> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://calcs.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Video Series: How to Use Project Defaults
> Learn how to set up global project parameters, define site conditions, and link defaults to your calculations on Calcs.com
In this series, we walk you through the power of **Project Defaults**. You will learn how to centralize your calculation data, whether that be site-specific wind and seismic parameters to custom load linking, using Project Defaults ensures that changes made in one place update across your entire project.
**Why use Project Defaults?** Instead of typing the same wind speed or deflection criteria into every beam calculator, define it once in Project Defaults. If the project location changes, simply update the address, and all linked calculations update automatically.
Check out our [Project Defaults Cheat Sheet](/calculations/us/project_defaults_cheat_sheet) for a crash course on commonly used references.
## Jump to a video
Address, wind/seismic mapping & building codes
Using reference IDs & custom distributed loads
## Setting up Project Defaults and Site Parameters
Project defaults act as the central information hub for all your calculations. In this video, we review how to input your project address to automatically pull site-specific data (wind, seismic, snow) and configure your building codes.
Key features covered:
* **Automatic Geo-location:** Entering the project address pulls data from contours maps for Wind, Seismic (USGS), and Snow.
* **Building Codes:** Default support for IBC, with options for California and Florida building codes.
* **Site Parameters:** Define tornado considerations, deflection criteria (long/short term), and building geometry.
* **Custom Loads:** Define custom distributed loads here to be used later.
## Linking Project Defaults to Calculators
Once your defaults are set, you can link them directly into specific calculators. This video demonstrates how reference IDs work and how to pull in the custom loads you defined earlier. We'll take a look at the wood beam floor joist
To link your data:
Open any calculator (e.g., Wood Beam). You will see fields referencing **Project Defaults** with a reference ID (e.g., `l_b`).
If you change a value in Project Defaults (like bearing length), it automatically updates inside the calculator.
In your load inputs, select **Link to Project Defaults** to pull in specific items, such as the mechanical unit defined in the previous video.
# Check out the next videos in our onboarding series:
Philosophy, traffic lights, Member Selector, link loads and more
Organizing Projects in Calcs.com
Joists, beams, columns, footings, and live linked updates
Build a fully connected lateral load path