V8i

Jim,

Just to be clear, I fully understand that GDOT has already rewritten their pre-MSJ programs (I'm specifically talking about their Bridge programs, here) to run on MSJ, and I'm aware that it will take even more effort now to get these programs to run on the more current versions of MicroStation.  Still, if it seemed that I was being too hard on GDOT, it's probably because I had (I say "had" because it was at lunch-time today) a fast approaching Lunch & Learn on V8i coming up, and there was talk in this office of uninstalling MSJ when installing V8i.  So I apologize.  But the real purpose of this particular thread was for me to find out whether it's completely safe to uninstall MSJ when installing V8i, even though it's known that a client like GDOT is still working in it.  Apparently, my concerns were considered during today's Lunch & Learn, because they have decided to leave MSJ on the Bridge Group's machines in this office.

John

I am not slaming the GaDOT, just saying that tough times can make transitions and conversions equally tough. I was at Md. DOT when we stopped using RDS and IGrds and started using InRoads.

They should be glad they're not at WisDOT or FlaDOT where they apparently decided to switch from CAICE to Civil 3D!

I can't fathom that at all. I'm having a real tough time trying to transition an office from Land Desktop to Civil 3D!

John,

We're in the midst of a Microstation J to V8i SS1 upgrade ourselves, and until we work out all of the bugs, I'm convinced that I'm going to have to keep at least one seat of Microstation J around for insurance, until I'm positive that I no longer need it.

As for the GaDOT, cut the guys a little slack.  Check out this link :  http://www.dot.state.ga.us/doingbusiness/PoliciesManuals/roads/software/Pages/V8Update.aspx

It appears that they are in the midst of a massive upgrade from Microstation J /  CAiCE to Microstation v8 / InRoads with neccesitates them rewriting or converting their survey, mapping, photogrametry and database softwares. Frankly, I feel for what they are going through. 

Jim

PMFJI

I can't speak for InRoads states but there are 19 Geopak states that are either on V8, XM or V8i. Iowa is moving to V8i in July to keep up with demand from our contractors. We need to be able to provide grading tins to keep the contractors costs down. By keeping their costs down, we save money as well. We figured that moving to Version 8, it would save the sate at least 10%, more like 15%. That was worth going through the training and migration.

Sounds like a sound decision. With the current fiscal environment, I would be surprised to hear that much of anything is going on at most DOT's as far as upgrading standards.

What would really be nice is if they would adopt the NCS layering system for al DOT's. Some DOT's have or are close, but others are way out there. After being hamstrung to 63 levels for so long, a few of them went Level Crazy.

I was on a committee for one DOT and tried to get them to see that you don't need thousands of levels and the names do not have to be overly verbose. My former company was about 50/50 AutoCAD and MicroStation. The land development side did 99% of their work with Land Desktop in AutoCAD and the public engineering group did 99% of their work in InRoads and MicroStation. I setup a process where we could process all surveys in InRoads Survey for both offices and did all of this in V7.

The process taught me a lot about bylayer/bylevel and the AutoCAD side did everything using fewer than 300 total layers.

"At this time, GDOT does not support MicroStation/V8 and InRoads deliverables."  [And when they said "V8", they weren't even referring to V8(i), but to XM.]

http://www.dot.state.ga.us/doingbusiness/PoliciesManuals/roads/software/Pages/V8ConsultantUpdate.aspx

In addition, GDOT gives specific instructions for Microstation installation, specifically to "GDOT Bridge Design MicroStation Customization," but these instructions are for V7 since, again, GDOT has yet to update to any kind of V8 world.  Moreover, there are specific GDOT Bridge programs to be used as aids for design and plan preparation, but they are V7 programs since GDOT is not in the V8 world.  In fact, the GDOT Office of Bridge and Structural Design will check if these Bridge programs are installed in default locations if you request their help, and if they're not installed where they're supposed to be, they'll actually make you reinstall them before they'll offer technical support. 

http://www.dot.state.ga.us/doingbusiness/PoliciesManuals/roads/software/Pages/Customization.aspx

http://www.dot.state.ga.us/doingbusiness/PoliciesManuals/roads/software/Pages/BridgeEngineeringPrograms.aspx

You could try posting to the Road Design and Land Development forum, some of the people there may have dealt with the same issue.

The answer depends on whether you just want to deliver in V7 format or if you need to use V7 utilities or vertical apps (as already mentioned). By setting the workmode to V7 your files will all be in V7 format and some non-V7 features will be disabled, help topic 'Setting Up and Using V7 Workmode' covers this in detail.

Regards

Marc

As long as GDOT sticks with V7, or unless I get compelling assurance from the Bentley people posting here that V8i can safely work in the V7 environment without any adverse repercussions, and that it's, therefore, completely safe to uninstall V7, I'd have to agree with you.  Thanks.

You will need to setup a workspace specifically designed to use only the V7 workspace items - fonts, line styles, etc. Cells can be squirrelly as V8 must upgrade a cell library to a V8 format to use it, but the cells placed in the file are saved as V7 elements.

It can get more complicated if the project requires a vertical product, like InRoads, Geopak or whatever.

I would keep a V7 seat around for QA/QC. 

Does anyone know whether or not V8i can safely work with all older MicroStation 95/V7/J files (config and otherwise) and its directory structure?  I ask because one of our clients, the Georgia Dept. of Transportation, still mandates that consultants use MicroStation J, which is installed in the Bentley folder under C:\, whereas Microstation V8 (and I guess V8i, as well) is installed in the Bentley folder under C:\Program Files.  Our IT guy here figures it's OK to uninstall MicroStation J since he's heard and believes that V8i can work safely in the MicroStation J environment, but I just want to make sure beforehand.

 I'm not sure if I'm even posting this in the right place, so my apologies ahead of time.

John Hennekes