Micro Station V8 I Ss 1 Essentials

MicroStation V8i Essentials
SELECTseries 1
Bentley Institute Course Guide
TRN012260-1/0002
Trademarks
AccuDraw, Bentley, the “B” Bentley logo, MDL, MicroStation and SmartLine are registered
trademarks; PopSet and Raster Manager are trademarks; Bentley SELECT is a service
mark of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or Bentley Software, Inc.
AutoCAD is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.
All ther brands and product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.
Patents
United States Patent Nos. 5,8.15,415 and 5,784,068 and 6,199,125.
Copyrights
©2000‐2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated.

MicroStation ©1998 Bentley Systems, Incorporated.
All rights reserved.
MicroStation V8i Administrator Update ii Oct-09

Copyright © 2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Table of Contents
Course Overview ____________________________________ 1

Course Description ____________________________________ 1
Target Audience_______________________________________ 1
Prerequisites _________________________________________ 1
Course Objectives _____________________________________ 1
Welcome to MicroStation ____________________________ 3

Module Overview _____________________________________ 3
Module Prerequisites __________________________________ 3
Module Objectives_____________________________________ 3
Introductory Knowledge ________________________________ 3
Questions ________________________________________ 3
Answers__________________________________________ 4
Launching MicroStation_________________________________ 4
The File Open Dialog ___________________________________ 4
Workspaces _______________________________________ 6
The Interface _________________________________________ 7
MicroStation’s menus _______________________________ 7
The status bar _____________________________________ 8
Main toolbox ______________________________________ 8
Tasks ____________________________________________ 9
The most often used tools ___________________________ 9
The tool settings window ____________________________ 12
View windows _____________________________________ 13
View controls for each view window ___________________ 13
Models___________________________________________ 13
Working with Tools ____________________________________ 16
Starting and stopping tools___________________________ 16
The Element Selection tool___________________________ 17
Module Review _______________________________________ 21
Questions ________________________________________ 21
Element Creation ___________________________________ 23

Module Overview _____________________________________ 23
Aug-09 iii Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Questions ________________________________________ 24
Answers__________________________________________ 24
Element Attributes ____________________________________ 24
Active color _______________________________________ 24
Active line style ____________________________________ 26
Active line weight __________________________________ 27
Active element transparency _________________________ 27
Active element display priority________________________ 28
Filled elements ____________________________________ 28
Level ____________________________________________ 29
Creating Elements _____________________________________ 32
Linear Tasks __________________________________________ 32
The Place SmartLine tool ____________________________ 32
Place Stream Line String _____________________________ 35
Construct Minimum Distance Line _____________________ 36
Circles Tasks__________________________________________ 36
The Place Arc tool __________________________________ 36
The Place Circle tool ________________________________ 38
Polygons Tasks ____________________________________ 39
The Place Block tool ________________________________ 40
Place Regular Polygon_______________________________ 41
Complex Chains, Shapes and Regions___________________ 42
Undo, Redo, and Delete _____________________________ 46
Element templates _________________________________ 47
Cells ________________________________________________ 48
Placing cells in designs ______________________________ 48
Placing cells that already exist in a design _______________ 49
True Scale ________________________________________ 49
Creating cells ______________________________________ 50
Replacing cells _____________________________________ 51
Line terminators ___________________________________ 52
Shared cells _______________________________________ 52
Precise Element Placement ______________________________ 53
AccuSnap_________________________________________ 53
Snap modes_______________________________________ 53
Module Review _______________________________________ 57
Questions ________________________________________ 57
Precision Input with AccuDraw ________________________ 59

Module Overview _____________________________________ 59
Questions ________________________________________ 60
Answers__________________________________________ 60
Aug-09 iv Table of Contents

Table of Contents
AccuDraw Basics ______________________________________ 60

The AccuDraw workflow _____________________________ 61
The input focus ____________________________________ 62
AccuDraw indexing _________________________________ 63
Drawing with AccuDraw ________________________________ 65
Locking coordinate values____________________________ 68
AccuDraw Shortcuts ___________________________________ 69
Often used shortcuts _______________________________ 70
Pop‐up Calculator _____________________________________ 80
Invoking and using the pop‐up calculator _______________ 80
Module Review _______________________________________ 84
Questions ________________________________________ 85
Working with Existing Elements ________________________ 87

Module Overview _____________________________________ 87
Questions ________________________________________ 88
Answers__________________________________________ 88
Basic Manipulation Tools________________________________ 88
Move Element_____________________________________ 89
Copy_____________________________________________ 89
Mirror ___________________________________________ 90
Align Elements by Edge______________________________ 93
Move to Contact ___________________________________ 94
Rotate ___________________________________________ 95
Scale ____________________________________________ 97
Move/Copy Parallel_________________________________ 98
Array ____________________________________________ 100
Working with Groups of Elements ________________________ 101
The Fence ________________________________________ 101
Named Fences_____________________________________ 108
The Element Selection tool___________________________ 109
Select All _________________________________________ 112
Graphic groups ____________________________________ 112
Named Groups ____________________________________ 113
Making Measurements _________________________________ 116
Measuring distance_________________________________ 116
Measure Length ___________________________________ 118
Measure Radius and Measure Angle ___________________ 119
Measure Area _____________________________________ 119
Using Patterns to Add Definition__________________________ 120
Hatch Area________________________________________ 120
Delete Pattern_____________________________________ 122
Crosshatch Area ___________________________________ 122
Aug-09 v Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Associative patterning_______________________________123
Pattern Area ______________________________________124
Module Review _______________________________________127
Questions_________________________________________127
Modifying Existing Elements __________________________ 129

Module Overview______________________________________129
Module Prerequisites___________________________________129
Module Objectives _____________________________________129
Introductory Knowledge ________________________________129
Questions_________________________________________130
Answers __________________________________________130
Basic Modification tools_________________________________130
Modify Element ____________________________________131
Partial Delete______________________________________134
Break Element _____________________________________134
Extend ___________________________________________134
Extend to Element __________________________________135
Extend to Intersection_______________________________135
Trim Multiple______________________________________137
IntelliTrim ________________________________________138
Construct Circular Fillet______________________________139
Construct Chamfer _________________________________139
Changing Element Attributes_____________________________143
Using Element Selection _____________________________143
Using Element Information ___________________________144
Change Attributes toolbox ___________________________145
Module Review _______________________________________147
Questions_________________________________________147
Annotating Designs __________________________________ 151

Module Overview______________________________________151
Questions_________________________________________152
Answers __________________________________________152
Text Attributes ________________________________________152
Fonts ____________________________________________152
Justification _______________________________________153
Text size __________________________________________153
Line spacing _______________________________________153
Setting attributes___________________________________153
Using Text Tools _______________________________________154
Place text _________________________________________154
Placement methods ________________________________155
Table of Contents vi Aug-09

Other placement options ____________________________156
Annotation scale ___________________________________158
Place Note ________________________________________159
Enter data fields ___________________________________160
Copy/Increment Text _______________________________162
Find/Replace Text __________________________________162
Changing Existing Text __________________________________163
Edit Text__________________________________________163
Matching and changing text __________________________164
Text Fields ___________________________________________164
The Spell Checker______________________________________167
Revision Clouds _______________________________________167
Dimensions___________________________________________168
Dimensioning tools _________________________________169
Element Dimensioning ______________________________169
Alignment ________________________________________172
Association _______________________________________172
Linear dimensioning ________________________________174
Angular dimensioning _______________________________177
Ordinate dimensioning ______________________________178
Modifying existing dimensions ________________________178
Change Dimension__________________________________178
Dimension Audit ___________________________________180
Module Review _______________________________________180
Questions_________________________________________181
MicroStation Design Files _____________________________ 183

Module Overview______________________________________183
Questions_________________________________________184
Answers __________________________________________184
MicroStation Design Files _______________________________184
Closing Files _______________________________________184
Saving information _________________________________185
Creating a MicroStation design file_____________________185
Seed files _________________________________________186
Working with Files _____________________________________187
Setting working units________________________________187
Compressing files __________________________________189
Saved Views __________________________________________189
Ending a MicroStation Session____________________________192
Save Settings ______________________________________192
Module Review _______________________________________193
Questions_________________________________________193
Aug-09 vii Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Organizing Design Data _______________________________ 195

Module Overview______________________________________195
Questions_________________________________________196
Answers __________________________________________196
References ___________________________________________196
Attaching references ________________________________197
Attachment settings ________________________________198
Updating reference elements _________________________199
Manipulating references _____________________________200
Reference exchange and activation ____________________201
Reference levels ___________________________________202
Transparency and priority ____________________________202
Detaching references _______________________________203
Reference nesting __________________________________203
Resolving different working units ______________________205
Models ______________________________________________209
Types of models ___________________________________210
Creating models ___________________________________210
Drawing composition using models ____________________211
View composition __________________________________215
Clipping referenced models __________________________215
Publishing i‐models _________________________________218
Raster References _____________________________________220
Attachment settings ________________________________222
Attaching PDF Documents _______________________________224
Module Review _______________________________________225
Questions_________________________________________225
Organizing Project Data ______________________________ 227

Module Overview______________________________________227
Questions_________________________________________227
Answers __________________________________________228
Project Explorer _______________________________________228
Linking project files to elements _______________________230
Link properties_____________________________________230
Validating links ____________________________________231
Module Review _______________________________________231
Questions_________________________________________231
Creating Printed Output ______________________________ 233
Table of Contents viii Aug-09

Module Overview______________________________________233
Questions_________________________________________233
Answers __________________________________________234
Printing Basics ________________________________________234
Selecting the print area ______________________________234
Setting the output color mode ________________________235
Selecting a printer __________________________________236
Setting the printing parameters _______________________237
Attaching pen tables ________________________________240
Previewing the printed output ________________________240
Creating the print __________________________________241
Creating Complete Scaled Sheets _________________________242
Working with borders _______________________________242
Using a 1:1 scale border _____________________________243
Scaling a border to fit elements _______________________246
Module Review _______________________________________248
Questions_________________________________________248
Module Review Answers _____________________________ 249

Welcome to MicroStation _______________________________249
Questions_________________________________________249
Answers __________________________________________249
Element Creation ______________________________________249
Questions_________________________________________249
Answers __________________________________________250
Precision Input with AccuDraw ___________________________250
Questions_________________________________________250
Answers __________________________________________250
Working with Existing Elements __________________________251
Questions_________________________________________251
Answers __________________________________________251
Modifying Existing Elements _____________________________251
Questions_________________________________________252
Answers __________________________________________252
Annotating Designs ____________________________________252
Questions_________________________________________252
Answers __________________________________________253
MicroStation Design Files _______________________________253
Questions_________________________________________253
Answers __________________________________________253
Organizing Design Data _________________________________254
Questions_________________________________________254
Answers __________________________________________254
Aug-09 ix Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Organizing Project Data _________________________________255

Questions_________________________________________255
Answers __________________________________________255
Creating Printed Output ________________________________256
Questions_________________________________________256
Answers __________________________________________256
Design Labs ________________________________________ 259

What to Design _______________________________________259
Parameters _______________________________________260
How to Design ________________________________________261
Review the Design _____________________________________262
What to Design _______________________________________262
How to design _____________________________________262
Table of Contents x Aug-09

Course Overview
Course Description
This course is designed to teach a 2D production drafter how to use MicroStation
software to create quality designs. You will learn to use MicroStation’s tools and
features to create designs, manipulate and modify elements, assemble project
data, and create printed output.
Target Audience
This course is recommended for the following audience(s):
• Individuals who are learning how to use MicroStation for the first time
• Those who are moving to MicroStation from another CAD application
Prerequisites
• Fundamental knowledge of the Microsoft Windows operating system
Course Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
• Create and edit files that contain elements such as lines, circles, and polygons
• Manipulate and modify existing elements
• Annotate designs
• Organize design data
• Print
Aug-09 1 Course Overview

Course Objectives
Course Overview 2 Aug-09

Welcome to MicroStation
Module Overview
This module will help a new MicroStation user become familiar with the tools and
features found in the MicroStation design environment.
Module Prerequisites
Module Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to:
• Identify features in MicroStation’s interface
• Use basic mouse functions with MicroStation
• Create new files and open existing files
• Save file settings
• End a MicroStation session
Introductory Knowledge
Before you begin this module, let's define what you already know.
Questions
1 Provide a definition of computer‐aided design.
Aug-09 3 Welcome to MicroStation

Launching MicroStation
2 Name three simple graphical elements that you might use to create a
computer aided design.
3 Describe the basic parts of an engineering design.
Answers
1 The term CAD defines a system that a designer/drafter/engineer can use
for both designing a product and for specifying the construction
processes.
2 Lines, circles, arcs, polygons.
3 A border and graphics that make up the design.
Launching MicroStation
You can launch MicroStation using one of the following methods:
Select the Bentley program group from the Windows Start menu (Start >
Programs > Bentley), then select the MicroStation item (MicroStation V8i >
Bentley MicroStation V8i)
• Double click the MicroStation icon on the desktop
• Double click the icon of a .dgn file in Windows Explorer
• The default installation location on Windows XP is \Documents and
Settings\All Users\Application Data\bentley\MicroStation.
• On Windows Vista, the location is \programdata\Bentley\.
The File Open Dialog

When you launch MicroStation, the File Open dialog appears. Its primary function
is navigating to and opening design files.
To list a specific type of file, click on the arrow next to the Files of type field in the
lower portion of the dialog. A list of all available file types will be displayed. When
you select a specific file type, the files listed above will only contain those that
have the selected extension.
Welcome to MicroStation 4 Aug-09

The functionality you associate with native Windows file selection dialogs is
available. For example, you can right click on listed files to rename and delete
them, create sub‐folders, display file sizes, types, and modification dates, and
change the file list sorting order.
The preview window on the right side displays a thumbnail image of the selected
file if one is available. Information about the selected file appears above the
preview window. The preview window information indicates whether a DGN file is
2D or 3D, and indicates the MicroStation version with which the file is compatible.
The file format version displays for AutoCAD files.
If the file is from an earlier MicroStation version, a thumbnail is not displayed.
Thumbnail images are generally available for MicroStation V8 generation files and
for later versions of the .dwg file format.
Thumbnail File Association
V8 generation DGN files and later revisions of .dwg files
V8 generation DGN files and later revisions of .dwg files, when a

thumbnail is not available.
MicroStation/J and older versions of MicroStation
Older DWG versions
Check the “Open as read‐only” check box at the bottom of the dialog so that files
will open in a read‐only mode for viewing and printing. This protects you from
accidentally modifying a file.

Workspaces
A workspace is a custom MicroStation configuration that is set up by an

administrator. By selecting a workspace, you customize MicroStation for a specific
discipline, project, or task.
MicroStation is delivered with a sample workspace containing example files,

which show many MicroStation features. When a workspace is active, the files
and tools you need to perform specific design work are available. Tools that are
not necessary are removed from the interface.
To select a workspace, set the desired User and Project in the File Open dialog.
 Exercise: Select a Workspace

1 Launch MicroStation.
2 At the lower right of the File Open dialog, change the User from untitled
to examples.
3 Change the Project to General.
4 Click on the file named MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn.
5 Click Open.
MicroStation can take advantage of the hyper‐threading capability of
multi‐core or multi‐processor systems by processing graphics in a separate
thread. Because MicroStation may perform better with hyperthreading
disabled, you will be notified upon startup if hyperthreading is enabled on
your system.
6 If the hyperthreading notification appears, check the “Do not display
again” check box and click OK.
You see the MicroStation application window, containing a visual “index”
of the design file.

The Interface
The Interface
Main menu bar
Attributes toolbox Primary Tools toolbox
Main toolbox
View Control toolbox
Tasks dialog
Tool settings
View Groups dialog

AccuDraw window
Status bar
MicroStation’s menus
The main menu bar is located along the top of the MicroStation application
window. It one of the main sources of commands for controlling MicroStation’s
operation.
As you select each menu, a list of menu items appears. Each menu item initiates
an operation directly, or opens a dialog where you can further define the desired
operation.

The Interface
If you are looking for a specific tool to use, select Tools from the main menu bar.
The resulting menu shows most tools available in MicroStation.
If you need to adjust design file settings, select Settings from the main menu bar
and then look for, and select, Design File. In this course, this is described as “select
Settings > Design File”.
The status bar
The status bar is an important part of the MicroStation user interface since it
provides a view into MicroStation’s operation. MicroStation continually displays
information about its operation in the status bar. Messages include the following
the current tool in use and the next step in its use, information about the previous
action, the status of certain features.
Click on different tools in the Main toolbox and the Tasks dialog and watch as the
messages at the left of the status bar change. The name of the tool is displayed
followed by a prompt that instructs you how to start using the tool.
Moving to the right in the status bar, you will find the Message Center.
Informational message
Click on the message, or in the blank area if there is no message, to open the
Message Center dialog. It lets you review informational and other types of
messages. In certain cases, an icon indicating the message type displays.
Main toolbox
The Main toolbox is used to invoke selection, manipulation, modification, and
measuring tools.
When you press and hold the mouse’s left button, the data button, on a tool in
the Main toolbox, you see a menu that gives you access to all the tools in that
toolbox.

The Interface
You can open an individual toolbox by doing this and selecting Open ‘name’ as
ToolBox from the pop‐up menu. You can then place, or dock, the toolbox in a
convenient location on the screen. The Element Selection and Delete Element
tools do not have an associated toolbox.
You can customize MicroStation toolboxes once they are open. Right click on a
tool in the box to display a list of the tools available in the toolbox. If you click one
that was unchecked, it will appear in the toolbox.
Tasks
A task is simply a logical grouping of tools organized by use. Tasks can contain
overlapping sets of tools. For example, a Drawing task and Drawing Composition
task can both contain the same text placement tools.
Tools found in the Tasks dialog on the left side of the application window are used
to put elements into designs. MicroStation provides default task lists for Drawing
and Drawing Composition. Click Tasks at the top of the Tasks dialog to see the
available tasks. When you select a task from the list, the tasks and tool icons
underneath the Main toolbox change.
The most often used tools
The following list separates commonly used MicroStation tools into four basic
categories used in 2D production drafting.

