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MicroStation Configuration Variables in MicroStation CONNECT Edition & MicroStation 2023

  Product: MicroStation
  Version: CONNECT, 2023
  Environment: N\A
  Area: Configuration
  Subarea: General

Overview

This technical document provides a description of published configuration variables in MicroStation CONNECT Edition & MicroStation 2023. MicroStation contains various configuration variables that are not identified in this document. Keep in mind that undocumented configuration variables should only be used in very specific situations (i.e. they are not intended for "general use").

Categories:

Cells

Colors

Data Files

Database

Design Applications

Design History

Distributed DGN

DWG/DXF (General)

DWG/DXF (Open-Specific)  ·

DWG/DXF (Close-Specific)  ·

Engineering Links

Extensions

Extensions (JT files)  

File Saving

Geographic Coordinates

Levels

Macro Recorder

Markup

OLE

Operation

Point Cloud

Primary search Paths  ·

Printing

Protection

Raster

Reference

Rendering/Images

Reports

Security

Seed Files

Spelling

Standards Checker

Symbology

System Environment

Tables

Tags

Temp and Backup Files

Translation - CGM

Translation - IGES

Translation - Step

VBA

Uncategorized Configuration Variables

Not listed or undocumented Variables

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Cells

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect cells. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_CELL Cell Library Directories Search path(s) for cell libraries.
MS_CELLLIST Cell Library List List of cell libraries to be searched for cells not found in the current library.
MS_CELLSELECTORDIR Cell Selector Directory Directory for Cell Selector button configuration (.csf) files.
MS_CELLSELECTOR Cell Selector File Default Cell Selector button configuration file.
MS_CELLOUT Output Cell Libraries Default directory for newly created cell libraries.
MS_MENU Menu Cells Cell library file containing menu cells.
MS_RESOLVESCNAMECONFLICTS Shared Cell Name Conflicts Controls how shared cell name conflicts are handled for operations like reference merge. If set to 0, there is no resolution. If set to 1, the default, MicroStation resolves the name conflicts on DWG shared cell instances; if set to 2, MicroStation resolves name conflicts for all non-anonymous shared cells.

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Colors

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Color. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_DEFCTBL Default Color Table Default color table if DGN file has none.
MS_RMENCTBL Right Menu Color Table Default menu colors (dialogs, borders, etc.) for right screen — specifies a color table (.tbl) file.
MS_LMENCTBL Left Menu Color Table Default menu colors (dialogs, borders, etc.) for left screen — specifies a color table (.tbl) file.
MS_COLORBOOK_LIBRARIES Colorbook Library List Displays the list of DGN files that are used as a source for color books.
MS_SYSTEM_COLORBOOKS System Color Books Directory Sets the directory name containing the system color books delivered with MicroStation.

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Data Files

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Data Files. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_CUSTOMSHEETSIZEDEF Sheet Size Definitions Defines the location of the sheetsizes definition file that can be used when creating sheet models.
MS_CUSTOMSCALEDEF Scales Definitions Defines the location of the scales definition file that can be used when creating models.
MS_CUSTOMUNITDEF Unit Definitions for Upgrading Defines the location of the unit definition file that can be used when upgrading pre-V8 files to V8 DGN files.
MS_HTMLDGNDIR HTML Template Directory Directory containing template DGN files used to generate cell images for HTML documents.
MS_WMS_SERVERS_SEED Seed file for MS_WMS_SERVERS file If the file specified by MS_WMS_SERVERS does not exist, the Map Editor creates it by copying the file specified by this configuration variable.
MS_WMS_SERVERS Web Map Service Servers Lists the servers for the Web Map Service dialogs.
MS_DATETIMEFORMATS Standard Date Time formats Provides the list of formats available from the Fields Editor for Date/Time fields.
MS_SETTINGS Settings Resource Open settings file.
MS_SETTINGSOUTDIR Settings Output Directory Directory for newly created settings files.
MS_SETTINGSDIR Settings Directory Directory containing settings files.
MS_REMAP_CSVFILE Remap CSV File If this variable points to a remapping comma separated value (CSV) file, the remap filter defaults to that file for the remapping during the Save As operation.
MS_BSILOG_CONFIG_FILE Logging config file Location of the file that controls and configures diagnostic logging. The default is $(MS_DATA)BSILOG.CONFIG.XML.
MS_BSILOG_ENABLE Enable diagnostic logging Allows the logging of diagnostic messages.

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Database

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect database operations. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_UDLDIR Universal Data Link directory Points to the directory that contains the Universal Data Link (UDL) files. The UDL files contain the connection strings to a particular data source.
MS_ORACLE_HOME Oracle Home Used to set the path to the Oracle client files required for connecting to the database server. If this variable is not set, MicroStation looks at the system registry and path to determine the Oracle Home directory.
MS_DBASE Database Files Search path(s) for database files.
MS_SERVER Server Loader MDL application to load the database interface software.
MS_DBEXT Database Server The database interface "server" application.
MS_LINKTYPE Database Linkages User data linkage types recognized by the database interface software.

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Design Applications

Variable Short name Description
MS_DGNAPPS Design File Applications  List of MDL applications to load automatically when a DGN file is opened.

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Design History

MicroStation includes configuration variables to help set up all aspects of the design history.

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Design History. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect, unless noted otherwise below.

Variable Short name Description
MS_DESIGN_HISTORY_COMMIT_ON_SAVE Commit on save Specifies whether changes are committed to design history when the file is saved.
MS_DESIGN_HISTORY_COMMIT_ON_CLOSE Commit before close Specifies whether changes are committed to design history before the file is closed.
MS_DESIGN_HISTORY_COMMIT_ON_MODEL_SWITCH Commit on model switch Specifies whether changes are committed to design history when the model is switched.
MS_DESIGN_HISTORY_OWNERSHIP_WARNING Confirm when taking ownership Specifies whether you are prompted to confirm that you will take ownership of all uncommitted changes. You must close and restart for this change to take effect.
MS_DESIGN_HISTORY_COLORS Colors Specifies the symbology to use when identifying changed and unchanged elements. The value must be a list of up to six symbology descriptors, in the following order: added; deleted; changed; pre-changed; conflicts; background. A symbology descriptor is: {color,weight,style,transparency}, where color is a menu color index between 0 and 31, weight is a line weight between 0 and 31, style is a line style index between 0 and 7, and transparency is a value between 0 and 255. Use -1 for each aspect of element symbology that should not be changed. For example, {2,3,1,200}; {4,3,1,200}; {1,3,1,200}; {3,3,1,200}; {6,3,1,200}; {-1,-1,-1,-1} will draw a dotted hallo around affected elements in green, red, blue, cyan, or yellow without changing their symbology. The curly brackets may be omitted if only a color is specified. The default is: 2; 4; 1; 3; 6; 10 which means added elements are drawn in solid green, deleted in red, changed in blue, pre-changed in cyan, conflicts in yellow, and unchanged elements in medium gray.
MS_DESIGN_HISTORY_REVISION_NUMBER_FORMAT Revision number display format Allows you to change the appearance of the revision numbers . You must close and restart for this change to take effect.
MS_DESIGN_HISTORY Design History capabilities Allows users to create, delete, commit, browse, add tags, change descriptions, change authors, combine, retire, set version format, set version, and automatically upgrade design history. You must close and restart for this change to take effect.
MS_DESIGN_HISTORY_COMMIT_DOC_PROPERTIES Include document properties in design history? If set to 1 (the default), design history tracks changes to document properties such as Title, Author and Comment.

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Distributed DGN

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Distributed DGNs. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Note: These configuration variables take effect only when the product is integrated with ProjectWise with Distributed DGN functionality enabled. Distributed DGN functionality is not available for production workflows.
 
Variable Short name Description
MS_DISTRIBUTED_DGN_AUTO_FOCUS_ON_NEW_CONFLICTS Should Conflicts dialog pop up? Specifies whether the Conflicts dialog opens when the Refresh Local Copy command detects a new conflict. The default is on.
MS_DISTRIBUTED_DGN_CONFLICT_BY Conflicts scope Specifies how conflicts should be detected. MODEL detects conflicts within the same model. GG detects conflicts involving the same graphic group. Default is MODEL.

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DWG/DXF (General)

MicroStation includes configuration variables to help open, edit, and reference AutoCAD DWG data. The following table lists the configuration variables that affect MicroStation's DWG operations.

Configuration Variable Description
MS_ACADDIR Defines the directory containing AutoCAD. It is used to find the DWG support files, such as fonts.
When you first load the product, it reads the registry, determines whether AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT is installed on your computer, and if present, sets this configuration variable.
MS_BLOCKLIST Defines the list of DWG and DXF files available for insertion as cells.
You can use this configuration variable when you click on Display All Cells in MS_CELLLIST icon in the Cell Library dialog.
MS_DWG_BACKUP Defines the directory for the DWG backup (.bak) files. If not set, the backup files are placed in the same directory as the DWG file.
MS_DWG_COMMANDPREFIX Defines a character or string of characters that can be used as a shortcut to the AutoCAD key-in commands .
MS_DWG_CREATE_SPACE_FROM_EDF If set to 1, any empty data field remains as a space.
MS_DWG_FEETUNIT_AS_ARCHENG If set, when a DGN file with Working Units set to Feet-Inches, Format set to Master Units, and Units on the Save As DWG/DXF Options dialog set to Master Units, the resulting DWG file has Engineering or Architectural units in AutoCAD. (If not set, the units are Decimal or Fractional.)
For details, see Setting units in files that will be saved to DWG files..
MS_DWG_FIELD_2005FORMATTING If defined and set to 1, the product only generates field information that AutoCAD 2005 supports.
MS_DWG_LSTYLE_FONTPATH Determines the location of the font file.
MS_DWG_LSTYLE_FONTNAME Determines the name of the font file, and therefore, the name of the font.
MS_DWG_MAX_ORPHANTAGS_PERSET Set the maximum number of tags per tagset for "orphan tags." An orphan tag is an attribute definition that is never instantiated in a block as it should in a DWG file. When opening a DWG file, all such “dangling” attribute definitions are collected into a tagset. For better performance, a tagset should be limited to a manageable size. Therefore, in the case of a large number of dangling attribute definitions, multiple tagsets are preferred rather than one large tagset. The default size is 100 per tagset.
MS_DWG_PGPFILE Points to a PGP file that contains shortcuts, or aliases, for AutoCAD commands.
MS_DWG_PRE2004_COLOR_TABLE Sets the color table for DWG files in the product. In version 2004, AutoCAD began displaying indexed colors with a slightly different (generally lighter) colors. The product also uses these new colors unless this variable is set.
MS_DWGAUTOSAVE If set to a positive number, specifies the number of seconds after the first change to the DWG or DXF file that auto-save occurs. When this time elapses, an Alert window appears that asks whether the changes should be saved. The saving time can be significant, so you can defer the saving by clicking Cancel. If set to zero, no auto-save is done while the file is open. The file is automatically saved on exit or when switching to a different file.
MS_DWGAUTOSAVE_NODIALOG If set to a positive number, specifies the number of seconds after the first change to the DWG or DXF file that auto-save occurs. When this time elapses the Alert window is skipped and the file change is automatically saved.
MS_DWGDATA Points to the directory where the following files are stored:
  • DwgSettings.rsc — resource file containing all of the DWG settings
  • Files (*.dws) containing saved settings for opening and saving DWG/DXF files.
  • DwgDisplayColors.tbl (Optional) — A color table that contains the fixed AutoCAD colors used for display to the screen.
  • DwgPlotColors.tbl (Optional) — A color table that contains the fixed AutoCAD colors used for plotting.
MS_DWGFONTPATH Defines the path to AutoCAD *.SHX fonts if AutoCAD is not installed on the system.
By default, the product first uses the value of the MS_ACADDIR configuration variable to find AutoCAD support files. If this is unavailable, the product uses individual variables, such as MS_DWGFONTPATH.
MS_DWGOMITUNIQUEEXTENSION If more than one file with the same name is present in the same directory, appends the extension to the output filename when saving the file.
For example, if the directory contains both sample.s01 and sample.s02, then the extension is included in the output filenames (sample_s01.dgn and sample_s02.dgn). If the directory does not include any files with duplicate names, then the extensions are be included in the output names. For example, if the directory contains only file sample.s02, this file is saved to sample.dwg.
MS_DWGPATFILE Defines the full path file name that contains AutoCAD pattern definitions.
MS_DWGREF_ALLOWMASTERCOLORS Defines how the product uses color tables for DWG or DXF files attached as references.
  • If MS_DWGREF_ALLOWMASTERCOLORS is set to 1, the color tables for DWG or DXF references are handled as they are for DGN references: they are controlled by the Use Color Table setting in the Preferences dialog Reference Category ( File > Settings > User > Preferences ). When Use Color Table is on, the elements in each reference are displayed using the reference's color table. When Use Color Table is off, the elements in each reference are displayed using the active design file's color table.
  • If MS_DWGREF_ALLOWMASTERCOLORS is not set to any value, DWG or DXF references are always displayed using the reference file's color table. In this case, the Use Color Table setting has no effect.
MS_DWGSEED Defines the DWG seed file used when opening DWG files.
MS_DWGSEED_OVERRIDE Determines whether a user can modify the DWG Seed File setting on the Save As DWG/DXF Options dialog.
When the variable is not set or set to 0, the first time that the dialog opens, the default DWG seed file is set by the MS_DWGSEED configuration variable. You can choose a different seed file
When the variable is set to 1, You can only use the DWG seed file identified by MS_DWGSEED. You cannot choose a different seed file.
When the variable is set to 2, the default DWG seed file is set by MS_DWGSEED at the beginning of each session. You can choose a different seed file during the session.
MS_DWGSETTINGSFILE

Points to the file that contains the settings for opening and saving DWG files.
MS_DWGSHEETMODELSEED Identifies the file containing the seed model for new sheet models in DWG files.
MS_DWGSHEETMODELSEEDNAME Identifies the seed model for new sheet models in DWG files.
MS_DWGSYSTEMDATA

Identifies the directory containing the DWG settings file Dwgsettings.rsc. Overrides the directory specified by MS_DWGDATA.
The display and plotting color tables (DwgDisplayColor.tbl and DwgPlotColors.tbl) can also be controlled by placing them in this directory.
MS_MERGE_DISPLAYEDLEVELSONLY Modifies Copy Levels During Merge setting on the References tab of the Save As DWG/DXF Options dialog, Save As V8 Options dialog or Saved as V7 Options dialog.
When set (to 1), only those reference levels that are displayed in the selected view are merged into the output file.
If not set, and the Merge Displayed Levels Only setting is off (in the References tab), then all reference levels are merged into the output file.
MS_NO_DWG_BACKUP If set, backup files (.bak) are not created when you edit a DWG or DXF file.
MS_TRANSEED_OVERRIDE Determines whether a user can modify the DGN Seed File setting on the DWG Open Options dialog.
When the variable is not set or set to 0, the first time that the dialog opens, the default DGN Seed File is set by the MS_TRANSEED configuration variable. You can choose a different seed file.
When the variable is set to 1, You can only use the DGN seed file identified by MS_TRANSEED. You cannot choose a different seed file.
When the variable is set to 2, the default DGN seed fie is set by MS_TRANSEED at the beginning of each session. You can choose a different seed file during the session.
MS_WORKMODE Defines the workmode as either DGN or DWG.

