Problem

When .DGN file is opened as a reference file, only a few levels are turned ON when almost all the levels should be ON.

When opening the same file directly as master file (File - Open), not as reference, almost every level is activated/ON as it should be.

It seems that the reference file can’t update the level status from the master file.

Solution

Your file may be corrupted – check it. Run key-in: “dgnaudit run” and see if there are some existing errors in file. If so, save content into new file and then do next steps on this new copy.
Open your master .dgn file.
Turn all layers ON.
Open Fence Tools - Place Fence and Save Fence to File (save fence to a ‘new .dgn’ file).
File – Save Settings.
Open ‘new .dgn’ file as a master file and check if all layers are turned ON.
Open another file and attach ‘new .dgn file’ as reference.
All layers keep status from the master file.

Original Author:

Klaudia Piekielniak