CADconform for MicroStation Readme

* PowerDraft 2004 & PowerDraft XM are not currently supported on Windows Vista due to interaction between PowerDraft and the UAC security model
** PowerDraft 2004 requires the Bentley Select Database Servers plugin - see below

What's new in CADconform?

For the latest enhancements to the product in each revision of CADconform, see the Feature Request report. Fixes to known problems can also be found in the Bug Fix Report. Brief highlights are listed below:

New in v6.5

• Windows Vista is now fully supported.
• Drafting Menu: features can now have descriptions, which will display as balloon help when the user hovers over a feature name.
• Drafting Menu: tear-offs now display only the subset of features in the list-box.
• Drafting Menu: a new feature type filter in the Drafting Menu has been added, so that only feature of a certain type (linear, text, cell or dimension) will be displayed.
• Drafting Menu: a new feature name filter has been added, so that only features matching a sub-string will be displayed.
• Drafting Menu: the menu type, locate, show/hide and filtering tools can now all be turned on or off individually.
• CSV Import/Export: now supports many new data type options, and can now fully support all feature table criteria.
• Preferences: the preferences dialog has been broken up into more descriptive pages, and now supports the append (>) and prepend (<) characters.
• Text styles, dimension styles and fonts can now have ranges associated with them, as well as wildcards.
• All named ranges now support regular expressions (i.e. wildcards). For example, a font range could be "Courier*" which would allow "Courier-bold" and "Courier-italic".

New in v6

Some of the other major new features in CADconform v6 are:

• Automatic updates: CADconform will now detect updates available on the server and prompt the administrator to deploy them.
• Branding: The ability to brand a design file with the feature tables used for Drafting / Conforming / Reporting. These settings are then saved in the DGN so that you don't need to set them again.
• Cell ranges: The ability to define a list of ranges for cell scales. This can be useful to allow cell stretching within a given tolerance.
• Checking by Date: Conform and Report now allow a modification date to be specified for checking. This means legacy data can be ignored after a certain date.
• Element History Charts: Displays a line chart showing the changes or additions that were made to a model over time.
• Improved 3rd Party Support: CADconform can now globally check or ignore elements created by InRoads, Triforma or GEOPAK.
• Line Spacing Type Checking: This was previously only available for text styles, now it is available even if you don't use text styles. This can be very handy for DWG files checking.
• ODBC Administration: A new dialog to automate the process of creating new databases and Datasource Name files (DSNs)
• Preferences: A new dialog to set set the administrator preferences for the shared server configuration file
• Watermarks: A new dialog gives more information on why a watermark has been invalidated, and allows the changed elements to be added to the selection set for review

What Happened to DGNconform Server?

"DGNconform Server" was rebranded as "CADconform" at version 6, to signify the release of the AutoCAD sister product. At the same time, Altiva Software was spun-off from Corporate Montage to focus exclusively on CAD Standards Software. CADconform now consists of two product families:

1. CADconform for AutoCAD
2. CADconform for MicroStation

The goal of CADconform is to create a seamless interface for both AutoCAD and MicroStation users to draw, check, correct and certify drawings to the CAD standard. In addition, CADconform stores its standards in a platform neutral database, so that the same standards used in AutoCAD can also be used in MicroStation, and vice versa.

CADconform version 6 requires a new licence file for existing DGNconform v5 users. You can still run version 6 on a version 5 licence, but only for the duration of your maintenance contract. Upgrading a version 5 licence to version 6 is free for current maintenance holders, simply contact Altiva Software to apply for a new licence file.

Installation Overview

CADconform Server is a server based application for design file symbology checking, correcting and drafting. It is designed for multi-user access, but can also be used by stand-alone machines. CADconform uses a server based methodology, whereby one machine acts as a host to the other computers on an intranet. Therefore, the CADconform Server software only needs to be installed once on the intended host machine. Other machines that run CADconform as a client need only the minimal configuration to access the server.
 
