MCP Connector MicroStation Documentation

MCP Connector MicroStation connects AI assistants to a live Bentley MicroStation session on your machine. Once connected, your AI can read and author the design file: scan elements, create and modify geometry, manage levels, cells, references and annotation, and build 3D SmartSolids. Two parts ship together and talk over a local connection: an MCP server your AI client launches, and a plug-in that loads inside MicroStation. Nothing needs to be configured between them.

Requirements

• Bentley MicroStation 2023 to 2026 (Windows, 64-bit)
• The connector runs as a managed AddIn inside MicroStation, so MicroStation itself must be installed on the same machine.
• Windows 10 or 11

AI Applications

• Claude Desktop
• Claude Code
• Cursor
• VS Code
• Any other MCP client (via manual configuration below)

Installation

Connect Your AI Client

The MCP server is a single executable installed with the plug-in bundle:

Claude Desktop and Cursor

The installer registers the server automatically in Claude Desktop (claude_desktop_config.json) and Cursor (.cursor\mcp.json). Just restart the client after installing. If you ever need to add it by hand, use the JSON below.

Manual configuration (any MCP client)

Add this to your client's MCP server configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "AUTOM8LABS_MicroStation": {
      "command": "C:\\ProgramData\\AUTOM8LABS\\MCPConnectorMicroStation\\Bridge\\MCPConnectorMicroStation.Bridge.exe"
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

Register the same executable from a terminal:

VS Code

Add the server to your MCP configuration (for example .vscode/mcp.json in a workspace):

{
  "servers": {
    "AUTOM8LABS_MicroStation": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "C:\\ProgramData\\AUTOM8LABS\\MCPConnectorMicroStation\\Bridge\\MCPConnectorMicroStation.Bridge.exe"
    }
  }
}

Optional: raw key-in execution

The send_keyin tool runs a raw MicroStation key-in as if typed at the key-in browser. Because a key-in can drive any MicroStation command, it is disabled by default: the tool still appears in the AI client's tool list, but every call is refused by the MicroStation plug-in until you opt in on that machine by setting MCP_CONNECTOR_ENABLE_COMMAND_EXEC=1 in the MCP client configuration. The refusal happens inside MicroStation, not in the MCP server, so it cannot be bypassed by editing client-side configuration. Leave it switched off unless you specifically need it. Once enabled, the AI can issue any key-in the running MicroStation session accepts, so treat it as you would giving someone the keyboard.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "AUTOM8LABS_MicroStation": {
      "command": "C:\\ProgramData\\AUTOM8LABS\\MCPConnectorMicroStation\\Bridge\\MCPConnectorMicroStation.Bridge.exe",
      "env": {
        "MCP_CONNECTOR_ENABLE_COMMAND_EXEC": "1"
      }
    }
  }
}

Free vs Pro

Two editions ship in one install:

• Free (31 tools) is read-only inspection: a connectivity check, plus tools that scan elements, read properties, ranges and tags, list levels, models, cells, references, saved views, dimension styles and paper sizes, and navigate the view with zoom, fit and rotate. Nothing in the free edition creates, modifies, or maintains the design file. No key is needed; it just works.
• Pro (85 tools) unlocks everything else: geometry and cell placement, 3D SmartSolid modelling with booleans and feature editing, transforms and symbology, annotation and dimensioning, level management with DGNLIB standards checking, reference authoring, camera and fence control, batch DGN to DWG conversion, print to PDF, and file housekeeping.

Pro is a per-seat subscription: £10 per seat per month or £100 per seat per year. See the product page for purchasing.

In the tool reference below, every tool is marked Free or Pro. On a free install, Pro tools are not listed to the AI client at all, and the MicroStation plug-in refuses to execute them, so there is no way to run a paid tool without a valid licence.

Licence Activation and Management

Licensing lives entirely in the MicroStation plug-in. There is no key to set in the AI client.

• One seat per machine. A seat covers every AI client on that machine: Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, and any other MCP client.
• Moving machines. Click Deactivate in the licence dialog to free the seat, then activate on the new PC.
• Working offline. A validated key is honoured offline for 14 days, so short offline stretches never block your work.

Quickstart

Tool Reference

All 116 tools, grouped by category. The Edition column shows whether a tool is available in the free edition or needs a Pro licence. Tool names are what the AI sees, so you can also ask for a tool by name. Coordinates are in master units throughout.

Connectivity

1 tool, all free

Files and Models

12 tools, 3 free

Elements and Selection

9 tools, 8 free

Tags

3 tools, 2 free

Geometry Creation

7 tools, all Pro

Cells

4 tools, 1 free

3D SmartSolids

12 tools, all Pro

Solid Booleans and Feature Editing

9 tools, all Pro

Transform and Modify

6 tools, all Pro

Element Symbology

5 tools, all Pro

Levels

8 tools, 2 free

Standards and DGNLIB

5 tools, all Pro

Annotation and Dimensions

6 tools, 1 free

References

9 tools, 2 free

Views and Navigation

11 tools, 7 free

Saved Views

3 tools, 2 free

Fence

3 tools, 1 free

Printing

2 tools, 1 free

Key-ins

1 tool, all Pro

Troubleshooting

The AI says it is not connected to MicroStation

• MicroStation must be running with a drawing open. The connector talks to a live session; it cannot open MicroStation for you.
• In MicroStation, run MCPCONNECTOR_STATUS to check the plug-in state. If it reports not running, run MCPCONNECTOR_START.
• Ask your AI to run the ping tool. It reports whether the link is up and, if not, why.

The plug-in did not load

• The plug-in auto-loads when MicroStation starts. If the AUTOM8LABS ribbon is missing, restart MicroStation, then run MCPCONNECTOR_START at the command line.
• Confirm the bundle exists at C:\ProgramData\AUTOM8LABS\MCPConnectorMicroStation. If it is missing, re-run the installer.
• Check that your MicroStation release is between 2022 and 2027.

Pro tools are missing after activating

• The MCP server reads the edition once, when the AI client starts it. Restart the AI client after activating and the full tool list appears.
• Confirm the licence state in MicroStation via Manage Licence on the AUTOM8LABS ribbon.

The AI client does not list the server

• Restart the client completely after installing; a window reload is not always enough.
• For clients other than Claude Desktop and Cursor, add the manual configuration yourself.

send_keyin is not available

• Raw key-in execution is off by default. Opt in by setting MCP_CONNECTOR_ENABLE_COMMAND_EXEC=1 in the MCP client configuration, then restart the client. See Connect Your AI Client.

FAQ