ProjectWise User

There are two MicroStation configuration variables which control the behavior of the automatic reference reloading feature of MicroStation when it is integrated with ProjectWise. These configuration variables can be found in the mcm.cfg file located by default at \Program Files\Bentley\ProjectWise\bin on systems where the ProjectWise Explorer is installed. As always, it is a good idea to make a backup of this file before making any changes.

PW_REFERENCE_MODE = 1
When an attached reference file has been updated by another user, you will be notified of the change by the appearance of the Select Documents to Reload dialog box. From this dialog box, you can select which currently attached reference files to reload.

PW_REFERENCE_MODE = 2
When an attached reference file has been updated, it will be reloaded silently requiring no input from the user.

PW_REFERENCE_MODE = 3
No automatic reloading of reference files will occur.

PW_REFERENCE_TIMER
Determines the interval, in minutes that updates for reference files are checked. When set to 0, updates to reference files are never checked. The MicroStation keyin DMS REF RELOAD will force a check of the status of attached reference files.

Note:
In order for these configuration variables to be enabled, the # character must be removed from the front of the variable.

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In certain scenarios when launching AutoCAD files from ProjectWise Explorer reference files in parent drawings do not display. This usually points to an integration problem with ProjectWise and AutoCAD. There are two solutions that will alleviate the problem:

1. Re-Run the ProjectWise Explorer setup to have the ProjectWise installer automatically integrate itself with AutoCAD. After installation launch the drawing again. If the reference files still do not show up move on to step 2.

2. Right click on the AutoCAD file in ProjectWise Explorer and choose “Open With” and make sure that the file is being opened with the option “ AutoCAD AutoCAD.DRAWING.PW (C:\Program Files\AutoCAD200*\acad.exe).

Note:   The * being the year of the version installed on the workstation.

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A quick and easy way to produce a drawing sheet list for a submittal or as a status report to individuals in your organization is to create a custom sheet list view. Inside of the custom view specific attribute information that displays items such as title blocks, document name, document description, and other important data associated with the drawing can be shown. Once the custom sheet list view is created a user can copy, from the ProjectWise Explorer document window, all the information to be pasted directly into an excel spreadsheet to create a drawing sheet list.

1. Inside of ProjectWise Explorer go to View > Manage Views

2. Click New

3. Name the view ‘Sheet List’

4 Click the plus sign next to the environment that defines the information you would like to display

5 Click on an attribute (i.e. one related to the title blocks) and click the green arrow to send it to the right window

6 Repeat step 5 until you have all the attribute information that needs to be displayed

7 Select OK

8 Close the Manage Views window

9 Go to the directory where the drawings reside that you would like to make a sheet list from

10 Right click anywhere inside of the area where the document names are

11 Go down to Copy List To > Tab Separated

12 Launch Excel

13 Go up to Edit > Paste

14 Edit or save Excel spread sheet

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In certain scenarios where a workstation has multiple Bentley products installed such as MicroStation, TriForma, and/or InRoads there often times is an issue involving references not resolving in a drawing. This problem usually points to an integration problem with ProjectWise and MicroStation.

In the scenario of MicroStation and ProjectWise being installed and integrated before InRoads or TriForma is installed, configuration lines within the PW.CFG file are overwritten. This causes ProjectWise to not properly account for handling reference files pointers within MicroStation. There are two solutions that will alleviate the problem:

1. Re-Run the ProjectWise Explorer setup to have the ProjectWise installer automatically integrate itself with MicroStation. After installation launch the drawing again. If the reference files still do not show up move on to step 2.

2. Open the file PW.CFG from
C:\ProgramFiles\Bentley\Programs\Microstation\config\appl\

3. In a text editor disable (comment out) the following three lines by adding a comment symbol (#) at the beginning of each line as seen below

# %if !defined(PWDIR)
# PWDIR = C:/PROGRA~1/Bentley/PROJEC~1/
# %endif

4. File > Save to save the changes made to PW.CFG

5. Close MicroStation

6. Go back into ProjectWise and double click on the DGN again to now see the references

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