Installation Default Directory: Databases, Database Checker, and TDB Editor

The standard Thermo‑Calc databases and the database initialization file tc_initd.tdb are located in a subfolder to the Thermo‑Calc installation. For example, in a Windows Standalone installation, you can find these in a folder called data where the file path is C:\Program Files\Thermo‑Calc\<version>\data.

Editing the Database Initialization File or Unencrypted Database File

Also see Installation Default Directories and the License File and the Database Manager User Guide .

Database Checker

The Thermo‑Calc software package includes a program to check that the syntax of unencrypted database files is correct. The program applies the syntax rules set out in the Database Manager User Guide and reports errors and issues warnings. This program is intended for advanced users who develop and manage databases.

Thermo‑Calc accepts some deviations from these syntax rules. Although warnings can be ignored, errors must be corrected. Reported errors must be corrected in the TDB file before the database can be loaded by the application. Sometimes the warnings can also reveal the need for additional corrections as shown in the example below.

For example, a warning is generated if a phase name is detected that is also an abbreviation of another phase name in the database. Although allowed, it is not recommended as this can (in some cases) lead to unexpected results because abbreviations are also used when entering commands in the Console and included in macro files. The following shows why in this case an abbreviation is not recommended.

Imagine that a macro file uses the abbreviation ABC to refer to a phase in a database that is named ABCDE. As long as there is no other phase in the database with the same exact name or initial abbreviation, it works. But if a new phase is added to the database and is actually named ABC then the macro can in error refer to the wrong phase. The macro still runs but now refers to the phase ABC instead of ABCDE because ABC is an exact match, which takes precedence over abbreviations. The Database Checker displays a warning because this situation can only occur when one phase name is an abbreviation of another.

With respect to using this tool, the executable DatabaseChecker file is found in the Thermo‑Calc home directory.

The program can also be launched by selecting Tools → Database Checker from the main menu in Thermo-Calc.

TDB Editor

The TDB Editor is an editing tool for those who develop their own custom databases for use with Thermo‑Calc or other applications. The tool speeds up the database editing process by providing immediate feedback through syntax coloring, syntax checking, and by allowing formatting and easy navigation to items of interest in the TDB file.

During installation, the tdb-language-support.vsix file is installed in the Thermo‑Calc home directory.

In order to access the most-up-to-date version of the TDB editing functionality, it must be reinstalled every time a new version of Thermo-Calc is installed.

For information about installing the TDB Editor, which is separate from the main installation and can be done later, see About the TDB Editor and Installing the Code Editor and the TDB Editor.