The difference ?

Hi,

it's hard to answer your question in detail because its span several years of development, so the list is seriously long. So just a few off-hand notes without any distinguishing in what version a particular feature was introduced:

• They are different products from licensing point of view. V8i (SELECTseries 1) was the last verion in "old branch" and Bentley Map V8i (SELECTseries 2) were released with a new license and new editions (Bentley Map PowerView, Bentley Map for MicroStation and Standalone, Bentley Map Enterprise)
• New XFM storage model, old XML fragments were abandoned and now XAttributes are used.
• Integration of new "modules" like Advanced Map Finishing, Cadastral Mapping Configuration, Survey Tools...
• New technologies like Cartographic Styles, Bridge Symbols, new resymbolization features...
• Database Interoperability: SQL Server spatial support, enhanced and much faster Oracle Spatial support...
• Format Interoperability: Support for ESRI File geodatabase
• Bentley Map can now work as WFS client
• Changes in API
• and much much more...

If you need more detail information, I recommend to check readme files for all versions between V8i (SELECTseries 1) and V8i (SELECTseries 4) or you can write how or for what you want to use Bentley Map, so it will be easier to highlight new features specific for discussed purpose.

With regards,

 Jan

Hello,

If I can permit, let me add some important content to the licensing point if view that Jan refer to. Perhaps it's obvious, but I want to make it crystal clear. If you currently own a Bentley Map license and you never upgrated it, you will need to go thru your Bentley account manager to get the new Bentley Map license and see which Bentley Map flavor you neet\want.

As reference, here are all the Bentley Map flavors it exists >
- Bentley Map (pre SELECTseries 2)
- Bentley Map Power View
- Bentley Map for MicroStation
- Bentley Map (standalone)
- Bentley Map Enterprise

Bentley Map Power View and Enterprise are standalone edition. It means that you don't need to have a separate MicroStation installation to run it. MicroStation is embedded in it. Bentley Map for MicroStation and Bentley Map in standalone move have basically same functionnalities\capabilities.

Regards

Along with the comments already offered, the Features and Benefits for the most recent version can be reviewed online: Bentley Map web page.  The attachment below is an older document that may help in your evaluation of the (SELECTseries 1) edition.

 

The release timelines are a notable difference:

 

Bentley Map V8i 08.11.05.49 was released in June, 2009.  This was the initial release after the Bentley Map XM edition.

Bentley Map V8i (SELECTseries 1) was released in November, 2009.

Bentley Map V8i (SELECTseries 4) MR 1 was released in May, 2015.