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. 

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?

Rik,

It looks like OneDrive has potential to be a solution for roaming user prefs, this works in my initial teat at least, needs some more research to check for unforeseen consequences before firming up on it though:

_USTN_HOMEROOT = $(OneDriveCommercial)/OBD_User/

OneDriveCommercial is a Windows environment variable that points to the OneDrive for Business root folder; OneDriveConsumer points to the consumer root folder.

There may be a 'gotcha' if OneDrive file sync clashes with MicroStation file locking so slightly wary of this at the moment.

Credit to Kevin van Haaren for pointing out these variables over in the Product Administration Forum.

Rik,

It looks like OneDrive has potential to be a solution for roaming user prefs, this works in my initial teat at least, needs some more research to check for unforeseen consequences before firming up on it though:

_USTN_HOMEROOT = $(OneDriveCommercial)/OBD_User/

OneDriveCommercial is a Windows environment variable that points to the OneDrive for Business root folder; OneDriveConsumer points to the consumer root folder.

There may be a 'gotcha' if OneDrive file sync clashes with MicroStation file locking so slightly wary of this at the moment.

Credit to Kevin van Haaren for pointing out these variables over in the Product Administration Forum.

I can confirm this works, I have stored prefs and workspaces on google drive and OneDrive for the last few years. You may find the odd file sync issue but generally nothing to worry about.