"Classic" MDL application development is supported, although we highly recommend taking advantage of current technologies (i.e. C++, C#, .NET, WinForms, etc.) as the environment for new application development.
A MicroStation Developer Shell is accessible from Windows' Start menu after you install the MicroStation SDK. Optionally, the file mstndevvars.bat in ..\mdl\bin\ can be used as a template for configuring a custom MDL development environment.
mstndevvars.bat
Most applications compiled under previous editions of MicroStation V8 should run with this version of MicroStation.
Applications that do not leverage new facilities in this version of MicroStation should run in previous MicroStation versions.
The MicroStation SDK was designed to work with a similar #.#.# version of MicroStation. As such, its installation and use on versions of MicroStation that do not have the same #.#.# build number is not supported.
Microsoft VisualStudio .NET 2005 tools should be used. This includes VisualC/C++ 8.0.
100% compatible Microsoft .NET framework 2.0 is required for this version of MicroStation.
Yes, the CellUtility and TextMod examples included in the MicroStation SDK demonstrate building AddIn applications.
MDL dialogs and GUI components can be built from source code. WinForms are supported as well and are the preferred native window environment.
MicroStation VBA (e.g. Project Manager, IDE, documentation, examples, etc.) is installed with MicroStation and not with the MicroStation SDK. That said, there are components of the MicroStation SDK that can be used to complement MicroStation VBA.
The following table shows what options are available in Bentley Platform Products:
* Bentley highly recommends using MicroStation VBA instead of MicroStation BASIC
The MicroStation API uses several data types to represent string data; please see the Text Data Types wiki page for more information.
Product TechNotes and FAQs
MicroStation Desktop TechNotes and FAQs
Bentley Technical Support KnowledgeBase
Bentley LEARN Server
Bentley's Technical Support Group requests that you please confine any comments you have on this Wiki entry to this "Comments or Corrections?" section. THANK YOU!