Bentley Redline FAQ

Index:

1. What is Bentley Redline?
2. Who can use Bentley Redline?
3. When installing Bentley PowerDraft 2004 Edition, I receive the following error " Can not install, systems files are out of Date" What can be done to correct this?
4. I'm a Bentley SELECT subscriber and would like to deploy Bentley Redline throughout my organization and utilize SELECTserver to manage its licenses. Can I do so?
5. I am a Bentley SELECT subscriber and I would like to enable a project team member from outside of my organization to use Bentley Redline. How can I do so? How is Bentley Redline licensed for them?
6. I am not a Bentley SELECT subscriber and have been sponsored by a Bentley SELECT subscriber to use Bentley Redline. Do I need Internet access to use Bentley Redline?
7. I am not a Bentley SELECT subscriber and I have not been sponsored to use Bentley Redline by a Bentley SELECT member. Can I still use Bentley Redline?
8. If I am a Bentley Redline user, but my Sponsor is no longer valid, what can I do?
9. I know that Bentley Redline is based on MicroStation V8 2004 Edition technology, but I'm still using MicroStation/J, and I'd want to redline my MicroStation/J created V7 DGN files. Can I use Bentley Redline to redline V7 DGN files?
10. When redlining a DGN file the redline file is always created with the name MasterFileName.rdl. Is there a way to create the redline file with a different name? We might have multiple users trying to access the file at one time. When this happens, only one of the users can redline. We would like each user to be able to create differently named redline files so that all users can redline at once. Is there a variable we can set?
11. Currently, the DWG redline file is created with the name MasterFileName_redline.dwg. Is there a way to create the DWG redline file with a different name? We might have multiple users trying to access the file at one time. When this happens, only one of the users can redline. We would like each user to be able to create differently named redline files so that all users can redline at once. Is there a variable we can set?
12. How does MicroStation or Bentley PowerDraft's "Redline On" tool work with redlines created by Bentley Redline?
13. When redlining a DWG file that has an xref attached via the overlay method, Bentley Redline doesn't display the xref that is attached to the master file. What can I do so I see this overlaid xref?
14. When I redline a DWG file in Bentley Redline that has paper space layouts, I'm only able to view and redline the model space layout of the original DWG file. Why can't I redline the paper space layouts? Is there a way to do so?
15. How can I quickly configure Bentley Redline to utilize my existing MicroStation V8 2004 Edition workspace?
16. How do I get technical information on Bentley Redline?
17. What programming options are available?

Question 1: What is Bentley Redline?

Answer: Bentley Redline is the solution for project participants who need to contribute to the design process, providing multi-function viewing, redlining and print-to-scale solution that extends the reach of design and engineering data. It delivers comprehensive design review, annotation and printing tools for both DGN and DWG content. Markup is easily managed and integrated into designs, enhancing project collaboration and communication and allowing for an efficient transition from markup to design changes.

Bentley Redline also supports Microsoft’s Visual Basic for Applications environment for customization.

Question 2: Who can use Bentley Redline?

Answer: Bentley Redline is freely available to Bentley SELECT subscribers and sponsored members of their extended project teams. For those who are not Bentley SELECT subscribers or who have not been sponsored to use Bentley Redline by a Bentley SELECT subscriber, individual licenses to use Bentley Redline are available for purchase. For more information on purchasing, see How to Buy.

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Question 3: When installing Bentley PowerDraft 2004 Edition, I receive the following error " Can not install, systems files are out of Date" What can be done to correct this?

Answer: It could be a potential permissions problem. What may be happening is that something on the system won't allow MicroStation to write the system files in the system32 directory. Check to make sure the user has administrator permissions to write to the system32 directory.

It is also Recommended to shutdown all anti-virus, spy-blocker and ad blocking software during the install. These could be blocking the installation of the files.

Question 4: I'm a Bentley SELECT subscriber and would like to deploy Bentley Redline throughout my organization and utilize SELECTserver to manage its licenses. Can I do so?

Answer: Yes. Nevertheless, in order for SELECTserver to manage your Bentley Redline licenses, you need to complete two basic steps:

• First, you need to obtain your SELECTserver license complete with Bentley Redline features. Contact your local Bentley Sales Support group to request this license. (Include your server serial number, server name, and the contact name and e-mail address of the person who should receive the updated SELECTserver license in this request.)
• Secondly, in Bentley Redline's \Program\Licensing\ directory, create a license file called bentleyrdl.lic and point it towards your SELECTserver installation.

