I'm working for a small to mid sized company and we only have 2 Microstation users but are hoping to grow. We currently have our workspace configured to our personal workstations but I wanted to know the pros and cons of configuring it to a shared network versus leaving it the way it is. I have only been using Microstation for a month now so I'm still very new to the processes and wanted to gain some information from more experienced users.
There's actually a forum dedicated to Administration issues (called the Project Administration Forum). You might get more assistance there.
I FIRMLY believe in Networked workspaces for ANYTHING other than one user. It ensures that everyone, at all times is working with the correct files and resources, and if it's set up correctly, still allows users some space for their own personal preferences (tools, menus, shortcuts, etc.) It can take a little bit of research to get set up correctly (there are a lot of variables to consider) but it WILL save time, money and headaches as you grow. All you need to do is update the network resources, and everybody has the newest and best set-up. It also makes rolling out new client standards simpler - again, you only need to get that installed to one location.
I've managed a Microstation department of a small company before they decided to go with a networked workspace, and there were almost always issues with keeping all the machines updated with the current standards. There were only half a dozen of us, but everything that was done for one computer had to be done exactly the same for each and every other machine. Invariably, something would get overlooked, or someone would accidentally overwrite a file, or half the computers would get done one day and it would all have to be remembered for the next day. It wasn't impossible (portable media can solve most of that) but it was time consuming.
I would STRONGLY recommend starting to familiarize yourself with MicroStation setup and configuration, if you want to be the person running it. Actually, even if you don't want to be the person running it, it's a good idea to have some working knowledge anyways - it makes troubleshooting problems much easier. I believe that Bentley Learn even has on-demand lectures and training to help you figure it all out. And you'll always have us over on the Project Administration board to ask, too!
MaryB
Power GeoPak 08.11.09.918Power InRoads 08.11.09.918OpenRoads Designer 2021 R2
Hi Uma, which version are you using?
Marc
Power GEOPAK v8i
As MaryB suggests, it is always a good idea to centralize any customized workspaces onto a network location to ensure standards are being kept for all your users. The following articles may be of assistance in relation to networking workspaces for the V8i series but you should also be looking towards the CONNECT versions as well.
https://communities.bentley.com/products/microstation/w/microstation__wiki/8881/workspaces-on-the-network
https://communities.bentley.com/products/microstation/w/microstation__wiki/10341/networking-workspaces-the-easy-way
https://communities.bentley.com/products/microstation/w/microstation__wiki/23984/setting-up-the-microstation-connect-workspace-on-a-network
RegardsAndrew BellTechnical SupportBentley Systems
MicroStation - QuickConfig Standard might also be a useful start point