Updated version of this article, which was originally posted on 18 Aug 2017
In CONNECT Edition - Custom Configuration - Part 1 : Initial Creation Steps I described how the installer can be used to specify the location of your Custom Configuration by setting the value of the variable _USTN_CUSTOM_CONFIGURATION listed in "C:\ProgramData\Bentley\MicroStation CONNECT Edition\Configuration\ConfigurationSetup.cfg" to the chosen Network Configuration path; e.g.: \\hal\CONFIGURATIONS\MCE.
This results in the WorkSpace menu showing both the custom configuration and the delivered example configuration:
If you do not wish to expose the delivered example configuration we have a related variable, _USTN_USER_CONFIGURATION that can be used to show only one configuration. This configuration can also be given an appropriate name, in this example SMB Projects (this applies from MicroStation Update 15 onwards):
For all users this can be enabled simply by adding two line to the [General] section of "C:\ProgramData\Bentley\MicroStation CONNECT Edition\Configuration\ConfigurationSetup.cfg":
Specifying the path where the custom configuration is located and applying a label, e.g.:
#----------------------------------------------------------------------# START: The section defines user selection at the time of installation.# These lines are generated by installer.[General]
_USTN_USER_CONFIGURATION_LABEL = SMB Projects_USTN_USER_CONFIGURATION = D:/_SMB/SMB_Resources/
[SetConfiguration]%if !defined (_USTN_USER_CONFIGURATION)%if defined (_USTN_CUSTOM_CONFIGURATION) && ($(_USTN_CUSTOM_CONFIGURATION) != "") && exists ($(_USTN_CUSTOM_CONFIGURATION))_USTN_CONFIGURATION = C:/ProgramData/Bentley/MicroStation CONNECT Edition/Configuration/%endif%endif
As the [SetConfiguration] section opens with an 'if undefined' logical statement (in the %if !defined operator the '!' is NOT), the nested statement specifying _USTN_CONFIGURATION is not processed. _USTN_USER_CONFIGURATION is then the variable that specifies the location of the Custom Configuration.
Note: the original version of this post described defective behaviour:
In early releases of CONNECT Edition that variable added a third option to the WorkSpace menu, User Configuration, as shown below, which I suggested could be useful for administrators, this is was not a designed behaviour and is no longer available.:
Translated German Wiki articles:CONNECT Edition - Was bewirkt _USTN_USER_CONFIGURATION?
Thanks for clarifying Marc, if not a little disappointing. The original behaviour was much better from an admin/testing point of view. As it stands I have to edit my cfg file each time I want to swap
Hi Duncan, the behaviour originally described was a defect, the behaviour that you have found is the intended behaviour, I have updated the article to reflect this.
Hi Duncan, you are correct. This is no longer working as I found when writing this post. Having looked at this one I think the behaviour you are seeing is the original design intention. I am discussing with colleagues and have filed Defect 1095759 to get it checked out. I've added a note at the head on the post.
Marc,
If I define _USTN_USER_CONFIGURATION it overrides my custom configuration, what do I need to do to get the workspace drop down to display the 3 configurations as you show above, or evne jut custom and user?
I used to have this but seems that in recent versions if USTN_CUSTOM_CONFIGURATION is defined and exists then it overrides and hides the installed example configuration, and if USTN_USER_CONFIGURATION is defined also it overrides both.