs or images from a library.