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DWG/DXF (Open-Specific)

MicroStation includes configuration variables to open AutoCAD DWG data. Valid values must be entered exactly as shown in the table. For example, “Region” Entity must be entered as a whole string.

Note: Many DWG/DXF open-specific configuration variables have an equivalent setting in the GUI. When set correctly they will override the values in the DWG settings GUI.

Configuration Variable Description
MS_DWG_ALERT_DEC_FRC_SCI_UNITS When a DWG file is opened, an alert dialog opens to warn that Decimal/Fractional/Scientific units are not set to Design Center units. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_ALERT_DESIGNCENTER_UNITS When a DWG file is opened, an alert dialog opens to warn that Design Center units are not set to a specific unit. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_ALERT_ENG_ARCH_UNITS When a DWG file is opened, an alert dialog opens to warn that Architectural/Engineering units are not set to Inches. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_ARCH_ENG_UNITS Sets units to open DWG files that use Architectural or Engineering units. Valid values are:
Master Units
Sub Units
Design Center Units
a unit defined in file units.def
MS_DWG_AXISLOCK_FROM_ORTHOMODE If DWG ORTHOMODE=1, sets the Axis Lock. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_DEC_FRC_SCI_UNITS Sets units to open DWG files that use Decimal, Fraction or Scientific units. Valid values are:
Master Units
Sub Units
Design Center Units
a unit defined in file units.def
MS_DWG_DESIGNBACKGROUND_COLOR Sets the background color for the default design model. Valid values are Red, Green, or Blue, where each of the three color indices is an integer between 0 and 255.
MS_DWG_DESIGNCENTER_UNITS Sets units to open DWG files that use Design Center Units. Valid values are:
Master Units
Sub Units
a unit defined in file units.def
MS_DWG_DISCARD_INVALID If set, entities that are outside the DGN design plane are discarded and will not be written back to the DWG file on the next file save. If the variable is not set, the product ignores these entities. Typically these entities are not valid and will cause the AutoCAD Zoom Extents tool to perform poorly.
MS_DWG_FOREGROUNDCOLOR255RGB Sets the RGB value to display DWG color index 255 as the foreground color, with red, green, and blue values separated by commas. For example, setting MS_DWG_FOREGROUNDCOLOR255RGB=255,255,255 will display DWG index color 255 as white. If this configuration variable is not set, a grayish color is displayed. This is a workaround for DWG's ambiguous index color 255, which serves both as a background color for wipeout fill and as a foreground color for other entities. The foreground definition is remapped by this configuration variable and the RGB value is saved as a named color "DWG Color 255" in a color book called "DWG Special Colors."
MS_DWG_GRAPHIC_GROUP_ATTRIBUTES Sets blocks to Graphic Groups, that is, puts shared cell and attached tags into a graphic group. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_LINEWEIGHT_MAPPING Maps DWG line weights to DGN line weights. Valid values are 0=DWG weight1; 1=DWG weight2; 2=DWG weight3; and so forth to 31=DWG weight31, where DWG weights are the DWG line weight values in millimeters, for examples, 0.0, 0.13, 2.11.
MS_DWG_LWDEFAULT Controls the width of the default line weight and is analogous to the AutoCAD registry variable LWDEFAULT. The default value is 0 for unweighted default lines. Valid LWDEFAULT values are From AutoCAD Registry, 0.00 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.13 mm, 0.15 mm, 0.18 mm, 0.20 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.30 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.40 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.53 mm, 0.60 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.80 mm, 0.90 mm, 1.00 mm, 1.06 mm, 1.20 mm, 1.40 mm, 1.58 mm, 2.00 mm, 2.11 mm. The Line weight index is also a valid alternative, that is, any integer from 0 through 211. A line weight index is an enumeration of line weight defined by DXF Group Code 370.
MS_DWG_MAX_DICTIONARYITEMS (Affects DWG files with many dictionary items.) A dictionary item is non-graphical data stored in the DWG file that often does not impact the visible elements. When opening a file, if the DWG file has a large number of these items, performance can be slow. To speed up the file opening process, you can ignore this items. If you need these dictionary items, you can opt to keep them in spite of poor performance. This variable sets the number of dictionary items you want to keep.
MS_DWG_MODELSPACE Sets the model space to 2D or 3D. Valid values are 2D or 3D.
MS_DWG_PAPERSPACE Sets the paper space to 2D or 3D. Valid values are 2D or 3D.
MS_DWG_PROXYSHOW Controls the display of proxy objects within a DWG drawing. It is analogous to the AutoCAD registry setting PROXYSHOW. Valid values are:
From AutoCAD Registry
Do Not Show Proxy
Show Proxy Image
Show Proxy Box
An alternative is an integer value such as 0 – do not show graphics, 1 – show graphics, or 2 – show boundary box only. The default setting is 1.
MS_DWG_PROXY_VIEW Sets a view to be displayed for a multi-view proxy. Valid values are:
Top
Front
Left
Isometric
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_CONVERT Converts reference files to DWG files. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_COPYLEVEL Sets the conditions to copy reference levels during merge: only if they are not in the target file, if they are overridden, or always copy. Valid values are If Not Found, If Overrides Exist, or Always.
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_COPYNESTED Copies live nested reference attachments to the target file when merging. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_EXTERNAL Saves external reference file attachments to be an Xref attachment (retained), merged, merged as a block, or omitted. Valid values are:
Retain
Merge
Merge To Cell
Omit
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_MASKED Saves masked reference file attachments to be an Xref attachment (retained), merged, merged as a block, or omitted. Valid values are:
Retain
Merge
Merge To Cell
Omit
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_MERGE_DISPLAYEDLEVELSONLY Merges reference levels only if they are displayed. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_OPTIMIZEDCLIP Optimizes reference clipping when merged. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_SELF Saves self-referenced file attachments to be an Xref attachment (retained), merged, merged as a block, or omitted. Valid values are:
Retain
Merge
Merge To Cell
Omit
MS_DWG_RENDER_LIGHTSOURCE_OPEN Sets to use light source for rendering. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_RENDER_MATERIAL_OPEN Sets to use materials for rendering. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.

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DWG/DXF (Close-Specific)

MicroStation includes configuration variables to save AutoCAD DWG data. Valid values must be entered exactly as shown in the table. For example, “Region” Entity must be entered as a whole string.

Note: Many DWG/DXF save-specific configuration variables have an equivalent setting in the GUI. When set correctly they will override the values in the DWG settings GUI.
 

Configuration Variable Description
MS_DWG_2D_UNFILLED_3OR4SIDED_SHAPE Converts 2D unfilled triangles and quadrangles to polyline, face, polyface mesh, or region entities. Valid values are:
Face” Entity
Region” Entity
Polyface Mesh
Polyline
MS_DWG_2D_UNFILLED_5ORMORESIDED_SHAPE Converts 2D unfilled polygons to polyline, polyface mesh, or region entities. Valid values are:
Region” Entity
Polyface Mesh
Polyline
MS_DWG_2D_UNFILLED_COMPLEX_SHAPE Converts 2D unfilled complex shapes to polyline, polyface mesh, or region entities. Valid values are:
Region” Entity
Polyface Mesh
Polyline
MS_DWG_2D_UNFILLED_GROUPHOLE Converts 2D unfilled group hole elements to polyface mesh or region entities. Valid values are:
“Region” Entity
Polyface Mesh
MS_DWG_3D_UNFILLED_3OR4SIDED_SHAPE Converts 3D unfilled triangles and quadrangles to polyline, face, polyface mesh, or region entities. Valid values are:
“Face” Entity
“Region” Entity
Polyface Mesh
Polyline
MS_DWG_3D_UNFILLED_5ORMORESIDED_SHAPE Converts 3D unfilled polygons to polyline, polyface mesh, or region entities. Valid values are:
Region” Entity
Polyface Mesh
Polyline
MS_DWG_3D_UNFILLED_COMPLEX_SHAPE Converts 3D unfilled complex shapes to polyline, polyface mesh, or region entities. Valid values are:
Region” Entity
Polyface Mesh
Polyline
MS_DWG_3D_UNFILLED_GROUPHOLE Converts 3D unfilled group hole elements to polyface mesh or region entities. Valid values are:
Region” Entity
Polyface Mesh
MS_DWG_ACS_TO_UCS Converts ACS to UCS. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_BLOCKDEF_ON_LAYER0 Saves the block definitions on layer “0.” Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_BLOCKNAMES_FROM_TRIFORMA_PARTS Sets the block names from Building parts. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_BYBLOCK_COLOR Sets the block definitions to use the color BYBLOCK. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_BYBLOCK_LINETYPE Sets the block definitions to use line type BYBLOCK. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_BYBLOCK_WEIGHT Sets the block definitions to use line weight BYBLOCK. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_CONSTRUCTION_CLASS Sets the elements of the construction class to “Construction” layer, “Defpoints” layer, element’s own layer, invisible, or omits them. Valid values are:
Save To “Construction” Layer
Save To “Defpoints” Layer
Save
Save As Invisible
Omit
MS_DWG_CONVERT_RSC_FONTS Converts and creates SHX files from RSC fonts. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_CREATE_SEPARATE_SHEETS When a DGN file containing sheet models is saved to DWG, the sheets are usually saved to separate layouts within the DWG file. If this variable is set, the sheets are saved to separate DWG files with the file name created by appending the model name to the original file name. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_CURVED_SOLIDSURFACE Converts curved solids and surfaces to wireframe, polyface mesh or ACIS entities. Valid values are:
Wireframe
Polyface Mesh
ACIS Entity
MS_DWG_CURVES Converts curves to spline curves or polyline curves. Valid values are:
Spline Entity
Polyline
MS_DWG_DROP_LABELLINES When present, a label line dimension will be dropped to single line text when saved to DWG. By default, a label line will become an mtext. If a label line's text positions are important, dropping them to a single line may be desired. Set this variable to any value to turn it on. It is off by default.
MS_DWG_DROP_UNSUPPORTED_DIMENSIONS Drops dimensions that are not supported by DWG file format. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_DROP_UNSUPPORTED_LS Drops line styles that are not supported by DWG file format. The most possible custom line styles DWG format allows are those with characters in them. Any other types are incompatible. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_EMPTY_EDF_TO_SPACE Converts blank enter data fields to spaces. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_FARREFDEPENDENCY If set to 0 (the default), DWG named groups work as they do in DWG, that is, elements from a reference file are not supported by group. This is a DWG limitation. If set to 1, you can work around that limitation, that is, elements in reference files can be selected and saved in named groups. However, these groups still will not work in AutoCAD. If these groups and elements are edited in AutoCAD, they may not function anymore when the DWG file is reopened in the product.
MS_DWG_FILE_CODEPAGE Sets the DWG file codepage. Valid values are 1252 (English) , 1251 (Cyrillic), 1253 (Greek), 1254 (Turkish), 1255 (Hebrew), 1256 (Arabic), 1257 (Baltic), 1258 (Vietnam), 874 (Thai), 932 (Japanese), 936 (Simplified Chinese), 949 (Korean), or 950 (Traditional Chinese).
MS_DWG_FILLED_3OR4SIDED_SHAPE Converts filled triangles and quadrangles to solid, polyface mesh, region or hatch entities. Valid values are:
“Solid” Entity
“Region” Entity
Hatch” Entity
Polyface Mesh
MS_DWG_FILLED_5ORMORESIDED_SHAPE Converts filled polygons to polyface mesh, region or hatch entities. Valid values are:
Region” Entity
“Hatch” Entity
Polyface Mesh
MS_DWG_FILLED_COMPLEX_SHAPE Converts filled complex shapes to polyline, region or hatch entities. Valid values are:
“Region” Entity
Hatch” Entity
Polyline
MS_DWG_FLAT_SOLIDSURFACE Converts flat solids and surfaces to wireframe, polyface mesh or ACIS entities. Valid values are:
Wireframe
Polyface Mesh
ACIS Entity
MS_DWG_FORCE_POSITIVE_ARCS For arcs, changes clockwise orientation to counter clockwise. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_FORCE_ZERO_ZCOORDINATE Sets the z-coordinate of an element to have a zero value. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_INDEXCOLOR_TO_TRUECOLOR Converts index color to true color. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_LEADER_HOOKLINE If set, an inline elbow displays on notes that did not have an elbow when first created.
The product allows a note to be placed without an inline elbow (a hook line in AutoCAD) when the inline toggle is unchecked, but AutoCAD does not. This type of note (for instance, a leader without a hook line) saved to DWG will retain correct graphical presentation, and will operate properly in AutoCAD. However, the audit tool will generate an error (annotation ID not null). The audit error can be resolved by setting this configuration variable to 1. However, the original graphical presentation will be lost (the hook line will appear).
MS_DWG_LEVEL_DISPLAY Sets the view number from which the level display will be used for the layer’s on/off status. Valid values is a number from 0 through 8.
MS_DWG_LEVELSYMBOLOGY_OVERRIDE Overrides the element symbology from the level symbology. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_LINEARPATTERN_CLASS Sets the elements of the linear pattern class to “Linear Patterned” layer, “Defpoints” layer, element's own layer, invisible, or omits them. Valid values are:
Save To “Linear Patterned” Layer
Save To “Defpoints” Layer
Save
Save As Invisible
Omit
MS_DWG_LINECODE_SCALE Scales the line code. Valid value is a positive real number.
MS_DWG_LOGICALNAME_TO_XREFNAME Saves the reference attachment logical name as the block name of an Xref file. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_NONDEF_DESIGNMODEL_ATTACHMENTS Merges the attachments of a non-default design model or merges them as block references. Valid values are:
Merge
Merge To Cell
Omit
MS_DWG_NONDEFAULT_DESIGNMODEL Saves non-default design models to separate files, layout models (paper space), or ignore them if their attachments are not merged. Valid values are:
Create Separate Files
Create Paper Space
Ignore If Not Merged
MS_DWG_NONPLANAR_POLYLINES Converts a nearly planar line string to a 2D or 3D polyline. A nearly planar line string is strictly non-planar, but its vertex deviation is small enough to be treated as planar such that it is allowed to become a 2D polyline. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_ONE_BLOCK_FOR_DUP_CELLS Creates one block definition for all type-2 cells that are found to be the same. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_OVERLAY_FOR_REFERENCES Creates overlays for reference attachments (no live esting). Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_PATTERN_CLASS Sets elements of pattern class to “Pattern” layer, “Defpoints” layer, element's own layer, invisible, or omits them. Valid values are:
Save To “Pattern” Layer
Save To “Defpoints” Layer
Save
Save As Invisible
Omit
MS_DWG_PFACE_MESH_ANGLE Sets an angular tolerance for polyface mesh conversion. Valid value is a real value in degrees between 0 and 90.
MS_DWG_PLANARPOLYLINES Converts a planar line string to a 2D or 3D polyline. A planar line string has all its vertices lined up to form a unique plane. They do not have to be on an orthogonal plane; they can be on any plane in space. Valid values are:
3D Polyline
Polyline
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_CONVERT Converts reference files to DWG files. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_COPYLEVEL Sets the conditions to copy reference levels during merge: only if they are not in the target file, if they are overridden, or always copy. Valid values are:
If Not Found
If Overrides Exist
Always
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_COPYNESTED Copies live nested reference attachments to the target file when merging. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_EXTERNAL Saves external reference file attachments to be an Xref attachment (retained), merged, merged as a block, or omitted. Valid values are:
Retain
Merge
Merge To Cell
Omit
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_MASKED Saves masked reference file attachments to be an Xref attachment (retained), merged, merged as a block, or omitted. Valid values are:
Retain
Merge
Merge To Cell
Omit
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_MERGE_DISPLAYEDLEVELSONLY Merges reference levels only if they are displayed. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_OPTIMIZEDCLIP Optimizes reference clipping when merged. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_SELF Saves self-referenced file attachments to be an Xref attachment (retained), merged, merged as a block, or omitted. Valid values are:
Retain
Merge
Merge To Cell
Omit
MS_DWG_RENDER_LIGHTSOURCE_SAVE Saves rendering light sources. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_RENDER_MATERIAL_SAVE Saves rendering materials. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_SAVE_DIMENSION_SETTINGS Saves active dimension settings, such as the one listed as Style-none in dimension style dialog. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_SAVE_FILE_SETTINGS Saves file settings such that non-DWG settings can round-trip back. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_SAVE_FRONTBACK_CLIPS Saves front-back clippings. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_SAVE_REFERENCE_PATH Indicates whether/how to save paths for reference attachments. Valid values are:
When saving to same directory
Relative to Master File
Never
MS_DWG_SAVE_UNITS Sets the file units to be saved. Valid values are:
Master Units
Sub Units
Arch./Engineering
a unit defined in file units.def
MS_DWG_SCALE_BLOCKS Scales the block definitions. Valid values are ON (or no value) or OFF.
MS_DWG_SHEETBACKGROUND_COLOR Sets the background color for sheet models. Valid values are Red, Green, Blue, where each of these color values is an integer between 0 and 255.
MS_DWG_SHX_OUTPUT_PATH Sets the path to place converted SHX files. Valid value is a path or folder name.
MS_DWG_SOURCEVIEWGROUP Used to specify a view group name, rather than using the active view group, to save the level display on/off status per view to DWG's global layer display. Because DWG does not support per-view level display, if multiple view groups (for example, the default design model and sheet models) use different per-view level display, only one can be saved as the global layer display for all models.
When this configuration variable is not set, the active view group determines the global layer display status. When it is set with a valid view group name, that view group determines the global layer display status. When it is set with an invalid view group name, the first view group that points to a sheet model in the file determines the global layer display status. This can be useful if you are saving files in a batch, and each file has only one sheet model which is not always the active model.
This configuration variable takes effect only if MS_DWG_LEVEL_DISPLAY is set.
MS_DWG_TEXTSTYLE_NAME_TEMPLATE Sets a text string template to convert text style name. Valid value is a text string that may contain a place holder %s for the font name.
MS_DWG_VERSION Sets DWG version to be saved. Valid values are 11, 12,13, 14, 2000, 2000i, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.
MS_DWG_VPORT_LAYER_FROM_CLIP Sets the layer of viewport entity from the clipping element.
Viewport entities are represented as reference attachments in the product – the viewport level is extracted from the reference attachment. If no level is set for the reference attachment then by default the viewport is assigned to layer 0 . However, if this variable is set and a clip element is present, then the viewport layer is extracted from the clip element.
MS_DWG_VPORT_MAP_LOCATE_OFF_TO_LOCKED If set, the Display locked status of a viewport entity is mapped to the Locate setting of the reference attachments that represent this viewport. In this case, a viewport with Display locked off will have Locate turned off – and changing the Locate status of the reference attachment will change the Display Locked status of the viewport.
MS_DWG_VPFREEZE Sets the Viewport Freeze per View Level Display option.
  • 0 - Viewports & Global layers
  • 1 - Viewports Only
  • 2 - Force Global Layer display
MS_DWGINSERTLAYER Specifies the layer to which normal (unshared) cells and reference attachments are assigned when saving the open DGN file in DWG format. If this configuration variable is not defined, layer 0 is used. Valid values are ON (or no value) and OFF.
MS_DWGSAVEAPPLICATIONDATA Linkage data and type 66 application elements can be saved from DGN to DWG. If set, the applications are stored as XRECORDS and the linkages as XDATA. Valid values are ON (or no value) and OFF. The default is off.
MS_DXF_PRECISION Sets the number of decimal places for real numbers when saving file to DXF. Valid value is an integer number between 1 and 16.

