Pan View tool in the 2004 Edition had two modes: non-dynamic (the default) and dynamic.

When MicroStation opens a file, it searches for references in the following places, in order:
1. If the file specification contains a configuration variable, look in that directory first, using the relative path,
if any.
2. Search a list of directories, which consists of all the directories for the parent file(s) of the reference. If a
reference is attached directly to the master file, the search path consists only of the directory of the master
file. If it is a nested references, the path consists of the directories of each parent file, starting with the most
deeply nested. Starting with the MicroStation V8 update 8.00.01, the directories searched include the
relative path, if any, in the file specification.
3. Search all the directories in MS_RFDIR, again retaining the relative path, if any, in the file specification.
4. Search the "current" directory. This is the MicroStation directory if MicroStation is started form the
MicroStation program group, or the directory of the DGN file that is double clicked on from Windows
explorer. This is rarely useful.
5. Use the full file specification in the reference attachment, if there is one.
This search algorithm is designed to maximize the chances that each project participant will find the correct
reference file.
Normally our projects are stored on either the I;\ or J:\ drives on the server. We have set MS_DEF = i:/,
MS_DEF > j:/, MS_RFDIR = i:/, MS_RFDIR > j:/ and MS_RFDIR > x:/ in our server workspace .ucf. We
don't attach references using Save Relative Path.
When we archive projects the folder within I or J drives moved to and archive directory on the X:\ drive, and
the folder renamed with the suffix DRAWINGS.
If I open a sheet model from the archived project on the X:\ drive all the references are not found'. Why is
this, when according to the search logic noted above.it should find the path using either 2. or 3. above?
How do we get this to work without having to create new sheet files with all references merged?
When you open an archived sheet, what workspace is being used? Your MS_RFDIR variable points to a
list of top-level folders. It doesn't point to a DRAWINGS folder. When MicroStation searches for reference
files, it doesn't search sub folders.
PROJECT_ROOT = X:/Dead File Day 09.11.06/8199 Ashroyd BP/8199 - Ashroyd BP drawings/
MS_RFDIR > $(PROJECT_ROOT)arch/
MS_RFDIR > $(PROJECT_ROOT)eng/
MS_RFDIR > $(PROJECT_ROOT)contractor/
MS_RFDIR > $(PROJECT_ROOT)etc/
I have the same thing working fine with a couple adjustments. My reference files are not lost. NOW YOU
MUST SELECT THE CHECK BOX WHEN PLACING EACH REFERENCE FILE THAT REMEMBERS
RELATIVE PALTH. If you do not do this you will lose every reference. (And I've checked. there is no
check box to fix this across to all reference files that already exist.
(The beauty to the file below is you never make changes to the MS configuration thorugh the dialog boxes
as those changes are mut whenyou upgrade. The file listed below is saved and moves from verion to
version and I can quickly rename it and have a vanilla MS for diagnostic purposes)
I have a parent directory (z:\jobnumber\)
with several sub directories (Architectural, Civil, etc.)
and sum sub-sub-directories z:\9800 - Bentley Residence\Architectural\ (Drawings, SEctions, Plans,
Details, etc)
1. I just set my project directory
M2_ProjectDir= z:/
%lock M2_ProjectDir
2. Then I have t set a ref variable:
MS_DISALLOWFULLREFPATH=1
%lock MS_DISALLOWFULLREFPATH
I do this and some other things in my standards flle. This file is in the directory
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\MicroStation\WorkSpace\Standards\
and you can either modify theirs or add your own wiht a alpha name lower in hte alphabet. mine is :
z_M2standard.cfg

Below is my file:
M2_ProjectDir= z:/
%lock M2_ProjectDir
M2_Dir=z:\M2Dataset/
%lock M2_Dir
_USTN_PROJECT=$(M2_ProjectDir)
%lock _USTN_PROJECT
TFDIR=z:\M2Dataset/
%lock TFDIR
TF_DRAWINGS=$(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)\Architectural\Drawings\Sections and Plans/
%lock TF_DRAWINGS
%lock TFDIR_PART
%lock TFDIR_CELL
%lock TFDIR_COMP
%lock TFDIR_CPART
%lock TFCAT_CELL
BB_FLOORMASTER_DGN=$(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)Architectural\Drawings\BB_FLOORMASTER.dgn
%lock BB_FLOORMASTER_DGN
MS_SYMBRSRC=$(M2_Dir)resource\*.rsc
%lock MS_SYMBRSRC
MS_SEEDFILES=$(M2_Dir)\seed/
%lock MS_SEEDFILES
MS_DESIGN_SEED=$(MS_SEEDFILES)\BB_modelseed.dgn
%lock MS_DESIGN_SEED
MS_DGNLIBLIST=$(M2_Dir)\dgn\M2.dgnlib
%lock MS_DGNLIBLIST
_USTN_HOMEPREFS=$(M2_Dir)\prefs/
%lock _USTN_HOMEPREFS
TFBXS_SEEDFILE=$(MS_SEEDFILES)\BB_modelseed.dgn
%lock TFBCS_SEEDFILE
MS_PLTCFG_PATH=$(_USTN_SYSTEMROOT)\Printers\
%lock MS_PLTCFG_PATH
MS_PLTR=$(_USTN_SYSTEMROOT)printers\M2printer
%lock MS_PLTR
#MS_PLOTDLG_DEF_PLTFILE=$(M2_Dir)\printers\M2printer.plt
#%lock MS_PLOTDLG_DEF_PLTFILE
#MS_PLT_SYSPRT_PLTFILE=$(M2_Dir)\printers\M2printer.plt
#%lock MS_PLT_SYSPRT_PLTFILE
MS_PLTFILES=$(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)Architectural\Drawings\Sheets\PDF/
%lock MS_PLTFILES
MS_PLTDLG_FORCEOUTDIR=$(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)Architectural\Drawings\Sheets\PDF/
%lock MS_PLTDLG_FORCEOUTDIR
MS_PENTABLE=$(M2_Dir)\Printers/
%lock MS_PENTABLE
MS_PLOTDLG_DEF_PENTABLE=$(MS_PENTABLE)m2esheets.tbl
%lock MS_PLOTDLG_DEF_PENTABLE
MS_PLT_MAX_ON_NEW_AREA=1
%lock MS_PLT_MAX_ON_NEW_AREA
MS_PLT_AUTO_FIT_VIEW=2
%lock MS_PLT_AUTO_FIT_VIEW
MS_DEFAULT_PLTCFG_FILE=$(MS_PLTCFG_PATH)
#MS_PLT_SYSPRT_PLTFILE=$(MS_PLTCFG_PATH)
#MS_PLT_SYSPRT_DEFAULT_PRINTER=$(MS_PLTCFG_PATH)
##MS_PLT_SYSPRT_DEFAULT_PRINTER=$(MS_PLTCFG_PATH)
#MS_PLT_SYSPRT_DEFAULT_FORM=$(MS_PLTCFG_PATH)
MS_PLT_SYSPRT_DEFAULT_TRAY=$(MS_PLTCFG_PATH)

