Next Level, Inc - Support Document 1997
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- How do I configure MicroStation v5.0 for a database?

There are five MicroStation environment variables to be concerned with when 
configuring for a database. MicroStation has provided sample database 
configuration files that set these environment variables to their proper values. 
There is one configuration file for each corresponding database server and the 
files are located in the \ustation\config\database product directory. The file 
names should be something like:
    - ix.cfg
    - oracle.cfg
    - ris.cfg
    - xbase.cfg

Initially, these files are set up to configure MicroStation for the example 
databases delivered with MicroStation. However, these files can be used as 
templates for creating new files that configure MicroStation for other databases. 
Then, the new database configuration file can simply be included into either an 
existing project (ex. \ustation\config\project\default.pcf) or user 
(ex. \ustation\config\user\default.ucf) configuration file by adding a line 
similar to:
    %include \ustation\config\database\xbase.cfg

NOTE: 
    Be aware that the last instance of an environment variable takes precedence 
    over any other previous settings. Therefore, make sure none of the five 
    database environment variables are being set again after the include statement 
    shown above.


Alternatively, instead of manually setting the five environment variables by 
editing a configuration file, the environment variables can be set interactively 
through the MicroStation interface. First, use either the MicroStation 
'User | Workspace | Modify Project Configuration...' or 
'User | Workspace | Modify User Configuration...' pulldown menu option to open the 
MicroStation 'Configuration Variables' dialog box. Then four of the environment 
variables can be set by selecting the 'Database' category and the fifth environment 
variable (MS_DGNAPPS) can be found by searching for it in the 'All (Alphabetical)' 
category. In order to show some example settings, the environment variables below 
show an Xbase configuration.

Database Files (MS_DBASE)

This environment variable should be set to the location of your database files and 
the required MicroStation database files for the selected database. For example, 
if you are configuring for Xbase and want to use the GIS example, this variable 
will be set to:
    \ustation\database\
    \ustation\database\xbase\
    \ustation\database\xbase\examples\
    \ustation\database\xbase\examples\gis\

NOTE: 
    If you are using the Xbase database server, the directory where the database 
    files are located will be the string you enter for the db= command to attach 
    the database. For example, to attach the MicroStation delivered GIS example 
    database enter the command: db=gis.

Server Loader (MS_SERVER)

This environment variable should be set to the MDL application that will load the 
database server. For Xbase it should be set to:
    dbload

NOTE: 
    If the dbload.ma application is not in the MicroStation \mdlapps directory, 
    then it may be in the \mdlsys\asneeded directory and thus the path information 
    should be specified.

Database Server (MS_DBEXT)

This environment variable should be set to the database server application. For Xbase 
running under NT it will be set to:
    \ustation\database\xbase\xbasesql.exe

For Xbase running under DOS it will be set to:
    \ustation\database\xbase\xbasesql.exp

NOTE: 
    Database server applications should be found in their corresponding \database\... 
    directory.

Database Linkage (MS_LINKTYPE)

This environment variable should be set to the linkage types you want the server to 
recognize. Valid link types are XBASE, ORACLE, DMRS, INFORMIX, ODBC, IX, and RIS. The 
first link type listed is important because it indicates the type of linkages created 
when writing to the file. Subsequent link types tells the server to read those linkages 
as well. To configure the server to write (and read) Xbase linkages and to read Informix 
and DMRS linkages, set the variable to:
    xbase;ix;dmrs

MS_DGNAPPS

This variable should be set to:
    server

NOTE: 
    If the server.ma application is not in the MicroStation \mdlapps directory, then it 
    may be in the \mdlsys\asneeded directory and thus the path information should be 
    specified.