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Engineering Links

MicroStation includes configuration variables to help set up all aspects of the design history.

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Design History. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_WEBLIB_HISTORY Weblib history History file for the Weblib shared library.
MS_BOOKMARKS_IMAGE Image bookmarks Bookmark file for remote images.
MS_BOOKMARKS_RSC Resource bookmarks Bookmark file for remote resource files.
MS_BOOKMARKS_ARCHIVE Archive bookmarks Bookmark file for remote archives.
MS_BOOKMARKS_CELL Cell library bookmarks Bookmark file for remote cell libraries.
MS_BOOKMARKS_DGN DGN bookmarks Bookmark file for remote DGN files.
MS_WEBKIOSKMODE Kiosk mode Set to 1 to turn on kiosk mode.
MS_WEBTYPESFILE Special filetype handling Specifies a file that contains special handling instructions for various file types.
MS_WEBFILES_DIR Weblib local storage Directory in which copies of remote files are stored.
MS_WEBDOWNLOADDIR Download directory Sets the directory in which WWW downloads are stored.
MS_BROWSERMAKECHILDWINDOW Reparent browser When set to 1, the current browser is reparented inside of the main window, allowing the viewer to always be seen.
MS_USEEXTERNALBROWSER External browser name Sets an external browser.

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Extensions

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect extensions. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Description
EC_EXTENSION_ASSEMBLIES Used for internal implementation. Do not modify.
MS_ACIS Directory containing the ACIS subsystem.
MS_APP Search path(s) of applications started from “TSK” statements.
MS_BATCHPLT_SPECS Sets the location of the batchplt.spc file, which contains the print specifications used by Print Organizer.
MS_BUTTONMENU Defines the file name for the default mouse button menu. The default name is "default.btnmenu" located in the MS_DATA directory. When you create or modify a button menu, the default button menu acts as a seed for modification.
MS_CLRUICULTURE Used for internal implementation. Do not modify.
MS_CUSTOMIZE_REPORT_STYLESHEET Defines the file name and location for HTML reports on templates and customizations. The default style sheet is named “customizereport.xsl” and is stored in ..\Default\Data\ folder of MicroStation's program directory.
MS_DATA_PDFL Used for internal implementation only. Do not modify.
MS_DGNTEXTEDITORFAVORITESYMBOLS Defines the file path where the favorite symbol preferences are stored.
MS_DGNTEXTEDITORFAVORITESYMBOLSSEED Defines the file path that, if exists, and if MS_DGNTEXTEDITORFAVORITESYMBOLS does not, it will be copied once to seed the favorite symbol preferences.
MS_DGNTEXTEDITORPREF Defines the file path where the text editor preferences are stored.
MS_DGNTEXTEDITORPREFSEED Defines the file path that, if exists, and if MS_DGNTEXTEDITORPREF does not, it will be copied once to seed the text editor preferences.
MS_DOCKINGPREF Defines the location of the file that stores docking preferences such as which dialogs are docked, where they are docked, and the size of the docking areas.
MS_DRAGDROPTYPES Defines location and file name for the file extensions associations. This is accessed through File > Tools > File Associate. The default file name is dragdrop.txt, which will be created in the %LOCALAPPDATA%\Bentley\<product_name>\<product_version>\ folder.
MS_ECREPOSITORY_PROPERTYENABLER_SKIPPED_ECSCHEMAS Used to remove certain item types from appearing in the Explorer dialog Items tab and Advanced Search dialog. The list is delimited by semicolons and the ECSchema names must be fully qualified with their version number, for example, “MySchema.01.00;BentleyPlant.05.00”. There is rarely a need for users to change it.
MS_EXPLORERSETTINGSSEED XML file containing default user Explorer settings. This file is used to define Explorer settings if the file defined by MS_EXPLORER_SETTINGS is not found.
MS_EXPLORER_SETTINGS XML file containing user Explorer settings.
MS_GPSDEVICES Specifies the GPS devices supported by MicroStation. It should not be changed by users.
MS_GROUPPANELPREF Defines the location of the file that stores the saved state of group panels in various dialogs. These include dialogs such as View Attributes, and stores the open state of the groups, as well as any custom settings that the dialog can associate with the groups.
MS_HANDLER_LOAD Used to control element handlers. This variable should not be changed by users.
MS_KEYPAIRLIST Digital signature KeyPair file list.
MS_LUXOLOGY Points to the directory where the DLLs related to Luxology are stored.
MS_MDLSTUB_LOAD List of MDL Applications that will be stub-loaded, which means their resources are loaded but the code portion of the application is not yet loaded.
MS_POINTCLOUD_APPS Loads any specified MDL applications along with the PointCloud Handler whenever a point cloud is attached in a model. To load the MDL application every time you attach a point cloud, add the name of the MDL application to this variable.
MS_POINTOOLS Points to the directory where the DLLs related to Pointools are stored.
MS_POSITIONMAPPING_CONFIGURATION If set to 1, displays the Position Mapping category in the Preferences dialog.
MS_PROCESSEXCEPTIONLOG MicroStation exception.log and minidump.dmp management.
MS_PRODUCTCODEGUID Used for internal implementation. Do not modify.
MS_PROPERTYENABLER_APPS Lists the applications to be loaded that are required for displaying properties in the Properties dialog.
MS_PUBLISH_EXTENSIONSASSEMBLIES Used for internal implementation. Do not modify.
MS_RASTER_DEF_DIR If absent, there is no Effect.
If present, defines the default directory to which the Attach Raster Reference menu will point to (Default raster file open directory).
MS_REALDWG_APPS Lists the adapters for cooperative object enablers that will be loaded into the product when it starts.
MS_SELECTBY Defines the directory for the selectby.rsc file to be written to and read from. The selectby.rsc is used by the Select by Attributes tool to save and retrieve sets of selection criteria. The default setting is MS_SELECTBY=$(_USTN_HOMEROOT).
MS_SELECTSERVICESHOME URL of Bentley SELECTservices homepage.
MS_SHAREDCONTENTDIR Defines the location of the visualization shared content directory.
MS_SKETCHUP_IMAGE Stores the texture images that are embedded in the SketchUp files when the SketchUp file is saved as a DGN file.
MS_SYMBOLPROVIDER_APPS Allows developers to register a managed assembly as an application that provides additional symbols for use in named expressions.
MS_SYSFONTDIR Directory containing the system fonts.
MS_TASKMAPFILES Used for internal implementation only.
MS_TEMPLATEEXTENDER_APPS Used to make terrain model properties available in the Element Templates dialog.
MS_XATTRIBUTE_HANDLER_LOAD Used to control terrain model elements. This variable should not be changed by users.
MSDIR_INSTALLED Directory where MicroStation is installed. This configuration variable cannot be modified.
PWDIR This variable appears only if MicroStation is integrated with ProjectWise and it points to the location of the ProjectWise working directory.

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Extensions (JT files)

The following table lists the configuration variables that appear in the Configuration dialog’s Extensions category only when you have a JT file open.

Variable Description
JTEXPORT_USING_POINT If set to -1, selects the Min. Line Length check box. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
TEXPORT_USING_ANGLE If set to -1, selects the Angle Tolerance check box. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_USING_CHORD If set to -1, selects the Chord Tolerance check box. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_NESTING_LEVEL Used to set the Reference Nesting Level. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTVERSION Used to set the JT version. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_BREP By default, JT Interface exports solid and surface data as a kind of mesh data. If this configuration variable is set, the solids and surfaces are exported as B-rep data. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_2D_CURVE If set to 1, selects the Export 2D Elements check box. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_USED_FACET If set to 1, selects the Use MicroStation Facet check box. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_SEWING If set to 1, will stitch adjoining Smart Surfaces and reduce the faceting, thus reducing the file size. It is suggested not to use this configuration variable unless the file contains mainly surface geometry, as it can have a lengthy processing time. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_SIMPLIFY If set to 1, will decimate existing meshes, thus reducing the file size. The level of detail will be lower than the original subject, so it is suggested to only use this configuration variable with meshes with very small facets. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_BSURFACE If set to 1, selects the Mesh as Set check box. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_WITHOUT_PRIMITIVE If set to 1, selects the Facet Primitives check box. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_WITHOUT_INSTANCE If set to 1, selects the No Instance check box. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_POINT_TOLERANCE Used to set a value for Min. Line Length. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_ANGLE_TOLERANCE Used to set a value for Angle Tolerance. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.
JTEXPORT_CHORD_TOLERANCE Used to set a value for Chord Tolerance. Variable only appears when a JT file has been exported.

