Q How do I configure MicroStation's AutoSave feature?

A This response was posted on the BE Communities Forum. The explanation, by Barry Bentley, is reproduced here …

Here is a description of how the various MicroStation "autosave" configuration variables and user preference works, from Bentley internal design documentation:
Because V8 design files allow for incrementally saving changes, saving V8 files is much faster than saving V7 or DWG/DXF files. Therefore there are some differences in operation between them. There are five configuration variables ( MS_DGNAUTOSAVE, MS_V7AUTOSAVE, MS_DWGAUTOSAVE, MS_V7AUTOSAVE_NODIALOG, and MS_DWGAUTOSAVE_NODIALOG) and one user preference (Immediately Save Design Changes) that determine the behavior of autosave.

• If MS_DGNAUTOSAVE is set to 0 or a negative number, autosave is disabled for all file types.
• If MS_DGNAUTOSAVE is set to a a positive number, autosave is enabled for all file types. The value of MS_DGNAUTOSAVE applies when editing V8 format design files. It specifies the number of seconds of user inactivity that elapse before MicroStation autosaves. The default value (which applies if MS_DGNAUTOSAVE is not specified, but MS_V7AUTOSAVE or MS_DWGAUTOSAVE is specified, or the Immediately Save Design Changes userpref is turned on) is 2 seconds.
• If MS_V7AUTOSAVE is set to a positive number, it specifies the number of seconds after the first change to a V7 design file that autosave occurs. When that time elapses, the user is prompted with a dialog box that asks whether changes should be saved. The user has the option to defer saving, since the save time can be significant.
• If MS_DWGAUTOSAVE is set to a positive number, it specifies the number of seconds after the first change to a DWG or DXF file that autosave occurs. When that time elapses, the user is prompted with a dialog box that asks whether changes should be saved. The user has the option to defer saving, since the save time can be significant.
• If the MS_V7AUTOSAVE_NODIALOG or MS_DWGAUTOSAVE_NODIALOG configuration variable is set to any value, the abovementioned dialog box is skipped for the corresponding format.