AECOSim and Microstation Connect on the same PC

Hello

I have full license of AECOSim (currently running SS6).

Can I run Microstation Connect on the same PC?

My understanding is that if you have an AECOSim license, then by default you also have a license to run Microstation.

Indeed you can run AECOSim in 'Microstation only' mode

AFAIK that has always been the case.

Could someone from Bentley confirm this?

Parents
  • Hi Danny,

    Unknown said:
    Can I run Microstation Connect on the same PC?

    I guess there are two different answers possible:

    Technically there is no problem to install V8i and CONNECT Edition products side by side, because V8i is 32bit and CONNECT Edition is 64bit technology, installed into different folders, so there is no overlap. And 32bit application does not know about 64bit registered dlls, available assemblies etc. and vice versa.

    If talking about a license, I think it's wrong to think about AECOsim BD as about MicroStation plus extension (but I am not Bentley employee). I don't know AECOsim BD in detail, but I suppose the "MicroStation only" mode still consums AECOsim BD license, only some modules are not loaded in this workspace, so there is no MicroStation license available together with AECOsim BD.

    On the other hand I guess you can download AECOsim Building Designer CONNECT Edition technology preview to test CONNECT Edition environment.

    With regards,

      Jan

  • Hi Danny,
    ABD and MicroStation are separately licensed products.
    You cannot run MicroStation whether V8i or CONNECT Edition on an ABD licence.
    You can run ABD in MicroStation mode when you do not need the ABD tools.
    ABD CONNECT EAP1 is based on the work in progress builds of MicroStation CONNECT Update 4 so there will be some features in ABD EAP releases that are not yet available as released or technology preview features in MicroStation CONNECT.
    MicroStation CONNECT Update 4 will be available soon, watch the MicroStation forum for news of that.

    Marc

  • Well
    Here's the situation
    For many years, to use Bentley Building Products (Arch, MEP, Structural), you had to
    - install Microstation
    - then install Triforma
    - then install your chosen Bentley Building Product Discipline (Arch, MEP or Structural)
    So you then had Microstation installed separately on your PC, and you could switch without any issues from Microstation to Bentley Building

    Then it changed a bit, you no longer had to install Triforma separately. So you just had
    - install Microstation
    - then install Bentley Building (which included Triforma)
    Again, you had Microstation installed separately, and you could switch between Microstation and Bentley Building.

    Additionally, the new version of Microstation would typically be released some months before the update of Bentley Building. I would usually download the newer version of Microstation and start testing/checking it well before the updated version of Bentley Building. From what I could make out, many of the Bentley Building users were doing the same thing as I recall them also being active on the Microstation forums, indeed discussing the latest version of Microstation.

    So, for 10 years plus, I've had license of Bentley Building, and it was pretty obvious that this also included a license for Microstation. I would have thought that was quite obvious as the Bentley Building products are 'built-on' Microstation.

    When AECOSim was about to be released, we were informed (here on these forums), that you would no longer have to install Microstation separately before hand. Microstation would be installed at the same time, so there was just a single install.
    We were also assured that we would be able to continue using our existing license of Microstation and Bentley Building (V8i) as well as running AECOSim. It's quite normal to have to continue using existing versions, as you typically have projects they are set up with, and you can't upgrade those projects to the newer version of the software.

    Also, AECOSim includes a 'Microstation only' mode. It would seem pretty obvious that the intention is to allow you to use only Microstation, instead of the full Bentley Building/AECOSim suite/product.

    it is quite ridiculous then that when I downloaded the newer Microsation Connect, I was told 'you don't have a license for that', you only have a license for AECOSim'

    This is just plain 'silly' and frankly a 'downgrade' or a step backwards as far as the licensing is concerned.

    I find it totally 'off' and just plain 'wrong' that we AECOSim users have NOT BEEN ALLOWED to use Microstation Connect for at least 18 months now. As far as I'm concerned, I had a licence for Microstation for 10 years or so (via the Bentley Building Products) and never had any problem with that.
    Why does AECOSim come with a 'Microstation only' mode??????????????????????????
    Surely the intent there is that you can indeed use Microstation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    It is also counter productive and surely a shot in the foot for Bentley Systems.
    It's always been the case that one would evaluate/test out Microstation for some considerable time (months!), to get to grips with the new features/approach before then attempting to implement any Bentley Building product.

    Do they seriously expect people to 'evaluate' Microstation Connect, with a 14 day trial version????????????
    Assuming most people are working and/or have a life of some kind, in that 14 days, exactly how many hours are people actually going to be sat in front of a PC, evaluating the newer Microstation Connect????????
    Answer, ....... a few at most.
    This is patently ridiculous and I'm beyond unhappy about this (obviously!)

    I very much hope this is just an oversight by the licensing department (who it seems aren't fully familiar with how these software products 'work', .................. A quote from one of my replies, ...... 'AECOSim is a CAD software', ..... right, ..... that really clears that one up then, ..... good to know)

    This approach, apart from being a bit of a 'let-down' for existing Bentley Building users, is also going to delay the uptake of the newer version of AECOSim Connect.
    It is only now (even then only via the EAP) that we can get to grips with the new approach in the Connect series of software. 18 months after Microstation Connect has been released.

    I can see no commercial reason or advantage to Bentley Systems for taking this approach!

    Do they seriously think that anyone using AECOSim, should they wish to use Microstation on a project, is going to go and buy a separate license of Microstation, just so they can use some of the Connect features that are not currently available in AECOSim. That's just not going to happen!

    Will someone at Bentley look in to this?
    It's more than annoying and if this is a serious decision by Bentley Systems, ....... then I will be more than 'disappointed'

    Regards

    Danny Cooley

    Freelance AEC CAD/BIM Technician Architecture, MEP & Structural  ..... (& ex Low Carbon Consultant, ..... because they weren't that bothered!)