 

Prerequisites

Server Requirements

CADconform requires a machine to act as a database file server. This “server” machine can be any machine that is visible on a computer network. No particular Operating System is required, but the server database file needs to be locatable by a Windows client, either by mapping a network drive or specifying a UNC. There are no software, operating system, or device driver requirements for the server machine; however it is preferable that the machine used for the server has a relatively fast connection to the network.

Additionally, CADconform allows the CMLicence Server application to serve out client licences. See the installation notes for CMLicence Server for more details on this application. The CMLicence Server does not have to be the same machine as the CADconform Server machine.
 

MicroStation (Client) Requirements

As CADconform is an MDL application, MicroStation must be loaded on each client machine in order to use the software. 

PowerDraft (Client) Requirements

As CADconform is an MDL application, PowerDraft must be loaded on each client machine in order to use the software. Previously the PowerDraft version was a separate download / installer, but now PowerDraft support is bundled with the main CADconform installer.

Note that in order for CADconform to work on PowerDraft 2004, the user must have previously installed the PowerDraft Database Server plugin available from the Bentley Select Server downloads site. The current download file name at time of writing was located in the Download Category "Enhancements & Updates" and was named: "Database Servers for MicroStation PowerDraft (08.05.02.55)" and dated 24th July 2006. PowerDraft XM does not require the database plugin as it has database connectivity built-in.

CADconform for PowerDraft has a few minor limitations not present in CADconform for MicroStation. Briefly these limitations include:

• CADconform can not be run on Windows Vista with UAC enabled. This is due to a limitation in Vista API support in PowerDraft (specifically the ability to create a directory in the local user directory), and may be resolved in later releases of PowerDraft. It can also be worked around by disabling UAC and running Vista as administrator, though this is not recommended.
• CADconform can only be node-lock licensed, it can not run a pooled licence from CMLS (the licence server)
• CADconform can not import feature table data from MicroStation Settings Files (*STG) due to an API limitation in PowerDraft.
• CADconform can only launch external applications through a DOS window, so there may be an extra step required to close the DOS window when launching an external application such as viewing the PDF manual, opening the Preferences editor, etc.

ODBC Requirements

The CADconform Server database is located via ODBC drivers. The main advantage of using ODBC is that it allows flexibility in the choice of database management application (eg: Oracle, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, etc). By default, CADconform uses the Microsoft Access drivers to access the default "CADconform Example" database. The drivers for this database should already be installed with Windows 2000 or higher. If an earlier version of Windows is installed, then the requisite drivers can be downloaded free from Microsoft's website as part of the MDAC or DAO toolsets.

For other database systems (such as Oracle), extra ODBC drivers may be required for each client from the database vendor.

Installing CADconform Server

Installation of CADconform Server is performed by a supplied installation program. This program is executed by running the “Setup.exe” file. Installation needs to be done first on the Server machine. There are three different setup options depending on whether you are installing CADconform on the Server machine, a Client machine, or a machine that can be both Server and Client. Note that you do not have to be on the server machine in order to install CADconform. Installation can be performed from any machine to any other machine.

Installation of CADconform Client can be done one of 3 ways:

1. Simultaneously when installing CADconform Server (choose the "Server & Client" installation type).
2. Separately on each machine (run the "Setup.exe" and choose the "Client" installation type).
3. Using a shared network configuration file (see "Network Installation" below).

Network Installation

Network installation can be performed if MicroStation has already been configured to use a MicroStation project or workspace from a shared network resource. The advantage of using this method is that the it is no longer necessary to install CADconform Client on each client machine.  To set up a network installation, several lines need to be added to your network config file (either PCF, UCF, or CFG). This file is automatically created at install time and located in the "Config" subdirectory for each platform. The files are:

• CADconform Network Settings for MicroStation J.cfg
• CADconform Network Settings for MicroStation 2004.cfg
• CADconform Network Settings for MicroStation XM.cfg

An example config file for MicroStation 2004 may look like this:

#
#This command sets the global path to CADconform Server.
#
CADCONFORM_SERVER_DIR = //CorporateServer/CAD Apps/Altiva Software/CADconform3/

#
#This sets the current version of CADconform that we are on. This version is used to define the directory name used to locate the executable files.
#
_CADCONFORM_SERVER_VERSION = 60302

#
#This sets the name of the current CAD platform, and is used for locating required files.
#
CADCONFORM_CURRENT_PLATFORM = MicroStation 2004

#
#This points to the directory containing the executable files on the server
#
CADCONFORM_SERVER_BIN_PATH = $(CADCONFORM_SERVER_DIR)bin/$(CADCONFORM_CURRENT_PLATFORM)/$(_CADCONFORM_SERVER_VERSION)/

#
#This line tells MicroStation where to find 'CADconform.dll'.
#
MS_MDLAPPS > $(CADCONFORM_SERVER_BIN_PATH)

#
#This line tells MicroStation where to find 'AltivaLib.dll'.
#
MS_LIBRARY_PATH > $(CADCONFORM_SERVER_BIN_PATH)

CADconform can then be run on any client machine simply by keying in "MDL LOAD CADCONFORM".

If you wish for CADconform to always automatically load in a given workspace, you can also add these lines to your network configuration file:

#
# Automatically load CADconform for this project/discipline
#
_USTN_FIRSTDGNFILE > CADCONFORM
_USTN_NEWDGNFILE > CADCONFORM

Running the Installer

The installer is started by running the “setup.exe” file. The installer will give the user four sets of options:

1. The Setup type: CADconform Server, CADconform Client, or CADconform Server & Client.
2. The CADconform Server Install Path.
3. The UNC Path for each client to locate the server machine.
4. The MicroStation Install path (if installing as a Client).

The Install Path

The install path will usually be to a local drive, but can also be any UNC path or mapped network drive. By default it is set to:

C:\Program Files\Altiva Software\CADconform\

The UNC Path

The UNC path is the path that CADconform Clients will use to find the server machine. It can be the full UNC path or a mapped drive. By default it is:

\\MyServer\C$\Program Files\Altiva Software\CADconform\

Note that 'MyServer' will be replaced by the computer name of the machine you are installing on, and the rest of the path will be taken from the Install Path.

The MicroStation Install Path

The MicroStation path is only required if installing CADconform Client. It will look in the registry for the default path to the 'Bentley' directory - by default:

• C:\Bentley\                          (MicroStation J)
• C:\Program Files\Bentley    (MicroStation v8 and above)

 
 

Uninstalling CADconform

CADconform can be uninstalled by one of two methods:

• Executing the file $(CADCONFORM)\CADconform Uninstaller
• Using the Windows tool: “Control Panel > Add / Remove Programs > CADconform Server”

After uninstalling CADconform, several files may remain in the directory created by the installer. These files may be anything modified or created after the setup program installed CADconform. Typically, this will include the password list “CADCONFORM.PWL” and possibly also any scripts or menus edited by the user after the software was installed. This allows customized menus and files to be retained for use with a newer version of CADconform, if the administrator chooses to install a newer version into the same directory.

To completely remove all files installed by CADconform, it may be necessary to manually delete the files listed above.

Be careful to backup files when reinstalling CADconform, particularly if you have modified any of the standard installation files, such as the demo database in:

"$(CADCONFORM)\Database\CADconform Demo.mdb"

Configuring the ODBC Data Source

CADconform installs a tutorial database 'CADconform Demo' when first installed, which can be used for testing purposes. However, when you wish to start creating your own CAD standards database, it is strongly recommended that a new database and data source are created. This guarantees that if you upgrade CADconform at a later date, it will not uninstall your customisations. There are three types of data source names that can be created from the Windows Control Panel:

1. User DSN
2. System DSN
3. File DSN

CADconform supports all three types of data source, however the simplest and most flexible type to use is the 'File DSN' type, which stores the database configuration settings in a plain ASCII text file. The main advantage of this type of data source, is that the one file can be shared by multiple users on the network, making central administration much easier. User and System DSNs store their settings in the Windows Registry, which means they must be configured and maintained individually for each Client. CADconform Server creates a directory specifically for File DSNs in the CADconform installation sub-directory 'File DSN'.

