The MSDebug File 

The MSDebug.txt file is output created from running ustation.exe with the -debug command line parameter. The information that gets written to the file is a list of all the configuration files that are run when MicroStation starts, what configuration variables are set by each file, and what values those configuration variables are set to. The -debug command line parameter creates the msdebug.txt file in one of two locations (depending on the version of MicroStation).

For V8 2004 and earlier, it is created in the folder where "Start in:" is set to (in MicroStation's program icon Properties dialog), which is typically the same folder where the ustation.exe file is located.

For V8 XM and later, the file is created in the directory specified by the MS_TMP variable.

NOTE:  These locations are for Windows XP. For Vista and Windows 7, refer to the location specified by the MS_TMP variable for V8 XM and V8i.

Create msdebug.txt:

1. From a DOS prompt in a Command Shell Window

Go to a Command prompt and change to the directory where ustation.exe is located and type the following command: ustation.exe -debug

Examples:
For MicroStation V8i: C:\Program Files\Bentley\MicroStation\ustation.exe -debug*
For MicroStation V8 XM: C:\Program Files\Bentley\MicroStation\ustation.exe -debug*
For MicroStation V8: c:\Program Files\Bentley\Program\Microstation\ustation.exe -debug
For MicroStation/J: c:\bentley\program\microstation\ustation.exe -debug
For MicroStation 95\SE: c:\win32app\ustation\ustation.exe -debug

2. From MicroStation's shortcut icon

Append <space>-debug to the end of the MicroStation shortcut (in the Target: field).

Examples:
For MicroStation V8i: C:\Program Files\Bentley\MicroStation\ustation.exe -debug*
For MicroStation V8: Target: c:\Program Files\Bentley\Program\Microstation\ustation.exe -debug*
For MicroStation/J: Target: c:\bentley\program\microstation\ustation.exe -debug
For MicroStation 95\SE: Target: c:\win32app\ustation\ustation.exe -debug

Save the changes and then double click the icon.
NOTE: Remember to remove this change after creating the MSDebug.txt file.

3. From Windows "Run"

Choose Start > Run
Type the path to the ustation.exe file
NOTE: If the path contains spaces, you must use quotes around the path

Examples:
For MicroStation V8i: C:\Program Files\Bentley\MicroStation\ustation.exe -debug*
For MicroStation V8: "c:\Program Files\Bentley\Program\Microstation\ustation.exe" -debug*
For MicroStation/J: c:\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\Ustation.exe -debug
For MicroStation 95\SE: c:\win32app\ustation\ustation.exe -debug
Click OK.

*NOTE: The location for ustation.exe for MicroStation V8i will be found at:                                                                           C:\Program Files (x86)\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\ on 64-bit operating systems such as Vista and Windows 7.

You should get a DOS window that says "Debugging output saved to [msdebug.txt]".
Hit the Enter key
Locate the msdebug.txt file in the appropriate directory.

Msdebug.txt Contents

There are two sections in the MSDebug.txt file. The first section contains a list of all the configuration files that are processed and what configuration variables were set in each file. Each configuration file that is processed has a starting point and an ending point identified as follows:

Processing macro file [C:\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\config\mslocal.cfg]
.
.
.
End of macro file [C:\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\config\mslocal.cfg]

Located in-between these two lines are all variables and their settings that get loaded from that particular configuration file:

Examples:

Processing macro file [d:\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\config\system\mslocal.cfg]
(system): MS_SPELLINGLANGUAGE=AmericanEnglish [AmericanEnglish]
(system): MS_HELPLOAD_LANGUAGE=en [en]
End of macro file [d:\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\config\system\mslocal.cfg]

Processing macro file [d:\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\config\appl\qvisgl.cfg]
(appl): MS_GRAPHICSACCELERATOR=qvisgl [qvisgl]
End of macro file [d:\BentleyProgram\MicroStation\config\appl\qvisgl.cfg]

It also indicates at what level the variable has been set (e.g. system, appl, user, site, project, or predefined).

The last section of the MSDebug.txt file is the Configuration Variable Summary. Here you will find the following:

A listing of all configuration variables
At what level each variable was set
The full path to the location of the files
Whether or not the variable is locked or unlocked

The msdebug file can help you trouble shoot Processor exception errors by helping you find where specific files are located. The steps for this procedure are listed below:

1. Create the msdebug.txt file
2. Open it in an ASCII text editor (like NotePad).
3. Search for the following variables:

MS_USERPREF (this will tell you where your user preference file is located)
MS_INITAPPS (this will tell you if any other programs are being initiated during startup)
MS_SYMBRSRC (this will point you to the location where all the MicroStation resource files are located)
MS_DGNAPPS (this will tell you what other programs are being launched with MicroStation)
MS_DGNMACROS (this will tell you what macros are being launched with MicroStation)
_USTN_UIPATH (this will tell you the location of any *.m0* files)

Be sure to search for all instances of the variables.

See Also

Product TechNotes and FAQs

External Links

Bentley Technical Support KnowledgeBase

Bentley LEARN Server

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