Multiple Users in MicroStation?

Question

To All, 
 Is there any way to have multiple users enter into a .dgn file and both have read-write access? In other words, is there any way for multiple users to edit one .dgn file at the same time? Or if multiple users can enter the same .dgn file and edit different models in that file simultaneously? I'm curious to figure this out and I think it would be extremely beneficial if multiple users could enter and edit a .dgn simultaneously. 
 Thanks in Advance! 
 -Zack Cerankowski

Lorys · Accepted Answer

Zachary Cerankowski said: multiple users edit 500+ cross sections that were created in one .dgn 
 This exactly how I work on most road projects.. 
 Designer inroads creates output xref in my xref folder and we use a coded file name system and he is not allowed to rename it just replace it..., 
 He archives off the original into a superseded folder, replaces / overwrites the original and my drawing files auto update due to the sections xref is updated and informs the drafter ( me, by email it has been updated and needs looking at) .. now this output from Inroads has to be standardised with no changes by us the drafters, it has to insert in its original position the sheet boundaries must be in the same place and the same symbologies used through out... 
 now some times we get result where there are now more sections than last time so drawings are out of wack... 
 No problem... I delete all the drawings that are using the xref except the first one, exchange to the xref and use the powerselector to count the sheet boundaries... not really needed but it gives me confidence to know ahead.. 
 now back to my first drawing that has xref inroads xsect and title block xref ( I work in model space only as required by the local DOT) 
 I make sure the xref clip boundary is set via the title block boundary but I can still see the inroads sheet boundary inner panel shape xref fle to be able to click on it. 
 Then because I have 3rd party addon Caddpro by Adam Lambert I can choose the create sheets/ drgs ( custom VBA tool ) 
 Select the inner panel xref boundary for inroads xsect, and it then determines the number of drawings it needs to make by shifting the title block xref to contain the xsect xref ,then it reports how many it will do, I agree and it then creates the files with all the xrefs clipped and title block still there and it used the first drawing file to add 1 to the drawing file name ie drawing101.dgn and 300 total sheets needed it then 
 creates 102,103,104 ->drawing300.dgn 
 Then I look at the pattern of the chainages in the xref xsection.dgn , then back to the first drawing101.dgn I again run a custom vba from Caddpro to update an excel drawing register it adds the file names ( can also uses the tag set data in the title block ... ) now with excel I use equations to redefine the title block text chainages (or stationing) from to etc (This is from the pattern established last viewing of xref) then thru another custom vba update all the plans tags from the excel table.... I can do 500 plans this way in 20 - 40 mins from start to finish including uprevs, stamps etc (and add another 10 mins for print to pdfs for checking..) as it does the tags updates in nongraphic mode so its very very fast ( in a previous employment many years ago I updated over 5000 plans via their title block tags this way in under 2 hours after very one had gone home.. cant open read only drgs . This also work with DWG's from inside Mstn).... 
 The important part is to get the inroads annotations to work correctly every time from their established template... 
 And to have the chainages in predicable pattern so updating is easier and quick... and good coms between designer(s) and drafter(s). 
 FYI were still inV8iss4 ... 
 Now yes serious draw back if you need do manual annotations in the xsections ref file by hand that inroads could not do, this cannot really be helped but if needed.. 
 I could split out the file rows of panels into separate temporary files with the Export fence contents SF=xrefsectionameplus1 
 This would then enable several people to work on each new temporary file to add annotations that inroads could not like a dimensions or note arrow leader etc. 
 Then the lead drafter recombines the split out files via xref and merge then move the split out files to superseded or delete them. 
 Rinse & Repeat... 
 lots of text but really only a few steps

Lorys · Answer

I don't believe this is possible, the work around is to use single file single model and ref attach all the different models as separate dgns to the master ref file with depth 1 and then use it as a nested ref depth 2, then users can modify their separate attached refs to the master nest ref file at the same time but only one unique file each but the nested file reflects all the separate users sub refs changes .The ref manger if the nest is open will show that the refs need updating ( pencil icon) or close and reopen the nested file, this also applies to the individual subrefs to see changes they need to update the nested file ( pencil) icon...this can drive you nuts as each change will show as pencil, even if text is moved or edited element by element will show as needs updating file by file.... 
 and if each user wants to see everything and every file that's in the Master nested file then they need to xref the nested master to their working file depth 2 or more ....Well that's how I do it... 
 If we have a file open others an only open as read only or as a xref...attached to the active file with nest depth 2

Multiple Users in MicroStation?

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