To create a File DSN data source (recommended):

1. From the Windows Start menu, choose either: 
   • "Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Data Sources (ODBC )" on Windows 2000/XP, or
   • "Settings > Control Panel > ODBC Data Sources" on Windows 95/98/NT
2. Go to "About" and ensure that all of the core components are at least version 3.51.xx. If they are not, then install the newest drivers (see below).
3. Go to "File DSN" and choose "Add"
4. Choose a driver, for example "Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)" and click "Next".
5. Browse to the 'File DSN' sub-directory in the DCS installation directory, and create a data source name in that directory.
6. Click "Create" and enter a file name (eg: "CADconform.mdb") for the database file. This file should be created on the network server so it is visible to every client machine. It is preferable that this database is installed in the existing "Database" directory of the CADconform Server install path.
7. Click "OK" to confirm the data source and "OK" a second time to close the ODBC window. Your ODBC data source is now configured and ready to use with CADconform Server.

If you wish to create a separate database for reports, follow the steps exactly as above, only name the data source "reports" or something equally meaningful. For efficiency purposes, it may be preferable to create the report database locally, unless reports are intended to be shared by other users.
 

Running CADconform

CADconform should automatically start every time MicroStation is loaded. CADconform will install a menu to the left of the MicroStation "Help" menu. If the user has turned the "Auto-Start" option OFF in the menu, then CADconform will not automatically start.. If this is the case, then it can be started by the following methods:

Running via keyin:

To run CADconform for a local installation, simply load it via keyin:

          MDL LOAD CADCONFORM

Running from the MDL Application Dialog Box:

Select from the MicroStation menu:

          “Utilities > MDL Applications > Available Applications > CADCONFORM”

If “CADCONFORM” does not appear in the list of available applications then:

• Check that $(MS_MDLAPPS) has been configured to point to the correct network path of the “CADCONFORM.MA” file. This should have been done automatically by the CADconform Server installer, but it can be overridden by the Workspace.

Known Issues and Limitations

Known incompatibilities, performance issues and common problems are listed below:

New issues with version 4:

• Shape fill colour is not set correctly in MicroStation v8
• Some dimension options are missing in MicroStation v8.1

Legacy version 3 issues and general MicroStation issues that may manifest in CADconform Server:

• Can not connect to CADconform database.

Shape fill colour is not set correctly in MicroStation v8

MicroStation's active fill colour does not update to reflect the fill colour (if applied) when a shape feature is drafted in MicroStation v8. This is due to a known problem with the "active fillcolor" key-in and all versions of MicroStation v8 up to and including 08.01.02.15 are affected. Bentley have filed TR#110187 against this problem. MicroStation J is not affected.

Some dimension options are missing in MicroStation v8.1

There are a few settings in the Dimension Feature Type dialog box which are either disabled (greyed-out), invisible or OFF by default for MicroStation v8.1. These include:

• Dimension terminator symbology (colour, weight and style in MicroStation J only)
• Dimension terminator type

Dimension terminator symbology and type are disabled because there are currently no methods in these versions of MicroStation for setting or retrieving this information through the API. To enable this functionality the minimum required version of MicroStation is 2004 (v8.5).

Can not connect to CADconform database.

This can occur for the following reasons:

1. The UNC path to the database is incorrect. This may result in warning such as: “The Microsoft jet database engine can not open the file ‘\\{Server Path}\..’. It is already opened exclusively by another user, or you need permission to view its data”. (see Configuring the ODBC Data Source).
2. The CADconform Server database or ODBC data source has not been configured properly (see #Configuring_the_ODBC_Data_Source).
3. The ODBC driver is invalid or not supported (see ODBC Requirements).

Copyright 2001-2008 Altiva Software, Inc. Last modified by Piers Porter.