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File Saving

Variable Short name Description
MS_DGNAUTOSAVE Design File Auto-Save  If set to 0 or a negative number, auto-save is disabled for all file types. If set to a positive number, auto-save is enabled for all file types. The specified positive number applies when editing V8 format design files. It determines the number of seconds of user inactivity that should elapse before MicroStation auto-saves. 
MS_V7AUTOSAVE V7 Design File Auto-Save  If set to a positive number, specifies the number of seconds after the first change to the V7 design file that auto-save occurs. When this time elapses, an Alert window appears that asks you whether the changes should be saved. The saving time can be significant, so you can defer the saving by clicking Cancel in the Alert window. If set to zero, auto-save is not done while the file is open. The file is automatically saved on exit or when switching to a different file.
MS_V7AUTOSAVE_NODIALOG  V7 Auto-Save Dialog If set to a positive number, specifies the number of seconds after the first change to the V7 design file that auto-save occurs. When this time elapses the Alert window is skipped and the file change is auto-saved.
MS_V7BACKUPV8  V7 create backup in V8 format Automatically creates a backup of a V7 file in the V8 format. If set to true, a file is created in the same directory with the extension .v8.
MS_DWGAUTOSAVE  DWG/DXF File Auto-Save  See DWG- and DXF-related configuration variables.
MS_DWGAUTOSAVE_NODIALOG  DWG/DXF Auto-Save Dialog See DWG- and DXF-related configuration variables.

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Geographic Coordinates

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect geographic coordinates. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Description
MS_GEOCOORDINATE_DATA Directory where MicroStation GeoCoordinate data is installed.
MS_GEOCOORDINATE_FAVORITESFILES Defines the file name and location for quick access to geographic coordinate systems. The contents of this file appear in the Favorites folder on the Select Geographic Coordinate System dialog’s Library tab. You can define multiple files by separating them with semicolons.
MS_GEOCOORDINATE_REFSETTINGS Directory where MicroStation stores the default reference reprojection settings. There is rarely a need for users to change it.
MS_GEOCOORDINATE_REPROJECTIONSETTINGS Directory where MicroStation stores the reprojection settings. There is rarely a need for users to change it.
MS_GEOCOORDINATE_USERLIBRARIES This configuration variable is string of the form “LibraryPath1[ShortName1];LibraryPath2[ShortName2]”, where LibraryPath<n> is the file name of the library, and [ShortName<n>] optionally specifies the identifier that appears in the Select Geographic Coordinate System dialog.
If no directory is specified in LibraryPath, the directory specified by the MS_GEOCOORDINATE_DATA configuration variable is used.

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Levels

MicroStation includes configuration variables to help set up all aspects of the level system.

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Levels. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_LEVEL_DISPLAY_FORMAT Level Display Format Specifies the formatting that the level name uses when the level lists display, including in PDF plots. If N, the default, the level name is used. If D, the level description is used; if C, the level code is used. More than one value can be specified.
MS_LEVEL_EDIT_NESTED_ATTACHMENT_LEVELS Edit Nested Attachment Levels If set, lets you edit the attributes of levels in nested reference attachments.
MS_LEVEL_ALLOW_LIBRARY_LEVEL_EDIT Edit Unused Library Levels Allows you to edit library levels when it is not yet used in master-file. If not set, then a library level can be edited only when if it is used. If set then a library level that is not yet copied into the master-file can be edited. On editing, the library level will be copied into the master-file.
MS_LEVEL_LOAD_ATTACHMENT_FILTERS Load Attachment Level Filters If defined, then level-filters of reference attachments are loaded.
MS_LEVEL_EDIT_ATTRIBUTE_LIST Control Level Attributes Edit Controls which level attributes can be edited or overridden (instead of using operating system privileges for the entire level library). The attributes to be edited can be one or more of the following as a comma separated list: Override Symbology (OverrideColor, OverrideStyle, OverrideWeight, OverrideMaterial), ByLevel Symbology (ByLevelColor, ByLevelStyle, ByLevelWeight, ByLevelMaterial), GlobalDisplay, GlobalFreeze, DisplayPriority, Transparency, Lock, and Plot. Each attribute accepts a "Library" or "Reference" prefix. Without the prefix, the attribute will be editable for both references and library levels.
MS_LEVEL_SYNC_ATTRIBUTE_LIST Control Level Attributes Synch Affects the DGNLIB UPDATE LEVELS CUSTOM and REFERENCE SYNCHRONIZE LEVELS CUSTOM key-ins. This variable controls the list of level attributes that will sync when any of the above key-ins is executed. The attributes can be one or more of the following as a comma separated list: OverrideSymbology, OverrideColor, OverrideStyle, OverrideWeight, OverrideMaterial, ByLevelSymbology, ByLevelColor, ByLevelStyle, ByLevelWeight, ByLevelMaterial, GlobalDisplay, GlobalFreeze, DisplayPriority, Transparency, Lock, and Plot. Each attribute accepts a "Library" or "Reference" prefix. Without the prefix, the attribute will be editable for both references and library levels.
MS_LEVEL_SYNCH_BYLEVEL Synch Symbology to ByLevel on Level Change If set, when you open a different model or view group, the active color, line style, and line weight are set to ByLevel.
The cases in which you open a different model or view group include:
  • opening a different file
  • opening the Models dialog and double-clicking a different model
  • exchanging a reference
  • selecting a different view group from the View Groups window
  • clicking the Previous Model or Next Model icons in the View Groups window
MS_LEVEL_AUTO_SYNC_ATTRIBUTE_LIST Level Attribute Auto Synch. This variable controls the list of level attributes that will automatically synchronize when a file is opened. The attributes can be one or more of the following as a comma separated list: OverrideSymbology, OverrideColor, OverrideStyle, OverrideWeight, OverrideMaterial, ByLevelSymbology, ByLevelColor, ByLevelStyle, ByLevelWeight, ByLevelMaterial, GlobalDisplay, GlobalFreeze, DisplayPriority, Transparency, Lock, and Plot. Each of the above attributes can take a "Reference" or "Library" prefix. If the prefix is not used, both reference and level library levels will be synchronized.
MS_LEVEL_SEED_LEVEL_NAME Seed Level Name Can be set to the name of a seed level. This can be a level in the master file, or a level in a DGNLib file. If the variable is not set, the default level is the seed level. When a new level is create, it takes the attributes of the seed level.
MS_LEVEL_CREATE_FROM_SEED_ATTRIBUTE_LIST Seed Level Attributes to use Controls the set of attributes of the seed level that are copied to the new level. Attributes can be one or more of the following attributes as a comma separated list: OverrideSymbology, OverrideColor, OverrideStyle, OverrideWeight, OverrideMaterial, ByLevelSymbology, ByLevelColor, ByLevelStyle, ByLevelWeight, ByLevelMaterial, GlobalDisplay, GlobalFreeze, DisplayPriority, Transparency, Lock, and Plot.
MS_UPDATE_KEEP_UNUSED_LIBRARY_LEVELS Keep Unused Library Levels If not set or set to 0, then unused library levels will be deleted when keying in DGNLIB UPDATE LEVELS. If set to 1, keying in DGNLIB UPDATE LEVELS will not delete all unused library levels. If set to 2, keying in DGNLIB UPDATE LEVELS will delete only unused library levels that are not synchronized with the open DGN file.
MS_LEVEL_PICKER_WIDTH Attributes Level Picker Width Sets the width, in pixels, of the level picker in the Attributes toolbox.
MS_REF_REATTACH_LEVEL_SYNC_ATTRIBUTE_LIST Ref. Reattach Level Attributes Specifies the list of level attributes that will sync when a reference is reattached. The attributes can be one or more of the following as a comma separated list: OverrideSymbology, OverrideColor, OverrideStyle, OverrideWeight, ByLevelSymbology, ByLevelColor, ByLevelStyle, ByLevelWeight, GlobalDisplay, GlobalFreeze, DisplayPriority, Transparency, and Plot.
MS_LEVEL_LIB_DIR Level Library Path Defines the default directory to look for when exporting levels or importing levels to/from a CSV, DGN, or DGNLib file.
MS_V7TOV8_CSVNAME V7 to V8 Level CSV File Defines the .csv file, which controls how levels are mapped when a V7 design file is upgraded to a V8 DGN file.
MS_V7_LEVEL_NAME_PREFIX V7 to V8 Level Name Prefix Defines the prefix to apply to unnamed levels when a V7 design file is upgraded to a V8 DGN file.
MS_V7TOV8_DELETE_UNUSED_LEVELS V7 to V8 Delete Unused Levels If set to 1, then all unused levels are deleted when a V7 design file is upgraded to a V8 DGN file. This variable is ignored if the V7 to V8 Level CSV File variable is set.

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Macro Recorder

The following table lists the configuration variablesthat affect the Bentley Macro Recorder. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_MACRO Macros Defines the search path for macros.
MS_MACRONEWFILEDIRECTORY Macros Defines the default path where new macros will be saved.

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Markup

There are configuration variables available to specify markup-related directory paths, page layout and resolution.

Variable Short Name Description
MS_MARKUP_HIDE_AUDIT_COMMENTS Hide Markup Audit Comments When set to True, audit comments do not display in the Comment section of the Markups dialog. However, user comments continue to display.
MS_MARKUPVIEWRESOLUTION Markup View Resolution Sets the resolution of the Markup View window, which is used to view a markup. Resolution can be set between 200 and 1200; default is 500.
MS_MARKUPSHEETSEEDNAME Markup Template Sheet Specifies the default page layout size. The default is Letter (Landscape).
MS_MARKUPSHEETSEED Markup Template File Sets the directory path for the location of the template file (Page Layout File) when creating markup sheets.
MS_MARKUPSETTINGS Markup Customization Settings Sets the location of the file that controls the settings for markups. The default is $(MS_DATA)MarkupConfig.XML.
MS_MARKUPPATH Markup Path Sets the directory path for the location where the markups are saved.

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OLE

Variable Short name Description
MS_OLE_RETAIN_CONTROL_SIZE Retain display size of object If set to 1, the display size of the OLE object is retained. If set to 0 or not set (the default), the OLE object is resized according to the size reported by OLE server.
MS_OLESERVE_EMBED_REFFILES Embed References If set, references are embedded along with the master DGN file.

