user pref file

You should find that it is possible to relocate the UCF in Update 5 (this was a platform change first available in MicroStation). I have not checked this in OpenBuildings Designer yet but will do so soon. Previously every file other than the UCF could be relocated.

Note that we continue to recommend that user preferences are always stored on the local drive, using IT system functions to enable roaming.

Hi, Marc

We in the company all store the preferences on the server, as we use different machines for drawing it is interesting to store the settings in one directory on the server. So if we change machine, we can save a copy of the preference directory. It is important to have a separate directory per machine because versions or preferences can be different from one machine to an other. 

Hi Rik,

Thanks for the additional information. That is a familiar scenario, well managed and with good network speeds it should work happily.

so..... it would be nice to haven control about the personal.ucf

Hi Rik,

To change the location of all user preferences files including the UCF try the following:

1. Create prefs folder in desired location containing a .UCF file, it can be empty or pre-populated. For example:
   "D:\OBD_User\prefs\personal.ucf"
2. Add the following configuration statements to WorkSpaceSetup.cfg:
   
   %undef _USTN_USERCFG
   _USTN_USERCFG = $(_USTN_HOMEPREFS)/Personal.ucf
   _USTN_HOMEROOT = D:/OBD_User/

The reason for using WorkSpaceSetup.cfg is that file is in the Custom Configuration so Bentley's system files are not modified. The %undef _USTN_USERCFG statement is essential to clear the default value.

Obviously choose your own paths.

As previously mentioned we strongly recommend that user preferences are stored on the local drive and that relocation of preferences files is carried out with the support of IT systems that synchronize the local instance with a server copy, Windows Virtual Profiles for instance.

Marc, can you confirm that the ability to set paths for all user files has been reinstated? This was an issue raised way back in beta testing. While we do run our files locally, we store them in a custom location that we have access to (don't you love It groups). With the use of our hta files in the build, each time you close the hta files the users files are then copied to the network. Gives us access to them and still gives users the ability to have their user files follow them to different machines.

Thanks,

HI Sean,

Yes, I can confirm that. There is some concern internally that we may see problems caused by UPFs being messed up by slow networks or other causes hence our continuing recommendation.

Please could you share more details about your solution with us?

HI Sean,

Yes, I can confirm that. There is some concern internally that we may see problems caused by UPFs being messed up by slow networks or other causes hence our continuing recommendation.

Please could you share more details about your solution with us?

Marc,

I have seen the same issue and no longer store user files on the network. This has been seen even on quicker networks.

What we prefer to do is have all users files in a single custom location.

C:\Apps\Users\$(username)

We also use the location to install all software packages. The reason for this is that IT lock down the Program Files (etc) location and we need to copy a text file into the Appl directory.

What we then do is each time the hta application we use is closed, it copies the user files to the network. If a user swaps machines and they already have existing user files then they are copied down to the machines. If they are a new user, then they get a fresh copy of all files.

Thanks,

Thanks, that's useful to understand.