How to control the folder for the "Browse" button in the WorkPage?

I've always used MS_DEF. Currently for CONNECT I have it set in my workset config. We have a separate workset for each project so I can have it open to the project specific folder. You could set it in the Client config and have it point to one specific client folder rather than project specific folders.

I'm sure there is another way to handle it, but I tend to stick with what works for me and is proven.

Hi mwlong
Thanks for your reply - unfortunately I can't see that MS_DEF helps controlling the folder (path) in which the Browse button will open (unless it's the first time you open a new WorkSet).

Best regards

Anders

Anders W said:

In my setup _USTN_WORKSETDGNS is defined in the msconfig.cfg

This file is read early when you start Microstation. You would need to override this location in you workset configuration file (project configuration) which is read later. In msconfig.cfg (which you should not edit) you can only set one folder location & it make sense that Microstation would look to that folder when trying to open new files. My _USTN_WORKSETDGNS is set in my project configuration. For each project configuration I have _USTN_WORKSETDGNS defined to MS_DEF. MS_DEF is then set to my project folder location.

If all of your project worksets are in one central location you could set _USTN_WORKSETDGNS higher up and have it point to that location the set MS_DEF to = $(_USTN_WORKSETDGNS)<project specific folder>

It is tough to diagnose & provide a specific resolution since these configurations can be modified in so many different ways. 

Thanks 

IMHO I know a lot about the configuration and the different levels and order in which the variables are loaded (and I don't edit the system cfg's).
I have tried to define _USTN_WORKSETDGNS at different levels but it makes no difference. It's still the history of the .upf file that determines the last used folder etc. (unless I create a new WorkSet and opens it for the first time).
Some day I'll maybe try with a brand new configuration (from scratch) and see if this works different ...or I'll wait until Bentley moves the configuration to SQLite, maybe next year!

Thanks again for your interest and suggestions.

Best regards

Anders

Looking through other config variables because I seem to remember a variable that was set to default to the last used folder. I can't recall if there is one and what it is. I just found another one tied to _USTN_WORKSETDGNS. Do you have _USTN_WORKSETDGNSDIRNAME set?

_USTN_WORKSETDGNSDIRNAME - Base directory name for design files of WorkSet. At the time of creating new WorkSet, this name is appended to the WorkSet root directory path.

mwlong said:

I seem to remember a variable that was set to default to the last used folder.

That sounds very interesting. Please "dig in your memory" and if you recalls that variable, please let me know .
_USTN_WORKSETDGNSDIRNAME is set, and is set to the default value: "dgn" but it is only a directory name ...so I doesn't think this is it.

I also just tried to disconnect all my configuration so I'm running with a clean default setup (out of the box) ... it doesn't change anything: it's still the .upf history that decides which folder gets opened. So it confirms that you must have defined a special variable that forces MicroStation to ignore the .upf history.

Best regards
Anders

THe more i look into this, I believe MS_DEF is the key variable. Not sure why it is not working for you. Maybe run a debug and see if you can pin down what is happening. You can submit a service request and have a Bentley Tech look at it.

THe more i look into this, I believe MS_DEF is the key variable. Not sure why it is not working for you. Maybe run a debug and see if you can pin down what is happening. You can submit a service request and have a Bentley Tech look at it.

I've tried to run a debug and "investigate" what's happening - but everything looks nice and MS_DEF = $ (_USTN_WORKSETDGNS).
I'll try to submit a service request ...my "feelings" tells me that it requires a new variable that overrules the upf history.

Thanks again for your thoughts and suggestions.

Best regards
Anders

Anders,

As far as I can see we would need to make changes. In V8i folder paths listed in the PCF under MS_DEF would be added to the Folder History pop-downs in addition the the 10 entry personal MRU list.

This is still the case for file dialogs in CONNECT Edition that currently continue to use older dialog designs with these file/folder history drop-down menus at the top right. Adding MS_DEF path definitions to the WorkSet.cfg will include them in the MRU list. The new dialogs with the file/folder history drop-down menus above the filename field do not do this.

If you would find this useful please file a service request mentioning Enhancement 1093851.

Hi Marc

Thankyou very much for your reply on this subject. It confirms me that this isn't possible in the current "state" of MicroStation CONNECT. In the meantime I have managed to persuade my client to start MicroStation in another way (adding the WorkSpaces and WorkSets in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Bentley MicroStation Design\Shell.. Reg.key). Therefore they just needs to double click at the dgn file when they are running their default WorkSpaces/WorkSets.
Therefore I wont file a service request ...but I'm happy to hear that you do have plans for "renewing" the old dialogs and the corresponding configuration variables :-)

Regards

Anders

Anders

One thing that I failed to mention is that we use a workspace switch in our Microstation shortcut. When I right-click on my CONNECT icon this is what the target looks like 

"C:\Program Files\Bentley\MicroStation CONNECT Edition\MicroStation\microstation.exe" -wr\\engdat1\COMMON2\MSV8i_support\Workspace\standards\

This path is where we have a workspace stored for some legacy projects that we are finishing the drafting tasks using CONNECT. Maybe something like this will solve your issue?