The table below lists non-database files that are stored in the encyclopedia database. More specifically, the FILES table contains a record for each file. All these files can be exported, edited by other applications, and imported back into the database.

System Architect displays properties for encyclopedia objects based on the methodologies and the target databases you chose when creating the encyclopedia. These properties are written to the file SAPROPS.CFG. You can override settings in SAPROPS.CFGP (see Customizing the Repository Metamodel -- SAPROPS.CFG and USRPROPS.TXT), letting you customize definition dialogs, create new dialogs, create your own diagram types, with custom symbols and toolbar metafiles, among other options. There are certain properties you cannot override with USRPROPS.TXT. Click Rules for Editing USRPROPS.TXT to see which they are.

DGX is the format for System Architect diagrams. It contains all graphical information about a diagram, including the symbol positions, color fills, text color and so on. The file is automatically created you create a diagram, and is named with the syntax Dnnnnnnn.DGX.

By default, System Architect creates a .WMF file (metafile) for each .DGX file, and uses it to display a diagram thumbnail in the Explorer's properties. If a diagram changes, its metafile is updated when the encyclopedia is re-opened. System Architect also supports .WMF by letting you use these for symbols in Depicting a Symbol with a Bitmap or Metafile.

If you create user-defined diagrams, you can use Bitmap files for the Draw toolbar which correspond to the symbol metafiles.

These files control properties in definitions dialogs and diagrams. When you start a new project, these files are automatically copied into the FILES table of your encyclopedia database.