Is it possible to run Microstation from an external hard drive?

Hi David,

in my opinion there are two separate topics mentioned in your post: technical and legal.

Some details cannot be discussed because you don't tell us what version of MicroStation do you use and if you use a license covered by SELECT agreement, node locked, term licensed...

Unknown said:

I am very curious as to whether or not I can copy all the files from my old computer...

Not at all, it's not how desktop software works! The most of software has to be installed properly. The installation process is not about a copying files only, but different libraries can be installed and registered depending on Windows version (32/64bit, Vista, 7, 8, 10...). Complex programs like MicroStation typically depends on specific Windows or 3rd party modules (like NET Framework, VBA engine...), so an installer also checks if they are installed or not. MicroStation itself is registerd in Windows registry, so Windows knows about it, how to uninstall it, that it should be opened when dgn file is double clicked etc.

Summary: It's not possible to copy-and-paste MicroStation and to expect it will work fine. Maybe it will start, but I guess it will be pretty unstable.

Unknown said:

I wouldn't have to worry about having to find a way to get Microstation loaded on a new computer... especially if I live in a different city.

I don't see it as a big issue, especially of the computer is yours. True is MicroStation installation exe is huge, but it's still far smaller than any standard USB, so no problem to keep the installation exe somewhere and to use it whenever possible.

Unknown said:

We loaded a spare seat of Microstation that she owns onto my computer so I could do drafting for her from home as needed.

Licensing (legal) question is substantially more complicated and I am not expert: There are two main scenarios:

• The license is not covered by SELECT, so it's node-locked. In such case, if the license need to be transfered to another computer, it has to be checked-out (freed) from the first computer and checked-in to the next one. This mechanism ensures the license is used once only.
• The license is covered by SELECT, so there is no problem to use it from different computers, but you have to ensure (because licensing technology does not allow it unfortunately) it will be not used simultaneously on several different computers.

There is also a question if if the license is owned by somebody else, if you can use it, but it's less important issue in my opinion, moreover depending on the license type and also in what country is applied.

Unknown said:

Additionally, I don't really want to deal with paying for access to a Cloud version

Nothing like "cloud version" of MicroStation exists. Bentley offers some cloud services (i-model sharing etc.), but it's about data, not the program itself.

I know there are some cloud based modeler like OnShape (commercial) or VECTARY (now free), but they are 3D modeling tools, not drafting. I am not aware about anything cloud based similar to MicroStation or AutoCAD drafting tools ... but I am sure if they don't exist, they will be in future ;-)

With regards,

  Jan

Hi David,

in my opinion there are two separate topics mentioned in your post: technical and legal.

Some details cannot be discussed because you don't tell us what version of MicroStation do you use and if you use a license covered by SELECT agreement, node locked, term licensed...

Unknown said:

I am very curious as to whether or not I can copy all the files from my old computer...

Not at all, it's not how desktop software works! The most of software has to be installed properly. The installation process is not about a copying files only, but different libraries can be installed and registered depending on Windows version (32/64bit, Vista, 7, 8, 10...). Complex programs like MicroStation typically depends on specific Windows or 3rd party modules (like NET Framework, VBA engine...), so an installer also checks if they are installed or not. MicroStation itself is registerd in Windows registry, so Windows knows about it, how to uninstall it, that it should be opened when dgn file is double clicked etc.

Summary: It's not possible to copy-and-paste MicroStation and to expect it will work fine. Maybe it will start, but I guess it will be pretty unstable.

Unknown said:

I wouldn't have to worry about having to find a way to get Microstation loaded on a new computer... especially if I live in a different city.

I don't see it as a big issue, especially of the computer is yours. True is MicroStation installation exe is huge, but it's still far smaller than any standard USB, so no problem to keep the installation exe somewhere and to use it whenever possible.

Unknown said:

We loaded a spare seat of Microstation that she owns onto my computer so I could do drafting for her from home as needed.

Licensing (legal) question is substantially more complicated and I am not expert: There are two main scenarios:

• The license is not covered by SELECT, so it's node-locked. In such case, if the license need to be transfered to another computer, it has to be checked-out (freed) from the first computer and checked-in to the next one. This mechanism ensures the license is used once only.
• The license is covered by SELECT, so there is no problem to use it from different computers, but you have to ensure (because licensing technology does not allow it unfortunately) it will be not used simultaneously on several different computers.

There is also a question if if the license is owned by somebody else, if you can use it, but it's less important issue in my opinion, moreover depending on the license type and also in what country is applied.

Unknown said:

Additionally, I don't really want to deal with paying for access to a Cloud version

Nothing like "cloud version" of MicroStation exists. Bentley offers some cloud services (i-model sharing etc.), but it's about data, not the program itself.

I know there are some cloud based modeler like OnShape (commercial) or VECTARY (now free), but they are 3D modeling tools, not drafting. I am not aware about anything cloud based similar to MicroStation or AutoCAD drafting tools ... but I am sure if they don't exist, they will be in future ;-)

With regards,

  Jan