When I have a reference file attached in the model if I do right click in any element of this reference I can see different option, in this case we need to eliminate the option activate
Use capability "_USTN_CAPABILITY" in the configuration folder (.ucf)
Each MicroStation folder has a list of capabilities "capability.list" that can be opened with the notepad and is available by default in:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Bentley\MicroStation V8i (SELECTseries)\MicroStation\config\system
These are the capabilities that need to be used in this case:
_USTN_CAPABILITY < -CAPABILITY_ACTIVATE_REFERENCE_INTERNAL_USTN_CAPABILITY < -CAPABILITY_ACTIVATE_REFERENCE_EXTERNAL