MicroStation CE U17, *.DGN v7 export

found this in the delivered HELP under "New and Changed>Deprecated Features"

V7 Workmode - Saving As V7 and Editing V7 files. (V7 files can be opened as Read-only).

OK, I understand,
but saving a drawing from v8 to v7 should be possible.
But in my MicroStation, the "Microstation V7 DGN" format type is missing from the SaveAs dialog.
See picture in my first question

Just to expand on what Tim Hickman has mentioned, the V7 DGN file format was replaced with the V8 DGN files format over 20 years ago. There are not many requirements or other software packages that still rely upon this old V7 DGN file format. This ability to save back to this old format has now been deprecated, as explained in the Help Documentation. You can still open these old V7 DGN files and save to the V8 DGN file format.

History of MicroStation

New and Changed in MicroStation CONNECT Edition Update 17

Hello, thank you for your reply.
I have been working with MicroStation since version 95' and I was present as a user during the transition to the DGN v8 format.
And precisely because of the aforementioned backward compatibility with another system used by our company, I need to convert the drawings created in version v8 to the older version v7.
Our company has currently upgraded MicroStation V8i SELECT to the latest CONNECT edition U17 and at that time we found that the option to save to v7 format is not available.
Hence my question how to get this functionality back.
I'm sorry, but I'm not looking for a reason why it doesn't work, but a way to make the option to export to DGN v7 operational.
Anyway, thanks for all the ideas and replies

Hello, thank you for your reply.
I have been working with MicroStation since version 95' and I was present as a user during the transition to the DGN v8 format.
And precisely because of the aforementioned backward compatibility with another system used by our company, I need to convert the drawings created in version v8 to the older version v7.
Our company has currently upgraded MicroStation V8i SELECT to the latest CONNECT edition U17 and at that time we found that the option to save to v7 format is not available.
Hence my question how to get this functionality back.
I'm sorry, but I'm not looking for a reason why it doesn't work, but a way to make the option to export to DGN v7 operational.
Anyway, thanks for all the ideas and replies

I would recommend keeping a version of MicroStation around that will allow you to save back to the V7 file format (pre update 17). 

Bentley has no obligation to keep this functionality and has made the decision to deprecate this option.

In the meantime, Company wide, I would suggest making a workflow towards getting off this old file format. Choosing to remain has no guarantees.

Hi,
thanks everyone for the ideas, solved by downloading version 10.16.03.11.
this last allows you to save DGN v8 to v7

Hi Pavel,

I'm curious why you need to save back to V7. Are you still using applications that depend on the V7 format?

Hi,
exactly. Our company uses the v7 format in some GIS applications.
Furthermore, the geographic data exchanged with the state administration is, among others, in the old DGN v7 format.

Hi Pavel, thank you. Would you mind telling us which applications and state are involved? If you don't want to share those details in a public forum I can email you direct to discuss. It might be useful for us to contact consumers of V7 files and encourage them to consider V8.