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MicroStation Command Line Options And Switches

Command Line Parameters

The easiest and most reliable way to determine which command line parameters are supported in the version of Bentley desktop product you are using is the following:

  1. From the Windows "Run" command window
    • Choose Start > Run from the Windows taskbar.
    • In the Open field, enter the full path specification of the executable file for the respective product you want to see the command line parameters for.
    • Add a space and then /help or -help or -? or /?
    • Press <Enter>
    • You should get a DOS window with the command line parameters supported in that product release.
    • Press <Esc> when you are finished.

    or

  2. Temporarily change the shortcut icon for the product you want to see the command line parameters for:
    • Right click on the product shortcut and select Properties.
    • Add /help or -help or -? or /? to the end of the Target command line.
    • Click Apply (do not click OK).
    • Double click the respective icon from your desktop.
    • You should get a DOS window with the command line parameters supported in that product.
    • Press <Esc> when you are finished.
    • Remove what you added to the end of the Target line, then click OK.

Below is a list of some of the command line parameters that are available:

Command Line Parameter Result
-debugfileopen Dumps configuration variables to msdebug.txt and exits. In MicroStation V8i SELECTseries 3, use DEBUGFILEOPEN to automatically open msdebug.txt.
-help or -? Displays Command line arguments for Ustation.exe.
-I<parameters> Passes through parameters to INITAPPS.
-M<model> Specifies initial model to open.
-O Does not open any references.
-QP <password> Specifies password for protected file.
-R Opens the design file in read-only mode.
-RestoreDefaults Restore default settings and then exit.
-RestoreDefaultsQuiet Restore default settings and then exit. No output.
-S<startup_file> Dumps text in the startup file into the command queue after startup.
-WA<mdl_application> Specifies MDL application to start at MicroStation initialization (same as MS_INITAPP).
-WC<path_to_configuration_file> Specifies the configuration file MicroStation will use on startup (for example, -wcC:\Bentley\Workspace\Config\myconfig.cfg).
-WD<database> Specifies database configuration.
-WI<interface> Specifies interface configuration.
-WP<project> Specifies project configuration.
-WS<configuration_variable> Specifies a configuration variable to be defined (for example, -wsMS_SECURITY_LEVEL=HIGH).
-WU<user> Specifies user configuration.
-WR<path> Specifies _USTN_WORKSPACEROOT (for example, -wrC:\Bentley\Workspace\).

 

The following command line parameters are not supported in MicroStation V8:

 

Command Line Parameter Result
-A<application name> Starts the MicroCSL application specified by the application name parameter during the startup of MicroStation. Multiple -a options can be used.
-C<cache limit> Specifies the cache limit in KB
-DISPLAY<display name> X Windows ONLY - Directs output to the X Windows display device indicated by display name
-MICROCSL<mcsl application name> Starts the MicroCSL application specified as an offline MicroCSL application. (DOS Protected Mode Only)
-Q UNIX ONLY - Enables the command in MicroStation "!" (Exclamation point) which creates a new Shell. This will override the setting in the workspace>configuration>operation>escape_to_O.S. menu.
-U<undo buffer size>

Specifies the undo buffer size in bytes

The following command line parameters are applicable to MicroStation CONNECT Edition

-WK<workspace>

Specifies the initial WorkSpace. If a WorkSpace is specified, a child WorkSet should also be specified using -WW<workset>.

-WW<workset>

Specifies the initial WorkSet. If WorkSet is specified, its parent WorkSpace must also be specified using -WK<workspace>.

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