In EPLAN, schematics and attached documents such as lists and overviews are created as pages within projects. A project is a database in which, besides the project pages, all master data used in the project (symbols, plot frames, forms, parts data, etc.) is stored.
Thus the project file (*.elk) belongs to a project, as well as the directory where the database and the project-related master data are stored. The project file represents the project; using this file you select (e.g.) a project to open or unzip. It contains the reference to the associated directory containing the project data.
Project files can have different file suffixes, e.g.:
*.elk: Standard project
*.elp: Zipped project
*.elr: Completed project / reference project.
Example:In the ..\Projects\EPLAN directory is the ESS_Sample_Project.elk project file. This contains the reference to the ESS_Sample_Project.edb directory. In the ..\Projects\EPLAN\ESS_Sample_Project.edb subdirectory is the associated project data. If you wish to open a project using Project > Open, the file ESS_Sample_Project.elk is offered in the file selection dialog.
See also