The Interface
Creation tools (from the Tasks dialog)

• Place SmartLine
• Place Circle
• Place Arc
• Place Block
• Place Cell
• Place Text
• Place Dimension
• Hatch/Pattern Area
Manipulation tools (from the Main toolbox)

• Copy/Move
• Scale
• Rotate
• Mirror
• Array
• Align
• Copy Parallel (offset)
• Stretch
• Move to Contact
Modification tools (from the Main toolbox)

• Modify
• Extend Element(s) to Intersection
• Trim Element
• Add/Delete Vertex
Miscellaneous tools
• Element Selection/Fence
• Match/Change Element Attributes
• Measure
• Delete

The Interface
• Reference tools
• Print
Keyboard navigation
Tools can be invoked using the mouse and clicking on the tool, or by using
keyboard navigation as tools are mapped to the keyboard.
In this system, the top level is called “home”. Look for the home icon in the right
side of the status bar. If it is not there, press the Esc key on the keyboard. Then,
from “home”, press the keyboard key that corresponds to the tool you want to
use. The following image shows the tools to which the number keys are mapped.
When accessing tools in the Main toolbox, you use a combination of keys.
Pressing 3 will open a pop‐up menu listing the Manipulate tasks. Press 3 again to
activate the tool that is in the third position, Scale, or press 3 then 9 to Move
Parallel. Press 7 for the Modify tools, then 3 to Break or 7 to Trim.
 Exercise: Access a tool using keyboard navigation

1 Continuing in MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn, look at the right side of
the status bar for the home icon.
2 If it is not active, press the Esc key on the keyboard.

The Interface
3 Press 3.
This key is mapped to the Manipulate tools.
4 Take note of the menu that pops up at the pointer’s location.
It contains all of the manipulation tools. You can select them from this
menu or by clicking the tool that is in the third position in the Main
toolbox and holding the mouse button down.
5 Press 3 again.
Note the tool settings window that floats in the view. It has changed and
now shows the settings available for the Scale tool.
The tool settings window
Most tools have options to control their operation. These appear in the tool
settings window. This window is open by default upon start‐up. If you close the
tool settings window, new tool settings will automatically appear when you select
the next tool.
Hint: Check the tool settings window and the status bar to see which tool is active.
 Exercise: Navigating tasks

1 Continuing in MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn, in the Tasks dialog, click
the arrow next to Tasks at the upper left of the application window to
open the task list.
2 Select the Drawing Composition task.

The tasks in the dialog change.
3 Click the Drawing task at the top of the dialog.
4 With focus at home, press W then 1 to invoke the Place Block tool.
You see in the tool settings and the status bar that the tool is active.
5 Reopen the task list.

The Interface
6 Click on the + preceding Annotate in the list.

7 Click on Measure.
Now the tools that belong to the Measure task occupy the Tasks dialog.
Now only a single key press is needed. Just press the letter that
corresponds to the tool you want to use.
8 Press Q.
As you see in the tool settings and the status bar, the Measure Distance
tool is active.
9 Reopen the task list and select the Drawing task so those tools occupy the
Tasks dialog again.
View windows
In MicroStation, the space in which you draw is a view window. You can open
more than one view window to aid in the design process. View windows are
resizable, moveable, and collapsible. You can open as many as eight views at any
time. The reason for eight view windows is so you can view more than one
portion of a design at one time.
View controls for each view window
To control the content of a view window, each one has its own set of view
controls. View controls let you change the contents of one view without affecting
the contents of any other view. The view toolbox is located at the top left of each
open view window.
Models
A model is a separate working space within a design file.
MicroStation design files can contain multiple models. They are equivalent to
worksheets in Excel. Worksheets are independent numerical spaces, and models
are independent graphical spaces. Think of a model as a separate design within a
design file.

The Interface
 Exercise: Open the model for the next exercise

1 Continuing in MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn, click the arrow next to the
Models tool in the Primary tools toolbox.
A pop‐up dialog opens.

2 Scroll to, and then double click on the model named Welcome to
MicroStation.
You see graphic representing the Earth.
 Exercise: Open and close views

1 Continuing in the Welcome model, click Window on the main menu bar.
2 Hold the pointer over the Views item.
3 Move the pointer to the right and select 2 from the sub‐menu (Window >
Views > 2).
This opens a new view window named View 2.
You can also open view windows using the numbered buttons in the View
Groups dialog, which is at the lower left of the application window.
4 Click the 8 button.

This opens View 8.
5 Click the 2 and 8 buttons to close the views.
Closing all the view windows in a file is not the same as closing the file. You have
closed all of the design windows, but the file is still open. The title bar at the top
of the MicroStation application window displays the name of the open file.
 Exercise: Use the view controls

1 From the top of View 1, select Zoom In.
The shape of the zoom rectangle is proportional to the view window from
which the tool was selected.
2 Move the zoom rectangle to center on the Southern tip of South America
and enter a data point.

The Interface
3 Change the Zoom Ratio by entering 3.0 in the Zoom Ratio field in the tool
settings.
Now you will zoom further in or out each time. You can change this ratio
any time you use the Zoom tools.
4 Zoom in again by entering another data point at the Southern tip of South
America.
5 Keep zooming in on the dot just visible off the tip of South America until
you can see what it is.
6 Press the right mouse button to end the Zoom In command.

7 Click OK in the First Reset dialog.
During your first session, the first time you press the right mouse button,
the First Reset dialog opens. This dialog is used to specify your preferred
technique for opening a menu called the Reset pop‐up menu. Because a
right mouse click is frequently used, the default selection is
recommended.
You can use view controls from one view in another view.
8 Click the 2 button in the View Groups dialog to open the view again.

Working with Tools
9 Select Fit View from View 2’s view controls.
Now you can see all the elements in the file.

10 Enter a data point in View 1.
You see all the elements in the view again.
11 Click the 2 button in the View Groups dialog to close the view.
12 Save Settings from the File menu on the main menu bar (File > Save
Settings).
You must explicitly save the arrangement of views on the screen and the portion
of the design they display. To do this, select Save Settings from the File menu on
the main menu bar, or press Ctrl + F. When you make changes to many settings
that you want to permanently store, you must save them this way.
Working with Tools

Working with most MicroStation tools consists of the following steps:
1. Select a tool.
2. Adjust the tool settings.
3. Follow the status bar prompts and use the tool.
Starting and stopping tools
The mouse is the primary input device for MicroStation’s graphic user interface.
Data points to confirm
When working with MicroStation’s tools, a left mouse button, or data button,
click is referred to as entering a data point. The data button is used to select tools
and menu items. It is also used to enter points, to place or manipulate elements in
the design, and to confirm input. Consider this the Yes button. “Yes, I want to
select this tool” or “Yes, I want to enter a point here”.

Working with Tools
Reset functions
When working with MicroStation’s tools, a right mouse click is called a reset. You
use a reset to back up a step during an operation or to end an operation. You can
consider this the “No” button.
The reset button is used to perform the following functions:

• It returns you to the previous operational step
• It resumes the last drawing or editing operation after using a view control
• It rejects the currently selected element and cycles between eligible elements
within the location tolerance of the pointer.
The Element Selection tool
Element Selection is a tool for selecting objects from a design file. MicroStation
defaults to the Element Selection tool whenever no other tool has been chosen. It
is first in the Main toolbox.
Element Selection is a very versatile tool. Not only can you use it to select
elements, you can also use the tool to modify and group elements.
 Exercise: Getting information about elements

1 Continuing in the Welcome model, click the Element Selection tool in the
Main toolbox (or, press 1).
2 Set the following tool settings:
Method: Individual
Mode: New
3 Move the pointer over elements in the design.

The highlighting turns off as you move the pointer away from an element.
As you move over elements, they highlight. If you enter a data point when
an element is highlighted, it will be selected.

Working with Tools
The pop‐up information that displays will help you to identify the type of
element.
AccuSnap
The pop‐up information is a feature of AccuSnap.When this feature is on, and the
pointer is near an element, AccuSnap displays information about the element.
AccuSnap’s main function is to help you select precise locations in a design, such
as the end of a line or the center of a circle. This operation is called snapping.
With AccuSnap all you do is move the pointer close enough to the point to which
you wish to snap. AccuSnap moves to the snap point and stays there until you
move away. A successful snap using AccuSnap places a bold, yellow X on the snap
point. The next data point you enter will be placed at precisely that spot.
AccuSnap snapped to the center of the circle
In the next exercises, you will use tools and the mouse to experiment with the
way the African and South American continents may have looked during the
Jurassic period.
 Exercise: The reset button’s first function, confirming input

1 Continuing in the Welcome model, move the pointer until it touches a
portion of the African continent, press the data point button, and continue
to hold it down.
MicroStation responds by displaying handles around the continent.

Working with Tools
2 While holding the data point button down, drag the continent over until it
touches South America.
You see that it must be rotated to fit correctly. To do this, you’ll need to
choose a drawing tool.
3 In the Main tool frame, click the Copy tool. press until the menu opens,
and then select Rotate.
Or, press 3 + 4 on the keyboard.

4 In the tool settings, click the downward arrow next to Method and select 2
Points.
5 Make sure the Copies check box is not checked.
You want to rotate the original element, not a copy.

6 Returning to the map, move the pointer between the South American east
coast and the newly relocated Africa. Enter a data point.
This is the pivot point of rotation. MicroStation responds by putting Africa
into a dynamic rotation mode. As you move the pointer, the continent
spins to follow it.

Working with Tools
7 Spin Africa around until it fits against South America.

8 Enter a data point to lock the spun continent into place.
The data point confirms that this location in which you want to place the
element.
If you move the pointer, you see that MicroStation keeps Africa in its spin
mode so you can still change the rotation.
9 Press the Reset button on the mouse.
Even though the element no longer spins, the tool settings still indicate
that the Rotate tool is active. Reset does not cancel a tool; it resets it to
the previous operational step.
In MicroStation, once a tool has been selected it is active until another
tool is selected or you reset out of it.
10 Reset again.
You return to the Element Selection tool.
11 Click Clear in the tool settings to release the continent.
 Exercise: The reset button’s second and third functions

1 Note the direction indicator at the bottom of the design.
The North arrow must be rotated.
2 Select Rotate from the Main toolbox.
3 In the Rotate tool settings, set the Method to Active Angle.

4 In the field below that, replace the zeros with 45 and press Enter.
You are ready to rotate, but it will be easier to see if you are closer.
5 Select Zoom In from the view controls and zoom in on the direction
indicator.
6 Reset.
You return to the Rotate tool. Returning to the original drawing tool after
using a view control is the second reset function. When you select and use

Module Review
a view control tool, just remember to click the reset button after you finish
adjusting the view.
7 Place the pointer in the center of the direction indicator.
One of the indicators highlights. It was placed in the file last. However, you
don’t want this one.
8 Reset until the N indicator highlights.

9 Enter a data point.
MicroStation cycles through the elements inside of the locate tolerance.

The locate tolerance is how close the pointer must be to an element in
order to recognize it. No matter how many elements are within the locate
tolerance, MicroStation will cycle through them all until you select one or
until you stop the command. This is the reset button’s third function.
Module Review
Now that you have completed this module, let’s measure what you have learned.
Questions
1 How do you open files using a Workspace?
2 Identify four elements of MicroStation’s interface.
3 Where must focus be to use task navigation and keyboard mapping?
4 True or False: View controls can only be applied to the view from which
the tool was chosen.

Module Review

Element Creation
Module Overview
This module presents frequently used element creation tools, and provides
instructions for their use in adding elements to your designs.
• Knowledge of MicroStation’s interface
• Some knowledge about MicroStation design elements
• Knowledge about viewing in MicroStation
• Knowledge about AccuDraw
• Knowledge about element attributes
Module Objectives
• Add elements to designs
• Determine which tool is best for a particular task
• Apply knowledge about familiar tools to new tools
Aug-09 23 Element Creation

Element Attributes
Questions
1 What is snapping?
2 Working with most MicroStation tools consists of a series of steps. What
are they?
Answers
1 Snapping let you select specific points, such as an end point, mid point,
center point or intersection with precision.
2 Select a tool.
Adjust the tool settings.
Follow the status bar prompts and use the tool.
Element Attributes
When placing new elements in a design file, they are assigned specific attributes
that control their appearance and display properties. These attributes are
typically set prior to placing the element in the design. They can also be changed
later.
Common element attributes are Level, Color, Line Style, Weight, Transparency and
Display Priority. All of these are set in the Attributes toolbox.
Active color
The active color specifies the color with which new elements will be placed.
Element Creation 24 Aug-09

Element Attributes
When you select the color tool in the Attributes toolbox you see a dialog that has
three tabs; Indexed, True Color and Color Book.
• The first tab is the Indexed Color tab. It lets you select a color from a table of
256 colors. Each color in the table can be modified, or you can change the
available colors by attaching a different color table to the design file. These
colors are not named. They are identified by number.
• The second tab lets you select a color based upon true color values.
• The third tab is the Color Book tab. There are four types of color books;
Standard, PANTONE, RAL and User Defined.
• A fourth tab is available when using a tool that creates a closed element
because they can be filled with color. This tab becomes usable when the Fill
Color option is set in a tool’s tool settings.
Identifying an existing element’s color
There are several ways to do this.
 Exercise: Identify element color

1 Continuing in MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn, click the Models tool in
the Primary tools toolbox and double click on the Element Creation,
Essentials geometry, model to open it.
Model name and description

Element Attributes
2 Select the Element Selection tool.

3 Click on the (yellow) boundary around the geography to select it.
The boundary highlights
4 Click the arrow at the bottom right of the Element Selection tool settings
to expand them.
5 Click the color tab.
The color, or colors, that are highlighted at the top of the tab are the colors
of any selected elements.
6 Click the Element Information tool in the Primary Tools tool bar.
7 The word <Selection> is highlighted.

In the General section, you see properties of all elements presently
selected. The element color is on the Color line. If you click the individual
entries under <Selection> you will see information about that specific
element. The element will highlight in the view when you click the entry.
8 Close the Element Information dialog.
9 In the Element Selection tool settings, click Clear to release the boundary.
Active line style
The active line style specifies the line style with which new elements will be
placed.

Element Attributes
MicroStation has two classifications of line styles. The eight standard line styles
are numbered 0 ‐ 7. There are also custom, user defined, line styles.
• The standard line styles range from solid to dot‐dash combinations. These line
styles are cosmetic, and are defined in screen units. They do not change size
when you Zoom In or Zoom Out, so no scale is associated with them.
• Custom line styles are defined in design units. These line styles are physical,
and are scalable. They become larger or smaller when you Zoom In or Zoom
Out.
Note: There is also support for DWG based line styles, or Linetypes.
Active line weight
The active line weight specifies the line weight with which new elements will be
placed.
The active line weight is a value between 0 ‐ 31 that is assigned to an element to

define its thickness. MicroStation’s line weights are defined in screen units, and
remain static as the zoom factor changes.
Active element transparency
Transparency is also an element attribute that can be set for elements in the
Attributes toolbox, just like color, style, or weight.
Set transparency for elements from 0, fully visible, to 100, not visible. The display
of transparency in a view is controlled in the View Attributes dialog.
View Attributes
Use View Attributes to change the way you view a design by selecting the types of
elements that are displayed or how some elements appear. To open the View
Attributes dialog, either select Settings > View Attributes, click the first tool in the
view toolbox, or press Ctrl + B.

Element Attributes
Hint: Remember, press Ctrl + B for better viewing. When you do this, the dialog will
open with the view number set to the view window that has the focus.
Active element display priority
Another element attribute that can be set in the Attributes toolbox is display
priority.
Display priority is a pre‐set value, between ‐500 and 500, that determines how an
element is displayed relative to other elements.
The elements with the highest values are placed in front while those with lower
priorities are placed in the back. Element priority is only available in 2D models.
Priority is for 2D, since priority corresponds to the Z value in a 3D model.
Filled elements
A filled element is an element that has color within its boundaries, as opposed to
being displayed as just an outline.
The Fill attribute applies only to closed elements such as circles, ellipses, and
shapes. By default, a closed element has lines that define the area occupied by
the element and the area inside the outline is transparent. A closed element is
filled when the area within the outline is a solid color.
Unfilled and Filled elements
Creating fill
The element’s fill color is determined by the Fill Color set in the tool settings at
time of an element’s placement.
The Fill Type option determines the kind of fill.

• When an element’s Fill Type is Opaque, you see a solid shape. In this case, the
lines defining the element are not discernible since the fill has the same color.

Element Attributes
• When an element’s Fill Type is Outlined you can select a fill color that is
different from the outline color.
Toggle fill display, just like transparency, in the View Attributes dialog.
 Exercise: Toggle fill display

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, press Ctrl + B.
2 In the View Attributes dialog, click the Fill icon.
The shading inside the parks and waterways disappears.

3 Close the View Attributes dialog.
Note: You must select File > Save Settings before leaving a file to preserve the status
of fill display.
Level
You need to place the correct types of elements on the correct level, as
determined by your organization’s standards. For example, in mapping, levels
would be named to describe common features such as boundaries or lot lines.
Elements that represent these features would then be placed on the respective
level.
The active level is the level on which new elements will be placed. You can change
the active level in the Attributes toolbox and in dialogs for working with levels.
The display of elements residing on particular levels can be turned on and off so
you can see only the information you want to see. Turning levels on or off only
changes the display status of the elements that reside on the levels.
Note: You must select File > Save Settings before leaving a file to retain the active
level.

Element Attributes
 Exercise: Set the active level, toggle level display

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, click the Level Display tool in
the Primary Tools toolbox.
Like the View Attributes dialog, level display is per view. The view to which
any changes will be applied is in the dialog’s title bar.
The active, or current, level is has a different background. Any new
element you place will be placed on the active level.
2 Change the Active Level by double clicking another level.

