Bentley Connect Edition Configuration
Bentley Common Shared Configuration
Now called ONE CONFIGURATION and is finally here
MicroStation update 16 has been released and now includes ONE CONFIGURATION, for multiple Bentley products to run from a single configuration this means only one configuration needs to be maintained for all your Bentley products, and ensures that all products use the same base MicroStation content. I guess we will see all the other Bentley products incorporating this in the next round of updates. More information is available here.
https://communities.bentley.com/products/microstation/b/microstation_blog/posts/new-in-microstation-connect-edition-update-16—one-configuration
One Configuration Simple Guide to Implementation
The linked document here provides a simple guide to implementing One Configuration, it has been designed to provide a basic understanding of what is required to make it happen. Your situation will probably be different and more complex but this should give you a head start to getting it in place.
For more information on One Configuration check out this Wiki
Here is another WIKI by Buddy Branham on Configuration Sets https://communities.bentley.com/products/administration/w/wiki/56629/configuration-sets
MicroStation updates 15 and later come with an updated msconfig.cfg main configuration file ready for ONE CONFIGURATION, only minor changes but it does mean editing your configuration to include two new DGNLIBLIST variables. If this is not done you may not be able to see your existing element templates or item types. The two new variables are MS_DGNLIBLIST_ELEMENTTEMPLATES and MS_DGNLIBLIST_ITEMTYPES, all you need to do is add these two new variables to each appropriate configuration file to tell MicroStation where to find the dgnlibs for each. Full details can be found in this document. MicroStation update 15 Element Templates Bug
Download Connect Edition Configuration Flow Diagram with MicroStation update 15 and 16 msconfig.cfg v10.15.02
If you are already using a single configuration for all your Bentley products you will also need to use if statements to configure updates 15 or later separately from all the other older products as they have not had the changes added to them. You could use one of the new MSCONFIG_VERSION variables as the test for update 15 or later.
For those of you that are running ONE CONFIGURATION for all your Open products, or create an interface dgnlib for the MicroStation customisation, and copy it to other Open products configuration, we found a significant problem in MicroStation 13 an ORD 2020 R1 and probably all that series of Open products, where ribbon items were only visible to the application that created them.
Example most customising done for the common components of each Open product and MicroStation, would probably be done using MicroStation. If the same GUI dgnlib is used in ONE CONFIGURATION, or copied to other Open product configurations, the ribbon items will not be displayed in the other products. The same happens if the ribbon items are created in an Open product, they are not visible in MicroStation or the other Open products.
This has been reported and I have been told that it should be fixed in the next releases. Testing with ORD 2020 R2 appears to have resolved this problem.
Creating a new Workset in One Configuration
If any of you are trying to implement a single configuration for multiple Bentley Connect Edition applications, I have been using a single configuration for V8i and Connect Edition for several years, and I am available to help you do it, contact John Davidson
I did have one small issue, when trying to utilise the new DGNLIBLIST variables, they would not configure as per code. After a lot of testing I eventually found the cause and resolution, it is simply processing order, and the msconfig.cfg processes the product specific configuration in the wrong order. To rectify this until Bentley fix the problem you need to insert code to run your product config files in the correct order straight after the core product config for each configuration level, and the product configuration files need to be located outside the ProductName folder so that they do not get run from msconfig.cfg.
MicroStation update 15 has had msconfig.cfg revised to fix this and also has been revised ready for One Configuration, however all other products are still running the old version of msconfig.cfg as noted above.
Configuration Blogs and Information
Connect Edition Configuration BLOGS
CONNECT Edition – Custom Configuration – Part 1 – Initial Creation Steps
CONNECT Edition – Custom Configuration – Part 2 – Standards Folders
CONNECT Edition – Custom Configuration – Part 3 – Standards CFG Files
CONNECT Edition – Custom Configuration – Part 4 – Standards CFG File Contents
CONNECT Edition – Custom Configuration – Part 5 – Separating Project Data from Standards
John Davidson has put together a short guide to learning Bentley configuration.
Learning how to Configure Bentley Products
Implementing CONNECT Edition Products
This is the bit that makes the magic happen, and here are some links to the information you need for implementation of CONNECT Edition products. If this part is overlooked or not done effectively, the magic may be a bit flat.
MicroStation
Connect Edition MicroStation upgrade for CAD Managers This link is what you need to get started implementing MicroStation CE.
Train the Trainer information. In this training course and videos there are several areas that belong to the CAD System Administrator and should be implemented in a systematic way to ensure users are able to produce their best.
On Demand Course: https://learn.bentley.com/app/Public/ViewLearningPathWithMasterCourseExpanded?lpId=112321&mcId=102937#
Videos: https://learn.bentley.com/app/Public/ViewLearningPathWithMasterCourseExpanded?lpId=112321&mcId=102060
OpenRoads Designer and OpenRail Designer
OpenRoads Designer Workspace Setup
http://learn.bentley.com/app/Public/ViewLearningPathDetails?lpId=111346
This link is what you need to get started implementing OpenRoads Designer.
OpenRoads SIG video on implementing the ANZ Configuration (workspace) https://learn.bentley.com/app/VideoPlayer/LinkToIndividualCourse?LearningPathID=112219&CourseId=124053&MediaID=5015780
OpenBuildings Designer
Train the Trainer information. In this training course there are several sections designated as 
and should be understood and/or implemented by the CAD System Manager if users are expected to produce their best.
https://learn.bentley.com/app/Public/ViewLearningPathWithMasterCourseExpanded?lpId=113071&mcId=103220
Creating a Deployment Image (Same for all Bentley Open products)
To avoid having to download the necessary information each time you install a Bentley product, you can make a deployment image that does it and saves it to a folder of your choice, then just install from the deployment image with all the desired settings done.
There is information in the product help, search for “Create a Deployment Image”.
You can do it from either the CMD or the Run window. Cut and paste the full folder address and the exe filename into the window followed by a space and /layout, then follow the prompts to configure it the same as if you were installing it, selecting the datasets, associated applications, and other options, and the location where you want it saved to.
Bear’s Blogs
Sean (Bear) Forward has provided lots of CAD Administration Tips
https://communities.bentley.com/other/old_site_member_blogs/peer_blogs/b/bear_blog
Bentley User Group Victoria Australia 