Managing Bentley Redline licenses via SELECTserver has several advantages:

• It enables people in your organization to utilize Bentley Redline without having to obtain a Sponsorship Code.
• An active Internet connection is not necessary when using SELECTserver to manage Bentley Redline. The monthly online Bentley SELECT sponsorship validation checks are not done when Bentley Redline is managed by SELECTserver. Bentley Redline can be used as long as the SELECTserver license is valid. Using SELECTserver to manage Bentley Redline licensing prevents the end user from ever seeing the Bentley Redline or MicroStation On the Web registration dialogs.

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Question 5: I am a Bentley SELECT subscriber and I would like to enable a project team member from outside of my organization to use Bentley Redline. How can I do so? How is Bentley Redline licensed for them?

Answer: For members of the extended project team, Bentley Redline requires sponsorship by a Bentley SELECT subscriber and access to Bentley Redline requires a valid Sponsorship Code.

Bentley SELECT subscribers with Site Administrator privileges on http://selectservices.bentley.com/ can obtain a Bentley Redline Sponsorship Code from http://apps.bentley.com/redline/index.cfm. (Note: Bentley SELECT subscribers with Administrator Privileges to http://selectservices.bentley.com/ can also enable other Bentley SELECT subscribers within their own organization to be able to obtain a Bentley Redline Sponsorship Code by providing them with the "Bentley Redline Grantor Role" at http://apps.bentley.com/Administration/index.cfm.) The Bentley SELECT subscriber can then forward this Bentley Redline Sponsorship Code to any member of their extended project team to enable them to use Bentley Redline.

The extended project team member then downloads Bentley Redline from http://www.bentley.com/products/bentleyredline and installs it. When Bentley Redline is run for the first time, a Licensing Information dialog box opens. From this dialog box, choose "I was invited to use Bentley Redline by a SELECT subscriber (online)." The Bentley Redline Registration dialog opens. Enter the contact information and the Bentley Redline Sponsorship Code provided by the SELECT sponsor. In order to successfully complete this registration step, the Bentley Redline user must be connected to the Internet at this time.

If the sponsored Bentley Redline user is connected to the Internet and is successfully registered, an e-mail message containing a Use Code is returned. The next time that Bentley Redline is opened, the user will be prompted for this Use Code. The member of the extended project team completes the Bentley Redline registration/licensing process upon entering the Use Code into the software.

After completing this registration process, Bentley Redline automatically attempts to validate the status of the Bentley SELECT sponsor on a monthly basis. Usage of Bentley Redline is uninterrupted if verification of the status of the Bentley SELECT sponsor can be made. The sponsored Bentley Redline user can use Bentley Redline as long as their sponsor remains a Bentley SELECT subscriber.

Question 6: I am not a Bentley SELECT subscriber and have been sponsored by a Bentley SELECT subscriber to use Bentley Redline. Do I need Internet access to use Bentley Redline?

Answer: If you are not a SELECT subscriber but have been sponsored to use Bentley Redline by a Bentley SELECT subscriber, then Bentley Redline requires an Internet connection. The Internet connection is necessary to complete the software registration/licensing process and to automatically validate the status of the sponsoring Bentley SELECT subscriber on a monthly basis. However, outside of those specific times, Bentley Redline can be used off-line and Bentley Redline's functionality doesn't require an Internet connection.

If you do not have access to the Internet to complete the initial registration process or to complete the monthly validation check of the status of you Bentley SELECT sponsor, you can purchase a license of Bentley Redline (for information on purchasing options, see How to Buy) or use Bentley View.

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Question 7: I am not a Bentley SELECT subscriber and I have not been sponsored to use Bentley Redline by a Bentley SELECT member. Can I still use Bentley Redline?

Answer: Bentley Redline is a benefit of Bentley SELECT and is available to Bentley SELECT subscribers and their sponsored project team members. If you are not a Bentley SELECT subscriber or someone who has been sponsored to use Bentley Redline by a Bentley SELECT subscriber and need access to project data, you can purchase a license of Bentley Redline (see How to Buy for more information on purchasing options) or use a different data access product like Bentley View that is freely available to anybody.

Question 8: If I am a Bentley Redline user, but my Sponsor is no longer valid, what can I do?

Answer: If your sponsor reactivates their SELECT subscription with Bentley you will be re-authorized automatically the next time you start Bentley Redline while connected to the Internet. You may re-register Bentley Redline to clear your current sponsor information by selecting re-register in the registration dialog. Note: This requires you to be sponsored by an active Bentley SELECT subscriber in order for Bentley Redline to run.

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Question 9: I know that Bentley Redline is based on MicroStation V8 2004 Edition technology, but I'm still using MicroStation/J, and I'd want to redline my MicroStation/J created V7 DGN files. Can I use Bentley Redline to redline V7 DGN files?

