13 MicroStation v8.5 DGNLIB

Nebraska User Group Spring 2005 Conference

Conference: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 Workshop: Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Location: Southeast Community College Lincoln Campus

Presented By:

Tom Stogdill Bentley Systems, Inc.

MicroStation v8.5 DGNLIB

1

2005 NeUG Spring Conference

MicroStation v8.5 DGNLIBMicroStation v8.5 DGNLIB

Presented by

Tom Stogdill - Bentley Systems, Inc.Presented by

Tom Stogdill - Bentley Systems, Inc.


Design LibrariesDesign LibrariesA design library , or DGNLIB, is a file used to store commonly accessed definitions for items such as levels definitions and text styles in a central location that multiple users may access. These “style libraries” encourage the use of corporate standards within an organization and provide an easy mechanism for the administration and maintenance of these standards.

2


Types of DGN LibrariesTypes of DGN LibrariesA DGN library provides the ability to share the following:

• Level and Level Filter definitions• Text Styles• Dimension Styles

• Multi-line Styles

With all of these types, functionalityis provided to attach or import theminto the active DGN file.

These libraries also are also used for checking drawing compliance by theStandards Checker.


What is a DGNLIB?What is a DGNLIB?A DGNLIB is typically a DGN file with a single design model that contains the style information for levels, text, dimensions, or multi-lines. A separate DGNLIB may be used for each of these data structures separately, or combined together in a single DGNLIB.

The procedure for creating a DGNLIB is to create a new file with the appropriate name for the desired library, add the definitions for the desired data structures (levels, text, etc.), and place the library on a server in a shared location the users have access to. The recommended file extension for this file is *.dgnlib.

i.e. -- CaddStandards .DGNLIB

3


Managing Level DefinitionsManaging Level DefinitionsCreating a well defined level structure is essential for users to easily negotiate a large number of levels. This is done with a level library. A level library is a file that contains the criteria for each of the levels being used. This may consist of the following:

• Level name, number, description• ByLevel element attributes for color, style, weight• Symbology overrides for Level Symbology• Attributes for freeze, lock, plot

A level library may also contain any Level Filters to be accessed by users.


Considerations…Considerations…A few considerations when creating levels...

• Unlimited levels• Keep the number of levels manageable

• Use a “good” naming convention• Use blocks of level numbers representing a certain set of features

• Stay away from level numbers under 63, this helps trouble-shoot files migrated from v7• Look at other agencies/organizations you may share files with

• View the National Cad Standards

Keep it as simple as possible!

www.nationalcadstandard.org

4


Creating a Level LibraryCreating a Level LibraryBoth the levelsand filters for a level library may created using Level Manager.


ByLevel Element SymbologyByLevel Element SymbologyThe ByLevel element symbology allows elements to inherit the attributes for color, style, and weight from the definition of the level they are placed on. These settings are established through Level Manager.

5


CSV filesCSV filesA level library may be created from within MicroStation using Le vel Manager, or externally through the use of a CSV file. If a CSV file is the desired way, begin by creating a CSV “template ” file.


Creating a CSV fileCreating a CSV fileAn easy method of creating a CSV file is detailed in the following steps:

• Create a blank DGN file• Open Level Manager and add a level definition including attributes, etc.• From Level Manager, export the level to a CSV file

• Edit the CSV file using the CSV editor of choice, such asMicrosoft Excel

• Import the CSV file intoMicroStation usingLevel Manager

6


Manually Attaching a Level LibraryManually Attaching a Level LibraryA level library may be manually attached from Level Manager by selecting:

Levels>Library>Attach

A level library, once attached, may be manually detached from Le vel Manager by selecting:

Levels>Library>Detach


A Text Style LibraryA Text Style LibraryText Styles are the primary means by which text attributes are defined and applied in MicroStation v8. Text attributes are defined and saved to a named style which may be applied to text elements, notes, and dimensions during or after their placement.

A text style library is file which contains the text styles beingapplied to text placed through MicroStation.