You see the level name change up in the Attributes toolbox.
3 Click the level Boundary.
Display of elements on the level turns off. Only the active level cannot be
turned off.
4 Click the name again to turn display of elements on the level back on.
Hint: You can make a level whose elements you want to see the active level and then
right click in the list of levels and select All Off so you only see the desired
elements. Use the Invert command to turn undisplayed levels on and displayed
levels off.
In the Level Display dialog, click the column headings to sort the levels by name.
The used column contains a dot if there are elements in it. Click that column to
sort the levels by use.
Moving elements between levels
You may find that you don’t always create elements on the right level, so you may
spend time moving elements between levels. Just as you might change an
element’s color or weight, you can also change its assigned level.
 Exercise: Move elements to another level

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, move the pointer over the
North Arrow at the bottom of the view.
The pop‐up information indicates that it is on the level named Title.

Element Attributes
2 Select Element Selection, with the following tool settings:

Method: Individual
Mode: New
3 Click on the North arrow.

4 In the Attributes toolbox, select Direction from the list of levels to make it
the active level.
5 In the Element Selection tool settings, click Clear to release the elements.
6 Move the pointer over the North Arrow and note the level.
Hint: You can also use the Level tab in the Element Selection tool settings to select
elements on a level and then make the level to which you want to move them
active in the Attributes toolbox.
ByLevel symbology
Rather than placing design elements with the active element attributes, you can
place them with symbology settings inherited from the level upon which they are
placed. This is called ByLevel symbology.
When elements are placed with the ByLevel attributes and the level symbology
definitions are changed, the elements reflect the changes. These symbology
settings are managed by an administrator in the Level Manager dialog.
Placing elements in the design file with ByLevel symbology requires the active
color, weight and style to be set to ByLevel in the Attributes toolbox. To set the
active color, weight or style to ByLevel, select the ByLevel option when you click
the attribute’s tool.
ByLevel options for color and weight

Creating Elements
Creating Elements
Most of the tools in the Tasks dialog add new elements to a model. Although
elements may vary, the placement tools generally require the usual series of
steps.
1. Select a tool.
Linear Tasks
These tools are used to place linear elements. Open the Linear toolbox from the
Tasks dialog or by pressing Q when focus is at home.
The Place SmartLine tool
The most versatile of the linear tools is the Place SmartLine tool. Found in the
Linear tasks, use this tool to place a chain of connected line and arc segments as
individual elements or as a single line string, shape, circle, complex chain, or
complex shape element.
Place SmartLine lets you create six different element types.
Line, Line String, Shape, Arc, Complex chain, Complex shape
 Exercise: Use Place SmartLine to extend a trail

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, set the following in the
Attributes toolbox:

Linear Tasks
Level: Trail‐Paved
Color, style, and weight are set to ByLevel, and they change accordingly.
2 In the Level display dialog, right click in the list of levels and select All Off
to turn all levels off.
3 Turn on the following levels:
Arterials
river_lake_canal
Hint: You can click the Name column heading to sort the levels by name. You
can also drag the column heading to resize the columns.
4 Zoom In on the area indicated.
5 Select Place SmartLine with the following tool settings:

Segment Type: Lines
Vertex Type: Sharp
Join Elements: Disabled
When Join Elements is disabled, an independent line segment is formed
every time you enter a data point.

Linear Tasks
6 Enter data points, following the roadway, connecting the trail as shown.
7 If you move the pointer over your work, the pop‐up information shows
you that the resulting elements are lines.
8 Select Edit > Undo Place SmartLine.
9 In the Place SmartLine tool settings, enable the Join Elements check box.
10 Reconnect the trail.
11 Move the pointer over your work.
Note: If you enter a data point and place an incorrect vertex, press Ctrl + Z or select
Edit > Undo and then resume entering data points.
In the next exercise, you will connect two roadways.
 Exercise: Use Place SmartLine to create a connector road

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, make the level Arterials the
active level in the Attributes toolbox:
Color, Weight and Style are set to ByLevel

Linear Tasks
Segment Type: Arcs

Vertex Type: Rounded
Join Elements: Enabled
3 Snap to the end of the existing road on the right
4 Noting the status bar prompt, move the pointer to the left, and enter a
data point half way between the two roads.
This is the arc’s center.

5 Sweep the arc around counterclockwise, and snap to the road on the left
to connect.
6 Reset.
Place Stream Line String
Use this tool to trace images when digitizing. You can define many vertices
without entering many individual data points.
To use it, select the tool, enter a data point to define the origin, and then move
the pointer. A stream of data points is placed without entering a data point. Reset
to end the line string.

Circles Tasks
Construct Minimum Distance Line
Use this tool to construct a line between two elements at their closest points.
To use it, select the tool, enter a data point to identify the first element and then
another to identify the second element. Enter a data point to accept.
Circles Tasks
Use these tools to place ellipses, including circles and arcs. Open the Circles
toolbox from the Tasks dialog by pressing E when focus is at home.
The Place Arc tool
The Place Arc tool is used to place a circular arc in either a clockwise or counter‐
clockwise direction.
There are three methods by which to place arcs.

• Using Start, Center the arc is constructed by identifying its start point,
identifying a center point, and then the sweep angle and direction.
• Using Center, Start the arc is constructed by identifying the point you want at
the center, then its start point, and then the sweep angle and direction.
• Using Start, Mid, End the arc is constructed by entering three data points
defining its start, a middle, and end.

Circles Tasks
• Using Start, End, Mid the arc is constructed by entering three data points
defining its start, end, and the middle.
 Exercise: Place arcs to complete the field

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, open View 8 and make the
level Sports the active level.
2 Select Place Arc, with the following tool settings:
Method: Start, End, Mid
The status bar prompts you to identify the start of the arc.
3 Snap to the dugout on the left and enter a data point.
4 Snap to the other dugout and enter a data point.
You have now identified the start and end of the arc. Guide lines appear.
5 Move the pointer to a location between the start and end.

Circles Tasks
When the guideline x is in the area where home place should be, enter a
data point.
6 Reset.
The Place Circle tool
Circles can be placed using different methods. Since a circle is a closed object, it
can be filled with a solid color or a gradient of colors.
There are three methods by which to place circles.

• Position them by defining their Center and then create the circle dynamically.
When you do this, you can see the diameter change dynamically in the tool
settings’ Diameter field.
• Position them by Edge, defining three points on the circumference. After you
enter the second data point, a guide line appears and you can see the size
dynamically. You can also see the diameter change dynamically in the tool
settings’ Diameter field.
• Using the Diameter Method, you use two data points to establish the
diameter dynamically.
You can place a circle by diameter another way. Enable the Diameter check box
and type the diameter into the input field. Use the Center Method and enter one
data point to place the circle, o, use the Edge Method and two data points.
 Exercise: Use the Place Circle to create bases

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, select Place Circle, with the
following tool settings:

Circles Tasks
Method: Center
Diameter: Enabled and type 8 in the input field
2 Snap to each corner of the field and enter a data point.
3 When you are done, close View 8.
Polygons Tasks
These tools let you create a variety of planar shapes.
Open the Polygons toolbox from the Tasks dialog or by pressing W when focus is
at home.
Place Block and Place Regular Polygon are the most useful of these tools as the
Place SmartLine tool can produce the same geometry as Place Shape and Place
Orthogonal Shape. Since polygons are closed elements, they can be filled with
color.
 Exercise: Turn on levels and rotate the view

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, in the Level Display dialog, turn
on all levels.
2 Turn Fill back on in the Attributes dialog.
3 Fit View and then select File > Save Settings from the main menu bar so
the view will be the same the next time you enter the model.
4 Zoom In to the area indicated.
5 Select Rotate View, with the following tool setting:

Method: 2 Points
6 Snap to the upper right corner of the golf club and enter a data point.

Circles Tasks
7 Snap to the lower right corner and enter a data point.
Upper and lower right corners
The view rotates, aligned with the golf club.
The Place Block tool
Place Block places a rectangular shape.
Using the Orthogonal method, the block is orthogonal to the view in which the
first data point is entered. Using the Rotated method, orientation is defined with a
data point.
 Exercise: Use Place Block to enlarge the golf club

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, with the pointer over the golf
club, press the Alt key and left click to set the active attributes to those of
the element.
Note the change in the Attributes toolbox.
2 Select Place Block from the Tasks dialog.
You see that the attributes in the tool settings are set correctly from the
match operation.
3 Set the following tool setting:
Method: Orthogonal
4 Following the status bar prompt, AccuSnap to the upper left corner of the
golf club and enter a data point.
5 Move the pointer upward and note the AccuDraw window at the bottom
of the application window.

Circles Tasks
As the pointer moves, the values in the X and Y fields changes.

6 Type 300 into the Y field.
7 Move the pointer to the right, type 200 in the AccuDraw window, and
enter a data point.
8 Accept with a data point.
Place Regular Polygon
This tool is used to place a regular polygon, a shape with equal length sides and
equal angles at each vertex. For example, a square is a four‐sided regular polygon.
 Exercise: Use a regular polygon to represent a school

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, select Place Regular Polygon
from the Tasks dialog.
Method: Inscribed
Edges: 6
Radius: 0
Area: Solid
Fill Type: Opaque
Fill Color: 127

Circles Tasks
3 Set the following in the Attributes toolbox:

Level: Sch prop_‐Sep
Color: 127
Style and Weight remain the same
4 Following the status bar prompt, enter a data point to place the center
point of the regular polygon, as indicated.
As you move the pointer, the polygon spins.

5 Rotate the polygon so that an edge is parallel with the street and size it so
it fits in the area.
6 Enter a data point to complete.
7 Select Rotate View, with the following tool setting:
Method: Unrotated
Note: View Previous can also be used to return to the view to its original
orientation.
Complex Chains, Shapes and Regions
Some groupings in MicroStation, such as a set of selected elements, are

temporary. Other groupings are more persistent.

Circles Tasks
The Groups toolbox contains tools that are used to create and manipulate more
permanent element groups.
Groups tools from the Main toolbox and the Groups toolbox
The Create Complex Shape tool
The Create Complex Shape tool is similar to Create Complex Chain, except the
resulting element is closed rather than open. The same tool options are available
for both tools, but Create Complex Shape also has options for controlling the fill
attributes of the closed shape.
In the next exercise, you will use the boundaries of existing areas to create a
complex shape.
 Exercise: Create a park

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, Fit View and then Zoom In to
the area indicated.

Level: park ‐ outside
Color, Style and Weight: ByLevel
3 Select Create Complex Shape, with the following tool settings:
Method: Manual

Circles Tasks
Max Gap: 0.00

Area: Solid
Fill Type: Opaque
4 Following the status bar prompt, click on the roadway as indicated, and
accept with a data point.
5 Continue entering data points to add the next elements, working around
the area enclosed by the roads.
6 Enter a data point to complete the complex shape.
You have created the park, but there is another way to do this.
7 Select Edit > Undo.
8 Change the following tool setting:
Method: Automatic
9 Enter a data point on the roadway where you began previously, and then
enter a data point inside the area.
A road segment highlights, but it is the wrong one.
10 Reset.
11 Enter data points inside the area enclosed by the roads until the complex
shape is formed.

Circles Tasks
The Complex Chain tool
Similar to the Create Complex Shape tool, use the Create Complex Chain tool to
combine existing elements into a continuous open ended element.
The Manual method requires you to identify each element you want to add with a
data point. The Automatic method uses the first element selected as a starting
point and then searches for subsequent elements, converting them into a
complex chain.
The Max Gap field defines the maximum distance that can exist between
elements so they are found when the method is set to Automatic.
If enabled, Simplify Geometry creates a primitive line string rather than a complex
chain.
The Create Region tool
Create Region creates a complex shape from two or more existing elements. It
generates a shape by comparing the relationship between the elements. You can
create regions from the difference between elements, the intersection of
elements, the area that is the union of elements, or by identifying an enclosed
area, which is called by flood.
When Keep Original is enabled in the tool settings, you create a new shape and
leave the original elements in place. When disabled, the elements used as
components in creating the new shape are deleted.
In the next exercise the redline modifications require you to create a new park.
 Exercise: Create a region to extend the park

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, select Create Region, with the
Method: Flood
Fill Type: Opaque
Fill Color: 142

Circles Tasks
Ignore Interior Shapes: Enabled
2 Enter a data point in the area above the new park.

The shape boundary highlights.
3 Enter another data point to accept the shape.

4 Fit View.
Undo, Redo, and Delete
You can eliminate a design error by returning to the state in which the design
existed before you made it. The Undo command lets you reverse the last design or
modification action.
MicroStation provides a sequential unlimited undo buffer that lets you recover
from a graphical mistake, such as drawing a line in the wrong location. There is no
limit to the number of undo operations you can perform within a design session.
However, if the file is closed or compressed, the undo buffer is cleared.
To undo the last design operation, press Ctrl + Z, select Undo from the Edit menu,
or open the Tools > Standard toolbox and click the Undo tool.
Standard toolbox

Circles Tasks
One way to address a mistake is to reverse it, another is to delete it. The Delete
tool lets you remove an element from the file. Click the tool; it has no tool
settings, and then click the element you want to delete.
Element templates
Another way to apply element attributes is by using an element template.
An element template defines properties of elements. It stores multiple element

properties. You can set general properties such as level, color, line style, and line
weight; closed element properties such as area and fill color; and many other
properties. Once an administrator sets up templates, you can apply them to
existing elements or use them to create elements.
The first tool in the Attributes toolbox is the Active Element Template tool.
Selecting an element template will activate the settings stored in the template.
The tool tip shows you the active template.
When attributes are set this way you have the ability to link the attributes to the
elements that are placed using them. If you do this the elements’ attributes will
update if the template definition is updated.
 Exercise: Change the active attributes using an element template

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, take note of the attributes that
are currently active in the Attributes toolbox.
2 In the Attributes toolbox, click the arrow next to the Active Element
Template tool.
Expand the Example Template Group by clicking the +.
3 The available element templates are listed in a hierarchy.
4 Click on Template A.
The template is set and the active attributes change.
5 Click on Template B.
The attributes change once again.

Cells
Cells
Cells are complex elements that group multiple elements permanently. You save
these groupings to represent symbols that are used often. You can then place
them into designs without recreating the symbol each time. Cells can be made
from any element or combination of elements.
A specific series of steps is required to use cells in a design file. First, you must
attach the file in which the cells are saved, and then you can place the available
cells.
 Exercise: Attach a cell library

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, select Element > Cells from the
main menu bar.
2 From the Cell Library dialog’s File menu, select Attach File.
You can attach a single file containing cells or you can attach an entire
folder that contains files that have cells in them.
3 Navigate to Examples\Geospatial\cell, select Geospatial.cel, and then click
Open.
The cells in the library populate the dialog.
Placing cells in designs
The cell library is now attached to the design file. You can place any of the cells
stored in this library in the design using tools in the Cells toolbox. Open it from the
Tasks dialog or by pressing S when focus is at home.
 Exercise: Placing a cell

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, Zoom In to the area indicated.
2 In the Cells dialog, click on the cell named Arena in the list of cells.
3 Note the preview of the cell.
4 Click the Placement button.
5 This makes the selected cell active.

Cells
6 Close the Cell Library dialog.

7 Select Place Active Cell from the Tasks dialog.
Active Angle: 0
X and Y Scale: 0.75
True Scale: Enabled
9 You can use the arrows next to the tool settings Active Angle field to set
the angle to predefined values.
10 Enter a data point below Hawley St. to place the cell.
11 Reset.
Placing cells that already exist in a design
Use Select And Place Cell to identify a cell in the DGN file and place an additional
instance of that cell.
 Exercise: Place an additional cell

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, select Select And Place Cell
from the Tasks dialog.
Active Angle: 0
X and Y Scale: 1.0
3 Enter a data point on the cell named SHOP at Landsdowne Place.
AccuSnap’s pop‐up information shows the name of a cell.
4 Enter a data point to the right of it to place a second instance.
5 Reset.
True Scale
MicroStation uses working units to accommodate different systems of

measurement. When working units differ between files, the relationships must be
determined and then cells scaled accordingly.

Cells
When placing a cell that was created in a file that has different working units than
the active file, you can make the cell scale properly at the time of placement by
enabling True Scale in the tool settings. True Scale aligns the units in the cell, one
to one, with the units in the active design.
For example, if a cell was created using feet and inches, but the working units in
the active file are Metric, the cell will be the wrong size. True Scale reads the units
in which the cell was created and adjusts the scale based on the active design’s
working units.
It is a best practice to have True Scale on when placing cells. If there is any
question, consult your administrator.
Creating cells
When administrators create a cell, they define an origin for the cell. This is the
location by which the cell is placed. They also set the cell type; graphic, point, or
menu.
Graphic cells
The color, line style, and line weight of a graphic cell are determined when it is
created. A graphic cell rotates when a view is rotated. A graphic cell is always
placed using the color, weight and style with which it was created. You can also
snap to any element in the cell once it has been placed.
Point cells
An active point is used as a reference, or monument, point in a design. It can

consist of a cell from the attached cell library, a text character, a symbol, or a line
with no length.
Point cells take on the attributes that are active when the cell is placed. If color 6
is the active color, the cell is placed using color 6, as well as the currently active
line style, weight, and level. A point cell includes only one point that you can snap
to, the cell’s origin. Point cells do not rotate when a view is rotated. A point cell

Cells
can be especially useful for adding text that you want to remain stationary in a
design. To place a point cell, select the Place Active Point tool from the Linear
tasks. Click the magnifying glass next to the Cell field to open the Cell Library
dialog. Select a cell and click the Point button. Enter a data point to place the cell.
A DGN file can also be attached as a cell library. Each model in the file that was
created with the “Can be placed as a cell” check box enabled will be listed in the
Cell Library dialog.
 Exercise: Create a cell

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, Fit View.
2 Select Element Selection and select the elements that make up the North
arrow.
3 Select Define Cell Origin.
4 Enter a data point on the selected elements.
5 In the Cell Library dialog, click the Create button and type the following,
and then click Create:
Name: North Arrow
The cell is added to the library.
6 Select Define Cell Origin to remove the origin point.
7 Reset and click Clear in the Element Selection tool settings.
8 Fit View.
9 Select File > Save Settings from the main menu bar so the view will be the
same the next time you enter the model.
Replacing cells
The Replace Cells tool replaces cells using a designated replacement, or updates
cells having the same name, using cells from the active cell library.

