Note: The information outlined in this article is valid only if you always use MicroStation in a networked configuration.
You can enjoy flexibility while easily maintaining standards by having your site configuration file on your network.
By networking your workspaces, standardization and maintenance can become a reality faster than you may think. Let's take a look at how quickly and easily workspace components can be networked. First, an understanding of the key components is necessary.
A MicroStation workspace, by definition, is a custom MicroStation environment or configuration. A workspace consists of a project, and a user interface:
By using configuration variables, MicroStation can locate various workspace components, allowing you to move them almost anywhere you wish-even to a network drive. Configuration variables are defined in ASCII files called configuration files. Variables being defined in these configuration files are set only when the MicroStation executable is run. Configuration files can also contain logical operators such as %ifdef, %ifndef and %endif to test conditions.
There are three configuration files to consider when networking workspaces:
will follow the naming convention of AnyName.cfg. We will move this file to a network drive.
as well as any variable definitions contained in the site configuration file. Project configuration files (there can be more than one) are located, by default, in the ..ustation\config\project directory and follow the naming convention of ProjectName.pcf. We will move these files to a network drive.
An environment variable (for the purposes of this article) is a configuration variable that is set at the operating system level. To set environment variables, use the procedure inherent to each operating system. For example, on Windows NT, use the System icon located in the Windows Control Panel. The following MicroStation configuration variables should be set at the system level:
Getting started
Given this knowledge of configuration variables (and how to make them environment variables), you will see how simple it is to begin networking your workspaces. The definitions of our three key environment variables are:
Note: The filenames of the project configuration files contained here will appear on the Project option menu located on MicroStation Manager. This is the method used to change projects before entering MicroStation.
Note: The wsui directory contains subdirectories for each available user interface. The names of these subdirectories appear on the Interface option menu located on MicroStation Manager. This method is used to enter into different interfaces when
entering MicroStation.
As you can see, networking workspaces need not be complicated. With this setup, you can:
Tip: Take a look at the delivered workspaces and create your own. The workspace modules delivered with MicroStation can be modified and moved to the network drive. Most of the hard work is already done. Simply set your three key environment variables, create or modify everything else locally and then move the modules to the network location.
Tip: To protect your invested time, make your network directories read-only. MicroStation does not require the ability to write to any of these areas to run properly.
With just enough understanding of MicroStation's startup procedure, the possibilities are endless.