Learn about the methods of setting prefixes that are used in the numbering process.
There are two manual prefix methods that can be used on demand if some specific objects require a distinct prefix that cannot be covered by a generic rule. In addition to these, Advance Steel provides a configuration page where you can set prefixes for all objects and then automatically used during the numbering process. The prefix configuration also requires a workflow adjustment during 3D modeling in Advance Steel, where certain model role attributes need to be set for steel beams and plates. You can adjust the prefix configuration using the
(Prefix settings), located in the Output tab 
Part marks panel.
In addition to the Advance category that stores out-of-the-box prefix settings, any other additional setting needs to be stored in one of the two other existing categories: User or Project.
User: settings are stored in Advance Steel files and can be reused at any point by the same user on multiple projects. Also, as the settings are stored in a database, they are available to anyone who connects to the same configuration files.
Project: the configuration is stored within the model file itself. The changes made in the Project category will not affect the Advance Steel configuration files. Therefore, this is not shared with other projects or other users. Instead, the entire prefix configuration will be available when opening the respective model file on any other computer.
To ensure the best possible output and also to easily exchange these settings from project to project when prefix requirements need to be adjusted, you can use the prefix settings categories as follows:
- Use the same prefix rules for all projects. To do this, it is best to use the default User category that contains all the prefix configurations in the out-of-the-box Advance category. All modifications can be made in the User category set as the current profile.
- When you need different prefix settings based on various projects, you can set multiple prefix profiles inside the User category. You can then easily switch between them by right clicking and choosing Set as current profile. The profiles can have any names.
- For prefix rules that are unique to a specific project, you can use the Project category. This category cannot be set as preferred and it will always be used when numbering is applied to the respective model, and all the prefix settings within it are primarily used. The current profile is used only for prefix configurations that are missing from the Project settings.