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Operation

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Operation. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_APPMEN Application Menus Location of application and sidebar menus.
MS_AUTORESTORESTATUSBAR Auto-restore Status Bar If set to 1, the status bar is restored to its default appearance whenever the pointer is moved within.
MS_AUTOUPDATETEXTITEMSSLOWER AutoUpdate speed for Text items Slows down the AutoUpdate timer for text items. If set to 1, and if MS_AUTOUPDATETEXTITEMSSUPPORT is set to 1, text items are automatically synchronized with their values at a slower rate.
MS_AUTOUPDATETEXTITEMSSUPPORT AutoUpdate feature for Text items Turns the AutoUpdate feature on for text items on those dialogs and tool settings that want this feature. "Text items" are text controls or text input fields on dialogs and tool settings windows. If set to 1, text items are automatically synchronized with their values without focusing out. For example, while placing a circle, in the Place Circle tool settings window, if you enter a value in the Diameter text field, the cursor displays the circle with that diameter. If you change the diameter in the text field, the size of the circle changes to the new value automatically.
MS_COMMONITEMDIALOG Common Item Dialog from Microsoft By default, the newer Common Item Dialog from Microsoft is used for most file open/save dialogs. If the older Microsoft file dialogs are preferred at all times, set this variable to 0.
MS_COMPRESS_OPTIONS Compress Options Selections Specifies file compression options. If set, the specified options override the selections in the Compress Options dialog.
MS_CURSORPROMPT Cursor Prompt If set to 1, displays a Cursor Prompt window that follows the mouse. The cursor prompt shows the message displayed in the lower left field of the Status Bar. It guides you step by step as you perform an operation with a tool.
MS_DEFAULT_MAINTASKPATH Default Main Task Overrides the default Main task. The Main task is now driven by 'Main Task' definitions in DGNLIB's. To upgrade, migrate your existing toolbox definition to a Main task, and set this configuration appropriately.
MS_DGNFILE_OPEN_FOR_WRITE_RETRY_LIMIT DGN Open for Write If set, shortens delay in opening a DGN that is already open for editing elsewhere. If not set, MicroStation tries 50 times to open the file for editing before displaying an alert for a sharing violation. You can set a value lower than 50 for quicker access to the DGN as a read only file. For example, if set to 10, MicroStation will try 10 times to open the file for editing before displaying an alert message.
MS_DGNFILE_OPEN_FOR_READ_RETRY_LIMIT DGN Open for Read If set, shortens delay in opening a DGN as read-only. If not set, MicroStation tries 20 times to open the DGN for editing before opening it as read-only. You can set a value lower than 20 for quicker access to the DGN. For example, if set to 10, MicroStation will try 10 times to open the file for editing before displaying an alert message.
MS_DISABLE_FILE_ICONS Disable File Open Icons If set, the Show File Icons check box is not shown in the File Open, New, and Open dialogs. Also, the setting is turned off thereby preventing the display of file list icons. The effect is not evident until you restart MicroStation.
MS_DISABLE_FILE_THUMBNAIL Disable File Open Thumbnail If set, thumbnail images of files are not displayed in the File Open and Open dialogs.
MS_FILEHISTORY File History If set, MicroStation saves the last four files and directories for each file type.
MS_FKEYMNU Function Key Menu Defines the file name for the default function key menu. The default name is "funckey.mnu" located in the MS_DATA directory. When you create or modify a function key menu, the default function key menu acts as a seed for modification.
MS_FULLPATHINTITLEBAR Full Path in Title Bar If set, the full file specification of the open file, including path, is displayed in the MicroStation application window title bar.
MS_GRAYGROUPHEADERBACKGROUND Gray Color for Group Headers By default, the background color of selected Group Headers is blue. "Group Headers" are headers of groups/sections in dialogs like Explorer dialog and Properties dialog. If set to 1, a gray color is used.
MS_GROUPPOPUPFADEKEYTIPS Ribbon Group Popup Fade KeyTips Not used.
MS_GROUPPOPUPFALLBACKWORKFLOW_2D Fall-back Workflow for pop-up group processing. Defines the workflow to use when the pop-up group path starts with a "*" and the active workflow does not contain the specified group and the active model is 2D.
MS_GROUPPOPUPFALLBACKWORKFLOW_3D Fall-back Workflow for pop-up group processing. Defines the workflow to use when the pop-up group path starts with a "*" and the active workflow does not contain the specified group and the active model is to be treated as 3D.
MS_IDLETIMEOUT Exit MicroStation When Idle If set, specifies the number of minutes of inactivity to wait before exiting an active session of MicroStation. (“Active session” means that a DGN file is open.) The minimum value is 30 minutes.
MS_IMMEDIATEUPDATE Window Immediate Update If set, view windows will immediately update when other windows are moved or resized over them.
MS_INPUT_CONFIGXML Default Touch Gesture Configuration Directory containing the inputconfiguration.xml file, which is used to store gesture assignments.
MS_KEYBOARDSHORTCUTS User Keyboard Shortcuts XML file containing user keyboard shortcuts.
MS_KEYBOARDSHORTCUTSEXPAND Keyboard Shortcuts User Order If set to 1, the parent nodes will be expanded when the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog is opened. A value of 0 is the default.
MS_KEYBOARDSHORTCUTSSEED Default Keyboard Shortcuts XML file containing default keyboard shortcuts. This file is used to define keyboard shortcuts if the file defined by MS_KEYBOARDSHORTCUTS is not found.
MS_KEYBOARDSHORTCUTSUSERORDER Keyboard Shortcuts User Order If set to 1 (the default), the order of the Keyboard Shortcuts in the menu will be the order set by the user.
MS_LEGACYTOOLMAPLIST Path to files that contain Tool Mapping data Defines list of Tool Map XML files that specify mapping of tools from MicroStation V8i to the current version.
MS_LIBRARY_SAVEDVIEW_FILTER Saved Views Library Filter Specifies a set of saved views to exclude from the user interface. The filter is applied only to views found in libraries. For filter syntax and string expressions, see Defining and Deleting Filters.
MS_MAINMENUDOCKINGBESIDE Allow Docking Beside Main Menu If set to 0 or not set (default), the main menu bar spans the entire width of the application window. If set to a value other than zero, toolboxes and dockable dialogs can be docked along the main menu bar.
MS_NO_VIEW_ANIMATION Disable Tile/Cascade Animation If on, the animation of view tile and cascade is disabled.
MS_OPENDWGAEC Open DWG AEC files Controls the behavior when opening DWG AEC files of an older version:
  • Value = 1 - The file is opened for editing and the AEC objects are upgraded to the current version.
  • Value = 2 - The file is opened as read-only.
  • Value = null - If not set at all or set to any other value, the Alert window opens.
MS_OPENV7 Open V7 Files Controls MicroStation's behavior when opening V7-format design files. If not set or set to 0, the file opens with an alert dialog that provides an option to upgrade the file to V8 DGN format. If set to 1, the file is upgraded to V8 DGN format and opened. If set to 2, the file is opened in read-only mode. If set to 3, the file is opened in V7 workmode.
MS_POPUPDIALOGCLOSEDELAY Popup Dialog Close Delay Specifies the time, in milliseconds, to wait before closing a pop-up dialog. The valid range is 0-120 (0-2 seconds). The default value is 30 (0.5 seconds).
MS_READONLY Read Only If set, the active DGN file is read-only.
MS_RIBBONCOMPONENTPROVIDERS Ribbon Component Providers AddIn List List of managed addins that provide their own ribbon content. For example, Baseribbon.cfg file contains an entry for Bentley.Macros.UI.dll. Adding this provides support for the "Macros" ribbon group.
MS_RIBBONDIR Base Path for Ribbon Definitions Base path where ribbon definitions are located. This path is not used directly but is typically used to define MS_RIBBONRSC, MS_RIBBONXML.
MS_RIBBONPREFS Ribbon Preferences File Specifies the name of the file containing the current state of the ribbon, such as the active workflow, active tab, and setting for ribbon search.
MS_RIBBONPREFSSEED Ribbon Preferences Seed File Specifies the seed file for the ribbon preferences file, if not defined for MS_RIBBONPREFS. The file specified by MS_RIBBONPREFSSEED is only used to create the file specified by MS_RIBBONPREFS when that file is not present. This typically only happens when the product is first loaded or when a user has used the command line option -restoredefaults.
MS_RIBBONRSCLIST Ribbon Resource File List Specifies a list of RSC files containing ribbon components definitions.
MS_RIBBONXML Ribbon XML File List Specifies a list of XML files containing ribbon components definitions.
MS_RIBBON_MAXBUTTONLABELCHARS Maximum characters for a ribbon label Specifies the maximum number of characters to display for a ribbon button label. If not set, the default value is 24. The minimum value is 20. The maximum value is 128.
MS_RIBBON_NUMEXPANDEDTASKGROUPS Number of Expanded groups on Active Task tab Specifies the number of expanded groups in a task tab. Once this limit is hit then all other tasks are placed in an Overflow group.
MS_SAVEMENU Attached Menus File containing information about attached menus.
MS_SOURCENAME_PROPERTY Save the SOURCE file property If set, the SOURCE file property can be set to the name of the source file. By default, only the name and extension of the source file are saved. Set to 0 to disable the SOURCE property. Set to FULL to save the full path of the source file.
MS_TOOLSETTINGSIGNORETITLEFORWIDTH Tool Settings Ignore Title when Determining Width Is set to 1, the title of the tool settings is ignored when determining the width of the tool settings window.
MS_UPDATESPLITBUTTONLABELTOSELECTED Update Split Button Label to Selected If set to 1, enables updating the label of a split button to match the selected child item. By default, only the image and tooltip are updated. If this option is enabled, the split button, as well as the ribbon groups, will grow and shrink based on the size of the label.
MS_VIEWAUTORESIZE View Resize Behavior If set to 1, the view windows are resized proportionally when the main window is resized or when the dialogs are docked or undocked.
If set to 0, the view window resizes only when the main window border encroaches the view window border.
MS_VIEWTOOLBOX2D View window toolbox for 2D Overrides for the View window toolboxes for 2D. The value can be the title of a system toolbox or user-defined toolbox.
MS_VIEWTOOLBOX3D View window toolbox for 3D Overrides for the View window toolboxes for 3D. The value can be the title of a system toolbox or user-defined toolbox.
MS_WORKMODE Work Mode Workmode activates/disables certain functions in order to produce a more compatible design at the end. Setting this variable to DWG will disable some creation tools that may result in elements that are incompatible with the DWG file format. Setting it to DGN (default) will gain full functional capacity in creating elements. You must restart MicroStation to see the effect of a changed value.
MS_WORKSPACEOPTS Workspace Options (Applicable only to the old File Open dialog (MicroStation Manager)) If set to 0 (default), the Workspace options are displayed on the File Open dialog. If set to 1, the Workspace options are displayed but disabled. If set to 2, the Workspace options are hidden and the dialog box is resized.

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Point Cloud

Variable Short name Description
MS_POINTCLOUD_LAS_NBIT_COLOR Point Cloud LAS File Color treatment  If defined and set to 8, will treat color as 8 bits. If set to 16, will treat color as 16 bits
If undefined or set to any other value; will try to auto detect number of bits per color channel. 

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Primary search Paths

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Primary Search Paths. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
DWGRDL_DIR DWG Redline Location Location and/or extension of the DWG redline file. Defaults to the name of the open DWG file with “_redline” inserted before “.dwg.” in the same directory as the open DWG file.
MS_ADDINPATH AddIns Search path for managed AddIn assemblies that are used outside of MicroStation's application base or configured privatePath.
MS_ADDIN_DEPENDENCYPATH AddIn Dependencies Search path for managed assemblies that are used by AddIns outside of MicroStation's application base or configured privatePath. Directories should not be listed here and in MS_ADDINPATH.
MS_DEF Design Files Search path(s) for DGN files.
MS_DGNLIBLIST DGN Library List

List of DGN library files that are used to find Levels, Line Styles, Text Styles, Dimension Styles, Multiline Styles, Element Templates, Text Favorites, Table Styles, Report Definitions, Drawing Seeds, Drawing Boundaries, Display Styles, Display Rules, Page Layouts, Saved Views, and Item Types for your current session.
MS_DGNLIBLIST_CLASH DGN Library List List of DGN library files that are used to find Clash Detection Interference Jobs and Reports for your current session. 
MS_DGNLIBLIST_DETAILINGSYMBOLSTYLES DGN Library List Process the DGNLIB's pointed by MS_DGNLIBLIST_DETAILINGSYMBOLSTYLES for available DetailingSymbol Styles
MS_DGNLIBLIST_DIMENSIONSTYLES DGN Library List Process the DGNLIB's pointed by MS_DGNLIBLIST_DIMENSIONSTYLES for available library Dimension Styles
MS_DGNLIBLIST_DISPLAYSTYLES DGN Library List Process the DGNLIB's pointed by MS_DGNLIBLIST_DISPLAYSTYLES for available library Display Styles
MS_DGNLIBLIST_DRAWINGSEEDS DGN Library List Process the DGNLIB's pointed by MS_DGNLIBLIST_DRAWINGSEEDS for available library DrawingSeeds
MS_DGNLIBLIST_ELEMENTTEMPLATES DGN Library List Process the DGNLIB's pointed by MS_DGNLIBLIST_ELEMENTTEMPLATES for available ElementTemplates
MS_DGNLIBLIST_ITEMTYPES DGN Library List Process the DGNLIB's pointed by MS_DGNLIBLIST_ITEMTYPES for available Item Types
MS_DGNLIBLIST_LEVELS DGN Library List List of DGN library files that are exclusively used to set Level definitions for your current session.
MS_DGNLIBLIST_LINESTYLES DGN Library List Process the DGNLIB's pointed by MS_DGNLIBLIST_LINESTYLES for available library LineStyles
MS_DGNLIBLIST_LINKS DGN Library List List of DGN library files that are used to find Sheet Indexes and Link Sets for your current session.
MS_DGNLIBLIST_PRINTING DGN Library List List of DGN library files that are used to find Print Styles for your current session.
MS_DGNLIBLIST_RENDER DGN Library List List of DGN library files that are used to find Rendering Setups, Materials, and Lights for your current session.
MS_DGNLIBLIST_TEXTFAVORITES DGN Library List Process the DGNLIB's pointed by MS_DGNLIBLIST_TEXTFAVORITES for available library Text Favorites
MS_DGNLIBLIST_TEXTSTYLES DGN Library List Process the DGNLIB's pointed by MS_DGNLIBLIST_TEXTSTYLES for available library Text Styles
MS_ECFRAMEWORK_SCHEMAS ECSchema Search Path Stores list of directories in which MicroStation searches for EC Schemas. This variable should not be changed by users.
MS_FILTER_LIB_DIR Filter Library Path Directory containing filter data files.
MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST User Interface DGN Library List Directories containing DGN library files that store tool, toolbox, task, menu, and icon customizations.
MS_ICONLIBRARYLIST Icon Library List Directories containing .dll files for icons.
MS_ICONPATH Icon Path Directories containing files for icons.
MS_ICONRSCLIST Icon Resource File List Directories containing .rsc files for icons.
MS_LIBRARY_PATH Library Path Search path for dynamic link libraries.
MS_LINFILELIST LIN File Path Directory containing linestyle files.
MS_MDL MDL Applications Search path(s) for MDL applications or external programs loaded by MDL applications.
MS_MDLAPPS Visible MDL Applications Search path(s) for MDL applications displayed in the Applications dialog.
MS_PERSONALDGNLIB Users Personal DGNLib Search path for DGNLib files that store ribbon customizations.
MS_RFDIR References Search path(s) for references.
MS_RSRCPATH Resource Files Search path(s) for resource files loaded by MDL applications.
MS_SAVEDVIEW_EXCLUDELIBS Saved Views Library Exclude Filter The saved views in the library files pointed by this configuration variable are not displayed in the Saved Views dialog. This configuration variable should point only to those files that are specified in the MS_DGNLIBLIST configuration variable. If this configuration variable is not defined, the saved views of all the files pointed by MS_DGNLIBLIST are displayed in the Saved Views dialog.
MS_SEED_LINKSET_PATH Link Set Seed File Path Search path for seed link set file.
RDL_DIR Redline Location Location and/or extension of the redline file. Defaults to the name of the open DGN file but with the suffix “.rdl,” instead of “.dgn,” in the same directory as the open DGN file.

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Printing

MicroStation includes configuration variables to help set up all aspects of the printing process.