    OBD Update 10, Windows 10 Pro, HP Z4-G4, 64Gb, Xeon 3.6GHz, Quadro M4000

  • Hi Danny,
    I wish I had a good answer in regards to the core licensing aspect, but that is something outside the scope of support.

    For the MicroStation Mode, however, that had nothing to do with licensing in any fashion but was added specifically to limit the available toolset in ABD to those in base MicroStation. IOW, it was strictly a UI decision based on user request. Plus, that mode still does load the Family & Part system in the background to support live DV resymbolization, something that plain MicroStation cannot do.

    In regards to CONNECT... understood. The way ABD is licensed precedes MicroStation CONNECT by a few years, but yes, until ABD CONNECT Edition itself is released there has been/will be a gap in that functionality. AFAIK that would apply to any standalone discipline app such as OpenRoads, OpenPlant, etc..



  • Steve
    I appreciate this is note the licensing forum, ......
    ' Plus, that mode still does load the Family & Part system in the background to support live DV resymbolization, something that plain MicroStation cannot do.'
    Interesting ...... ............. I'll comment on that in another posting
    'until ABD CONNECT Edition itself is released there has been/will be a gap in that functionality'
    A gap, ....... about a year and a half!
    2-3 months maybe, ..... but a year and a half
    I'll be honest, .... I feel 'cheated'
    Probably best finish this topic here ..... because I have nothing good to say about it
    I guess I won't be participating in any Mictrostation forums/feedback/development, ....... because apparently I don't actually have the right to use it.
    Enough for now!

    Regards

    Danny Cooley

    Freelance AEC CAD/BIM Technician Architecture, MEP & Structural  ..... (& ex Low Carbon Consultant, ..... because they weren't that bothered!)

    OBD Update 10, Windows 10 Pro, HP Z4-G4, 64Gb, Xeon 3.6GHz, Quadro M4000

  • Hi Danny,

    I would like to add to this: BE VERY CAREFUL of the Bentley licensing policy !!!

    I have 6 microstations seats and i decided to migrate 2 licenses for ABD (ie 4 MS licenses +2 MS licenses).
    But my architects still need to open microstation for some on going projects:
    TA DA!!! Bentley charges me 2 over uses of MS (for 40 min use) = 2 x 900€ = 1800 €
    No way to have some free time using 6 MS licenses while i set up the ABD configuration (wich is, by the way, very painful !)

    The wrongly named "Open license"system is not at all open but charges you as much as it can.

    And AECOSim "Microstation only mode" it not at all useable in production environnement, you will spend hours to try to configure AECOsim to work well with your ongoing Microstation environnement - and even if you succeed, ABD will take ages to open ( because it will load all Families and Part you don't need).


    Chris
Reply
  • Hi Danny,

    I would like to add to this: BE VERY CAREFUL of the Bentley licensing policy !!!

    I have 6 microstations seats and i decided to migrate 2 licenses for ABD (ie 4 MS licenses +2 MS licenses).
    But my architects still need to open microstation for some on going projects:
    TA DA!!! Bentley charges me 2 over uses of MS (for 40 min use) = 2 x 900€ = 1800 €
    No way to have some free time using 6 MS licenses while i set up the ABD configuration (wich is, by the way, very painful !)

    The wrongly named "Open license"system is not at all open but charges you as much as it can.

    And AECOSim "Microstation only mode" it not at all useable in production environnement, you will spend hours to try to configure AECOsim to work well with your ongoing Microstation environnement - and even if you succeed, ABD will take ages to open ( because it will load all Families and Part you don't need).


    Chris
Children
  • Chris

    We have a mix of Microstation and AECOsim, and have no problem using AECOsim with Microstation files.

    Our setup is simple, but you can't tell the difference between Microstation and AECOsim when we're working in a file.

    AECOsim in Microstation mode can use the same config files as Microstation, and loads fairly quickly, as it doesn't load all the dataset files.

    On the migration to AECOsim from Microstation. Didn't Bentley tell you that you can migrate 2 Microstation licenses to 3 AECOsim at no additional cost. You just have to pay for the extra maintenance.

    Michael.
  • Thank you Michael for your feedback.

    Can you tell me how do you configure AECOsim to use your standard Microstation environnement ? We use a networked Workspace/Standard to share all our cell/dgnlib/datas/.... and AECOsim needs a lot more data files spread everywhere. I hope the Connect Edition will be easier to deploy.

    If there is a very simple way to install AECOsim over a Microstation installation only by pointing some config variables AND be sure nothing will be corrupted i will be very pleased ( and Bentley should explains it very clearly).

    And no, Bentley did not tell me i can migrate 2 MS licenses to 3 AECOsim. In fact, depsite i am a +10 years Bentley user i have no commercial taking care of me ( but i am in Paris - dangerous place seen from the States now :)).
    The only Bentley staff daring speaking to me (loudly) is the billing department.
    By the way, i do not really need to migrate 2 MS to 3 AECOsim, i would prefer migrate 1 MS to 2 AECOsim, so i can continue to use a MS licence during the learning period.

    Regards,
    Chris
  • Chris

    You can start AECOsim in "Microstation" mode, and create a user similar to you Microstation User. In Microstation mode, it doesn't load all the Dataset files AECOsim needs.

    I've copied the .upf and .ucf files and User files from our old Microstation to this newly created User, and everything still works. But we have a simple setup with local files. It should still work with network files. There are smarter people here who can probably help with the config side of things, if needed. Try in the "Microstation" forum.

    The 2 for 3 swap is because 2 Microstation licenses cost roughly the same as 3 AECOsim licenses.

    Regards
    Michael.