Answer: Absolutely! By default, Bentley Redline creates redline files in the same format as the master file, utilizing the appropriate workmode, so the redlines can be leveraged in the originating application. For example, if you redline a V7 DGN file named test.dgn, Bentley Redline automatically creates a V7 RDL file named test.rdl that references test.dgn. Furthermore, when making the redlines in test.rdl, you are in the V7 workmode so compatibility with the V7 DGN file format is ensured. The V7 RDL file test.rdl can then be readily viewed and leveraged within MicroStation/J or any previous version of MicroStation or Bentley PowerDraft that utilizes the V7 DGN file format.

Question 10: When redlining a DGN file the redline file is always created with the name MasterFileName.rdl. Is there a way to create the redline file with a different name? We might have multiple users trying to access the file at one time. When this happens, only one of the users can redline. We would like each user to be able to create differently named redline files so that all users can redline at once. Is there a variable we can set?

Answer: There are two useful approaches to accomplish this. You can give each user a private directory for redline files, or you can give each user a private extension instead of the default ".rdl". Here are some examples:

• For output directory vectoring: RDL_DIR=c:\fred\
• For extension control: RDL_DIR=.fred
• If you want to do both (probably less useful): RDL_DIR=c:\fred\.fred

You can set the RDL_DIR variable in the following ways:

• From the external environment with a DOS set command.
• From configuration files in the product.
• From a command line (or icon) parameter (this form is probably the most useful). For example: -wsRDL_DIR=c:\fred\ or -wsRDL_DIR=.fred

When setting the RDL_DIR configuration variable to create redline files in a directory different from the one where the master file is located, it is important (especially when redlining V7 dgns) to set the reference file search path (MS_RFDIR) to include the directory location of the master file being redlined so the master file can properly display in the redline file.

Cautions:

Although many MicroStation path specifications can use multiple directories separated by semicolon, RDL_DIR cannot. Only one directory can be specified by RDL_DIR. It is not legal for redline files to have no extension. This causes an ambiguity that cannot be changed.

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Question 11: Currently, the DWG redline file is created with the name MasterFileName_redline.dwg. Is there a way to create the DWG redline file with a different name? We might have multiple users trying to access the file at one time. When this happens, only one of the users can redline. We would like each user to be able to create differently named redline files so that all users can redline at once. Is there a variable we can set?

Answer: There are two useful approaches to accomplish this. You can give each user a private directory for redline files, or you can give each user a private redline file appendage instead of the default "_redline.dwg". Here are some examples:

• For output directory vectoring: DWGRDL_DIR=c:\fred\
• For extension control: DWGRDL_DIR=_fred.dwg
• If you want to do both (probably less useful): DWGRDL_DIR=c:\fred\_fred.dwg

You can set the DWGRDL_DIR variable in the following ways:

• From the external environment with a DOS set command.
• From configuration files in the product.
• From a command line (or icon) parameter (this form is probably the most useful). For example: -wsDWGRDL_DIR=c:\fred\ or -wsDWGRDL_DIR=_fred.dwg

When setting the DWGRDL_DIR configuration variable to create DWG redline files in a directory different from the one where the master DWG file is located, it is important to set the reference search path (MS_RFDIR) to include the directory location of the master DWG file being redlined so the redline file can properly display in the master file.

Cautions:

• Although many MicroStation path specifications can use multiple directories separated by semicolon, DWGRDL_DIR cannot. Only one directory can be specified by DWGRDL_DIR.
• If you exercise DWG redline file appendage control, you must include the ".dwg" file extension at the end of your assignment. For example, you must include the ".dwg" that is included at the end of this statement: DWGRDL_DIR=_fred.dwg

Question 12: How does MicroStation or Bentley PowerDraft's "Redline On" tool work with redlines created by Bentley Redline?

Answer: When you select the "Redline On" tool, MicroStation (or Bentley PowerDraft) opens a redline file that is associated to the design you are editing. When editing a DGN file, MicroStation searches for and attaches a file located in the same directory of the master file (the active file) named MasteFileName.rdl. In the case of a DWG file, MicroStation searches for and attaches a file located in the same directory of the master file (the active file) named MasterFileName_redline.dwg. If you configure the RDL_DIR or DWGRDL_DIR configuration variables in Bentley Redline to create the redline files in a different directory or with a different extension or appendage, MicroStation cannot automatically attach the redline files. You must set the RDL_DIR and DWGRDL_DIR configuration variables in MicroStation just as you did in Bentley Redline so that when you choose the "Redline On" tool, MicroStation looks for redline files with the defined extension/appendage in the defined location.

