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App Help

Bentley

Use this for Bentley entitlement work, CONNECTION Client dependencies, and product-specific notes across desktop design and ProjectWise workflows.

Reviewed April 2026

Applications

Application directory

Application

MicroStation

Core Bentley desktop platform used as the base for many discipline-specific workflows.

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Application

ProjectWise

Document and project collaboration platform with data source, saved local data, and client integration dependencies.

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Application

OpenRoads Designer

Civil roadway design platform with standards, workspaces, and civil content dependencies.

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Application

SYNCHRO

Construction planning and 4D sequencing tools that may have separate project data and service dependencies.

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Application

Bentley View

Viewer-only workflow often used where a full authoring product is not required.

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Application

STAAD

Structural analysis tooling that often depends on project libraries and discipline plug-ins.

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Application

OpenFlows Storm

Stormwater modeling tool with model libraries and hydraulic settings that may be project-specific.

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Application

OpenFlows Sewer

Sewer and wastewater modeling workflow that often travels with shared standards and model files.

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Application

CONNECTION Client

Sign-in and entitlement component required by many Bentley CONNECT Edition applications.

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Application

Civil Applications

General Bentley civil portfolio workflows where the exact app mix varies by client and project type.

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Application

OpenBridge Designer

Bridge design workflow that usually layers on civil standards and project libraries.

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Application

OpenBridge Modeler

Bridge modeling workflow often used alongside OpenBridge Designer and civil standards content.

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Application

OpenRoads SignCAD

Specialized sign-design tool that can be easy to miss in a broader civil rollout.

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Application

RAM Elements

Structural engineering tool where templates and analysis libraries may matter as much as the core install.

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Application

OpenFlows Hydraulic Toolset

Hydraulic modeling bundle that may include multiple related OpenFlows capabilities.

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Application

OpenFlows Water

Water-distribution modeling workflow with shared models and standards that should survive user turnover.

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Application

GEOPAK

Legacy civil workflow that may still exist in long-lived client environments.

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Vendor help

Bentley

Overview

Bentley environments depend heavily on CONNECT identity, shared workspaces, and data source access. Before reinstalling anything, confirm the computer can still reach the same standards, project, and entitlement path as a working peer.

In scope

  • MicroStation
  • ProjectWise
  • CONNECTION Client
  • OpenRoads Designer
  • OpenBridge
  • OpenFlows
  • STAAD / RAM

Start here

Helpful starting points

Shared notes

  • CONNECTION Client health and Bentley identity state affect far more than sign-in alone.
  • Workspace, standards, and data source paths usually decide whether a build is actually usable.
  • Always document whether the user has checked-out files, local work areas, or discipline-specific add-ins before cleanup.

FAQ

  • Why does Bentley still need CONNECTION Client? - Many CONNECT Edition products rely on CONNECTION Client for sign-in, entitlement refresh, and license validation, so it is usually part of the supported workflow.
  • Does Bentley access stay active if the user stops signing in? - Not always. Bentley documents token-based sign-in behavior, so expired or out of date sign-ins can push products into demo or no-entitlement behavior.
  • Does removing the software reclaim the license? - Not by itself. Reclaim the user's access or entitlement in Bentley administration first, then handle local uninstall and cleanup.

Common problems

Recurring vendor-wide problems

Usage issues

  • Bentley product opens in demo mode or shows no entitlement: Sign out and back in to CONNECTION Client, refresh licensing policy, and verify the entitlement was actually assigned to the user.
  • User keeps getting sign-in prompts: Check whether the CONNECTION Client is outdated or the token expired. Bentley notes token refresh behavior depends on the client version and active sign-in state.
  • Workspaces or standards paths are missing: Verify mapped paths, shared standards folders, and project workspace configuration, because Bentley products often depend on resources outside the install directory.

Setup / update tips

  • CONNECTION Client install fails: Bentley documents a .NET prerequisite and internet requirement when prerequisites need to download, so verify prerequisites and avoid offline installs on underprepared machines.
  • CONNECTION Client cannot sign in: Check system clock drift, proxy settings, and client version first. Bentley support articles call those out as common reasons for sign-in and token failures.
  • Updates fail when run from a non-support team Windows session: Bentley notes that CONNECTION Client updates should be performed from a local administrator session instead of prompting for support team credentials from a standard account.

Access

Accounts, setup, and official tools

Account and setup pages

  • Bentley IMS / CONNECT sign-in surfaces
  • ProjectWise data source and support team tooling
  • Client standards shares for workspaces, worksets, and discipline-specific content