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect the printing operations. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_PLTCFG_PATH Printer Driver Config Path Specifies the search path for printer driver configuration (.pltcfg or .plt) files. This path is also used to locate dependent files such as PostScript prolog files, which are no longer constrained to the same directory as the selected .pltcfg or .plt files. They can be stored anywhere in MS_PLTCFG_PATH. If the MS_PLTCFG_PATH configuration variable is defined, the first directory in its value is used as the initial directory in the Select Printer Driver Configuration File dialog. Otherwise, the most recently used directory for printer driver configuration files is used.
MS_DEFAULT_PLTCFG_FILE Default Printer Configuration Name of printer driver configuration (.pltcfg or .plt) file that loads, rather than last one used. This variable replaces the old variable MS_PLOTDLG_DEF_PLTFILE. The old variable is still honored if MS_DEFAULT_PLTCFG_FILE is not defined.
MS_PLT_SYSPRT_PLTFILE Default Windows Printer Driver Name of printer driver configuration (.pltcfg or .plt) file that is used when Windows driver is selected.
MS_PLT_PDF_PLTFILE Default PDF Printer Name Name of the printer driver configuration (.pltcfg or .plt) file that is used when the PDF driver is selected.
MS_PLT_SYSPRT_DEFAULT_PRINTER Default Windows Printer Name Name of printer that is used when a default system printer opens.
MS_PLT_SYSPRT_DEFAULT_FORM Default Windows Form Name Name of form that is used when a default system printer opens.
MS_PLT_SYSPRT_DEFAULT_TRAY Default Windows Tray Name Name of tray that is used when a default system printer opens.
MS_PLTFILES Print Output Directory The print output directory specified by this configuration variable is now given priority over the most recently used print output directory. If this configuration variable is defined, the most recently used directory is always ignored when the Print dialog brings up the Save Print As dialog for saving a print output file.
MS_PRINTDEF_PATH Print Definition Search Path Specifies the search path for print definition (.pset or .ini) files.
MS_PENTABLE Pen Table Search Path Search path for pen tables.
MS_PENTABLE_EDITOR Pen Table Editor If set to HIDE_MENU_ITEM, removes the print dialog Edit Pen Table menu item.
MS_DESIGNSCRIPT_EDITOR Design Script Editor Fully qualified name of a text editor to use when the print dialog's Edit Design Script menu item is activated. For example, set the value to "notepad.exe" (without the quote marks) to use the Windows notepad text editor. If this variable is not defined, notepad is used. If set to HIDE_MENU_ITEM, removes the print dialog Edit Design Script menu item.
MS_DESIGNSCRIPT_PATH Design Script Search Path Search path for design scripts.
MS_PLT_PREVIEW_USABLEAREACOLOR Preview Usable Area Color Specifies the color of the usable area rectangle in the preview window.
MS_PLT_PREVIEW_PLOTBOXCOLOR Preview Plot Rectangle Color Specifies the color of the print bounding box rectangle in the preview window.
MS_PLT_PREVIEW_PLOTFENCECOLOR Preview Plot Fence Color Specifies the color of the print fence shape in the preview window.
MS_PLTDLG_UNLOADONCLOSE Unload Plot Dialog on Close Controls the load/unload of the Plot dialog on closing.
MS_PLTDLG_CLOSE_AFTER_PLOT Close Print Dialog After Plot If set to 1, the Print dialog closes automatically after a print job is performed successfully.
MS_PLT_ENABLE_SCALE_CLIPPING Enable Scale Clipping If set to 0, does not reduce the plot fence or sheet size to accommodate the specified scale factor.
MS_PLT_ENABLE_PRESERVE_SCALE Enable Preserve Scale If set to 0, does not preserve the current plot scale when a new view, fence or paper size is selected.
MS_PLT_ENABLE_AUTO_ROTATE Enable Automatic Rotation If set to 0, does not manipulate the plot rotation in order to achieve the best fit.
MS_PLT_ENABLE_AUTO_ORIENT Enable Automatic Orientation If set to 0, does not manipulate the paper orientation in order to achieve the best fit.
MS_PLTDLG_AREA_PRIORITY Print Area Priority If set to 1, sheet definitions in the model take priority over the active fence.
MS_PLT_FORM_SCALE_PRIORITY Form Scale Priority If set to 1, the default form scale is reapplied whenever the paper size changes.
MS_PLT_SET_LAYOUT_FROM_SHEET Honor Sheet Layout Info If set to 0, the Print dialog layout is not automatically set when a sheet definition is loaded and the current print area is Sheet.
MS_PLT_SET_PLOT_STYLE_TABLE_FROM_SHEET Honor Sheet Plot Style Table If set to 0, plot style tables specified in the sheet definition are not attached to the plot.
MS_PLT_MAX_ON_NEW_AREA Maximize on New Print Area If set to 1, the print size is maximized automatically when the print area changes.
MS_PLTDLG_AUTO_FIT_VIEW Automatically Fit View Controls the setting for the print area mode.
MS_PLTDLG_SHOW_BASIC_LAYOUT_CONTROLS Basic Layout Controls If set to 1, the Print dialog's Rotation field and Mirror option menu are hidden. The orthogonal print Rotation option menu is displayed instead.
MS_PLTDLG_ALLOW_FORM_SIZE_EDIT Allow Form Size Edits If set to 1, the size of the selected form may be modified via the Print dialog.
MS_PLTDLG_SHOW_PRINT_STATUS Show Print Status Dialog If on, a print status dialog opens when a job is being printed. You can cancel the print job.
MS_PLTDLG_THUMBNAIL_PREVIEW_TIMEOUT Thumbnail Preview Timeout Controls how long the thumbnail preview in the Print dialog paints before stopping to allow the rest of the dialog to refresh. The default is 10 seconds.
MS_PLTDLG_SHOW_ACCURATE_PREVIEW_ROTATION Preview Accurate Rotation If set to 1, the Preview dialog displays the plot in its current rotation.
MS_PLTDLG_SET_UNITS_FROM_SHEET Set Units From Sheet If set to 0, the Print dialog's units are not automatically set from the sheet definition when the current print area is Sheet.
MS_PLTDLG_KEEPVIEWFLAGSONFENCECHANGE Keep View Flags on New Fence When a new fence is placed, controls the setting for resetting or preserving current print attributes.
MS_PLOTDLG_DEF_PENTABLE Default Pen Table Defines the default pen table that is loaded.
MS_PLTDLG_SETUPSYSPRT_ENABLE_PRINT Enable Setup Sysprinter Print Controls the print behavior of the Configure Windows Printer icon.
MS_PLTDLG_ENABLE_SAVE_CONFIG Enable Save Configuration Disables the Print dialog Save Configuration menu items.
MS_PLTDLG_DISABLE_PREFERENCES_DIALOG Disable Plot Dialog Preferences If set to 1, the Preferences menu item is not displayed on the Settings menu.
MS_PLT_SCALE_METHOD Scale Method Determines how the print scale displays in the Print dialog.
MS_PENTABLE_IMPORTEMPTYSECTIONS Import Empty Pen Table Section During AutoCAD plot style table imports, ignores pen table sections that have no effect. If set to 1, empty sections are created.
MS_PENTABLE_DISABLECOLOR Pen Table Disable Color Controls the color of a disabled section in a pen table; default is medium gray.
MS_PENTABLE_SLOTNUM_MATCH_APPLIES_TO_CHILD Pen Table Slot Number Match Controls how the pen table reference slot number match applies to the parent reference and its children.
MS_PENTABLE_SEARCH_LEVEL_LIBRARIES Pen Table Search Level Libs If set to 0, level libraries are not included when searching for level names defined in the pen table.
MS_PENTABLE_IMPORTCTB_NOPENMAP Pen Table Import Pen Maps When importing CTB files, allows the proper color-to-width resymbolization of multi-colored elements.
MS_PLTFILE_EDITOR Printer Configuration Editor Controls which editor is used when you select File > Edit Printer Driver Configuration in the Print dialog.
MS_PLT_INVERT_WHITE_COLORS Invert White-to-Black Colors Allows you to override the colors that are automatically inverted from white to black.
MS_PLT_ABBREVIATE_BORDER_FILENAME Abbreviate Border Filename If set to 0, the filenames included in the plot border text are not abbreviated.
MS_PLT_AUTOAREA_RESULT_LIMIT Maximum print definitions Defines the maximum number of print definitions to be created when searching for multiple shapes or cells. The default limit is 500.
MS_PLT_UPDATE_FIELDS Update Fields when Printing Controls when fields are updated prior to printing or previewing. If set to 0 or undefined, fields are not updated prior to either printing or previewing. If set to 1, fields are updated prior to printing. If set to 2, fields are updated prior to both printing and previewing.
MS_PLT_ENGINE_CMDLINE_ARGS Engine Command-Line Arguments Specifies custom command line arguments used by Print Organizer when invoking its background process. If this variable is undefined and MS_CONFIG is defined, then the background process is invoked with the command line argument -wc"$(MS_CONFIG)"
MS_PLT_ENABLE_VARIABLE_DEFINITION_MODE Use Variable Print Definitions If set to 0, Print Organizer creates fixed print definitions. If set to 1, Print Organizer creates variable print definitions.
MS_PRINTERLIST_SYSPRINTERS Printer List System Printer If set to 0, Windows printer names are not included in the print dialog printer list.
MS_PRINTERLIST_VISIBILITY Printer List Visibility Controls the behavior of the printer driver configuration file selection list. By default, most .pltcfg files and all .plt files in the MS_PLTCFG_PATH search path are listed. Only .pltcfg files with Visible=0 properties are excluded. The display label property is used to identify .pltcfg files, if defined. Otherwise the file name is used. Legacy .plt files are always identified by file name.
This variable may be used to control the .pltcfg visibility test. For example, a value of '2-4,6' will result in only .pltcfg files with Visible property values of 2,3,4, and 6 to be included in the list. All .plt files are considered to have a Visible property of 1, as are .pltcfg files that do not explicitly define a Visible property.
There are two reserved values:
  • "0": Do not search for printer driver configuration files. Selection can only be performed using a file picker dialog. All files are identified by file name only.
  • "-1": Search for printer driver configuration files, but do not read their Display Label or Visible properties. All files are identified by file name only. This setting may be helpful if the time required to build the list is a concern.
MS_PRINTORGANIZER_OPEN_DGN_READWRITE Open Designs Read-Write If set to 1, the Print Organizer background process opens design files in read-write mode. Certain print workflows may depend on the design file being writeable.

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Protection

MicroStation includes configuration variablesto help set up all aspects of the file protection.

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Protection. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_PROTECTION_ENABLE Enable file protection
  • Set to 0 to disable file protection (default)
  • Set to 1 to enable password or certificate protection
  • Set to 2 to enable password protection
  • Set to 3 to enable certificate protection
MS_PROTECTION_V8_COMPATIBILITY Limit encryption strength
  • Set to 0 to use stronger encryption, producing protected files that previous versions cannot open (default)
  • Set to 1 to enable previous versions to open protected files and create licenses
MS_PROTECTION_LICENSE_ENABLE Control license creation
  • Set to 0 to disable license creation
  • Set to 1 to enable password licenses
  • Set to 2 to enable certificate licenses
  • Set to 4 to enable Everyone licenses
  • Set to 7 to enable all types of licenses (default)

Add individual values together to enable two or more license types.
MS_PROTECTION_PASSWORD_MIXED Password letters and numbers A password containing a mixture of letters and numbers.
MS_PROTECTION_PASSWORD_MINIMUM Minimum length of password Sets the minimum length of a file protection password. The default is 5.
MS_PROTECTION_NOENCRYPT_THUMBNAIL Do not encrypt file thumbnail The thumbnail is an image of the last used view of the design file. The image is displayed by Windows File Explorer and File Open dialog.
MS_PROTECTION_NOENCRYPT_PROPERTIES Do not encrypt file properties Set to 1, tells the Protect command to leave file properties unencrypted or set to 0 to allow Protect encrypt file properties.

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Raster

MicroStation includes configuration variablesto help set up all aspects of the rasters.

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Raster files. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_RASTER_IMG_STRETCH Set contrast stretch filtering Specifies a contrast stretch filtering to be applied to any Erdas IMG file whose detected pixel type is grayscale 8 bits, RBG 24 bits or RGBA 32 bits. Possible values are as follows :
1 or 0
Where
0 : No contrast stretch is applied.
1 : A contrast stretch filtering is applied before displaying the image.
MS_RASTER_IMG_CHANNELS Set band to channel mapping for IMG file format Sets the band number to use for Red, Green, Blue and Alpha channels when a file whose format is IMG is attached. The ‘0’ value can be set for the Alpha channel if none is required. When this variable is defined, all attached Erdas IMG rasters will use the same band order. The default value is: MS_RASTER_IMG_CHANNELS 1 2 3 4.
MS_RASTER_DISABLE_IPPCONNECTION Disable default server port If undefined, the default socket server port 1924 is used.
If defined, the socket port 1924 is ignored.
MS_RASTER_VIEWSAVEASDWG Define view for DWG file

When exporting to DWG, controls whether the raster is displayed.
If set to 0 or undefined, the raster is displayed in View 1.
If set to 1 to 8, the raster is displayed in the specified view.
If set to 9, the raster is displayed in at least one view.
If set to 10, the raster is displayed in all views.
MS_RASTER_COMMONGEOREFFILEFORMATS Set default 'Common Geo Ref Raster Formats' file filter for the Open dialog Sets the extension(s) of the file formats to use as the default "Common Geo Ref Raster Formats" file filter for the Open dialogs. Use a semicolon to separate file extensions. Do not add a semicolon to the end of the list. For example: *.hmr;*.iTiff;*.tiff
MS_RASTER_COMMONFILEFORMATS Set default 'Common Raster Formats' file filter for the Open dialog Sets the extension(s) of the file formats to use as the default “Common Raster Formats” file filter for the Open dialogs. Use a semicolon to separate file extensions. Do not add a semicolon to the end of the list. For example: *.hmr;*.iTiff;*.tiff
MS_RASTER_TIFFINVERT Invert monochrome tiff If defined and set to a non-zero value, inverts the foreground/background color allocation of monochrome tiff files when the raster is attached.
MS_RASTER_SAVEAUTO Set Automatic Save mode Enables Raster Manager Automatic Save mode when closing a DGN or detaching a raster.
If undefined or set to 0, Save Auto is off.
If set to 1, Save Auto is enabled and the user will not be prompted to update the raster for changes made to the location info of the file.
MS_RASTER_NOSHARING Creating .sharing.tmp files Manages the automatic creation of .sharing.tmp files for concurrent access of the same raster file by various instances of MicroStation. If undefined or set to 0, .sharing.tmp files are generated.
If set to 1, .sharing.tmp file generation is off.
MS_RASTER_NO_DETACH_CONFIRM Display alert dialog upon raster If set to 0, displays an alert dialog asking to confirm the raster detachment. If undefined or set to 1, does not display the alert dialog.
MS_RASTER_EPSGTABLE_PATH Set path to EPSG table Enables geotiff positioning using the location parameters found in ASCII files provided on request.
The required ASCII files are:
  • CoordSysData.txt
  • ProjectionData.txt
  • UnitsData.txt

If undefined or set to 0, hard-coded tables are used.
If set to 1, ASCII files are used.
MS_RASTER_DEFAULTSISTER Set default sister file If set to 0 or 1, HGR is the default sister file.
If set to 2, WorldFile is the default sister file.
MS_RASTER_DEFAULTSCALE Set default scale If undefined, or if defined and set to 1, a non-georeferenced raster that is attached without the use of the Place Interactively check box is assigned a scale of 1. The pixel size is derived from the scale and DPI.
If defined and set to a value greater than 1, a non-georeferenced raster that is attached without the use of the Place Interactively check box is assigned a scale equal to the value of MS_RASTER_DEFAULTSCALE. The pixel size is derived from the scale and DPI.
MS_RASTER_1BIT_WORKMODE Harmonize monochrome raster display If defined and set to 1, harmonizes monochrome raster display so they are handled like raster reference attachments.
If undefined or set to 0, has no effect.
MS_RASTER_DEFAULT_LEVEL Set default display level Defines the level for raster elements when upgrading to MicroStation V8i. The value is the LevelName.
MS_RASTER_TRANSPARENCY Set transparency If defined and set to 1, Raster Manager sets the background transparency value, as specified in the Raster Manager Transparency dialog. Possible values are 0 to 255, where 255 is 100% transparency.
If undefined or set to 0, has no effect.

