- Redeem training credits for training or services of your choice
- Produce all deliverables with one application
- Explore more design options
- Integrate any data type
- Ensure and enforce project-specific standards
- Work collaboratively on designs of any size
- Model in a personalized environment
MicroStation
The leading CAD software for infrastructure design
Including 3 training credits
CAD leader for precise 2D and 3D infrastructure designs
MicroStation is the computer-aided design (CAD) software that users worldwide trust for creating precise 2D and 3D drawings for infrastructure projects. Engineers, architects, and construction professionals openly collaborate to deliver inspiring projects, utilizing the industry leading DGN file format. MicroStation can help you deliver your designs on time and on budget, even as project complexities and scale increase. With extensive interoperability and collaboration capabilities, and the flexibility to work with 2D or 3D in your BIM workflows, MicroStation gives you the confidence to know that your design intent will be clearly understood.
Produce all deliverables with one application
Reduce the risk of project delays and errors, adapt to project changes, and save time with MicroStation. Automate drawing sheets, models, visualizations, multi-discipline documentation sets, and embedded BIM data. Generate consistent, high-quality deliverables such as paper plots, reports, 2D/3D PDFs, i-models, and 3D physical models. Create annotation, display styles, and reports directly from the embedded properties of objects to ensure that they will always remain in sync with the design model during work-in-progress.
Develop better designs, faster
Develop better realized designs with unlimited design freedom made possible by MicroStation?s robust and extensive modeling capabilities, including the ability to:
- Design in 2D
- Design in 3D
- Develop hypermodels
- Analyze and visualize models
- Automate common tasks
- Control and protect files
Better inform teams
Ensure that all your stakeholders are better informed with clearer communication of designs made possible through intelligent deliverables production capabilities and the power of Bentley CONNECT collaboration services, including the capability to:
- Create animations
- Create lifelike renderings
- Generate intelligent documentation
- Publish i-models
- Review designs collaboratively
- Maintain and enforce standards
Freedom to focus on design
Enjoy the freedom to focus on design with better integration of information and teams made possible by MicroStation?s interoperable and scalable platform, including capabilities to:
- Geospatially locate projects
- Incorporate common design formats
- Incorporate referenced design content
- Integrate point clouds
- Integrate raster images
- Integrate reality meshes
- Manage design changes
- Work in a personalized environment
- Extend and customize workflows
Ensure and enforce project-specific standards
With MicroStation, you can easily manage design changes and drawing standards, and control and protect files.
- Apply templates to control geometry and data standards such as styles for dimensions,?text,?lines, and detail symbols.
- Use automated tools to check drawings for standards compliance once designs are completed.
Model in personalized work environment
You can design in the right work environment for each project with required settings and standards automatically applied.
- Access a comprehensive library of learning content.
- Personalize and group tools and tasks and reduce keystrokes with customizable menus.
- Integrate enterprise systems using a wide range of available tools to customize the user interface including Microsoft (VBA), .NET, C++, C# and user-defined macros.
Work on designs of any size
MicroStation enables you to work collaboratively on any size project.
- Generate a complete 3D model and maintain design intent of all sizes and complexities.
- Share common files across multiple teams and disciplines.
- View and work with design information from others in real-time using live referencing of 2D and 3D DGN, DWG, and large image files.
- Create and exchange digital markups of designs.
- Track and easily understand changes made to design files, even at the component-level, throughout their lifecycle.
- Improve enterprise-wide collaboration through integration with ProjectWise.
Visualize and analyze designs
With MicroStation, you can analyze and perform data visualizations on models based on their geometry or underlying attributes.
- Perform analysis of real-world solar exposure and shading.
- Apply real-time display styles to visualize models based on each object?s height, slope, aspect angle, and other embedded properties.
Produce animations and renderings
MicroStation enables you to produce realistic movies and simulations from design, construction, and operational models.
- Choose from keyframe and time-based animation.
- Get results faster, using live on-screen animation previews and distributed network processing.
- Create lifelike visualizations and access online and delivered libraries of physically correct materials, lighting, and rich photorealistic content.
Add reality data for real-world context
You can easily integrate reality data to understand existing conditions with raster images, point clouds, and 3D reality meshes. Quickly add geospatial information to visualize reality meshes based on associated spatial and attribute data. Using digital contexts enables you to make better decisions and create high impact visuals for stakeholders.
Integrate any data type
You can incorporate legacy client data and a variety of file formats like DWG, SHP, and point-cloud data without the need for data conversions. And easily integrate models, drawings, documents, and data from other disciplines.
Processor
Intel Pentium-based or AMD Athlon based processor 2.0 GHz or greater
Operating System
Windows 10 (64-bit) ? Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education
Windows 8 (64-bit) ? Standard, Pro, and Enterprise
Windows 8.1 (64-bit) ? Standard, Pro, and Enterprise
Windows 7 SP1 (64-bit) ? Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (64 bit) ? Standard and Enterprise
Windows Server 2012 (64 bit)
Internet connectivity is required to use some of the features of the product and installation of software pre-requisites.
Microsoft Internet Explorer, minimum v8.0, recommended v9.0 or later, with 128-bit cipher strength is also required.
Also supports Citrix XenApp 6.5 64-bit on Windows Server 2008 R2
Memory
1 GB minimum, 2 GB recommended, (more memory typically results in better performance)
Disk Space
1.25 GB minimum free disk space
Flexible Payment Options Available
Procurement looks different for every business. We’re happy to work around your requirements and facilitate terms that suit you. Talk to our team if you require a Purchase Order or prefer an alternative payment method.