Cells
It places the origin of the new cell at the same location as the old one,
maintaining the original scale and rotation.
To update cells from the active cell library, select the tool and set the Method to
Update in the tool settings. Identify the cell to update and accept it. To replace
cells individually or globally, select the desired Mode and set the Method to
Replace in the tool settings. Identify the cell to replace, identify the replacement
cell, and accept.
Line terminators
The Place Active Line Terminator tool places a cell at the end of the selected
element, rotating the cell to match the angle of the element. It is good for placing
arrowheads.
To use it, select the cell, click the Terminate button in the Cell Library dialog,
select the tool, and then identify the element.
Note: Do not snap to the elements you want to terminate. The tool will find the end
point.
Shared cells
The first time you place a cell with Use Shared Cells enabled in the Cell Library
dialog, its definition, the elements comprising the cell, are stored in the DGN file
one time and if additional instances of the cell are placed the definition is
referenced. With an unshared cell, its definition is stored in the DGN file each time
the cell is placed.
A cell library does not need to be attached to place more instances of a shared
cell. A shared cell can have many instances in a DGN file, but has only one
definition. This keeps the size of the file smaller. When a shared cell instance is
replaced using the Replace Cells tool, all instances of the cell will be replaced.

Precise Element Placement

All engineering drawing applications include tools to help a user select precise
coordinate locations in a design, such as the end point of a line or the center of a
circle. This operation is called snapping.
AccuSnap
As you have been working, you have seen pop‐up information that displays. It is a
feature of AccuSnap. When this feature is on, and the pointer is near an element,
AccuSnap displays information about the element.
AccuSnap’s main function is to help you select precise locations in a design, such
as the end of a line or the center of a circle. This operation is called snapping.
With AccuSnap all you need to do is move the pointer close enough to the point
to which you wish to snap. AccuSnap moves to the snap point and stays there
until you move the mouse away. A successful snap using AccuSnap displays a bold,
yellow X on the snap point. The next data point you enter will be placed at
precisely that spot.
Snap modes
You snap to elements to locate the exact point at which you want to place an
element, or interact with the element. Snap modes help you get the point you
want. The most common snap is the Keypoint snap. It snaps to key points on an
element, like the ends of a line or the center of a circle.
With the Keypoint snap mode active, snap points are located using
mathematically derived key points. MicroStation uses a keypoint divisor to divide
an element into equal parts. For example, a divisor of 2 means that an element is
divided into two equal parts, creating three key points; the two end points and
the mid point.

Snap modes can be accessed most easily from the Snap Mode button bar, which
can be opened by selecting Settings > Snaps > Button Bar or by clicking the snap
mode icon in the status bar and selecting Button Bar from the pop‐up menu.
AccuSnap is enabled and Keypoint is the default snap mode
To set the default snap mode, double click on any available button.
Keypoint is the default snap, but Center is the override
To set a snap mode override for one operation only, single click any available
button once. The override snap mode overrides the default snap mode for one
snap operation only. When complete, MicroStation returns to the default snap
mode.
 Exercise: The keypoint snap

1 Open the Snap Modes model.
Hint: Remember, you can always use the view controls to adjust what you see
on the screen.
Keypoint lets you snap to element key points like vertices, the center, or
the end of a line.
2 Select Place SmartLine.
3 Move the pointer over the (blue) dash‐dot line string at the upper left of
the design.
As you approach a keypoint, the tentative hint crosshair appears, along
with the keypoint snap icon.
The AccuSnap x will appear when the pointer is on the keypoint.
4 Move the pointer to the upper right end of the line string.
5 When the AccuSnap x appears, enter a data point to snap to the location
and enter the first vertex.
6 Move the pointer to the intersection of a horizontal and a vertical
segment.
and enter the next vertex.
8 Move the pointer to another intersection of a horizontal and a vertical
segment.

and enter the next vertex.
10 Reset.
 Exercise: Make the midpoint snap the override snap

1 Continuing in the Snap Modes model, select Place Block.
2 Click the Active Snap icon in the status bar and select Button Bar from the
menu.
3 Dock the Button Bar at the bottom of the application window.
4 Click the Mid Point snap once in the Snap Mode button bar to override the
active keypoint snap mode.
This mode snaps to the midpoint of the segment closest to the pointer.
5 Move the pointer over the second element, the line.
The tentative crosshair appears at the line’s midpoint along with the
midpoint snap icon. As the pointer approaches the midpoint, the
AccuSnap x appears
6 Enter a data point to snap to the point and start the block.
You can see in the Button Bar that the midpoint snap override is no longer
active and the keypoint snap is the active snap mode again.
7 Click the midpoint snap once.
8 Move the pointer to the next element, the arc.
9 When AccuSnap identifies the midpoint of the arc, enter a data point to
snap the corner of the block to that point.
10 Reset.
You can see on the Button Bar that the snap mode returns to keypoint.

 Exercise: AccuSnap and the center snap

1 Continuing in the Snap Modes model, set the center snap as the override
snap.
2 Move the pointer over the next element, the circle.

AccuSnap snaps to the center point of the circle.
Note: If you were still in keypoint snap mode, AccuSnap would still find the
center of the circle. The center of a circle is also a keypoint.
4 Set the center snap as the override snap.
Center snap is useful for finding the center point of an arc.
5 Move the pointer to the arc.
The AccuSnap x moves to the center of the arc.
7 Reset.
 Exercise: AccuSnap and the intersection snap

1 Continuing in the Snap Modes model, select Place Circle, with the
Method: Center
Diameter: Disabled
2 Change the active snap mode to intersection.
Intersection snap calculates the intersection of elements.
3 Move the pointer over the point where the two lines intersect.
The two intersecting lines are highlighted and one is dashed. The dashed
element is the one to which you will snap.
4 Enter a data point to accept the intersection as the center point of the
circle.
5 Enter a data point to place a circle.
6 Reset.

Module Review
Module Review
You can test your skill using the geometry in the Element Creation Challenges, Test
Your Skill, model.
Questions
1 True or False: An active creation tool can only be used to draw one object.
To draw two objects you must select the tool again.
2 Name an attribute that closed elements can have, which open ones
cannot.
3 Why are Place Block and Place Regular Polygon the most useful of the
Polygons tools?
4 Name three methods you can use to create a region.
5 Name three snap modes.
6 How can you determine the name of a cell that is in a design?

Module Review

Precision Input with AccuDraw
Module Overview
AccuDraw is more than a precise way to create element geometry. It lets you
produce complex geometry quickly.
Module Objectives
• Draw with more accuracy and speed
• Use AccuDraw shortcuts and interface components
• Use the calculator to increase design accuracy
Aug-09 59 Precision Input with AccuDraw

AccuDraw Basics
Questions
1 List the steps needed to use a MicroStation tool.
2 Name three element creation tools.
3 When do you use the tool settings window?
Answers
1 Select a tool.
Adjust the tool settings.
Follow the status bar prompts and use the tool.
2 Place SmartLine, Place Circle, Place Block.
3 When you need to change the current tool’s operational parameters.
AccuDraw Basics
AccuDraw does not create or manipulate elements, it assists in their creation and
manipulation. AccuDraw improves quality and speed by reducing keystrokes and
mouse clicks.
Drawing presents graphic problems using a graphic application, but you are
traditionally taught to use numeric solutions. AccuDraw is a graphic solution to
graphic problems.
AccuDraw can infer information from your actions. If the Place Block tool is
selected, AccuDraw operates in a Rectangular, XY, coordinate system. If Place
Circle is selected, it switches to a Polar, distance/angle coordinate system.
Toggle AccuDraw using the AccuDraw icon in the Primary Tools toolbox.
Precision Input with AccuDraw 60 Aug-09

AccuDraw Basics
When enabled, AccuDraw has two components, the AccuDraw window, which is
docked at the bottom of the application window, and the AccuDraw compass.
These two interface elements work with each other.
AccuDraw window and the AccuDraw compass in rectangular mode
The AccuDraw window has two modes that can be toggled using the space bar
when AccuDraw is active and has the focus. Rectangular mode lets you enter X
and Y distances from AccuDraw’s origin. Polar mode lets you enter the distance
and angle from the origin.
The compass consists of three components that are visible in either Rectangular
or Polar mode.
• The origin is the center of the compass and is always location 0,0 regardless of
where the compass is in the design (a relative origin).
• The rectangle or circle is referred to as the drawing plane indicator and it
shows you the drawing plane that AccuDraw is on; Rectangular or Polar.
• The heavier weight green and red ticks are AccuDraw’s axis markers and are
completely independent of both the drawing axis and the view axis.
The AccuDraw workflow
If you plan to use AccuDraw, you may need to change your workflow because it
considers three things and changes behavior accordingly.
First, it considers the active tool. For example, if the active tool is Place Block it
will remain in Rectangular mode, which is expressed as X and Y distances from its
origin. If the selected tool is Place Arc, AccuDraw will switch to Polar mode, which
is expressed as distance and angle.
Second, AccuDraw considers the location of the pointer with respect to its origin.
As you move the pointer around the compass, AccuDraw updates the X and Y
values in the AccuDraw window’s key‐in fields to reflect the distance the pointer is
from its origin.

AccuDraw Basics
Finally, AccuDraw considers and interprets keyboard shortcuts. These are single or
dual character key‐ins to drive its behavior. An example is using the space bar to
toggle between the Rectangular and Polar modes.
When the mouse moves, AccuDraw tracks the pointer's location in relationship to
the AccuDraw compass. The operational steps for AccuDraw are as follows.
1. Enter a data point to fix the location of the compass.
2. Move the pointer in the direction in which you wish to draw.
3. Without using the pointer to put focus into the AccuDraw window’s key‐in
fields, enter the desired distance value.
4. <Optional> Move in another direction.
5. <Optional> Enter another distance value.
6. Enter a data point to accept.
7. Repeat from step 2 to continue drawing.
You know the direction in which you need to draw by looking at your notes and
plans. Focus on the direction in which you want to draw, not the X or Y dimension.
The X and Y dimensions are useful, but when drawing they should not be the
focus.
The input focus
As you move the pointer, AccuDraw continually updates the field that is currently
active in the AccuDraw window. It is indicated by the highlighted field title.
AccuDraw’s input focus lets you enter values wherever the insertion bar is
highlighted.
If the pointer’s movement away from the previous data point includes a higher X
value than the Y value, the X field will have the input focus. If the pointer’s
movement away from the previous data point includes a higher Y value than the X
value, the Y field will have the input focus.
Move in the X direction and focus is in the X‐ field

AccuDraw Basics
Move in the Y direction and focus is in the Y‐ field
Once a field has input focus, the input field becomes auto‐overwrite and auto‐
enter. You do not have to highlight or click in the fields, or press the Enter key.
AccuDraw indexing
AccuDraw can index to axes, the origin, and the previous distance. The indexing
feature works like AccuSnap. When you get close to an indexing state, the pointer
temporarily locks on to that state. For example, when the pointer nears a 90
degree angle to the origin of the compass it will index to that angle.
 Exercise: Learning about AccuDraw Indexing

1 Open the Precision Input with AccuDraw, Essentials geometry, model.
2 Select Place SmartLine from the Tasks dialog, with the following tool
settings:
Segment Type: Lines
Vertex Type: Sharp
3 Following the status bar prompt, enter a data point to start the first vertex.
Not indexed to the axis

AccuDraw Basics
Indexed to the X‐axis

Note Y=0
4 Move the pointer slowly toward the X‐axis.

Once you are within 10 pixels, the line will move to, and stay on, the X‐
axis.
5 Move the pointer toward the Y‐axis.
6 Move the pointer near the AccuDraw origin.
Not indexed to the AccuDraw Origin
Indexed to the AccuDraw Origin. Note X & Y=0

Drawing with AccuDraw
7 Enter a data point and move perpendicular until you are close to the
distance of the first segment.
First segment drawn
Second segment shows previous distance with a short T‐line.

Note distances are equal for both segments

Your next task is to draw the following object using AccuDraw and Place
SmartLine.
You can calculate the missing dimensions from the information given

You will start at the lower left and move in a counter‐clockwise direction.
 Exercise: Basic drawing with AccuDraw

1 Continuing in the Precision Input with AccuDraw model, select Place
SmartLine, with the following tool setting:
Join Elements: Enabled
2 Following the status bar prompt, enter a data point anywhere to start.
This is the first vertex of the element and the AccuDraw compass appears
at the data point location.
3 Move the pointer to the right, lining up with the X‐axis.
This is called indexing.

4 Without moving the pointer into the AccuDraw window, type 2000.
5 Enter a data point to accept the value.
Note that the compass moves to the last data point.

6 Move the pointer upward and line up with, or index to, the Y‐axis.
7 Type 1500 and accept with a data point.
8 Move the pointer to the left and index to the X‐axis.

9 Type 1000 and accept with a data point.

10 Move the pointer downward and index to the Y‐axis.

11 Type 750 and enter a data point to accept.
12 Move the pointer to the left, index to the X‐axis, type 1000, and accept
with a data point.
13 Move the pointer downward, index to the Y‐axis, type 750, and accept
with a data point to close the shape.
Hint: Keep the mouse steady. If you move the mouse around too much, indexing will be lost.
Locking coordinate values
When you enter a value from the keyboard, AccuDraw locks the current input
field and immediately affects the pointer’s motion because it knows you are
entering coordinate data.

AccuDraw Shortcuts
After entering a value in the first field, move the pointer until the input focus
changes to the other field and you can enter the other value. The coordinates you
have entered establish a point for the placement of the element.
After entering the X value
and then moving in Y, you
will lock the X value. Note
the letter “X” is depressed
Note the additional index line

indicating the Y is not yet locked.
Note the letter “Y” is raised
AccuDraw Shortcuts
AccuDraw’s behavior is influenced by the current tool, the location of the pointer,
and keyboard shortcuts. AccuDraw anticipates your next move. Sometimes,
however, you will want to direct AccuDraw, so there are a variety of single and
double character command directives known as the shortcut key‐ins. By pressing
the appropriate key while focus is in the AccuDraw window you can direct
AccuDraw to perform a specific task.
These shortcuts only work when the AccuDraw window has the focus (is the
active window). When you select a tool, the focus does not go to the AccuDraw
window.
Hint: When you enter a data point to start using the tool, then the focus will shift to
the AccuDraw window.
Note: Press Esc then the space bar to move the focus to the AccuDraw window.
To open a window showing a list of all AccuDraw shortcuts, press the ? key. This is
the only shortcut you need to memorize, since it will show you all the rest.
 Exercise: Focus and the ? shortcut

SmartLine.
Note that focus remains at home.
2 Press F11 to shift the focus to AccuDraw.

AccuDraw Shortcuts
3 Press the ? key and expand the AccuDraw Shortcuts window.
4 Return focus to the AccuDraw window by pressing F11.

5 Press G then T, <GT>, to move focus to the tool settings window.
Note: The focus can be moved to the tool settings window by pressing F10.
Often used shortcuts

Space Bar = Change display mode
The space bar toggles between Rectangular and Polar mode.
AccuDraw window in Rectangular, top, and Polar, bottom, modes
X = toggle X lock, Y = toggle Y lock
The <X> or <Y> keys can be selected at any time to lock or unlock the present X or
Y values when in Rectangular mode. A field is locked when its icon label is
depressed.
D = toggle Distance lock, A = toggle Angle lock
<D> or <A> can be selected to lock or unlock the Distance or Angle values in Polar
mode.
Enter = Smart Lock
Smart Lock will index to the closest axis and lock the opposite field value. For
example, if the X value is indexed, the Y value will be locked at 0. This lets you

AccuDraw Shortcuts
draw in one direction but snap to objects in the other direction. In Polar mode, if
Distance is active, the Angle will be locked.
Q = Quit
Press <Q> to quit AccuDraw.
V = View rotation
Press <V> to rotate the compass to align with the view axis. This is especially
useful when working with rotated views.
O = Set Origin
Pressing <O> moves the compass to the current pointer position or a tentative
point. This is very helpful when combined with AccuSnap.
Note: You can place the AccuDraw origin at a tentative point. By snapping to a point
and then pressing <O>, you can place the AccuDraw origin at that point. Do not
accept the tentative point, just tentative snap and press <O>. When using this
technique it is important NOT to accept the tentative snap.
RQ = Rotate Quick
<R><Q> temporarily changes the rotation of the compass to a user defined angle.
Once a data point has been entered, the compass resumes its normal orientation.
I = Intersect Snap
Activates Intersect snap mode.
C = Center Snap
Activates Center snap mode.

AccuDraw Shortcuts
In the following exercise, you will place a rotated block at the same angle as an
existing line.
You will draw the rotated block based on the line
Without using AccuDraw, you would measure the angle, create a construction line
for the offset distance, and then place the block. AccuDraw provides shortcuts
such as the <O> and <R><Q> shortcuts, which can save time.
 Exercise: Use a series of AccuDraw shortcuts

1 Continuing in the AccuDraw model, select Place SmartLine.
2 Place a line at any angle. The length of the line is not important.
3 Select the Place Block tool from the Tasks dialog.

Method: Orthogonal
Area: Solid
Fill Type: None
5 Snap to the upper right end of the line and, with focus in the AccuDraw
window, press <O> for Origin. DO NOT enter a data point to accept the
snap point.
AccuDraw Origin placed at snap point

AccuDraw Shortcuts
6 Press <RQ> to Rotate Quick.
Rotate AccuDraw Axes command and tool setting from RQ
7 Note the prompt in the status bar.

The Rotate Quick shortcut requires you to define the X‐axis.
8 Move the pointer towards the other end of the line and AccuSnap to the
end. Enter a data point at this location.
The compass has rotated to the angle of the line.
9 Note that you have returned to the Place Block tool.

10 Move the pointer along the X‐axis and toward the right and index to the
negative X‐axis, while keeping the Y value zero. Enter a value of 1000 units.

