Advanced MicroStation Administration . Session 2

1 1 Advanced MicroStation Administration Session 2 Take your MicroStation Administration skills to the next level. This Session will discuss advance topics and best practice for administrators of MicroStation Disclaimer General thoughts Workspace review Site level, Projects, and User What to do with a UCF Syntax Workmode additions License, license, who s got the license? Other neat admin stuff2 Disclaimer Some of you may know many of these points already Some of this may seem basic or obvious Some of this may up in the stratosphere You d be surprised at how many people don t know what some would consider obvious Parts of this presentation have been presented here before, but the jokes are possibly all old as Review3 Config Files, Variables, and SyntaxThese help us guide users to the proper place for resources for our LibrariesReference FilesFontsA big bucket full of variablesMS_SYMBRSCMS_RFDIR_DGNDIRMS_CEL LWhat are configuration files4 VariablesPointers to: Directories Resource files switches (on/off)How does MicroStation work?

2 How does MicroStation work when it kicks off?5 How does MicroStation work?How does MicroStation work when it kicks off? : The first file MicroStation looks for when : the second fileHow does MicroStation work?How does MicroStation work when it kicks off?Learn it. Know it. Live it. 6 Config SyntaxSetting Variables # Comment lineText is ignored Variable = ValueSet Variable > ValueAdd to end of list Variable < ValueAdd to start of list Variable : ValueSet if not already defined $(Variable) Expand another variable //server/folder/Multi-system syntaxUse a trailing /How does MicroStation work?How does MicroStation work when it kicks off?7 How does MicroStation work?My best practice I recommend to leave the configuration files in these areas alone (for the most part) You never know what is going to happen to these files as MicroStation advances You may rip the files aware that you may have to do that every time MicroStation gets updatedConfig SyntaxPre-processor Commands %includeProcess another.

3 Cfg %if exists (file)Process only if the file exists %if defined (var) Process only if the variable is defined %if (var) == valueProcess only if the variable equals the specific value %elifElse do something else %endifEnd optional section %lockLock a variable %level 4 Set variable at another configuration level8 Site Level Site level are things you want to happen to everyone at your office / installation / locationSite Level We point one file on the desktop, and point the whole workspace to the server9 Company standards at the Site We place our company shared resources at the Site levelUser Level User specific information Must be writeable by the end user10 User level We point the user to a Users folder. Every user has his/her own folder, and we use the Windows login UserName as the determinant User level Some may use a UCF for a discipline, which points to a set of projects _USTN_PROJECT is written at the UCF level, and defined at the Site Level.

4 Some may use a UCF for a discipline, which points to a set of projects, and then %include $(USERNAME).cfg for the end users specific information11 Project level All of our work is client driven, so we set EVERYTHING POSSIBLE at the Project LevelProject level We set a variable to point a folder for PCFs12 Project level We do many different projects for the same clients, so there s no reason to duplicate resources Agency is our Client level resourcesProject level We %include the Agency configuration file at the PCF level13 Network or no network We test for the network, and if you are a disconnected user, we point the workspace local We copy the needed resources locally for those who need itBest practice in a multi-office Have a master workspace in a protected area Replicate the SITE level information We use Robocopy Help the offices set up their agencies Train them to set up their own PCF s based on your guidance14 WorkmodeinformationA workmode is a way for you to: - Enable/Disable certain capabilities within MicroStation Describe this environment Commonly used variables include MS_OPENV7 _USTN_CAPABILITY MS_DWG** More of a pointer than a modeMS_OPENV7 The V7 workmode is a configurable environment.

5 One can automatically set the V7 Workmode and how MicroStation V8 deals with V7 files by using the configuration variable MS_OPENV7V8V715 Syntax If not set or set to 0, the file opens with an alert dialog that provides an option to upgrade the file to V8 DGN format. If set to 1, the file is upgraded to V8 DGN format and opened automatically If set to 2, the file is opened in read-only mode. If set to 3, the file is opened in V7 practice for a fully V8 environment ? If not set or set to 0, the file opens with an alert dialog that provides an option to upgrade the file to V8 DGN format. If set to 1, the file is upgraded to V8 DGN format and opened automatically If set to 2, the file is opened in read-only mode. If set to 3, the file is opened in V7 practice for V7 mode and Apps?We don t recommend it to our usersV8 applications were designed to work with the V8 file format, not the V8 version and batch convert your deliverablesCapability MasksA Capability Mask is configuration variable called _USTN_CAPABIILITY and its Capability Masks are found within the file, located by default in:Bentley\Program\ MicroStation \Config\S ystem17A Capability Mask has the ability to ENABLE or DISABLE certain MicroStation is how the V7 and DWG workmodes work under the hood Masks What do they doWARNING: DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE DIRECTLY!

6 Masks is the file that MicroStation uses to enable or disable tools when using DWG or V7 files. Copy the information out and implement the individual variables at the appropriate configuration level for your Mask SyntaxWhen adding these capabilitiesto your workflow, use the following syntax:_USTN_CAPABILITY > [PLUS/MINUS]{NAME OF CAPABILITY}+ to turn ON a capability- to turn OFF a capabilityNOTE: Do NOT use an equal signwhen implementing this featureCapability Mask SyntaxFor example: if you were wanting to remove the ability to delete or create levels, you would add the following line to your UCF or PCF file:_USTN_CAPABILITY > -CAPABILITY_LEVELS_CREATE19 Variable variables_USTN_CAPABILITY capabilities apply in all workmodes_USTN_CAPABILITY_DGNcapabilitie s apply only when in V8 workmode_USTN_CAPABILITY_DWGcapabilities apply only when in DWG workmode_USTN_CAPABILITY_V7 capabilities apply only when in V7 workmodeThese variables allow you to build a new logicinto your configurationsIF I m in a V8 file, then THIS Else THAT 20 Best Practice example I want my people to be able to use True Type fonts when in a V8 file, but not to use them when in a V7 file In your workspace.

7 MS_OPENV7 = 3_USTN_CAPABILITY_V7 > -CAPABILITY_TEXT_FONTS_TRUETYPESELECT Server Check Out Best Practice controls the check out process FEATURE = Program TERM = How long USAGES = Total usages available CLIENT_FINGERPRINT = End Computer Name Use this technique to ensure those road warriors always get a license for as long as you need 99 days is the longest you can check out a file21 Home use? If it s truly home use, we get them a home use license If it s work at home use, we use a Secure Tunnel appliance called CAYMAS to establish a connection between any browser and any Checker thoughts Add the ScanRef MVBA from the \system\vba\examples Use Batch Process to batch process your files Great way to get a Reference Report22 Standards Checker thoughts Output report to XML file. Expand on the arrow to show missing Awesome tool to automate batch processes AND add a GUI to your setup Programming, smo-gramming23 Config update / License UpdateGeneral thoughts on MicroStation Administration Server based (backups are recoveries are nice) Don t mess with System and Application Don t get too messy if you don t have to Replicate, replicate, replicate Keep a test workspace Automate what you and out of USTN Educate everyone you can, but be realistic with the renegades Become your CIO s / CFO s best friend Learn Microsoft Project / P3 / SureTrak Hire smart people Don t do what you are not good at Get a a freak, but get a life!

8 24 Any questions? Earn Stars: Add This Session to YourBentley Institute Transcript Complete and return the BE Conference Learning Unit CardStars!25 ThanksShawn Foster Engineering / CADD Applications