Text styles are defined throughthe Text Styles dialog box.

7


Dimension StylesDimension StylesDimension styles, very similar to text styles, are a collection of saved dimension settings. Dimension attributes are defined and saved to a named style which may be applied to dimensions during or after their placement and may be stored in a DGNLIB.

Dimension styles are defined throughthe Dimension Styles dialog box.


Dimension StylesDimension StylesThere is an alternate Dimensions Styles dialog box that may be used for creating dimension styles.

The alternate Dimensions Styles dialog box is activated andopened using the followingKey-ins:

To activate:MDL LOAD DIMSTYLE

Then, to open:DIALOG DIMSTYLE OPEN

8


Multi-line StylesMulti-line StylesA multi-line element consists of up to 16 independently defined lines, joints, and end caps. As is the case with text and dimension settings, multi-line settings may be saved as a multi-line style and stored in a DGNLIB.

Multi-line styles are definedthrough the Multi-Line Stylesdialog box.


Creating a “Master” DGNLIBCreating a “Master” DGNLIBLevel definitions, text styles, dimension styles, and multi-line styles may exist in separate DGNLIB files or combined into a single DGNLIB. The choice is up to you!

Remember, the DGNLIB(s) would typically be stored on a file server in a location that users have access to. This access may be limited s uch that they cannot change the DGNLIB.

Also, always have a backup! Updates should be performed on a copy of the DGNLIB and tested before the main DGNLIB is updated.

9


ImportingImportingLevel definitions, text styles, dimension styles, and multi-line styles all may be imported from another DGN or DGNLIB file into the active DGN through each of their respective dialog boxes.

When an import is performed, the imported information becomes apart of the active DGN with no linkto the original data source.

Maybe there is a better way…


The MS_DGNLIBLIST variableThe MS_DGNLIBLIST variableOnce a DGNLIB has been created, the next step is to deploy it to the users. This may be accomplished through the use of the MS_DGNLIBLIST configuration variable. The variable may be defined in any configuration file read by MicroStation.

10


Enforcing ByLevel SymbologyEnforcing ByLevel SymbologyThe MicroStation v8 2004 Edition has a new MDL application delivered to help users follow the practice of using the ByLevel element attributes.

It is possible to help enforce the use of ByLevel symbology yet enable the changing of individual element symbologies as needed. Operating MicroStation with the MDL application SYNCHBYLEVEL loaded causes the active color, active line style, and active line weight to reset to ByLevel each time the active level changes. To cause SY NCHBYLEVEL to automatically load each time you open a DGN file, designate SYNCHBYLEVEL as a design application in the Design Applications category of the Configuration dialog box (Workspace >Configuration).


Standards CheckingStandards CheckingMicroStation v8 2004 Edition introduces a utility, Standards Checker, that enables you to check DGN files for compliance with pre-defined standards.

The utility has the capability to check compliance with standards against a DGNLIB for usage of the following:

• Levels• Dimension Styles• Text Styles

• Multi-line Styles

Note: You can run batch checks of multiple files and directories using the Batch Process dialogbox (Utilities > Batch Process).

11


Checking for Standards ComplianceChecking for Standards Compliance


Configuration VariablesConfiguration VariablesA word on configuration variables…

Through the use of various configuration variables, it is possible to set a variety of parameters governing how DGNLIB files will behave. This ranges from setting the DGNLIB search path and deciding whether librarysource names are shown in Level Manager and Level Display to automatically synchronizing element attributes .

12


Changes to StylesChanges to StylesIf the definitions stored in a DGNLIB changes, anything placed in a DGN file prior to the change does not automatically update. To update a DGN file, there are several key-ins that may used to update the active file to match the definitions stored in a DGNLIB.

• dgnlib update all• dgnlib update levels• dgnlib update textstyles

• dgnlib update dimstyles• dgnlib update mlinestyles


Thank You for AttendingThank You for Attending

Documents

13 MicroStation v8.5 DGNLIB