[V8i SS3 8.11.9.459] References not updating (at all)

Hey all, 

Before I submit a ticket to Bentley support and packup up examples of everything, I thought I'd ask in here:

In a number of different instances now, users have come to me complaining that their references aren't updating anymore; Take a typical 2D sheet with some external references into the default model (at 1:1) and then a scaled self-reference into the sheet model. Normal behaviour is that all references are automatically updated - we have MS_REF_NEWLEVELDISPLAY set to 1 as a site variable and most of these problems are appearing in newly-created sheets from seed. Even if we key-in "update reference", or manually reload the reference, it refuses to update. The really fishy thing is that the self-reference refuses to update - if we draw any old thing in the default model, even that isn't appearing in the direct reference attached to the sheet model of the same file. So far the only fix is to detatch the file completely and re-attach it but that wastes all the work done in the file after the references and is a complete nightmare for layouts with multiple clipped references rather than something like a simple, single plan view in the sheet.

I have searched the forums briefly but can't find much other than the keyin, or the MS_REF_NEWLEVELDISPLAY variable. For the record, the reference files are not in use according to the reference status and the "reload reference" command ought to update regardless of whether someone else is using that particular reference, right?

Maybe it's a bug, maybe I'm wrong to expect all references to update dynamically, but I thought that the whole point of referencing instead of using saved views was so that you always saw the latest, live data.

Any suggestions/help appreciated.

  • if an existing level is turned off in the sheet file for the reference, and you turn it on when it was worked on and add data to the base file. The level will still be off in the sheet file. However - if a new level is added to the base file and data is added to it, then the variable mentioned above controls whether it will be on or off in the sheet.

    Timothy Hickman

    CADD Manager | CADD Department

    timothy.hickman@colliersengineering.com

    Main: 877 627 3772| 

    1000 Waterview Drive Suite 201 | Hamilton, New Jersey 08691

  • Yes to both ...

    I build container nested file with  refs attached and make up sheets for packages  of works...

    Later after client review the designers modify the  ref files  adding in more information and  either populating  old levels with new or changed data our levels are  governed by  dgn libs so they dont need to create new levels from scratch.. all levels are already there  but not always used... my  problem is that  if some levels were  off with or without data when they add new info my  sheets  dont reflect the  new data changes....

    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 

  • just to clarify - you are talking about the geometry/vector work correct ? and not symbology or level display (on/off).

    Timothy Hickman

    CADD Manager | CADD Department

    timothy.hickman@colliersengineering.com

    Main: 877 627 3772| 

    1000 Waterview Drive Suite 201 | Hamilton, New Jersey 08691

  • Yes, this needs a better solution. This falls short when the reference file you are detaching has complicated clipping and masking in place, which is completely lost in this process.
  • Unknown said:

    Lorys

    Go to the  nested ref file ...

    detach the  sub ref that has the  new data that was not displaying save and close

    open the  the previous nest and  reattach the  sub ref

    draw a line  in the active parent  nest ( its open now)  delete the  line ..

    Save settings and  exit

    go to your drawing open the  view and  the updated nest and  its children should now  show the  new data and new levels...

    I bookmarked this just so I could try it whenever this glitch popped up again.  This worked for me.

    I have 20 or so files which reference the same nested reference file.  I made updates to the nested reference file, and then after a batch print I saw the changes printed on only 1 of the 20 sheets.  I followed your workflow for making changes to the nested reference file, then re-ran the batch print, and all printed sheets now show the updates made in the nested reference file.

    there really  should be  a better way ....!

    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