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Question 13: When redlining a DWG file that has an xref attached via the overlay method, Bentley Redline doesn't display the xref that is attached to the master file. What can I do so I see this overlaid xref?

Answer: Bentley Redline utilizes a referencing methodology when redlining. In the case of redlining V8 DGN or DWG files, the redline file where the markups are made references the master file via the live nested referencing method. Utilizing the overlay method of attaching references to the master file prevents the overlaid xrefs from being seen when the master file is referenced to the redline file. However, by setting the configuration variable RDL_NESTMODE =1, you can change Bentley Redline from using the live nested referencing method to the copy attachment method where all references are directly referenced by the redline file. Utilizing this method, xrefs attached to the original master file will be seen by the redline file.

Question 14: When I redline a DWG file in Bentley Redline that has paper space layouts, I'm only able to view and redline the model space layout of the original DWG file. Why can't I redline the paper space layouts? Is there a way to do so?

Answer: Bentley Redline utilizes the redlining paradigm established by MicroStation PowerScope in that redlines are created in a separate file that references the original data, so no changes can be made to the original data. In the case of marking up a DWG file, Bentley Redline utilizes a DWG redline file, named by default MasterFileName_redline.dwg, which references (or X-refs) the original drawing. Markup to a DWG file is in the DWG format in order to promote the best compatibility with the original DWG file. A limitation in the DWG file format is that only model space entities of other DWGs can be referenced. Therefore, paper space entities of the original DWG file cannot be referenced (or X-refed) into the newly created MasterFileName_redline.DWG file, and thus aren't accessible when utilizing this redlining default methodology.

However, you can redline both the model space and paper space entities of a DWG file if you choose to redline DWG files with V8-generation .RDL files. The V8-generation RDL files do not have this limitation of only being able to reference model space entities of DWGs. You can choose this behavior by setting the configuration variable DWG_MARKUP = V8DGN. The subsequently created .RDL file can then be saved to DWG in a manner that enables all of the markup to be manually referenced (or X-refed) back into the original design. To do so, simply:

1. Convert the models in the V8 RDL file that are referencing the paper space layouts from sheet models to design models. This can be done in the Model Properties dialog.
2. Perform a Save As DWG, with the following settings set in the Save As DWG/DXF Options dialog:
   • In the General Tab, under the Advanced Group, the Non-Default Design Models should be set to Create Separate Files.
   • Under the References Tab, set the External Attachments field and the Non-Default Models Attachment field to Omit. This avoids a circular reference back to AutoCAD.

This converts your V8 RDL file into separate DWG files (each consisting of a model space) so they can then be referenced (or x-refed) back into the model space or relevant paper space layouts of the original DWG file.

Note that you must set your DWG Save As options back to the defaults if you want to redline DWG files using the default MasterFileName_redline.dwg redline behavior.

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Question 15: How can I quickly configure Bentley Redline to utilize my existing MicroStation V8 2004 Edition workspace?

Answer: From your existing Bentley Redline installation, copy the ...\Workspace\interfaces\Redline\ folder to the same ...\Workspace\interfaces\ folder in your existing MicroStation V8 2004 Edition workspace.

Also, copy the contents of the ...\Workspace\Users\ directory (specifically, your existing .UCF files) to the ...\Workspace\Users\ directory of your existing MicroStation V8 2004 Edition workspace.

Finally, copy the following files from your Bentley Redline ...\Workspace\System\data\ folder to the ...\Workspace\System\data\ folder of you existing MicroStation V8 2004 Edition workspace: B_view.jpg, invalid_rl.htm, register_rl.htm, retry_rl.htm, validate_rl.htm.

Right click on the Bentley Redline shortcut, and choose Properties. In the Target field under the Shortcut tab, append "-wr" and the full path to the MicroStation V8 2004 Edition workspace that you would like to share.

(The Target field should look something like "E:\Program\Bentley\Redline\BentleyRdl.exe -wrE:\Example\workspace\".)

When accessing Bentley Redline from this shortcut, you should be able to select the "viewonly", "redline", or "admin" users along with your desired project from the workspace.

Question 16: How do I get technical information on Bentley Redline?

Answer: There are a variety of ways to obtain the latest technical information on Bentley Redline:

• Searching the online help delivered with the product (note that some custom installation options are not included in the online help).
• Referencing the Bentley Redline ReadMe document.
• Checking regularly with the Bentley Web site at http://selectservices.bentley.com/ for TechNotes, bulletins, and FAQs.
• Utilizing the Bentley hosted Discussion Groups on http://discussion.bentley.com/.
• Taking advantage of the priority services that are available through Bentley SELECT.

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Question 17: What programming options are available?

Answer: The following table shows what options are available in Bentley Platform Products: