Toolboxes disappear


	Applies To

	Product(s):	MicroStation
	Version(s):	V7, V8, V8 2004, V8 XM, V8i
	Environment:	N\A
	Area:	GUI
	Subarea:	Docking / Resizing
	Original Author:	Todd Cassell, Bentley Technical Support Group

Background

When attempting to dock toolbars at the top or bottom of the screen, they appear to be either blank or they disappear.

Reporting Toolboxes disappear.

After installing Security Update for Microsoft Windows: KB2965768 (5/2/2014) or KB2973201 (8/7/2014) or KB2982791 (12/8/2014) and KB2993651 (which replaces the withdrawn KB2982791), several reports have been received of toolboxes are missing/disappearing from the GUI.

Affected are; Standard Menu/Toolbar (File, Edit, Element, etc.), Primary Tools, and, at least in one case, the Snap Mode toolbar.

In the Tool Boxes dialog these options were checked, and thus should be displayed

Workaround (please read the Solution paragraph first)

The following temporary workarounds can be used until Microsoft and Bentley provide a fix for this issue :

Option 1: Uninstall/Remove Windows Security Updates KB2965768, KB2970228, KB2973201, KB2975719, KB2982791 and KB2993651.

This Windows Update can be uninstalled using the following key-ins at a command prompt.

wusa /uninstall /kb:2965768

wusa /uninstall /kb:2970228

wusa /uninstall /kb:2973201

wusa /uninstall /kb:2975719

wusa /uninstall /kb:2982791

wusa /uninstall /kb:2993651

or can be removed from the Installed Updates section accessible using the following steps.

1. Open the "Control Panel -> Programs"

2. Then "Programs and Features -> View installed updates"

3. Select Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB2965768)" and then click "Uninstall"

4. Repeat step 3 for KB2970228, KB2973201, KB2975719, KB2982791 and KB2993651.

It maybe required to provide Administrator credentials.

Please note that some users are reporting that their IT support pushes out these Windows Updates automatically.

Another note is that Hotfix KB2984930 suggested by Microsoft as a fix does not correct this toolbar display problem.

Option 2: Edit and exchange user setting files

This option is available for any users that may not have encountered this toolbox display problem yet or who have not installed the above mentioned updates. They should create a new MicroStation user or temporarily remove the User Preference File (UPF) and the *docking.XML files from the current user.

(Please see How to Back Up and Restore User Preferences for how to find and backup your upf file)

The result of this process is that MicroStation starts with a new user settings file which can be configured as required. In this case it is also needed to move all toolboxes docked at the top and bottom to the sides or just undock them and save settings (File > Save Settings).

After having completed the above steps, these UPF and *Docking.xml files can be used as seeds for all users affected by the Windows Update Problem.

In order to use the above files as seeds, the variables MS_USERPREFSEED and MS_DOCKINGPREFSEED need to be pointed respectively to the new .upf and and *.docking.xml file. Now the old .upf and docking.xml files can be deleted so that new ones will be created using the new seeds

(see Restore MicroStation to Factory defaults and How To Reset User Preferences and Delete MicroStation‘s Temporary Files)

Further details regarding the user preferences seed files can be found here:

http://communities.bentley.com/other/old_site_member_blogs/peer_blogs/b/marc_thomass_blog/archive/2014/04/14/site-standards-3-user-preference-seeds.aspx

Option 3: Create and Provide a new DGNLIB

Note: this method does not apply to the AccuDraw and Snap Tools tool boxes.

1. Create a new .DGNLIB library to store the customized tool boxes.

2. Point the MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST variable to it (Workspace > Configuration)

3. Restart MicroStation and open this DGNLIB for customization

4. Copy your affected toolboxes (e.g. “Primary Tools”, “Standard”, “View Groups”) via Menu: Workspace > Customize > Tools > from “Application Tools” > (MicroStation) above to “User Tools” > your DGNLIB and rename them as you prefer.

5. Provide all affected users this new DGNLIB file via variable MS_DGNLIBLIST.
6. This "new copies" of the toolboxes can be enabled from the "Tools > ToolBoxes” menu and should only be docked to the sides.

Unfortunately toolboxes “AccuDraw” and “Snap Tools” are not available via Workspace > Customize and therefore can´t be copied and renamed.

Further details regarding customizing tools and tool boxes in MicroStation could be located here

http://communities.bentley.com/products/microstation/w/microstation__wiki/8838.creating-a-dgnlib-library-file-for-cutomizing-microstation-s-user-interface.aspx

http://communities.bentley.com/products/microstation/w/microstation__wiki/10364.customizing-tools-and-tool-boxes-in-microstation.aspx

For Solution 2 and 3 you need to pay attention not to dock any toolboxes again to the top or bottom.

These workarounds do not prevent the toolboxes from disappearing again if docked to the top or bottom.

Solution

September 17, 2014:
Bentley developers have been working closely with Microsoft developers and have identified the exact cause and have determined a proper hotfix for this issue.

The hotfix has been released and is available here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2998984/en-us.
Bentley has done a number of checks on this hotfix and found all situations of the disappearing toolbox resolved.

The Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 updates are available for download.
To download you will need to enter an email address that Microsoft will use to notify you in case they need to recall the update for any reason.
Please make sure to thoroughly read the document that comes with this KB2998984 hotfix and double check to see if your system conforms to the prerequisites mentioned by Microsoft.

You can download and install immediately by going to the link above, or wait until the fix will automatically be installed as part of the updates that come with Microsoft's "October Patch Tuesday (2014)".

October 15, 2014:
Yesterday (Oct. 14, 2014) Microsoft has rolled out automatic updates for the Windows operating systems and we have been informed about the following:

Our specific hotfix, KB2998984 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2998984/en-us), has been superseded today by KB3000061, which is documented in Microsoft’s Security Bulletin MS14-058 (https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms14-058): The manual-installed KB2998984 hotfix required to get Bentley’s products working again, has been encompassed in a package above for another (unrelated) security fix.
When you (or your IT department) install Windows Updates next time, KB3000061 will be available to be installed.
Once installed, Bentley’s products should run without the toolbar issue independent if KB2998984 was or was not previously installed.
Current users do NOT have to uninstall KB2998984 prior to installing the latest security updates. Starting today, new machines which are fully patched will NOT need to install KB2998984 manually.

November 11, 2014:
Today, Microsoft has rolled out automatic updates for the Windows operating systems and we have not seen any issues that could negatively affect the behavior of our products. Details can be found here:
https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms14-079 and here: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3002885
As mentioned in the previous roll out (October 14, 2014), there is NO NEED to install KB2998984 manually after these November updates have been installed.

It is our expectation, that after installing upcoming updates from Microsoft, there is no requirement for any specific action to make sure our product will continue to work.

Should you should you encounter issues with our products because of the installation of KB3000061 (Oct.2014) or KB3002885 (Nov.2014) or upcoming updates from Microsoft, we kindly ask you to contact Bentley Technical Support. In such case, we will make sure that your issue is properly logged into our database and we will report it back to Microsoft.

Toolboxes disappear

Background

Workaround (please read the Solution paragraph first)

Solution

See also