Problem

Request for MicroStation to be able to shutdown automatically after passage of a predetermined amount of time.

Solution

MicroStation V7 or /J

The Idle tool for these older versions "idle.ma" is available on request from technical support staff.

MicroStation V8 2004 Edition, V8 XM and V8i

A built-in configuration variable MS_IDLETIMEOUT has been included that allows you to define a set amount of idle time after which MicroStation will shut down. A minimum of 30 minutes can be used within this configuration variable and if set to 0 the software will never exit, even if idle.

When this time period of non-use or idleness has been achieved a dialog box will appear advising MicroStation will be terminating in 60 seconds. If you click on the OK button you can continue to work, otherwise MicroStation will then shout down.

PowerDraft V8 2004 Edition, V8 XM and V8i

The option to modify the configuration variables is not available under the Workspace menu.

To be able to include this configuration variable setting in a PowerDraft environment it would need to be added manually into the User Configuration File (UCF) or Project Configuration File (PCF) defined for your session of PowerDraft. 

By default PowerDraft opens in the Untitled workspace so you would be adding this configuration variable to either "untitled.ucf" or "untitled.pcf" located in the folders:

C:\ProgramData\Bentley\PowerDraft V8i (SELECTseries)\WorkSpace\Users\

C:\ProgramData\Bentley\PowerDraft V8i (SELECTseries)\WorkSpace\Projects\

Here you would open this UCF or PCF file in a text editor like WordPad and place the following line of text:

MS_IDLETIMEOUT = 30

(or whichever time period in minutes is required)

The next time PowerDraft is opened it should include the same capability and display the same dialog as above when this time period expires.

See Also

Road and Site Design - Idle Timeout

Product TechNotes and FAQs

External Links

Bentley LEARN Server

Comments or Corrections?

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