Problem:
Is there a way to open MicroStation ONLY without InRoads loading and pulling an Inroads license?
Solution:
(Note: Beginning in the V08.11.09.674 release, InRoads can only be loaded and closed with MicroStation, so the option to load a product in the Application menu is no longer available)
Due to the integration of the OpenRoads commands with MicroStation we have added an additional program switch which must load some InRoads functionality on startup of MicroStation. for example, the command line switch -wsINROADS_APP=inroads will load the regular InRoads tools and tasks.
This switch sets certain InRoads Tools and Tasks within the MicroStation platform on startup based upon the specified application (APP) in the switch to regulate what tools and commands are available for users. Since this switch is required and set on startup, there is no way to initiate the MicroStation program without InRoads and still maintain the Appilcations Menu available. This is different from SS2 because of the addition of the OpenRoads tools that are integrated with MicroStation with the new SS3 InRoads release.
If you will be using the InRoads application at all in MicroStation you must open the product with InRoads initiated and then you can immediately close the InRoads program. Once the InRoads program is closed it will no longer report a usage for the license and the Application Menu will be available to Activate InRoads when needed.
Users can open MicroStation without it using an InRoads license by deleting the switch which links the civil application to MicroStation, but this will also deactivate the Application Menu. Therefore if at any point you want to access InRoads, you would have to exit, set the switches for MicroStation and reload the product to get the civil functionality available.