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Reference

MicroStation includes configuration variables to help set up all aspects of the references.

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect reference files. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_DISALLOWFULLREFPATH Disallow Full Ref Path If set, the product does not save the full path to references. By default, the product stores both an abbreviated (portable) path and the full path to references.
MS_NEST_COLORADJUSTMENT Nested Reference Color Adjustment If set to any value, the nested reference color adjustments at each level are multiplied by this value. If not set, the color adjustment for the top level reference controls the color adjustment for all nested references.
MS_REF_DEFAULTATTACHDIRECTORY Default Attachment Directory If set, the Attach Reference dialog defaults to this directory, rather than the directory of the last attached reference.
MS_REF_DEFAULTSETTINGS Default Attachment Settings Controls the default settings for reference attachments. This variable is set to a comma-separated list of key=value pairs — for example: snap=1,locate=0,trueScale=1,scaleLineStyles=0.
Recognized keys and values include: display=0|1, snap=0|1, locate=0|1, treatAsElement=0|1, attachMethod=coincident|world|geoReprojected|geoAECTransform, useLights=0|1, saveRelativePath=0|1, scaleLineStyles=0|1, ignoreWhenNesting=0|1, displayRasterRefs=0|1, displayBoundary=0|1, newLevelDisplay=fromconfig|always|never, nestMode=live|copy|none, nestDepth=<value>,nestOverrides=allow|always|never, useAnnotationScale=0|1, synchWithSavedView=none|volume|allsettings, levelControlDisplay=0|1, plotAs3D=0|1.
Also, to store the complete path to V7 files for newly attached references, set the variable to completepathv7=1.
MS_REF_DONTHILITEFORMANIP Hiliting References for Manipulation

By default, the product highlights all elements in a reference file when the reference is manipulated. If this variable is set to any value, this highlighting is disabled. Disabling speeds up the reference manipulations but makes it more difficult to see which references are being manipulated.
MS_REF_ENABLE_LEGACY_VISEDGE Enable Visible Edges "Legacy" Option If set to 1, the Legacy option for the reference Visible Edges drop-down is displayed. The Cached option replaces the "Legacy" (True Hidden Line) option and provides superior performance and accuracy.
MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_DESIGN Design Model Update Sequence Controls the default update sequence of references and master model in the design model. If 0, the default, the master design model is visible on top of the references.
MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_DRAWING Drawing Model Update Sequence Controls the default update sequence of references and master model in the drawing model. If 1, the default, the references are visible on top of the master drawing model.
MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_SHEET Sheet Model Update Sequence Controls the default update sequence of references and master model in the sheet model. If 1, the default, the references are visible on top of the master sheet model.
MS_REF_NEWLEVELDISPLAY New Level Display If set, the product displays newly created levels in references. By default, when new levels are created in a model that is referenced by another model, the new levels are not displayed when the referencing model is opened. Newly created models are considered until "Save settings" is performed. This functionality only works when both the master file and referenced files are in the V8 file format.
MS_REF_NO_CVE_LOAD Disable loading of CVE References If set to 1, any cached reference will not be loaded. This effectively overrides cached reference to use the "Cache Synch: Never (Disconnected)" option.

Setting MS_REF_NO_CVE_LOAD can reduce the time to open large data sets. However, element properties are not available and certain annotation tools may not be available for the unloaded/disconnected cached references.

The following configuration variables affect reference files but they do not appear in the Configuration Variables dialog.

Variable Short name Description
MS_REF_NOMISSINGREPORT (not applicable) If set, the Message Center window does not display a message if references are not located.
MS_REF_NOSURVEYFOOTCHECK (not applicable) If set, hides the alert window that opens when you attach a reference with working units set to US Survey Feet to a model whose working units are set to Feet (International Feet), or vice-versa.

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Rendering / Images

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect rendering and images. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_LOCAL_MATERIALS Local Material Setting Serves the same function as the Copy Materials Locally On Use toggle in the Settings menu of the Material Editor dialog.

If set to 1, materials are made local on use and the DGN file defaults to a local table if one does not exist already (as it would if Copy Materials On Use was enabled).

If set to zero, or undefined, then localization of used materials is controlled by the Copy Materials Locally On Use toggle.

Local material support is new as of the V8 XM Edition and is not supported by earlier versions.
MS_MTBL Material Tables Search path(s) for material tables.
MS_MATERIAL Material Palettes Search path(s) for material palettes.
MS_PATTERN Pattern Maps Search path(s) for pattern maps.
MS_BUMP Bump Maps Search path(s) for bump maps.
MS_IMAGE Images Search path(s) for images.
MS_IMAGEOUT Image Output Directory in which image files created with Drawing > Utilities > Image > Save Image and Drawing > Utilities > Image > Capture are stored.
MS_SHADOWMAP Shadow Maps Directory where shadow maps are stored.
MS_LIGHTING IES Lighting Files Directory where IES lighting data will be stored.
MS_LIGHTLIST Pre-defined Light Sources Directory that lists the location of predefined lights.
MS_RENDERLOG Rendering statistics log File in which rendering statistics are logged.
MS_SHARED_DR_DIR Distributed Rendering Directory Working directory for shared rendering files.
MS_IMAGE_EDITOR Image Editor Default program to be used to edit an image file. The program is activated by double-clicking in the preview area of the Map Editor dialog.
MS_MATERIAL_PREVIEW_BACKGROUND Material Preview Background Image to be used for the background of material previews in the Material Editor.
MS_FILTEREDCODECS Filtered DirectShow Codecs List of codecs that should not display when exporting a movie from the animator.
MS_RENDERV7MATERIALS V7 Material Compatibility If set to 1, materials are rendered as they were in V7. Most affected are translucency, transparency, specularity, and diffuse as applied to pattern maps.
MS_DISABLE_RPCBROWSER Disable RPC Thumbnail Browser If set to 1, the RPC Thumbnail Browser is disabled.
MS_RPCDIR RPC Search Path Sets the directory in which to search for RPC files.




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Reports

Variable Short name Description
MS_REPORT_OUTPUT  Report Output  Default output directory where report results will be exported.

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Security

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Security. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_SECURITY_LEVEL Security level Security level for loading and running applications.
MS_SECURITY_SPC Software Publishing Certs List of a wildcard expressions indicating where MicroStation can find the files that contain public copies of software publishing certificates that were used to digitally sign the applications that can be loaded in MEDIUM security level. These files normally have the ".cer" extension. They contain information about certificates and public keys. They do not contain private keys. For example, "c:\mycerts\*.cer". The default is "$(_USTN_SITE)SPC\*.cer". (MS_SECURITY_SPC).

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Seed Files

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Seed Files. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_BUTTONMENUSEED Button Assignment Seed File Seed file containing default button assignments. This file is used to define button assignments if the file defined by MS_BUTTONMENU is not found.
MS_CELL_SEEDFILE Cell Library Seed File Seed file used when creating or upgrading cell libraries.
MS_DESIGNMODELSEED Design Model Seed File Name of file containing the seed model for the new design models.
MS_DESIGNMODELSEEDNAME Design Model Seed Name of seed model for new design models.
MS_DESIGNSEED Default Design File Seed Default seed file.
MS_DOCKINGPREFSEED Dialog Docking Preference Seed Name of seed file used to create user docking preference file.
MS_DRAWINGMODELSEED Drawing Model Seed File Name of file containing the seed model for the new drawing models.
MS_DRAWINGMODELSEEDNAME Drawing Model Seed Name of seed model for new drawing models.
MS_DWGSEED DWG Seed File See DWG- and DXF-related configuration variables.
MS_DWGSEED_OVERRIDE DWG Seed File Override See DWG- and DXF-related configuration variables.
MS_DWGSHEETMODELSEED DWG Sheet Model Seed File See DWG- and DXF-related configuration variables.
MS_DWGSHEETMODELSEEDNAME DWG Sheet Model Seed See DWG- and DXF-related configuration variables.
MS_FKEYMNUSEED Function Key Assignments Seed File Seed file containing default function key assignments. This file is used to define function key assignments if the file defined by MS_FKEYMNU is not found.
MS_GROUPPANELPREFSEED Group Panel Preference Seed Name of seed file used to create group panel preference file.
MS_INPUT_CONFIGXMLSEED Touch Gesture Assignments Seed File Seed file containing default touch gesture assignments. This file is used to define touch gesture assignments if the file defined by MS_INPUT_CONFIGXML is not found.
MS_PERSONALDGNLIBSEED Personal DGNLib Seed Search path for the default seed file used for creating personal.dgnlib file.
MS_SEED_LINKSET_FILE_NAME Link Set Seed File Name of the file containing the seed link set.
MS_SEED_LINKSET_NAME Link Set Name Name of the seed link set.
MS_SEEDFILES Seed File Location Search path(s) for all seed files.
MS_SHEETMODELSEED Sheet Model Seed File Name of file containing seed model for new sheet models.
MS_SHEETMODELSEEDNAME Sheet Model Seed Name of seed model for new sheet
MS_SHEETSEED Drawing Sheet Seed File Seed file used when creating drawing sheets.
MS_TASKDIALOGPREFSEED Task Navigation Dialog Preference Seeed Path of an XML file for default task navigation dialog preferences.
MS_TRANSEED Default Translation Seed Default seed file for DWG, CGM, IGES, OBJ, and 3DS translations.
MS_TRANSEED_OVERRIDE Translation Seed Override Determines whether a user can modify the DGN Seed File setting on the DWG Open Options dialog.
When the variable is not set or set to 0, the first time that the dialog opens, the default DGN Seed File is set by the MS_TRANSEED configuration variable. The user can choose a different seed file.
When the variable is set to 1, the user can only use the DGN seed file identified by MS_TRANSEED. The user cannot choose a different seed file.
When the variable is set to 2, the default DGN seed fie is set by MS_TRANSEED at the beginning of each session. The user can choose a different seed file during the session.
MS_USERPREFSEED User Preference Seed Name of seed file used to create user preference resource file.
MS_VIEWGROUPSEED View Group Seed File Name of file containing seed view group for models without a view group.
MS_VIEWGROUPSEEDNAME View Group Seed Name of seed view group for models without a view group.

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Spelling

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect spelling. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Configuration Variable Short name Description
MS_SPELLINGUSERDICTIONARY Spelling User Dictionary Specifies the user dictionary.
MS_SPELLINGDICTIONARYPATH Spelling Dictionaries Specifies the directory to search for core dictionaries.
MS_SPELLING_CUSTOM_AFFIX_FILE (not applicable) Specifies the directory to search for the .aff file of user dictionary.
MS_SPELLING_CUSTOM_WORD_FILE (not applicable) Specifies the directory to search for the .dic file of user dictionary.

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Standards Checker

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect the Standards Checker. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_STANDARDSCHECKER_SETTINGSFILE Required Standards Checker Settings File Sets the *.dgnlib file used for standards checking. If this variable is set, the specified file is always used for standards checking.
MS_STANDARDSCHECKER_SETTINGSNAME Required Standards Checker Name Sets the name of the settings to use (within the file specified by MS_STANDARDSCHECKER_SETTINGSFILE). If this variable is set, you cannot select different named settings.
MS_STANDARDSCHECKER_OUT Standards Checker Report Directory Default directory for standards checker reports.
MS_STANDARDSCHECKER_STYLESHEET Standards Checker Style Sheet If this variable is set, it specifies the XML style sheet that is used to view the Standards Checker XML report. This variable can be either a file or a URI (Universal Resource Identifier) that can be used by the browser to locate the style sheet. If this variable is not set, the XML style sheet in $(MS_DATA)standardschecker.xsl is used.
MS_STANDARDSCHECKER_APPS Standards Checker Applications The list of MDL applications that are loaded when the Standards Checker utility is started.

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Symbology

Variable Short name Description
MS_FONTCONFIGFILE Font Configuration File Path Specifies the full path of the font configuration file. Default path is “$(MS_SYSFONTDIR)/MstnFontConfig.xml”.
MS_FONTPATH Font Directories Path or list of paths that contain RSC, SHX, or TrueType font files.
MS_SYMBRSRC  Symbology Resources List of symbology resource files — last one in list has highest priority.

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System Environment

Variable Short name Description
MS_CONFIG Main Configuration File Main MicroStation configuration file — sets up all configuration variables.
RSC_COMP  Resource Compiler Command Line Text string to be inserted at the beginning of the command line by the resource compiler (used to specify where to search for include files).
MDL_COMP MDL Compiler Command Line Text string to be inserted at the beginning of the command line by the resource compiler (used to specify where to search for include files).
BMAKE_OPT Extended Malloc Command line options for BMAKE. Used to search for bmake include (.mki) files.
MS_DEBUGMDLHEAP  Table Input If set (to the base name of an MDL application or “ALL), use extended malloc for debugging.

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Tables

Variable Short name Description
MS_TABLE_INPUT  Table Input Default directory where the Excel workbooks and .csv files that will be used as data sources for tables are stored.

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Tags

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect tags. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_TAGOUTPUT Tag Output Output directory for tag data.
MS_TAGREPORTS Tag Reports Output directory for tag reports.
MS_TAGTEMPLATES Tag Templates Directory containing tag report templates.

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Temp and Backup Files

Variable Short name Description
MS_DWG_BACKUP Directory for DWG backup files See DWG- and DXF-related Configuration Variables.
MS_NO_DWG_BACKUP Turn off DWG .bak files See DWG- and DXF-related Configuration Variables.
MS_BACKUP  Backup Files  Default directory for backup files. 
MS_TMP Temporary Files Directory for temporary files created and deleted by MicroStation.
MS_SCR   Scratch Files Directory for scratch files created by MicroStation. 