Purchase Order
Check
ACH/Wire Payments
Credit/Debit Card
Bentley Licensing Options
Choose the licensing type that suits your needs
12 Month Annual License
Subscription License-
12-month licensing subscription that renews annually
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Low up-front cost & no long-term commitment
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Each license is assigned to a specific user 24/7 support and access to all the latest updates
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Free Bentley training with every license
Perpetual License
Network License-
Bentley’s most traditional & cost effective long term option
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One-time license purchase with an annual SELECT (maintenance) fee
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Shared Network License – no assignment required
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24/7 support and access to all the latest updates
Cloud Service Subscription
Pay As You Go-
Pay-as-you-go license model
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Pre-paid account based on estimated annual Bentley software usage
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Each quarter, Bentley reviews your monthly usage and charges you for what you used
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Monthly billing accommodates an increase or decrease in software licenses without a long-term commitment
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Great for occasional or short-term requirements
Meet the Bentley Experts from CAD Journey
Book A MeetingBehind CAD Journey is a team that knows Bentley Systems inside out. Book a call free advice and find out how we can help.
Helpful Resources
Bentley License Calculator
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Training & Services
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Licensing Done Right
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to frequently asked questions about Bentley Software
Licensing
A Perpetual License is bought outright and owned indefinitely. You pay once, then pay an annual SELECT maintenance fee to keep your software updated and supported. It’s a shared network license, so it isn’t tied to one user.
An Annual Subscription is a 12-month subscription license you renew each year. It’s assigned to a named user and can be re-assigned every 30 days. Lower upfront cost, but access ends if you don’t renew.
In short: a Perpetual License is buying the software, while an Annual Subscription is renting access for the year.
It comes down to how long and how often you plan to use the software:
Choose an Annual Subscription if you want a lower upfront cost and no long-term commitment.
Choose a Perpetual License if you plan to use the software for many years. It is usually the cheapest option over the long run (around seven years or more).
Choose a Cloud Service Subscription if your usage is occasional or short-term and you want maximum flexibility. Keep in mind that CSS is charged at a premium rate, so it is not the most cost-effective choice if you use the same software regularly.
If you are not sure, just ask us. We will look at how your team works and recommend the option that saves you the most money.
It is simple and there is no disruption. Your software, your licenses, and your data all stay exactly as they are within your Bentley Account. The only thing that changes is who looks after you. CAD Journey can act as your dedicated partner for support, licenses, training, and advice. There is no cost and nothing changes.
Every license includes access to all the latest software features and updates, along with round-the-clock technical support. As a CAD Journey client, you also have our team of Bentley experts as your first point of contact for any question. Annual Subscriptions go a step further and include free one-on-one training and mentoring hours to help your team get up to speed.
Here is what to expect after you order:
1. Within 24 hours, your licenses are fulfilled and added to your account, ready to assign.
2. Within 48 hours, one of our Customer Success Managers reaches out to make sure you are set up and everything is working as it should.
From there, the main steps are registering each team member, assigning a license to each one, and having everyone install the software and sign in. We will walk you through all of it, or we can simply take care of the setup for you.
The CONNECTION Client is a small free app that sits on each user’s computer. Users sign in to it with their account, and that sign-in is what activates the software. It is also where users download updates and check which licenses they have. There are no activation keys or serial numbers to manage anymore, so signing in is all that is needed.
The administrator is the person who can manage users and assign licenses for your organization. You can also set up co-administrators so more than one person can help manage the account. This is useful if your IT team handles software, or if you want a backup for when the main administrator is away. We can help you set up the right people with the right access.
It depends on the license type:
– Annual Subscriptions are assigned to a named user, so you need one for each person who uses the software.
– Perpetual Licenses work as a shared pool, so they can be used across your team without being tied to one person.
If you are not sure how many licenses you need, we are happy to work it out with you.
Once users are registered your license administrator can begin assigning licenses.
1. Sign in to your license portal at connect.bentley.com.
2. Open the License Management area.
3. Choose the product and assign it to the user you want.
The user gets a confirmation email and can start using the software right away. If you get stuck at any point, just reach out and we will jump in.
New people first need to be registered as a user on your account before they can be given a license. An administrator can add them by entering their name and work email, and then assign a license to them. If you would prefer, send us the details and we will add and assign your new starters for you.
Yes, a practitioner license can be re-assigned as many times as needed on the first day it is assigned to a user.
After the initial 24-hour assignment period, the license will be locked for 30 days. At the end of the 30 day period the license will be available for re-assignment.
Any re-assignment will restart the 24-hour assignment clock, and will be followed by the 30 day assignment lock.
No. Software now activates through a simple sign-in. As long as a user is registered, has a license assigned, and signs in to the CONNECTION Client, the software will run. There are no keys to track or share.
SELECT is Bentley’s maintenance program for perpetual license holders. It gives you access to the latest software version, technical support, and license portability across devices. Without the SELECT program you can only utilize the version you purchased and lose access to updates. For most active users, SELECT is a requirement and letting it lapse can create complications as versions evolve.
Annual subscription users will lose access at the end of the term if they do not renew. The CAD Journey team will flag your upcoming renewals well in advance so that you’re never caught off guard.