MicroStation V8 Workspace Basics

(AKA Opening Pandora’s Box)

Presenter: Michael Eyre

San Diego Bentley Users Group Presents

MicroStation Workspace Basics

• What is a workspace?

• A collection of files that control where the support data is located• How MicroStation should work, or not work

• Where can the user first see these files?

• User, Project, and Interface Components

Support files handled by a Workspace:

• Seed Files

• Cell Libraries

• DGN Libraries

• Resource Files

• Color Tables

• What have I left out?...

What makes a Workspace?

Configuration Files and processing order

MSLOCAL.CFGMSCONFIG.CFG

PREDEFINED MACROS

ALL CONFIGURATION

FILES IN THE SYSTEM FOLDER

ALL CONFIGURATION

FILES IN THE APPL FOLDER

STANDARDS.CFG

PROJECT.CFG

DFLUSER.CFG USER.UCF <PROJECT NUMBER>.PCF

MICROSTATION STARTS

Defines the following:

· Location of Project PCF files

· Set location of Corporate Interface file

· Corporate MDLs

· Other settings that are corporate

The following line was added to the default file.%include S:/MSDATA/CORP/CFG/*.CFGBy using the *.CFG syntax, you will be able to put any CFG file in the CFG folder at a later date. Defines Project Workspace data specific to

the current project, such as:

· DGN Files

· Reference File locations

· Cell Libraries

· Seed Files

· Resource Files

Local Drive S:Drive H:Drive

One Possible MicroStation V8 Startup Process

USERDATA.CFG

Defines the following:

· Location of UCF files

· User data files like AccuDraw,

Function keys etc...

How are these files organized?

The levels The levels • System LevelSystem Level (System Stuff)(System Stuff)

• Application LevelApplication Level (InRoads, Triforma…)(InRoads, Triforma…)

• Site LevelSite Level (everybody gets it)(everybody gets it)

• Project LevelProject Level (specific to a project)(specific to a project)

• User LevelUser Level (just for that User)(just for that User)

The Startup Priority for Config Vars

User Level

System Level

Project Level

Application Level

Site Level

Sta

rt U

p P

roce

ss

Priority

5

4

3

1

2

Brain Overload!

• Forget all that stuff, I just want to:• Add a custom MDL or Macro to my interface• Find my own function keys file locally• Make my own list of available cells• Make my own interface portable• Get rid of the stupid MicroStation registration box• Add my local directory as a source for reference files

Opening Pandora’s Box

• Setting up a ms_debug shortcut to determine the current setup

• Workspace Assistant – File Order

• Syntax of variable editing: # < > = %lock

Ok, that was too much like programming

• Is there an easier way to make edits?

• Editing a variable in your User Configuration file (UCF) from within MicroStation – Select vs. Edit

Oops! I broke something, how do I fix it?

• Missing Reference files

• “XXXXX is already loaded” message

• Variable I tried to set didn’t take

MicroStation Workspace Basics

How to keep your CAD manager happy:• Don’t customize for the sake of customization• Make backups of all files before editing• Use the # key – copy a variable before editing it• Add comments as you go for documentation• Don’t mess with files that might affect other users

Pandora’s Box = Closed

Questions? Scenarios?

For more information on available variables:

• MicroStation Help, Administrators guide.• Find new MicroStation variables in the release notes• AskInga site for instructions: www.askinga.com/article.asp?index=item&articleID=200• Good list of variables: www.askinga.com/askingapics/155_variable_list.pdf• Bentley discussion groups – http://discussion.bentley.com/ go to bentley.microstation.administration

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San Diego Bentley Users Group

Thank you all for coming!