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Translation - CGM

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect CGM Translation. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_CGMIN CGM Input Directory Input directory for CGM translations.
MS_CGMOUT CGM Output Directory Output directory for CGM translations.
MS_CGMLOG CGM Log Files Output directory for CGM log files.
MS_CGMTABLES CGM Configuration Tables Directory containing the CGM translation tables.
MS_CGMINSET CGMIN Settings File Settings file for the CGMIN application.
MS_CGMOUTSET CGMOUT Settings File Settings file for the CGMOUT application.

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Translation - IGES

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect CGM Translation. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_CGMIN CGM Input Directory Input directory for CGM translations.
MS_CGMOUT CGM Output Directory Output directory for CGM translations.
MS_CGMLOG CGM Log Files Output directory for CGM log files.
MS_CGMTABLES CGM Configuration Tables Directory containing the CGM translation tables.
MS_CGMINSET CGMIN Settings File Settings file for the CGMIN application.
MS_CGMOUTSET CGMOUT Settings File Settings file for the CGMOUT application.

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Translation - Step

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Step Translation. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_STEPOUT Step Output Directory. Output directory for Step translations.
MS_STEPLOG Step Log Files. Output directory for Step log files.
MS_ROSEDB Rose database directory.

Rose database directory

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VBA

The following table lists the configuration variables that affect Visual Basic for Applications. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect.

Variable Short name Description
MS_VBASAVEONRUN Automatically save VBA projects If set to 1, automatically saves modified VBA projects every time it starts running a VBA program.
MS_VBAAUTOLOADPROJECTS Names of standard projects Names of the projects that are opened when the VBA dialog is opened.
MS_VBASEARCHDIRECTORIES Directories to search for VBA projects Directories that are searched when opening an existing VBA project.
MS_VBANEWPROJECTDIRECTORY Directory for new projects Directory that is used when a new project is created.

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Uncategorized Configuration Variables

The following table lists the configuration variables that are uncategorized. Each configuration variable expects a valid value. An invalid value will not override a setting. You do not need to close and restart in order for the configuration variable change to take effect, unless noted.

Variable Description
MSDIR The root installation directory.
MSLOCAL Specifies the base directory path for where the required writable portions (that is, local for a network installation) are installed.
MS_80TRUETYPESCALE If set to 1, TrueType fonts using nonstandard TrueType definitions will display as they did prior to V8.
MS_ALWAYSRELATIVEREFPATH If set (to any value), always turns on the Save Relative Path check box and disables it so that it cannot be turned off. It will save relative paths whenever possible.
MS_ANNOTATIONSCALEPROPAGATION Controls the propagation of a model's annotation scale.
If set to NEVER, the annotation scale will not be propagated , which is not recommended. If undefined or set to any other value, the annotation scale will be automatically propagated.
We recommend that you use a single annotation scale for all annotations in a model. When you attach a model containing annotations to another model, the Use Active Annotation Scale setting allows you to automatically scale all reference annotations to the same scale as the master model. If your reference model has annotations of different scales, those annotations that do not match their model's annotation scale may face display, selecting, and printing problems. There may also be a performance slowdown.
MS_ARCHIVE Search path for archive files.
MS_ARCHIVECLASS Search path for archive class files.
MS_AUTO_UPDATE_FIELDS Controls the rules for updating fields in the active model. If set to ALWAYS, the fields are always kept up to date. If set to NEVER, the fields are never updated. If not set or set to FOLLOWMODELFLAG, the model's Auto-Update Fields property determines if fields are updated for that model.
MS_BASICEXT_LOAD List of MDL applications that implement extensions to the BASIC language (MS_BASIC_LOAD).
MS_CMDTABLE_LOAD List of MDL applications that will have their key-in tables auto-loaded.
MS_CMDWINDRSC Command Window resource file. Default is used if undefined.
MS_CODESET MDL application for handling multi-byte character sets.
MS_DATA Directory for data files created or used.
MS_DBOLEDBDATEFORMAT See Setting Up the Database Interface
MS_DEFCHARTRAN Default character translation table.
MS_DEFAULTSHEETRGB Allows you to specify a different background color, which is used when you create the first sheet model. Expects an RGB triplet separated by commas.
MS_DEFAULTDRAWINGRGB Allows you to specify a different background color, which is used when you create the first drawing model. Expects an RGB triplet separated by commas.
MS_DESIGNFILTER Default file filter for the File Open, Open, and Save As dialogs. If MS_DESIGNFILTER is not defined, the default filter is "*.dgn".
MS_DETAILINGSYMBOLSTYLE_REQUIREDSETTINGS Allows you to customize the validation rules of detailing symbol styles.
MS_DGNAPPS List of all design file MDL applications.
MS_DGNINDEXER_PORT If set, the application uses this port to connect to the remote DGN Indexing servers. The default value is 4000.
MS_DGNOUT Directory containing DGN files created as a result of "on the fly" translation from other file formats.
MS_DIMLEGACYPOINTORDER If set to 1, the dimensioning tools use the legacy data point sequence for placing linear and angular dimensions (StartPoint – ExtensionPoint – EndPoint).
MS_DISABLEWINDOWGHOSTING If set to 1 or ON, disables the window ghosting mechanism in the Windows OS. Windows creates a ghost window for the application's windows when it determines that an application has been unresponsive for at least five seconds. Several features, such as Print/Plot and Image Save, may require a long span of continuous processing time, resulting in the activation of these ghost windows and the associated undesirable side effects in the user interface. Turning off the window ghosting for the process prevents these undesirable effects.
MS_DISALLOWRELATIVEREFPATH When set to 1, you cannot save a relative path for a reference. The Save Relative Path check box is removed from the Attach Reference dialog.
MS_DRAWINGDIR Specifies the default folder path that should open when you click the Browse Drawing File or Create New Drawing File icons in the Create Drawing dialog.
MS_DWG_XREF_DEFAULTTREATASELEMENT_OFF When this variable is not set, DWG’s xReference attachments are treated as elements, just as they are in AutoCAD. When it is set to 1, the attachments are not be treated as elements.
MS_ELEVPROP_AS_Z Allows you to assign elevation attributes as Z values during SHP, MIF/MID, or TAB file Import/Open/Attachment. This is accomplished by setting the value to one or more property names that you used to indicate elevation in your SHP, MIF/MID, or TAB files. For example, if you have a SHP, MIF/MID, or TAB file that uses a property called "ELEVATION" to contain elevation data, you would set:
MS_ELEVPROP_AS_Z=ELEVATION
If you have an additional SHP, MIF/MID, or TAB file that uses a property called "HEIGHT" to contain elevation data , you can use a vertical "|" delimiter to specify two elevation attributes as follows:
MS_ELEVPROP_AS_Z=ELEVATION|HEIGHT
MS_GUIHAND Identifies auxiliary handlers.
MS_HELPLOAD_APPLICATION Determines which application help is based on. Current options are HTMLHelp (default), or StaticWeb. StaticWeb refers to static HTML pages on a web site.
MS_HELPLOAD_SERVER Specifies the root location of the help content. Defaults to $(USTN_DOCUMENTATIONROOT), but can be set to a file server or URL. This variable does not determine if you are using uncompiled HTMLHelp content. If you set this variable, the value of MS_HELPLOAD_SERVER should be the location containing the product directory.
MS_HELPPATH Path to help resource files.
MS_INITAPPS List of initial start-up MDL applications.
MS_LEVEL_DO_NOT_SYNCHRONIZE_ATTACHMENT_LEVELS_TO_DGNLIB If set to 1, the reference attachment levels are not synchronized to the attached library.
MS_MEASURE_AREA_UNIT2 If set to 1, the unit of measurement in the Area or Volume fields is displayed as unit2. For example, m2 for Square meters and m3 for Cubic meters. If not set, it is displayed as Sq.unit or Cu.unit. For example, Sq.m for Square meters and Cu.m for Cubic meters.
MS_NO_POSITION_MAPPING_HINTS If set to 1, the keyboard navigational aids will not display when <Esc> is clicked.
MS_NOTEAUTOUPDATE Controls the list of settings that will be propagated to existing notes when a dimension style is saved. To propagate all settings, set to All. To control individual settings, list attributes in a comma-separated list.
MS_OLDUSERLICENSE File that contains old user license information. Required for when installing a product upgrade.
MS_OLEDBMAXDATA See Setting Up the Database Interface
MS_OPENDESIGNFILEFILTER Initial file filter list for the File Open and Open dialogs.
MS_OPENREFFILEFILTER Initial file filter for the Attach Reference File dialog.
MS_ORACLEPREFETCH Specifies the number of rows pre-fetched from the database, maximum 65535. For example if MS_ORACLEPREFETCH is set to 1000, there will be 1000 rows of data returned to the client and cached. If this configuration variable is not set, one row is pre-fetched. Setting MS_ORACLEPREFETCH can result in improved query performance over high latency networks, such as Wide Area Networks (WANs).
MS_PLOTBORDER_TIME_FORMAT Changes the date and time format for printed outputs from Windows Regional Settings to another format. Set to v7.0 to use the v7.0 format.
MS_REFCOLORTABLE If defined and set to 1, always uses the reference's color table. If defined and set to any value other than 1, never uses the reference's color table. If not defined, uses the user preference to determine whether or not to use the reference's color table. You need to close and restart in order for this configuration variable change to take effect
MS_RIGHTLOGICKB If set to 1, keyboard input is right to left.
MS_RSRC Main resource file. Typically set to "ustation.rsc."
MS_SESSION_DEBUG Used to start session debug prior to the loading of the database server. By setting this configuration variable, you can receive immediate debug information from the consumer DLL. MS_SESSION_DEBUG can be used with all the database servers. A value of 1 enables receipt of debug information from the database server and the corresponding DLL — ORACLE, ODBC, or OLEDB. A value of 0 enables receipt of debug information only from the DLL.
MS_SHEETDIR Specifies the default folder path that should open when you click the Browse Sheet File or Create New Sheet File icons in the Create Drawing dialog.
MS_SIGNATURE_DISPLAY_UNVERIFIED Controls how an unverified digital signature is crossed out. Value is color weight style strikeout where:
color = a number, specifying the menu color identifier number
weight = a number specifying the line weight of the annotation
style = a number specifying the style
strikeout = how to strike out the signature
  • "X" Draw an X over the signature
  • "—" Draw a line through the middle of the signature

The default is a heavy solid red X over the signature. This is represented by 4 7 0 X
To draw a heavy solid blue line through the signature, use the following: 1 7 0 —.
MS_SIGNATURE_DELETE_REQUIRES_PRIVATE_KEY If set, you may not delete a digital signature unless you possess the private key that was used to create the signature. The default is 0.
MS_SIGNATURE_SHOW_FULL_NAME If on, displays the full subject and issuer name from the signer's certificate in the Properties balloon for a digital signature element.
MS_SMARTSOLID Specifies the directory path for the SmartSolid subsystem.
MS_SNAP_TANGENT_POINT_DEFAULT_MODE The snap mode used to compute the location of a perpendicular or tangent point snap. Applies only when perpendicular or tangent point is the default snap mode. Possible values are:
b - bisector
i - intersection
k - keypoint
m - midpoint
m1 - multisnap1
m2 - multisnap2
m3 - multisnap3
The default is 'k' (keypoint).
MS_TEXT_AUTOSTACKFRACTIONS_ALIGNMENT Sets the alignment for stacked fractions, when the Fractions advanced text style setting is on. Values are:
1 = Top
2 = Center (Normal for DWG files. The default if the configuration variable is not defined.)
3 = Bottom
MS_TEXT_AUTOSTACKFRACTIONS_TYPE Sets the type for stacked fractions, when the Fractions advanced text style setting is on. Values are:
1 = Normal
2 = Diagonal (Normal for DWG files. The default if the configuration variable is not defined.)
Normal Center
MS_TEXT_STACKFRACTIONS_SCALE The value is the percentage scale factor for stacked fractions. (70 is normal for DWG files, and is the default if this configuration variable is not defined.)
MS_THUMBNAIL If this variable is not defined, the product looks for a saved view called "Preview," and if found uses that saved view's settings (model, orientation, render mode, etc.) to create the thumbnail. If the variable is defined, the product takes whatever the variable is set to and looks for a saved view of the same name. If the specified saved view name cannot be found, then the system creates/updates the thumbnail image using the view that was active at the last time you selected File > Save Settings.
The latter also occurs if the variable is not defined and if the saved view called "Preview" does not exist in any design, drawing, or sheet model in the DGN file. If this variable is set to "NONE," then no new thumbnail is generated. If a thumbnail already exists in the DGN file, setting this variable to "NONE" does not remove what already exists in the DGN file; it simply does not update what already exists.
MS_USERLICENSE File containing user license information.
MS_USERPREF User preference resource file.
MS_USERPREF_APPS Set by application configuration files to add user preferences to standard dialogs.
MS_VISEDGES_OMIT_EDGES_BETWEEN_PLANAR_FACES If set to 1, the interior edges between adjacent planar faces will be omitted even if the Remove Smooth Edges check box is off. This may be desirable for meshes imported from external formats that do not correctly display the interior edges between mesh faces.
MS_VISEDGES_PRESERVE_UPDATE_SEQUENCE If set to 1, when you export the visible edges, the references are displayed in the sequence set in the Update Sequence dialog.
MS_VIEWATTRIBUTES_PLUGINASSEMBLIES List of assemblies to search in for View Attributes dialog plug-in groups.
PZIP_OUT Specifies default directory for creation of Packager files.

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Not listed or undocumented Configuration Variables

Variable Description
MS_TASKNAVIGATION_CONFIGURATION When this variable is set to 1 the Task Navigation Category is displayed in Preferences Dialog. This preference category is hidden by default.
MS_CULTURE The configuration variable MS_CULTURE allows you to select the language of installed language packs to be used.
If the configuration variable MS_CULTURE is set, the language selection from Preferences dialog is dimmed.
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See Also

How to create a list of all CONNECT Edition Configuration Variables

How to export CONNECT Edition configuration variable values to a text file

MicroStation V8i Variables

Other Language Sources

Deutsch

  Original Author: Yvonne Lohse
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