MS_BATCHCONVERT_NOTIMECHECK=1
_USTN_SYSTEMROOT=$(M2_Dir)
%lock _USTN_SYSTEMROOT
MS_FKEYMNU=$(M2_Dir)Interfaces\Fkeys\m2fk.mnu
%lock MS_FKEYMNU
ARCH_ROLES=$(M2_Dir)\
%lock ARCH_ROLES
#MS_DEF=$(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)\Architectural\Drawings
#%Lock MS_DEF
MS_SYMBRSRC=$(M2DIR)resource\*.rsc
%lock MS_SYMBRSRC
MS_MATERIAL=$(M2_Dir)materials/
%lock MS_MATERIAL
MS_PATTERN=$(MS_MATERIAL)pattern/
%lock MS_PATTERN
MS_BUMP=$(MS_MATERIAL)bump/
%lock MS_BUMP
MS_IMAGEOUT=$(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)\Art/
MS_DGNLIBLIST=$(M2_Dir)\dgn\m2.dgnlib;$(M2_Dir)\dgn\generalannotation.dgnlib;$(M2_Dir)\dgn\archite
ctural.dgnlib
%lock MS_DGNLIBLIST
#MS_REF_DEFAULTATTACHDIRECTORY=$(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)\Architectural\Drawings/
#%lock MS_REF_DEFAULTATTACHDIRECTORY
MS_REF_NEWLEVELDISPLAY=1
%lock MS_REF_NEWLEVELDISPLAY=1
MS_REF_FULLPATHFIRST=1
%lock MS_REF_FULLPATHFIRST
#MS_DGNAPPS=D:\Program Files\Common Files\InterPlot\IPLOT\bin\iplotl.ma
#%lock MS_DGNAPPS
MS_TRANSEED=$(M2_Dir)\seed\transeed.dgn
%lock MS_TRANSEED
ms_dwgfontpath=z:\M2Dataset\text\
%lock ms_dwgfontpath
MS_SHEETSEED=$(_USTN_PROJECT)\Architectural\Drawings\Sheets\SheetSeed\SheetSeed.dgN
TF_DRAWSEED=$(M2_DIR)\SEED\BB_drawingseed.dgn
MS_RFDIR=$(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)\architectural\drawings\sections and
plans\;$(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)\architectural\drawings\;$(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)\architectural\drawin
gs\Sheets
%lock MS_RFDIR
DG_SCHEDULES_DIR=$(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)Drawings\Schedule
%lock DG_SCHEDULES_DIR
MS_DISALLOWFULLREFPATH=1
%lock MS_DISALLOWFULLREFPATH
#MS_LEVEL_EDIT_NESTED_ATTACHMENT_LEVEL=1
#%lock MS_LEVEL_EDIT_NESTED_ATTACHMENT_LEVELS

okay, so I am not confident about this but I am going to try. I found the file and there is an obvious
spot in which to put these new configurations but I am not absolutely positive I have the syntax
right...would someone mind pointing out any obvious errors in the following:
# Set search paths.
MS_RFDIR =

z:\documents\ng original drawings\arch\base;

z:\documents\ng original drawings\arch\details;
z:\documents\ng original drawings\elec\base\;
z:\documents\ng original drawings\elec\details\;
z:\documents\ng original drawings\mech\base\;
z:\documents\ng original drawings\mech\details\;
z:\documents\ng original drawings\plum\base\;
z:\documents\ng original drawings\plum\details\;
z:\documents\ng original drawings\struc\base\;
z:\documents\ng original drawings\struc\details\
for example: is it okay that I have a bunch of returns in there?
4 obvious errors that will cause failure:
1)Folder paths should be forward slashes in either config or pcf files
2) No semi colon symbol is needed
3) Each line needs the MS_RFDIR variable as a prefix
4) Only one line can use the = operator, the rest should use the append symbol > or prepend
symbol <
ie:
MS_RFDIR = z:/documents/ng original drawings/arch/base/
MS_RFDIR > z:/documents/ng original drawings/arch/details/
MS_RFDIR > z:/documents/ng original drawings/elec/base/
Also ensure you paths end in a forward slash, your examples have some with and some without. It
does make a difference!