[V8 2004] Viewport Display vs View Display

I have one user who is on a machine which also has AutoCAD installed. When looking at his Level Display, he has "Viewport Display" whereas all other users have "View Display". Since "Viewports" are a function of AutoCAD, I can only assume the USTA has linked to work with ACAD. The issue is, this changes how he interacts with levels and how they turn on and off, primarily with references. One main issue is that he has to force the levels to synchronize with the reference, but changes to the base reference cannot be simply turned on or off. He has to sync, and then he goes through the list of levels, turning on and off those he wants. But when a change occurs in the base reference, he has to sync again and go through the levels again. This is slowing him down. Plus, he's a recent user of USTA, so his learning curve is degraded.

How do I get his USTA to behave the same as the rest of the office?

EDIT: Correction; it said "Viewport Freeze" and not "Viewport Freeze"... see my found fix, below.

  • screen shots of everything please  I cant work out what your talking about...

    Lorys

    Started msnt work 1990 - Retired  Nov 2022 ( oh boy am I old )

    But was long time user V8iss10 (8.11.09.919) dabbler CE  update 16 (10.16.00.80) 

    MicroStation user since 1990 Melbourne Australia.
    click link to PM me 

  • Unknown said:
    I can only assume...

    When attempting to identify problems, assumptions are often a false path to follow.  Show us what you see, because your description doesn't make sense: I can't see a Viewport option in MicroStation's Level Display dialog.  I agree with Lorys: provide screenshots. 

    AutoCAD is a red herring: USTA has linked to work with ACAD is unlikely to be correct.   ACAD has linked to work with USTA would be an equally incorrect assumption!

     
    Regards, Jon Summers
    LA Solutions

  • Unknown said:
    AutoCAD is a red herring

    I don't know that it's such a "red herring", but I understand your point. As this had only occurred on this machine, and only after hiring a new employee, and only after installing ACAD and then USTA, it is a logical line of questioning. I only proposed that as a possible conclusion because it might have found people who had experienced the same.

    I have fumbled my way to a solution, so I will share it here for those future USTA-nauts who find themselves in a similar situation:

    See screenshot. ;)

    Apparently, there is a configuration variable called MS_WORKMODE which "activates/disables certain functions in order to produce a more compatible [with AutoCAD] design file at the end. Setting this variable to DWG will disable some creation tools that may result in elements to be incompatible to DWG file format."

    Somehow, during installation, USTA had set the WORKMODE to DWG. As this is a fresh installation, and the user is a noob, I suspect this was automated during the install, and some checkbox was unknowingly checked. I did not do the install, so I cannot be sure.

    Also, changing this variable REQUIRES a restart of USTA. It will remain in whatever WORKMODE until it has been exited and reopened.

    By the way, Jon. I see your signature includes "LA Solutions". I'll have you know that I have found MANY solutions on that website. I want to thank whoever put those articles on there, as they are a repository of knowledge the likes of "AskInga". Sometimes, better.

    Answer Verified By: Rick House 

  • Additionally, I wanted to include a screenshot of the Configurations. I could not set it to a Default, System, or Undefined status, so my changing it to DGN shows it as User defined in the image.

  • Unknown said:
    I see your signature includes "LA Solutions". I'll have you know that I have found MANY solutions on that website

    Thanks for the compliment!

    Unknown said:
    They are a repository of knowledge the likes of "AskInga"

    Without AskInga, I would also be lost sometimes  8-)

     
    Regards, Jon Summers
    LA Solutions