AccuDraw Shortcuts
Note that the direction, up and to the right, not the dimension, ‐X, is the
important thing to think about in the previous step.
You have now placed the first corner point of the block. It is rotated even
though the Method was set to Orthogonal.
12 Move in the X direction and enter a value of 750.
13 Move in the Y direction and enter a value of 1000.
14 Enter a data point to accept the 750mm by 1000mm block.
Note: Remember that you want to establish direction, and then distance.

AccuDraw Shortcuts
In the next exercise, you will draw an oval shaped element around an inner
rectangle. The only information you have is the minimum clearance distance from
the rectangle.
 Exercise: Use more AccuDraw shortcuts

1 Continuing in the Precision Input with AccuDraw model, select the Place
Block, with the following tool settings:
Method: Orthogonal
Area: Solid
Fill Type: None
2 Following the status bar prompt, place a vertical block of any size.
Read the status bar prompt and note that MicroStation requires a data
point to define the first vertex. The first vertex will be offset from the top
right corner of the block.
4 Move the pointer to the top right corner until you see the AccuSnap X.

AccuDraw Shortcuts
5 With the focus in the AccuDraw window, press <O> to move the AccuDraw
compass to this location.
6 Index along the X‐axis and enter a distance that is appropriate for the
current zoom level.
7 Following the status bar prompt, enter a data point to place the first
vertex of the SmartLine.

AccuDraw Shortcuts
8 Move the pointer downward and press <Enter> to lock the axis.
SmartLock indexed to the nearest axis and locked X at 0
9 Snap to the lower right corner of the block and enter a data point.
This establishes the length of the line segment.
Dashed line indicates that X is locked at 0
You graphically found the length of the rectangle.

10 With focus in the AccuDraw window, press the <~> key to change the
Segment Type from Lines to Arcs.
The status bar indicates that you need to define the location of the arc
center.

AccuDraw Shortcuts
11 Move the pointer to the midpoint of the block’s lower edge and enter a
data point when you see the AccuSnap X.
This becomes the center of the arc.
Place arc center point
Next, you need to define the sweep angle of the arc.

12 Move the pointer clockwise and sweep through 180 degrees. Enter a data
point to accept the sweep.
AccuDraw indexing makes 90 degree increments easy to draw
13 Press the <~> key to change the Segment Type to Lines.
14 Move the pointer up to the top of the view and press <Enter> to
SmartLock.

AccuDraw Shortcuts
15 Snap to the upper left corner of the rectangle and enter a data point to fix
the length of the line segment.
16 With focus on the AccuDraw window, press <~>to change the Segment
Type to Arc.
17 Following the status bar prompt, snap to the mid‐point of the top of the
rectangle.
18 Enter a data point to accept this as the location for the center of the arc.

Pop-up Calculator
19 Move the pointer clockwise to draw the 180 degree arc and complete the
oval.
Pop‐up Calculator
The pop‐up calculator lets you perform mathematical operations. Activated it by
pressing +, ‐, *, /, = in AccuDraw's key‐in fields and fields such as Angle or Scale.
Invoking and using the pop‐up calculator

You can invoke the pop‐up calculator in two different modes. The first method
applies the mathematical expression to the existing value displayed in the field
with focus. To activate this mode, press either <+>,< ‐>, <*>, or </>.
The second mode is activated by the <=> key and replaces the existing value with
the results of a keyed in expression or calculation. In this mode, the result

Pop‐up Calculator
dynamically updates in the original field, rather than having a field of its own in
the pop‐up. This feature is usually used for expressions that are more complex.
Let’s see how you might use MicroStation’s pop‐up calculator in everyday drawing
tasks.
 Optional Exercise: Using the pop‐up calculator

SmartLine, with the following tool setting:
Segment Type: Lines
2 Following the status bar prompt, place the first vertex anywhere in the
view.
3 Index to the X‐axis and press <Enter> to SmartLock.
4 Enter 1500 in the X field.
5 Press the / key to open the pop‐up calculator in the division function.
6 Type 7 into the calculator field.

Pop-up Calculator
The result is shown numerically and graphically
7 Enter a data point to accept the second vertex.

8 Index to the Y‐axis.
9 Type 750 into the Y field.
10 Press the <*> key to open the pop‐up calculator in the multiplication
function.
11 Type 1.375 into the calculator field and accept the resulting value with a
data point.
There are other uses for the pop‐up calculator, such as finding a distance halfway
between two objects.

Pop‐up Calculator
 Optional Exercise: Use the pop‐up calculator to find a distance

SmartLine.
2 Place the first vertex anywhere.
3 Index to the X‐axis and enter a second data point anywhere along the X‐
axis.
4 Draw another line below the first one.
5 Select the Place Circle tool from the Tasks dialog, with the following tool
settings:
Method: Center
Area: Solid
Fill Type: None
You are prompted to enter the center point of the circle.
6 AccuSnap to the right end of the upper line.
7 With focus in the AccuDraw window, press <O> to set the origin at the
snap point.
8 Snap to the left end of the lower line.
9 Press the space bar to switch to Polar mode.
The Distance field displays the linear distance from the origin to the
current location of the pointer.

Module Review
10 Press </> and type 2 in the calculator field.
This divides the distance by two.

11 Accept the circle center point with a data point.
12 Following the status bar prompt, type a radius of 100 and accept with a
data point.
Module Review
You can test your skill using the geometry in the Precision Input with AccuDraw
Challenges, Test Your Skill, model.
 Mastery Exercise: Use AccuDraw to create shapes

1 Draw the following figures using AccuDraw and the Place SmartLine tool.
2 Close the file when you are done.

Module Review
Questions
1 What are the operational steps when using AccuDraw?
2 How do you place the AccuDraw compass at a snap point?
3 Name three AccuDraw shortcuts.
4 What are the shortcuts that open the Pop‐up calculator?

Module Review

Working with Existing
Elements
Module Overview
Existing elements often need to be modified. You may need to move or copy
them, or you may need to extend or trim. MicroStation provides many tools to
help you manipulate and modify existing elements. You can group multiple
elements for manipulation and modification.
• Knowledge about MicroStation tool usage
Module Objectives
• Use manipulation and modification tools to change a design
• Use Element Selection to work with multiple elements and obtain information
about those elements
• Make measurements
• Use patterns to add definition to elements
Aug-09 87 Working with Existing Elements

Questions
1 In the Level Display dialog, how can you tell which is the active level?
2 Name two ways to change the active level.
3 Which toolbox is used to select general usage element selection,
manipulation, and modification tools?
Answers
1 It is highlighted with a different color.
2 In the Attributes toolbox, or double click on the level name in the Level
Manager or Level Display dialog.
3 The Main toolbox.
Basic Manipulation Tools

The tools in the Manipulate toolbox are used to copy, move, resize, and otherwise
manipulate entire elements. The Manipulate toolbox can be accessed from the
Main toolbox or by pressing 3 when the focus is at home.
Manipulate tools from the Main toolbox and the Manipulate toolbox
Working with Existing Elements 88 Aug-09

In addition, several manipulation tools are available from the reset menu. The
reset menu option is defined during the first MicroStation session when you press
the right mouse button for the first time.
Move Element
The Move Element tool is used to move elements from one location in the model
to another. After you select the tool, you use two data points. One to select the
element, and a second to identify the new location.
Copy
This tool requires one data point to select the element and a second one to define
both the distance and direction to copy. The Copies option in the tool settings lets
you specify how many copies to make. Using this method, one data point will
result in multiple copies.
Hint: For precise placement, snap to specific points, such as a center point, on the
original element. AccuDraw can also be used to space the copies accurately.
 Exercise: Make copies

1 Open the model named Work with Existing Elements, Essentials geometry.
2 Select Copy from the Main toolbox, with the following tool setting:
Copies: 2
3 Identify the chair on the left side of the table with a data point.
A dynamic copy is attached to the pointer.
4 Place a second chair next to the first.
The third chair is added automatically.

When you create multiple copies, they are spaced using the distance from
the original element to the data point. They are placed in the direction in
which the data point is entered.
5 Reset.
Mirror
The Mirror tool is used to mirror selected elements about a horizontal, vertical or
user‐defined line. The tool settings offer additional options such as making a copy
of the original element and mirroring the elements about their own centers.
• Mirror About Horizontal mirrors the element with respect to the X‐axis. The
mirrored element changes vertically, top to bottom or bottom to top.

• Mirror About Vertical mirrors the element with respect to the y‐axis. The
mirrored element changes horizontally, left to right or right to left.
• Mirror About Line mirrors the element around a user‐defined axis. The
mirrored element changes around the defined axis line.
Mirror line
The Mirror tool also has an option to make copies.
 Exercise: Use the mirror tool

1 Continuing in the Work with Existing Elements model, select Mirror with the
Mirror About: Vertical
Make Copy: Enabled
Using this method, the element mirrors with respect to the y‐axis,
changing horizontally left to right or right to left.
2 Enter a data point on the last chair placed.
A mirrored copy is attached to the pointer.
3 Enter a data point to place the chair on the other side of the table.
4 Reset.
5 Select Element Selection with the following tool settings:
Method: Line
Mode: Add

6 Draw a line through the first and second chairs.
7 Right click and press.

8 Select Mirror from the pop‐up menu.
9 Position the chairs on the other side of the table, enter a data point, and
then reset.
10 Click Clear in the Element Selection tool settings.
11 Right click and press on the chair at the head of the table.
12 Select Mirror from the pop‐up menu.
13 In the tool settings, change the following:
Mirror About: Horizontal
Using this method, the Element mirrors with respect to the x‐axis.,
changing vertically, top to bottom or bottom to top

14 Enter a data point to copy the chair to the other end of the table, and then
reset.
15 Click Clear in the tool settings.
Align Elements by Edge
This tool provides an easy way to align elements to a common edge on another
element. A variety of tool settings are available to determine how to align the
element and whether the original elements should be copied. Status bar prompts
provide instructions about the selection order required to align the elements.
 Exercise: Align misplaced chairs

1 Continuing in the Work with Existing Elements model, select Move.
2 Move two of the three chairs on the left side of the table so they are each
a different distance from the table.

3 Select Align Elements by Edge with the following tool settings:

Align: Right
4 Following the status bar prompt, enter a data point on the chair that has
not been moved.
5 Enter a data point on each moved chair.
6 Enter a data point to accept.
Move to Contact
The Move to Contact tool is used to move one or more elements in a defined
direction until they make contact with another element.
To use it, select the tool and click the element you want to move on the point you
want contact to occur. Enter a data point to define the direction you want the
element to move.

Rotate
The Rotate tool rotates one or more elements based upon options set in the tool
settings. For example, elements can be rotated about an active angle, or
dynamically by either two or three points. The elements can also be copied and
rotated about their center, simultaneously.
To use it, select the tool and select a method. If the method is Active Angle, set
the angle in the input field. For any method, enter a data point on the element
you want to rotate. Enter a data point at the location you want to use as a pivot
point. If you are using a by points method, follow the status bar prompt to define
the amount of rotation.
 Exercise: Use the rotate tool

1 Continuing in the Work with Existing Elements model, open View 2.
You must rotate the building to fit it into the site.
2 Select Rotate with the following tool settings:
Method: Active Angle set to 75.00
Copies: Disabled
About Element Center: Enabled
3 Enter a data point on the building.
The building rotates.
4 Enter a data point to accept, and then reset.
5 Select Move.
6 Enter a data point on the building.

7 Move the pointer to the center of the site.
8 Enter a data point to accept, and then reset.
Using the 2 Points method, the angle of rotation is defined by entering two data
points; a pivot point and a point to define rotation.
With 3 points, the angle of rotation is defined by three data points; a pivot point, a
point to define the angle to start the rotation at, and a point to define the
rotation, similar to mirroring about a line.
Enable the About Element Center option so that elements are rotated about their
center instead of the point where you selected the element.

Scale
This tool scales selected elements by an active scale value, or interactively when
you enter data points. You can make a copy of the original element during the
process. You can scale an element around its center point or the point at which
you select it.
There is a padlock icon to the right of the X Scale and Y Scale fields in the tool
settings. If the padlock is unlocked, or open, you can adjust the X Scale and Y Scale
factors independently of each other. When the padlock is locked, or closed,
adjusting one scale value will adjust the other when you press Tab. The padlock
can be locked and unlocked by clicking on it. Many tools have this feature.
 Exercise: Scale and copy

1 Continuing in the Work with Existing Elements model, in View 2, Zoom In on the
tree at the right side of the site.
2 Select Scale, with the following tool settings:
Method: Active Scale
X and Y Scale: .6667
About Element Center: Disabled
Copies: Enabled and set to 1
3 Enter a data point on the tree.
4 Move the pointer downward until the dynamic copy is located below the
first tree and enter a data point.
A smaller tree is placed.

5 Move the pointer downward again and enter a data point to place a
smaller tree.
6 Reset.
Move/Copy Parallel
Use this tool to move or copy an element parallel to the original.
• Modes determine how the gap that is created when you move the element is
filled.
Miter extends or shortens the element’s segments

Rounded fills the gaps with arcs
Original makes an exact copy
• You can check the Keep Original option to retain the original element or
uncheck it so you just move the original.
• When Use Active Attributes is checked, the moved or copied element inherits
the file’s active color, weight and style attributes.

 Exercise: Finish the parking layout

1 Continuing in the Work with Existing Elements model, in View 2, pan left to the
unfinished area of the parking lot.
2 Select Move Parallel, with the following tool settings:

Distance: Enabled
Use Active Attributes: Disabled
Keep Original: Enabled
If Use Active Attributes is enabled, the element takes on the attributes
that are active in the file. If not, it retains the existing attributes.
3 In the tool settings, click the Define Dist icon, to the right of the Distance
field.
4 Enter a data point on the last parking stripe, and then on the one next to
it.
This calculates the distance between existing elements. You can also key in
the distance if you know the value.
5 Enter a data point on the last parking stripe again.
6 Now move the pointer upward, entering data points to place additional
stripes.
7 Continue moving the pointer up and entering data points until the last line
is placed.
8 Reset.
The Define Distance icon lets you measure a distance by entering start and end
data points. Click the icon and then enter the start and end data points.

Array
Construct Array creates multiple copies of elements and places them in

rectangular, polar, or path based patterns at regularly spaced intervals.
A rectangular array copies elements into a specified number of columns and rows.
The spacing between elements can be different for each direction. The amount of
spacing is the distance from the center of one element to the center of the next
element.
 Exercise: Create a rectangular array

2 Select Array, with the following tool settings:
Array Type: Rectangular
Active Angle: 0
Rows: 3
Columns: 5
Row Spacing: 1:50
Column Spacing: 2:0
3 Identify the orange seat as the element to be arrayed.
The array fills the auditorium.
 Exercise: Create a polar array

1 Select Construct Array with the following tool settings:
Array Type: Polar
Items: 12
Delta Angle: 30
Rotate Items: Enabled
2 Enter a data point on spoke 1.
3 Select the array center point by snapping to the center of the wheel.

Working with Groups of Elements
The Rotate Items check box lets you rotate the elements around the center of the
array.
Unrotated and rotated
Note: A pop‐up calculator is built into the Delta Angle field. This lets you type in 360/
12 to obtain the 30 degree delta angle.

Elements can be manipulated individually or in groups. There are several ways to
group elements.
The Fence
One method of manipulating multiple elements is to gather them with a fence.

This temporary outline around the elements lets you manipulate them together.
The Fence toolbox can be accessed from the Main toolbox or by pressing 2 when
the focus is at home.
The Fence tools from the Main toolbox and the Fence toolbox

The Place Fence tool has a variety of options, including the type of fence to place,
and controls that determine which elements will be manipulated.
Once a fence has been defined, it can be used with many tools by simply enabling
the Use Fence option in the tool settings. The Fence toolbox also contains tools
that use a fence once it is defined.
If there is a fence in a file, the fence will be used to process elements; the Use
Fence option in various tool settings will be enabled automatically. To dismiss a
fence, select the Place Fence tool again or click in an empty area of the view.
Fence modes
The Fence Mode option determines whether elements or parts of elements are to
be processed by a manipulation tool such as Copy, Move, Rotate and Mirror.
original elements
• Inside will process only elements that are completely within the boundary of
the fence.
• Overlap processes all elements that either overlap the fence, or those
completely within the fence boundary.

• Clip processes elements completely within the fence, and portions of

elements that overlap the fence.
• Void processes only those elements that are completely outside of the fence
boundary.
• Void‐Overlap will process those elements that are completely outside or

overlapping the fence boundary.
• Void‐Clip processes those elements that are completely outside the fence as
well as the outside portions of elements that cross or overlap the fence
boundary.
 Exercise: Place a fence block

2 Select Place Fence, with the following tool settings:
Fence Type: Block
Fence Mode: Inside
This mode affects elements located entirely inside the fence outline.
3 Enter a data point at location 1 on the model on the left.
4 Enter a data point at location 2.

The blue shaft is enclosed in a fence block.
Fence types
You can draw different types of fences to accommodate the types of elements you
are fencing.
• When the Fence Type is Block, Shape, or Circle the fence you draw will be that
shape. Using the Circle type, start the circle at the point you want to be the
center.
Fence block and circle
• When the Fence Type is Element you create the fence by identifying a (closed)
element.
• When the Fence Type is From View you create the fence by entering a data
point in the desired view. All elements visible in it are in the fence.
• When the Fence Type is From File you create a fence that includes the
contents of the DGN file.
• When the Fence Type is From Flood you create a fence that includes the area
enclosed by elements that you click inside.
Manipulate Fence Contents
This tool lets you manipulate the elements gathered by a fence. The Fence Mode
can be set in the tool settings.
Remember though, you can simply enable the Use Fence option with most all
manipulation tools.
 Exercise: Manipulate fence contents

1 Select Manipulate Fence Contents, with the following tool settings:
Operation: Copy
Copies: 1
Fence Mode: Inside

2 Snap to the lower left corner of the blue shaft and enter a data point.
This is the origin. An outline of the fenced area moves dynamically with
the pointer while the original fence remains in place.
3 Move to the right and enter a data point at location 7.
4 Reset.
The shaft is the only element copied because it was the only element
located completely inside of the fence.
 Exercise: Manipulate elements in a fence shape

1 Continuing in the Work with Existing Elements model, in View 4, select Place
Fence with the following tool settings:
Fence Type: Shape
Fence Mode: Overlap
This mode affects elements entirely inside the fence and also those that
are touching the fence outline.
3 Enter a data point at location 4, location 5 and location 6.
4 Click Close in the tool settings.
5 Select Manipulate Fence Contents with the following tool settings:
Operation: Copy
Copies: 1
Fence Mode: Overlap

6 Snap to the right end of the bottom magenta line to the left of the shaft.
This point is outside of the fence, but you are working in overlap mode.
7 Snap to the upper part of the corresponding thread in the copied shaft,
above location 7.
One full thread is extracted and copied. Portions of the thread that
overlapped the fence, as well as those inside, were manipulated.
8 Reset.
9 Select Place Fence.
 Exercise: Scaling a fence circle

1 Continuing in the Work with Existing Elements model, in View 4, select Place
Fence with the following tool settings:
Fence Type: Circle
Fence Mode: Clip

This mode affects elements entirely inside and portions of elements inside
the fence outline.
2 Enter a data point at location 1 on the model on the right.
A circular fence outline appears and moves with the pointer.
4 Select Manipulate Fence Contents with the following tool settings:

Operation: Scale
X and Y Scale: 2.0
Copies: Enabled and set to 1
Fence Mode: Clip
Hint: If the padlock next to the X and Y Scale is closed, both fields
automatically contain the same value. If you want different X and Y
values, click the padlock to open it.
5 Move the pointer until the fence contents are located inside the DETAIL
and enter a data point to place the scaled fence contents.
6 Reset.
Stretch Element
This tool is in the Manipulate toolbox. It moves only those endpoints and vertices
that lie within a fence.

This results in the element segments being extended to maintain geometric

relationships. Ellipses, circles, and cells remain unaffected unless they are
completely inside the fence, in which case they'll be moved.
Before and after stretching
The tool settings let you define a fence, which eliminates the need to place one in
advance. Using this tool, you could place a fence to include a window or door and
move the feature along a wall. You can also change the size of the feature by
including only the start or end in the fence.
Named Fences
When you place a fence with the Place Fence tool, you have the option of saving it
as a named fence. Named fences let you store and recall fences with names that
you define. To see a list of saved fences in the active model, expand the tool
settings. Double click a name to activate the fence.
When a named fence is selected, the fence element highlights. The fences are
stored as regular elements that can be manipulated with any of the modification
tools.
Note: If you delete a named fence, only the entry in the named fence list is deleted.
The graphics remain in the file. To delete the graphics, use the Delete Element
tool.
Hint: Enable the Settings > Snaps > AccuSnap setting Enable For Fence Create so you
can use AccuSnap during fence placement.

The Element Selection tool
The Element Selection tool is used to select multiple elements for processing.
When more than one element is selected with this tool, it is referred to as a
selection set.
You can select individual elements or multiple elements by using a block, shape,
circle or line. Clicking twice on the block, shape or circle method in tool settings
will activate the overlap mode. This selects elements inside the selection area and
those the selection area touches. The modes let you add or subtract elements.
You can invert the selection set, selecting those that are currently selected.
When you select an element using Element Selection, MicroStation displays edit
handles at the element’s vertices. Handles are not shown when you select by
dragging a rectangle or use the Block, Shape, Circle, or Line selection methods. If
the Disable Edit Handles icon on the right is enabled, edit handles are not shown
for any selected elements.
Reviewing and editing
Extended settings in the tool settings allow you to select elements by one or more
attributes such as level, color, line style, line weight, type, and class.
For existing selection sets, the attributes of the selected elements appear in a
highlighted group at the top of each tab.
Top row, left to right: Element Type, Element Class and Element Template tabs
Bottom row, Level, Color, Style and Weight tabs
To add elements by attributes to an existing selection set, simply select an

attribute that is not highlighted. If an element exists with that attribute, it will be
added to the set. To remove elements with specific attributes from the current
set, simply select the attribute from the highlighted list at the top of each tab.
 Exercise: Selection by attributes

2 Select Element Selection and set the method to Individual.
3 In the expanded tool settings, select the color tab.

4 Click on color 13.

All elements that are color 13 are selected.
5 Click on other tabs and note the attributes of the selected element,
grouped at the top.
6 Click Clear when you are done.
Selecting edit handles
Enable Select Handles to show edit handles on the selected elements. This switch
can be activated after the elements have been added to the selection set. The
Disable Handles icon must be inactive to use Select Handles.
 Exercise: Select handles

1 In the expanded Element Selection tool settings, on the Level tab, click on the
following levels to select the elements on those levels:
Prop Alignment
Roadway Shoulder
In the status bar, you can see that nine elements are selected.
2 In the tool settings, click the Select Handles icon.
3 Press and hold the Ctrl key.
4 Click on each of the three handles at the upper construction limit line.
The handles s change color.

5 Drag to modify the handles to the lower construction limit line.
Only the elements that are part of the secondary selection set are
extended.
6 Disable Select Edit Handles.
The secondary selection set is disabled, but the original is still active.
Hint: You can hold the Shift + Ctrl keys on the keyboard and then drag an
overlap rectangle to select elements.
 Exercise: Add and remove set members by attribute

1 In the extended Element Selection tool settings, select the Level tab, and then
click on Boundary RW to select it.
The right of way lines are added to the selection set.
2 Select the Color tab.
3 Click on the color 71ByLevel.
The blue roadway shoulder elements are removed from the set.
4 Select the Line Style tab.
5 Scroll down to style 3 and click it.
The blue roadway shoulder elements are added back into the set.
6 Click Clear to release the selection set.

Select All
If you click Select All in the tool settings, it causes MicroStation to create a
selection set that includes every element in the design, even if the element is not
visible. You can also select Edit > Select All to select all elements.
Warning: Select All selects every element in the design file, even if it is not visible due to view
attribute settings or a level being turned off. Use this command carefully.
 Exercise: Selecting all elements in the design file

1 Clock Select All in the Element Selection tool settings.
All elements are highlighted.
2 Select color 1, blue, in the Attributes tool bar.
3 Click Clear to release the selection set.
Every element has changed color.
Hint: You can hold the Shift + Ctrl keys on the keyboard and then drag an overlap
rectangle to select elements.
Graphic groups
Graphic groups are collections of elements that can be manipulated together

sometimes but separately at other times.
When the Graphic Group lock is enabled, they are treated as a group. When the
lock is disabled, all elements are treated individually.
The Graphic Group lock can be toggled by clicking the lock icon on the right side of
the status bar and clicking Graphic Group.

The Groups toolbox can be accessed from the Main toolbox or by pressing 6 when
The Groups tools from the Main toolbox and the Groups toolbox
Creating graphic groups
Use the Add to Graphic Group tool to do the following:
• Create a graphic group.

• Add elements to an existing graphic group.
• Combine two or more existing graphic groups into a single graphic group.
To use it, select the tool and follow the status bar prompts to add elements to the
group. Turn the Graphic Group lock on to work with the group and turn it off to
work with the elements individually.
Hint: Selection sets can be used to create graphic groups and named groups.
Named Groups
Named groups are the most flexible method for grouping elements. When an
element is part of a named group it is referred to as a member. Named group
options allow you to define how members will respond when manipulated or
selected.
 Exercise: Create a named group

1 Open the model named Survey.
2 Select Add to Graphic Group.
3 Click Create New Named Group in the tool settings.

4 In the Create Named Group dialog, enter the name Building Info.
The description is optional.
Leave the Select all members when any member selected check box
disabled. If this check box is enabled, when one element in the named
group is selected using the Element Selection tool, all members will be
selected.
5 Click OK.
The named group is listed in the tool settings.
 Exercise: Add members

1 Continuing in the survey model, set the following tool setting:
Member Type: Active
2 Select each building and accept with a data point.
3 Click the magnifying glass in the tool settings to open the Named Groups
dialog.
The group has two members
Elements can be added to a group individually, or the Element Selection

tool can be used to select multiple elements.
4 Select Element Selection, expand the tool settings, and select the Level
tab.
5 Click on the level Survey Exist Driveway.
The driveway elements are selected.
6 In the Named groups dialog, highlight the Building Info group.
7 Click Add Elements.
8 In the tool settings, set the Member Type to Passive.
9 Following the status bar prompt, enter a data point to add the selected
elements to the group.

10 Clear the selection set.
Member types
The Member Type options let you define how other members of the group are
affected when one member is selected or manipulated. When the Graphic Group
lock is off, both active and passive members can be operated on individually.
When it is on, active members are operated on as a group, but passive members
are still operated on individually.
 Exercise: Active and passive members

1 Continuing in the survey model, select Move from the Main toolbox.
2 Enter a data point on one of the buildings and move it.
The single building moves.
3 Reset.
4 Click the locks icon in the status bar, and turn the Graphic Group lock on.
5 Enter a data point on one of the buildings and move it.
All elements in the group move.
6 Reset.

Making Measurements
7 Enter a data point on one of the driveway elements and move it.
This element moves independently, even though the Graphic Group lock is
on, because it is a passive member of the group.
8 Reset.
9 Undo all three move operations.
Making Measurements
MicroStation’s measuring tools function like other tools. You enter data points in
response to the status bar prompts. For accurate measuring, ensure that you use
AccuSnap to snap to elements. Tools in the Measure toolbox let you determine
distances between elements.
The Measure toolbox can be accessed from the Drawing task, from the Main
toolbox, or by pressing D when the focus is at home.
Measuring distance
The Measure Distance tool is a general purpose tool that provides methods of
measuring the distance between points, the distance along an element, a
perpendicular distance from a selected element, or the minimum distance
between two existing elements.

Making Measurements
 Exercise: Measure the distance between two points

1 Continuing in the survey model, select Measure Distance.
2 Set the following tool setting:
Distance: Between Points
3 Following the status bar prompt, snap to the lower left corner of the lower
building and accept with a data point.
4 Following the status bar prompt, snap to the right corner of the lower
edge and accept with a data point.
The distance between points is reported in the status bar and in the tool
settings.
5 Reset.
Hint: In the tool settings, double click on the resulting distance. Once highlighted,
right click to open the pop‐up menu. Selecting Copy will place the distance on
the system clipboard. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + C to copy the selected
value to the clipboard. This functionality is available throughout MicroStation.
To measure a distance along an element, select the Along Element option.

Identify the element and enter a data point. MicroStation will calculate the
distance between the element’s start and end points.
 Exercise: Measure the distance along an element

1 Continuing in the survey model, select Measure Distance, with the following tool
settings:
Distance: Along Element

Making Measurements
2 Following the status bar prompt, snap to one end of the flowline on the
upper right side of the design.

Dynamic shading follows the element in the direction the pointer moved.
4 Following the status bar prompt, AccuSnap to the other end of the
flowline.

6 Read the measured distance in the status bar or the tool settings.
This is the distance between the two points, as measured along the
element.
7 Reset.
Another Measure Distance method is Minimum Between. Using this method,

MicroStation finds the shortest straight line distance between two selected
elements. In addition, it displays where the shortest distance occurs between the
selected elements.
Measure Length
The Measure Length tool determines the total length of a selected element. The
tool settings will also show the angle and elevation of the selected element. To

Making Measurements
use it, select the element you want to measure and then select the Measure
Length tool.
Measure Radius and Measure Angle
These two tools make straightforward measurements when you select the
elements to measure.
Depending upon the type of element selected, the Measure Radius tool reports a
variety of radius and diameter measurements. For example, selecting an ellipse or
elliptical arc, the tool settings will show the measurements for the primary and
secondary axes. To use it, select the tool and then select the element you want to
measure.
The Measure Angle Between Lines tool reports the resulting angle in both the
status bar and tool settings. To use it, select the tool and then select the elements
you want to determine the angle between.
Measure Area
The Measure Area tool includes options for several different calculations.
Set Method to Element to measure the total area enclosed within the perimeter
of a closed element.
The Points method lets you dynamically define a closed polygon. The area within
the boundaries of the polygon will display in the status bar and tool settings.
 Exercise: Measuring the area of the building

1 Continuing the Survey model, select Measure Area.
Method: Element
Area Unit: square ft

Using Patterns to Add Definition
3 Enter a data point on the upper building.
The area and perimeter are reported in the tool settings.

4 Select File > Close.

Designs sometimes must designate specific areas, identify components or denote
elevations. You can use the patterning tools for this. The Patterns toolbox can be
accessed from the Drawing task or by pressing R when the focus is at home.
Patterning adds material and texture to elements to help express a role or

function. For example, architectural wall sections might show insulation or
concrete, while area on maps may show marshes or woods. Patterning is a view
attribute, which can be toggled on and off in the View Attributes dialog.
Hatch Area
Hatching is the repetitive placement of lines at a specific angle and spacing.

The tool provides a variety of settings to control the appearance as well as

placement of the hatch lines.
Pattern by single element, flood (enclosed area), union, intersection or difference between elements,
an area defined by entering points, or using a fence
Two useful methods of patterning are by element and flood. The Element method
patterns the interior of an identified element. The Flood method patterns the
area enclosed by a set of elements.
The Snappable Pattern option
The Snappable Pattern option in the patterning tools’ settings lets you use
MicroStation’s standard snap modes to snap to the resulting pattern elements.
In the following exercise, redline modifications require you to use Pattern tools to
highlight areas of interest in a map.
 Exercise: Creating an area hatch pattern

1 Open the model named Wards.
2 Set the active level to Ward 4 boundary.
3 Select Hatch Area.
Mode: Element
Spacing: 100
Angle: 30
5 Enter a data point on a shape in Ward 4 to identify it as the shape to be
hatched.
When you identify the shape, it highlights.

6 Enter a data point to accept the hatch pattern.
7 Reset.
Delete Pattern
Use Delete Pattern to delete patterning while restoring the original element
components that were used to create the pattern.
 Exercise: Delete a pattern

1 Continuing in the Wards model, select Delete Pattern.
2 Move the pointer over a Ward 4 hatch line.
3 When it highlights, enter a data point.
The hatching is deleted.
Crosshatch Area
Use Crosshatch Area to place intersecting hatch lines. This tool offers the same
tool settings as the Hatch Area tool, with two additional fields to enter the spacing
and angle of the second set of hatch lines. Lock the lock icons to enter the same
value for both fields.
If the additional fields are left blank, MicroStation will place the second set of
hatch lines perpendicular to the first set.
 Exercise: Creating an area Crosshatch pattern

1 Continuing in the Wards model, select Crosshatch Area with the following tool
settings:
Method: Flood

Spacing: 150 150 (enter 150 in the first field, lock the padlock, and press
Enter)
Angle: ‐135 ‐45
The method you are using to identify the element to pattern this time is
the Flood method. This fills the enclosed area with pattern, like the flood
fill tool common in painting programs.
2 Enter a data point inside a shape in Ward 4 to identify it as the shape to be
crosshatched.
Associative patterning
The Associative Pattern setting for patterning tools creates patterns or hatches
that are linked to the original element geometry. If Method is set to Element, the
hatching will update when the original element is manipulated or modified.
 Exercise: Create an associative pattern

1 Continuing in the Wards model, select Modify Element from the Main toolbox.
2 Enter a data point on a vertex of the crosshatched ward and move the
pointer to modify the vertex.

The pattern does not continue into the added area.
3 Undo twice.
4 Select Crosshatch Area and enable the Associative Pattern check box.
5 Enter a data point inside a shape in ward 4 to identify it as the shape to be
crosshatched.
7 Select Modify Element.
8 Enter a data point on a vertex of the crosshatched and move the pointer to
modify the vertex.
This time the pattern continues.

9 Select Edit > Undo, or press Ctrl + Z.
Pattern Area
Pattern Area is the repetitive placement of a symbol to fill an area. The symbol
used is a cell element, which is simply a small drawing of a frequently used
symbol.

 Exercise: Pattern using a cell

1 Continuing in the Wards model, make land the active level.
2 Select Pattern Area, with the following tool settings:
Method: Flood
Pattern Definition: From Cell
Scale: 500
True Scale: Enabled
Now you must select the cell to use.
3 Click the magnifying glass next to the Pattern field.
4 In the Cell Library dialog, select File > Attach File.
5 Navigate to the \Workspace\System\cell folder, select sample2.cel, and
then click Open.
Hint: Use the Up one Level icon to move through the folder structure.
6 Scroll to the cell named Grass and click on it.
This cell is made up of elements that represent grass.
7 Click the Pattern button in the Active Cells section at the bottom of the
Cell Library dialog.
This allows the cell to be used with the Pattern Area tool.
8 Close the Cell Library dialog.

9 Enter a data point inside one of the Wards.
The outline highlights.

10 Enter a second data point to accept the area pattern.
Additional methods
There are four other methods to use when patterning elements. The icon
resembles the outcome of the operation. Click the desired icon, set the rest of the
tool settings, and follow the status bar prompts to pattern.
• Union fills the total area inside multiple elements.
• Intersection fills the intersecting area of multiple closed elements.

Module Review
• Difference fills the difference between multiple closed elements. The first
element is the one that is filled. The secondary elements are subtracted from
the area of the first.
For these methods, you identify the elements involved with a data point. To
select more than two elements, press the Ctrl key and click the element.
• Points fills an area that you define by entering data points.
A box drawn around the blocks
Module Review
You also can test your skill using the geometry in the Work With Existing Elements
Challenges, Text Your Skill, model.
Questions
1 How can you copy multiple elements?
2 How can you copy an element multiple times?
3 What is a passive member of a Named Group?
4 Name two methods for using the Measure Distance tool.
5 Which method would you use to pattern an area made up of multiple
elements?

Module Review

Modifying Existing Elements
Module Overview
This module explains how to use MicroStation’s modification tools to edit existing
geometry.
• Some knowledge about MicroStation elements
Module Objectives
• Modify existing element properties
• Change element attributes
Aug-09 129 Modifying Existing Elements

Basic Modification tools
Questions
1 True or False: You can make multiple copies with the Copy Element tool.
2 Which tool would you use to create the following pattern from an original
element?
3 How many previous commands can you undo in a MicroStation session?

4 To place an AccuDraw compass on a snap point, which shortcut should you
use?
Answers
1 True. Copy has an option to make multiple copies.
2 Use Construct Array, Rectangular method, with a rotation of 45 degrees
and 5 by 5 elements.
3 Unlimited to the extent of the undo buffer.
4 <O> for Set Origin.

Several tools can be used to modify the spatial geometry of existing elements.
Modifying Existing Elements 130 Aug-09

The Modify toolbox can be accessed from the Main toolbox or by pressing 7 when
The Modify tools from the Main toolbox and the Modify toolbox
Modify Element
Modify Element is an all‐purpose modification tool that is used to change the

spatial coordinates of an elements geometry.
With this tool, you can do the following.

• Move the end point of a line
• Modify rounded segments of complex elements
• Scale an arc while maintaining its sweep angle
• Scale a block about the opposite vertex
• Change a circle's radius or the length of one axis of an ellipse
The tool settings will change depending upon the element or vertex that is
selected.
 Exercise: Modifying lines and arcs

1 Continuing in MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn, open the model named
Horizontal Alignment.


Note that there are no tool settings available.
3 Enter a data point near the end of the centerline.
4 Move the pointer.

The end closest to the data point used to select the element will be
modified. Since this is a line, no tool settings are necessary to modify the
end point to a new location. All you need to do is enter a data point to
relocate it.
5 Reset.
6 The next part of the centerline is an arc. Click on it.
There are now tool settings available.

7 Move the pointer.
The arc can be moved in any direction, which causes the radius to change.
The Radius preserve Ends method modifies the arc by changing the radius,
but keeps the end points in the same place.
8 In the tool settings, change the method to Radius about Center and move
the pointer.
This modifies the arc’s radius without changing the center point.

9 In the tool settings, change the method to Angle and move the pointer.
This modifies the arc’s sweep angle.
10 Reset.
 Exercise: Modifying polygons

1 Continuing in the Horizontal Alignment model, with Modify Element
active, enter a data point on one of the building’s vertices.
2 Note the tool settings.
You cannot only move the selected vertex to a new location, you can
change the vertex type, including the radius of a rounded vertex. There is
an orthogonal option to maintain the vertex at right angles to the adjacent
sides.
Vertex Type: Rounded
Rounding Radius: 100
Orthogonal: Checked
4 Move the pointer upward and enter a data point.
5 Reset.
6 Enter a data point on the bottom side of the building and move the
pointer.
Now you are only modifying the height or orientation of the block. Use
AccuDraw with this to maintain vertex angles.
7 Reset.
Hint: When used with AccuDraw, the Modify Element tool provides the greatest
degree of flexibility. For example, when selecting a circle AccuDraw switches to

the Polar coordinate system, the compass moves to the center and it aligns to
the view axis.
Partial Delete
Partial Delete is used to remove unwanted portions of elements and has no

options to alter its operation. Instead, the operation varies slightly depending
upon the type of element selected.
With linear elements, the first data point identifies both the element and start
point for the partial delete. The second data point identifies the end of the partial
delete.
Partially deleting a line
On closed shapes, the first data point identifies the element and start of the
partial delete, while the second establishes the direction and end point of the
partial delete.
Break Element
Break Element lets you break, or cut, an element at a defined point.
To use it, select the tool and identify the element at the point where the break is
required. Enter a data point to accept.
A broken line
Extend
Extend lets you dynamically adjust the end point of a linear element while
maintaining its direction.

To use it, select the tool and set the tool settings. Enable Distance and set it to a
negative value to shorten the line or a positive value to extend it. If you use From
End, the extension or shortening happens to the end nearest the identification
point. Follow the status bar prompts.
Extend to Element
This tool is used to extend or shorten lines, line strings, or arcs to their
intersection with another element. Depending upon the element geometry, one
or both of the elements can be modified to create the necessary intersection.
To use it, select the tool, identify the first element, identify the second element,
and then accept the modification.
Enable the Select cutting element first check box so that the first element you
identify is the cutting element, and the second element is the element that is
extended or shortened. When this tool setting is on, after you select the cutting
element, you can select multiple elements by dragging a selection line across
them to simultaneously extend and/or shorten them.
Extend to Intersection
This tool is used to extend or shorten two elements of any type to their
intersection.

Depending upon the existing geometry, the selected element will be modified to
create the necessary intersection.
 Exercise: Use other element modifiers

1 Continuing in the Horizontal Alignment model, set the following in the
Attributes toolbox:
Level: Plan Prop Alignment
3 Snap to the end of the upper right of way, and then the lower end of the
right of way to place a line.
4 Reset.
5 Select Move Parallel from the Main toolbox, with the following tool
settings:
Keep Original: Disabled
Distance: Enabled and set to 150
6 Enter a data point to move the line.

8 Modify the ends of both right of way lines to the ends of the survey line.
9 Select Extend To Element.

10 Click one of the remaining lines, and then click the survey line to extend
the line.
11 Repeat to extend all the lines.
This method works, but there are easier ways to extend or shorten multiple
elements.
Trim Multiple
Use this tool to remove unwanted portions of elements to their intersection with
a cutting element.
Tool setting modes let you change how the tool operates.
• Trim is the default mode. Identified elements that intersect with the cutting
element will be trimmed.

• Extend mode lets identified elements that can be extended to intersect with
the cutting element(s) be extended.
• Trim and Extend lets you trim and extend one or more elements at their
intersection with the cutting element.
To use it, use the Element Selection tool to select the cutting element(s), and then
select the Trim Multiple tool. You can also select the Trim Multiple tool, and then
identify the cutting element(s). Press the Ctrl key to select multiple cutting
elements.
In the Tool Settings, set the Mode to Trim, Extend, or Trim and Extend. Then,
identify an element to trim/extend. You can also drag a selection line across
multiple elements to trim/extend.
As soon as you identify the elements to trim/extend, they are instantly modified
to their intersection with the cutting element(s).
IntelliTrim
IntelliTrim is used to trim, extend or cut multiple elements. The trim and extend
options require you to select a destination element, while the cut option requires
a cutting line to be defined.
Quick and Advanced modes
IntelliTrim works in two modes. In the Quick mode, you identify a single cutting
element followed by selection of elements to be trimmed.
 Exercise: Trim multiple elements

1 Continuing in the Horizontal Alignment model, press Ctrl + Z until all the
lines except the right of way lines are no longer extended.
2 Select IntelliTrim, with the following tool settings:

Mode: Quick
Operation: Extend
3 Enter a data point on the survey line.
This is the element to which you want to extend the other elements.
4 Enter a data point to the left of the lines you want to extend, and drag a
line across them.
All lines extend
5 Select File > Save Settings.
The Advanced mode provides additional options that allow you to select either
multiple cutting elements or multiple trim elements. If elements are already part
of a selection set, you decide whether the selected elements are the elements to
trim or the cutting elements.
Construct Circular Fillet
This tool is used to place a tangent radius between two elements. Set the
truncation option and a fillet radius in the tool settings. Fillets can be placed
between arcs and circles in addition to lines.
Construct Chamfer
This tool places a straight line element between two elements creating a beveled
edge. The chamfer is defined by specifying two distances that locate the
endpoints of the new beveled edge element, relative to the intersection point of
the two modified lines.
 Exercise: Constructing circular fillets

1 Open the model named Modifying Existing Elements, Essentials
Geometry.

2 Select the Construct Circular Fillet tool, with the following tool settings:
Radius: 0.1875
Truncate: Both
You’ll place a fillet in the upper left bracket area.
3 Select the first and second line segments by entering data points on the
left side of the bracket and then the top.
MicroStation highlights the selected lines and replaces the sharp corner
with a rounded one.
4 Enter a data point to accept the construction.

The fillet is placed and both lines are truncated.
5 Change Truncate to First in the tool settings.

You’ll place a fillet in the lower right bracket area.

6 Enter data points on the left side of the bracket and then the base.

MicroStation truncates the first element selected and not the second.
8 Change Truncate to None in the tool settings.

You’ll place a fillet in the lower left base area.

9 Entering data points on the left side of the base and then the top of the
base.

MicroStation constructs the fillet and performs no truncation at all.
During this exercise, we will place a chamfer on the stock bracket.
 Exercise: Construct a chamfer

1 Continuing in the Modifying Existing Elements model, select the Construct
Chamfer tool, with the following tool settings:
Distance 1: 0.1875
Distance 2: 0.375
You’ll place a chamfer in the upper right bracket area.

Changing Element Attributes
2 Select the first and second chamfer segments by entering data points on
the top and side, as shown.
MicroStation replaces the sharp corner with a beveled one.

Using Element Selection

Resizing elements
A quick way to resize an element is to modify the location of Element Selection

edit handles. To do so, do the following.
1. Select the element using the Element Selection tool.
2. Select a handle and drag to a different location.
3. Enter a data point when the element is the correct size.
Hint: To constrain the existing angles and preserve geometric relationships, press Alt
on the keyboard while dragging the handle.
Changing attributes
Select the element or elements and then set new attributes in the Attributes
toolbox. All selected elements will inherit the new attributes.

 Exercise: Change selected element attributes

1 Click the Previous Model icon at the lower left of the application window
to return to the Horizontal Alignment model.
2 Select Element Selection (1), with the following tool settings:
Mode: Line
Method: Add
3 Drag a line across the roadway lines you extended.

4 In the Attributes toolbox, set the following:
Color: 1
Style: 0
The element attributes are changed.
To change an active attribute to match the property of a selected element, drag

the element into the Attributes toolbox and drop it on the corresponding icon. For
example, to set the active line weight to match an existing element, use the
Element Selection tool to select the element, then drag it to the Active Line
Weight icon in the Attributes toolbox and drop it.
Using Element Information
This dialog is used to review or modify the properties of an element, such as its
type, attributes, or even its geometry.

The selected element, or elements, are listed in the top frame. Tabs appear in the
bottom frame and change depending on the type of element you select.
Information displayed on each of these tabs pertains to the element whose list
entry is selected in the top frame. If you select the <Selection> entry, any changes
made in the dialog will apply to all the selected elements.
 Exercise: Change element attributes using Element Information

1 Continuing in the Horizontal Alignments model, turn on display of the
levels Survey Exist Contour Major and Survey Exist Contour Minor.
2 Expand the Element Selection tool settings, and select the Level tab.
3 Scroll to and select the level Survey Exist Contour Minor.

4 Click the Element Information tool in the Primary Tools toolbox.
5 On the General tab of the Element Information dialog, click in the field
next to Weight, where you see 2.
6 Click the arrow and change the weight to 0.
7 Close the dialog.
The line weight of the contours is changed.
Note: If a field and its setting are grayed out in the Element Information dialog, the
value is read‐only and cannot be modified.
Change Attributes toolbox
The Change Attributes toolbox can be accessed from the Main toolbox, or by
pressing 5 when the focus is at home.

The Change Attributes tools from the Main toolbox and the Change Attributes task
Change Attributes
Use the Change Attributes tool to specify new element attribute settings. It is
useful if you need to make repetitive changes to many different elements. It is
also is efficient for changing the level of an element to a level that is currently
turned off without changing any other attributes.
To use it, select the tool, enable the check box for each attribute you want to
change, identify the element, and then accept the change.
If Use Active Attributes is enabled, the active attributes will change when you
change or match attribute settings. By default, this is disabled so that the active
attributes are not affected.
Uncheck Change Entire Element if you want to change part of a complex element,
but not the whole element.
Underlined text
Entire element changed on the left, only the underline on the right
Match Element Attributes
To set the active element attributes so they match those of an existing element in
a design, use Match Element Attributes tool.

Module Review
To use it, select the tool, enable the check boxes for the attributes you want to
match, and then click the element.
Note: If an attribute is set to ByLevel, you must enable the Level check box to obtain a
match.
SmartMatch
Match All Element Settings, or SmartMatch, is used to change all active element
attribute settings, including those specific to particular element types, so that
they match the attributes of a selected element. To use it, just select the element,
and then select the tool.
 Exercise: Change the major contour lines

1 Continuing in the Horizontal Alignments model, select SmartMatch, and
then click on one of the contour lines you just changed.
The attributes in the Attributes toolbox change.
2 Select Element Selection, click the Level tab in the expanded tool settings
and click the level Survey Exist Contour Major.
3 Select Change Element Attributes, with the following tool settings:
Use Active Attributes: Checked
Level, Color, Style, Weight: Checked
4 Enter a data point in the view.
Module Review
You can also test your skill using the geometry in the Modifying Existing Elements
Questions
1 What are the different ways you can you modify an arc?

Module Review
2 Name two element types on which you can use the Extend Element tool.
3 Describe the functionality of the Trim Element tool.
4 What tool would you use to complete the following modification?
 Mastery Exercise: Create elements and modify them

1 Use Place SmartLine and Copy Parallel to create an arrangement similar to
the following.
2 Use a Modify tool to create the following from those lines.
3 Use Place SmartLine, Place Arc, and AccuDraw to draw an arc the size
indicated and a line.

Module Review
4 Use a Modify tool to modify the arc to the size indicated.

Module Review

Annotating Designs
Module Overview
MicroStation has a variety of tools with which you can annotate the geometry in
your designs. You can place single or multi line text, dimensions, and revision
clouds.
This module will help you understand how to annotate existing designs, use many
of MicroStation’s annotation tools, and comply with text and dimension
standards.
Module Objectives
• Set text attributes
• Use text tools to place text
• Correctly dimension elements
• Place revision clouds
Aug-09 151 Annotating Designs

• Add text containing informative fields
Questions
1 What happens when you turn off display of a level?
2 Name the steps for using a MicroStation tool.
Answers
1 Turning levels on or off changes the display status of the elements that
reside on the level.
2 1. Set the correct level and any other element attributes that are
necessary.
1. Select a tool.
Text Attributes
Text elements are useful for including labels other than dimensions in a design. As
an element, text is unique in that it has two distinct sets of attributes. There are
element attributes such as color and text attributes such as font, slant, and
justification.
Fonts
Fonts that are used to define the typeface of text elements are stored in external
files that are referenced by MicroStation. This helps with the management of
fonts and helps to keep design file size reasonable. MicroStation can use and
display TrueType fonts, MicroStation fonts, and AutoCAD SHX fonts.
Annotating Designs 152 Aug-09

Text Attributes
Justification
As with most other elements, text is positioned in the model with a data point,
which in this case, is referred to as the origin, or insertion point.
The way the text is aligned about the origin is controlled by the text’s justification.
Single and multi‐line text

Justifications are Left Top, Center, and Right Bottom
Text size
Text size is determined by its height and width, which can be different values.
Line spacing
Line Spacing is the distance between individual lines of text in multi‐line text. This
value also specifies the distance text is placed away from an element when the
placement method is set to Above, Below, or Along. Line spacing is commonly set
to 1/2 to 2/3 of the text height.
Setting attributes
You can set the text attributes that you want in the tool settings at the time of
placement, or they can be set using a text style. A text style is a named collection
of text attributes that is created by an administrator.
Text styles
Text styles are named sets of text attributes, such as font, width, height, and color,
that allow you to place text within a model in a consistent manner. Text elements

Using Text Tools
can be placed with or without a text style, but text elements placed with a text
style are automatically updated if the style is modified.
 Exercise: Examine the text styles

1 Continuing in MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn, open the Annotating
Designs, Essentials geometry, model.
2 Select Place Text.
In the tool settings, the text style is set to none.
3 Select the style Arial Bold and note how the tool settings change.
The Bold icon is also activated in the Text Editor that opened when you
selected the tool.
4 Select the style Italics and note how the tool settings change.
The Italics icon and the color change in the Text Editor.
5 Select the style Notes before you continue.
Using Text Tools

The Text toolbox can be accessed from the Drawing task, or by pressing A when
Place text
The most common tool for placing text is Place Text.
The word processor text editor opens when you select a text placement or editing
tool. Input from the letter keys and arrow keys on the keyboard is treated as text
input until you press the Esc key, select another tool, or click the (Utilities > Key‐in)
Key‐in browser where you can type in MicroStation commands.

Using Text Tools
MicroStation’s word processor operates like any other text editor. You can set a
variety of attributes such as bold, italics, and underline by either clicking the
appropriate icon or using standard keyboard shortcuts such as Ctrl + B, Ctrl + I and
Ctrl + U.
Text can be copied and pasted from other applications into the word processor
and all formatting will be retained.
Hint: The word processor will also open if you double click on a text string with the
Element Selection tool.
The color and other attributes of text are set by a text style if one is selected in the
tool settings. When you are not using a text style, text will be placed using the
color that is active in the word processor text editor and the settings set in the
tool settings.
Placement methods
There are different methods by which you can place text. By Origin lets you place
the text in a drawing using the location of the justification setting and a data point
you enter. By Origin places text at the angle that is active in the file (Active Angle)
and using the active text settings
 Exercise: Placing text By Origin

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, click the Expand arrow in the
Place Text tool settings to see additional settings.
2 Set the following Place Text tool settings, leaving any default settings as
they are:
Method: By Origin
Height: 18
Width: 18 (lock the padlock to make both the same)
Click the Annotation Scale icon so it is depressed
Font: scroll up to 41 ARCHITECTURAL (Bentley font)

Justification: Left Top
3 Type the following into the text editor:

Using Text Tools
East Elevation
Note that the text is attached to the pointer by the upper left corner. This
is a result of the Left Top justification setting.
4 Enter a data point under the top elevation to label it, and then reset.
5 Type the following into the text editor:

North
6 Press Enter to start a second line of text and type the following:
Elevation
A single line of text is a text element, while multi‐line text is referred to as
a text node. Text nodes are complex elements, like cells, which means that
they are made up of multiple elements.
Justification: Center Center
The text is now attached to the pointer at the center.
8 Enter a data point under the second elevation to label it, and then reset.
Other placement options

• Fitted text is stretched to fit between two data points that you enter.

Using Text Tools
The vertical alignment of the text is determined by the justification setting.
• Once View Independent text is placed, it stays at the same orientation

regardless of how you rotate a view.
• Fitted V(iew) I(ndependent) combines fitted and view independent features.

• On Element places text on an element. The element is broken to
accommodate the text.
• Along Element places text along an element, either above or below it. Each
character is placed as a single text element that is a component of a graphic
group. There is a lock you can toggle that lets you operate on elements that
are part of a graphic group individually or all together.

Using Text Tools
• Word Wrap lets you define a block and contains text within the box. If a word
is exceeds the limit of the box, the word drops to the next line.
• Above/Below Element places text above or below an element. How far it is

placed from the element depends on the Line Spacing value.
 Exercise: Use the Below Element method

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, type the following in the
Word Processor:
South Elevation
2 Change the following in the tool settings:
Method: Below Element
3 Enter a data point on the bottom of the last elevation.
The name is placed under the building.
The distance that text is placed from the identified element when using the
Above, Below, On, and Along methods depends on the Line Spacing setting. The
larger the value, the further away from the element the text is placed.
Annotation scale
This defines the scale for text and dimensioning in a file. When you specify an
annotation scale, the text you are placing is scaled by that amount. Administrators
will usually create text styles at a scale of 1 to 1 for plotting. Then you enable the
Annotation Scale lock when placing the text in a file so that it appears the correct
size.

Using Text Tools
If you were creating a 1m = 200m scale design, any text that you place would have
to be 200 times bigger than normal so that it looks correct. With Annotation Scale
set to 200:1, you do not have to worry about calculating the size of the text.
 Exercise: Annotation scale

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, note the Place Text tool
settings.
The Annotation Scale lock was on when you previously placed text.
2 In the tool settings, disable the Annotation Scale lock by clicking the icon.
Annotation Scale lock enabled in the first image and disabled in the second
The text South Elevation remains in the Word Processor.

Method: By Origin
4 Enter a data point to place the text in the file.
It is so small that you cannot see it. The scale of this model is 1:100. You
need to scale 1:1 text up 100 times, so that it looks correct.
5 Zoom In on the area in which you placed the text.
6 Select Scale, with the following tool settings:
X and Y Scale: 100
7 Click the text you just placed, and enter a data point to scale it.
It now appears correct. It is easier to use the Annotation Scale lock so that
text is always placed at the correct size.
8 Select Place Text, and turn the Annotation Scale lock back on.
9 Delete the scaled text.
Place Note
This tool is used to place text with leader lines and arrows, as well as callouts
without leaders.

Using Text Tools
Tool settings control both the appearance and placement of the notes.
To use it, select the tool, and select the Place Note icon in the tool settings. Type
the note text you want to place in the word processor. If there is no text entered,
only the leader line and arrow are placed. Enter a data point to position the
terminator arrowhead. Enter a data point.
• If Location is set to Automatic or Semi‐Automatic, this data point indicates the
location of the end of the leader line and text, and ends the note.
• If Location is set to Manual, you can enter more data points to define
additional vertices of the leader line. Reset to end the note.
Text frame options left, leader types and text rotation options, right
To place a callout, select the Place Callout icon in the tool settings, set any
additional tool settings, type the text in the word processor, and enter a data
point to place the callout.

Using Text Tools
Enter data fields
Enter data fields are empty text place holders that are positioned in the file, but
filled with text characters later. Each enter data field is placed with a full set of
text attributes that will be applied to the text characters upon entry into the data
field.
The default character used to represent a data field is an underbar ( _ ) and each
underbar is a placeholder for a single character of text. Select Place Text, enter
any text you want and then an underbar for each enter data field you want.
Enter data fields will display as underbars unless the Data Fields option is disabled
in the View Attributes dialog. When this toggle is disabled, the enter data fields
will not display but can still be used with the following specialized tools.
• Fill In Single Enter Data Field is used to select and fill in an enter data field.
• The selected enter data field can either be empty or contain text. To fill one,
select the tool and then click the text containing the field. In the Text Editor,
enter the text you want to fill the fields with, and then enter a data point.
Reset.
• Auto Fill In Enter Data Fields is a useful tool to fill in empty enter data fields in
a selected view.

Using Text Tools
• When selected, MicroStation cycles through each enter data field in a view
and selects them in the order in which they were created. Select the tool,
enter a data point in the desired view, then enter the text in the Text Editor
and press Enter.
Copy/Increment Text
Use Copy/Increment Text to copy an existing text string that contains numbers.
As MicroStation creates each copy, the number is incremented according to the

Tag Increment value defined in the tool settings. Click the tool, click the text, and
each data point places an incremented copy.
RM101 copied with an increment of 10
Find/Replace Text
Located on the Edit menu, Find/Replace Text enables you to search for all, or
portions of, a specific text string in either a DGN or DWG file. Once the text is
found, it can be replaced with a different string. You can replace single instances,
those within a fence, or all instances.

Changing Existing Text
To use Find/Replace Text, select Edit > Find/Replace Text. The options in the
Replace Text dialog work just like those of most Windows applications’ Find and
Replace text functions.

Rather than replacing text that is not correct, you can edit and change is several
ways.
Edit Text
The Edit Text tool lets you edit existing text.
When a text string is selected for editing, it appears in the word processor. In
addition to changing the alpha‐numerics, a variety of text attributes can also be
changed. Once the changes have been made in the word processor, enter a data
point in the view to change the text.
 Exercise: Edit text string content

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, select Edit Text.
2 Enter a data point on the text string South Elevation.
3 In the word processor, highlight the word South and replace it with
Southeast.
Hint: Double click a text element with the Element Selection tool active to activate
the Edit Text tool and open the word processor text editor.
You can change more than alpha‐numeric attributes using Edit Text.
 Exercise: Edit color and style

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, select Edit Text.
2 Enter a data point on the text string you just edited.

3 In the word processor, set the font to the TrueType font Arial Narrow, and
click the Bold and Underline icons.
4 Enter a data point in the file to change the text.
Matching and changing text

The Match Text Attributes tool sets the active text settings to match those of a
selected text element.
The Change Text Attributes tool changes the attributes of existing text elements.
You can change text strings or nodes individually, or using a fence or selection set.
 Exercise: Change text attributes

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, select Change Text
Attributes, with the following tool settings:
Text Style: Disabled
Font: Enabled and set to Arial
Height: Enabled and set to 20
Width: Enabled and set to 20
Underline: Enabled and set to Disable
2 Enter a data point on the text string.
Note that the bold attribute is exclusive to the word processor.
3 Select Match Text Attributes.
4 Enter a data point on the text North Elevation, and then enter a data point
to accept.
The active text attributes are now set to these attributes.
5 Select Change Text Attributes, and note the active attributes.
6 Enter a data point on the text, and the original attributes return.

Text Fields
Text Fields
Fields are text strings derived from the attributes of an element, the properties of
a model or the properties of a file and are placed with the Place Text tool.
Fields based on element attributes are updated to reflect changes whenever a

change to the element causes the attribute to change. Models have an option to
update fields automatically.
 Exercise: Add a file property field

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, Window Area around the
border’s title block.
2 Select Place Text, with the following tool setting:
Method: By Origin
Text Style: Style (none)
Height and Width: 13
3 In the Word Processor text editor, right click.
4 Select Insert Field.
5 Select Model Properties in the Field Type dialog, and click OK.
6 In the Fields Editor dialog, click the Name field.
7 In the String Format area, set Case to First Capital.
You see a preview at the dialog’s lower left.

8 Click OK.
9 Place the text in the Model field in the title block.

Text Fields
The string reflects the model name.
10 Select File > Save Settings.
 Exercise: Change file properties

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, open the Models dialog.
2 Right click the name Annotating Designs, change it to Annotating, and
press Enter.
3 Reset.
4 With the pointer in the view, press Enter.
5 In the Key‐in window, type the following:
FIELD UPDATE SELECT
6 Enter a data point on the Annotating designs field.
The text field updates.
A field can appear anywhere within a text string and can span multiple words or
lines within multi‐line text.
Text field background
In order to distinguish fields from text that is entered directly, fields have a gray
background. Its display can be toggled in the Preferences dialog.
 Exercise: Hide the field background

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, select Workspace >
Preferences.
2 Select the Text category.
3 Enable the Hide Field Background check box and click OK.
4 Select File > Save Settings, and then File > Close.
5 Reopen the file.
The field backgrounds no longer display.
Note: Fields in MicroStation and AutoCAD are similar. A MicroStation field will be
saved to DWG format as long as the underlying field property exists within
AutoCAD.
You can place fields that update when elements are modified. Use the field type
element properties to create these types of fields. You then identify the element

The Spell Checker
you want to use so that the applicable properties can be determined. Select from
them to create the field.
Fields reflecting element area and element color, line style, and weight
The Spell Checker

This feature lets you search the text in the text editor, or search an entire design
file, for spelling errors.
To check the text in the text editor, select the icon in the word processor tool bar.
To check the active file, select the tool from the Text tools. You can check
individual words, use a fence to fence a portion of the file, or check the whole file.
Revision Clouds
A revision cloud is a closed element commonly used to call attention to design
revisions or redlines. Tools for placing them can be found in the Drawing
Composition tasks’ Annotation task, or select Tools > Annotation > Cloud.

Dimensions
 Exercise: Adding revision clouds

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, click the arrow next to Tasks
in the Tasks dialog and select the Drawing Composition task.
2 Click the Annotate task.

Color: 3
Weight: 1
4 Select Cloud By Points, with the following tool setting:
Arc Angle: 100
Arc Angle defines the sweep angle of the arcs used to form the cloud
element.
5 Follow the status bar prompts to place a cloud around the edited model
name in the title block.
6 Click the arrow next to Drawing Composition in the Tasks dialog and select
the Drawing task.
You can also create a revision cloud by modifying or copying an existing
closed element using the Cloud By Element tool.
7 Fit View.
The Arc Radius option lets you define the radius of the arcs used to construct the
cloud element. If the option is disabled, the radius of the arc elements is defined
by the first two data points you enter when creating the revision cloud.
Dimensions
Dimensions are critical for accurate designs. They are necessary to show the size
of, and relationships between, elements or overall models.

Dimensions
To understand dimensions, examine the components of a dimension element.

Terminator (arrow)
Dimension line
Dimension text
Extension line
Dimension styles
Dimension definitions can be created by administrators and saved in named styles

in the Dimension Styles dialog. Similar to text styles, these pre‐defined styles let
you place dimensions in a consistent manner.
Dimensioning tools
The Dimensioning toolbox can be accessed from the Drawing task, or by pressing
F when the focus is at home.
Element Dimensioning
The Dimension Element tool is used to dimension a line, line string, multi‐line,
shape, arc, or circle.
Associations can be made between the dimension and elements so that, if the
element changes, the dimension updates automatically. A variety of tool settings
determine the placement and appearance of the dimension element.
 Exercise: Element dimensioning

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, select Settings > Snaps >
AccuSnap.

Dimensions
2 Disable the Pop‐up Info check box so you can see the dimensions more
clearly.
3 Zoom In to the area indicated.
4 Select Element Dimensioning, with the following tool settings:

Dimension Style: mm Dimension
Annotation Scale icon: Enabled (depressed)
The tool has different tool settings depending upon the type of element
you are dimensioning.
5 Enter a data point on the outer arc of the reception desk.
6 Note the tool settings.
They have changed to reflect the fact that you are dimensioning a circular
element. The active mode is Dimension Radius.
The position of the dimension changes dynamically as the pointer moves.

Dimensions
7 Enter a data point to the right of the arc to place the dimension.
8 Enter a data point on the dashed grid line that runs vertically, to the right
of the reception desk.
The tool settings reflect that you are dimensioning a linear element. The
position of the dimension changes dynamically as the pointer moves.
9 Enter a data point to place the dimension.

Dimensions
Alignment
Alignment options control the alignment of linear dimensions.
Alignment Aligns linear dimensions
Parallel to the view x‐ or y‐axis.

View (X is the design plane x‐axis.)
Parallel to the design plane x‐ or y‐ axis.

The model’s rotation determines the
Drawing alignment axis for a particular
dimension. (X is the design plane x‐
axis.)
Parallel to the element being

True dimensioned.
The extension lines are at right angles
to the dimension line.
Parallel to the element being

Arbitrary dimensioned. The extension lines are
(2D only) not constrained to be at right angles to
the dimension line.
Association
The Association option associates the dimension you are placing with the points
on the element being dimensioned. If the element is then modified, the
dimension updates to reflect the change.
The Association lock must be enabled to place associated dimensions.

Dimensions
 Exercise: Associated dimensions

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, select Place Block, with the
Method: Orthogonal
Fill Type: None
2 Place a block behind the desk to represent a cabinet.
3 Select Element Dimensioning, click the arrow in the tool settings to
expand them, and enable the Association check box.
4 Enter a data point on one side of the cabinet, and another to place the
dimension.

6 Enter a data point on the cabinet.
7 Move the pointer upward to extend the cabinet, and enter a data point.
The associated dimension updates when you establish the new end point.
If using the Element Dimensioning tool, place the dimension normally. The
Element Dimensioning tool creates all possible associations automatically if the
Association Lock is on. Snapping is unnecessary. If using dimensioning tools other
than Element Dimensioning, snap tentative points to the element or elements
being dimensioned to create associations.
Changing any association point by modifying the element updates the attached
dimensions.
Note: Avoid placing associated and non‐associated dimensions in the same model.

Dimensions
Linear dimensioning
Use Linear Dimensioning to dimension the linear distance between two points.
When using these tools, alignment and location can be set in the tool settings.
Options that affect placement and appearance are also available in the tool
settings.
 Exercise: Placing a string of dimensions

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, Zoom Out so you can see the
side of the floor plan.
2 Select Dimension Linear, with the following tool settings:

Dimension Style: M Dimension
Mode: Linear Size

Dimensions
3 Enter a data point at the end of the uppermost grid line, and then enter a
data point on the next one down.
(1)
(2)
4 Enter a data point to the right to define the length of the extension line.
Linear Size dimensions the linear distance between two points. Each
dimension is computed from the endpoint of the previous one and is
chained together.
5 Enter a data point at the next grid line down.
6 Enter a data point at the last grid line.
7 Reset.

Dimensions
 Exercise: Stacked dimensions

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, set the following Linear
Dimensioning tool setting:
Mode: Linear Stacked
This mode dimensions the linear distance from an origin, and stacks the
dimensions.
You’ll focus on the lower side of the building.
2 Following the status bar prompt, enter a data point on the fourth grid line
to the left, and then enter a data point at the next grid line to the right.
3 Enter a data point to set the length of the extension line.
4 Enter a data point on the grid line at the right corner.
5 Reset.
Note: The tool starts the next dimension perpendicular to the last dimension placed.
Resetting twice resets the tool from the beginning.
The Select Multiple Elements option lets you dimension multiple elements by
passing a line through them.

Dimensions
 Exercise: Dimension multiple elements

1 Continuing in the Annotating model, Zoom Out so you can see the entire
upper side of the building.
2 Select Dimension Linear, with the following tool settings:
Select Multiple Elements icon: Enabled
Linear Size: Enabled
Start and End Extension: arrow
Note the change in the start and end extension settings labels. The color
changes to blue, indicating that this attribute is different than the one
defined in the dimension style you are using. The * next to the style name
indicates that it has been altered.
You are prompted to select the start of the selection line.
3 Enter a data point to the left of one of the grid lines and drag it to the right
to include all the grid lines.
4 Enter a data point to define the length of the extension lines and place the
dimension chain.
5 Reset.
6 Click the Reset Style icon in the tool settings of the Linear Dimensioning
tool.
The start and end extension settings return to arrow, as defined in the
dimension style. The color difference indicators disappear.
Angular dimensioning
The Angular Dimensioning tool has modes that help you to dimension angles.

Dimensions
The tool settings have options to define its performance and the appearance of
the dimensions. To use it, select the tool, set alignment and location, select the
desired mode and then follow the status bar prompts to place the dimension.
Ordinate dimensioning
Ordinate dimensions are used to label distances along an axis from an origin. You
can enter positive and negative values.
Modifying existing dimensions
Change Dimension
Existing dimensions can be changed to reflect new settings using the Change
Dimension tool.
 Exercise: Changing the active dimension settings

1 Continuing in the Annotating Designs model, select Element > Dimension
Styles.
2 In the Dimension Styles dialog, highlight the dimension style mm
Dimension.
3 On the Symbology tab, change the following:
Dimension Lines > Color: 3
Text > Color: 3
4 Select Change Dimension.

5 Enter a data point on the last dimension string you placed.

Dimensions
The dimensions assume the new attributes.
You can use the tools in the Modify toolbox to modify dimensions.
To: Use this Modify tool

Add an extension line Insert vertex
Remove an extension line Delete vertex
Move an extension line Modify
Modify length of an extension line Modify
Move dimension text Modify
Edit text in a dimension element Edit text
 Exercise: Remove an extension line

1 Continuing in the Annotating model, select Delete Vertex.
Note the status bar prompt.
2 Enter a data point on any extension line, as shown, and enter a data point.
Before and after
The extension line is removed and the distance is recalculated.

3 Reset.
Note: You can also use tools from the Tools > Dimensions > Miscellaneous toolbox to
work with dimensions.
You can use the Match Dimension Settings tool to match existing settings, and
then update using Change Dimension.

Module Review
Dimension Audit
The auditing tool searches all dimensions and reports any problems. Dimensions
are tested for overridden text, dropped dimensions, and loss of associativity by
toggling the criteria option icons. The report displays in the Report field at the
bottom of the dialog.
Audits can be performed using all of the criteria together, or on any single or
combination of criteria.
• Find Overridden Text finds dimensions whose text has been edited.
• Find Dropped Dimension finds dimensions that have been dropped to
elements.
• Find Non‐Associative Dimension finds dimensions that are no longer
associated to the elements they are dimensioning.
• Find Lost Associations finds dimensions that have associations that have
failed.
Any problem dimension is highlighted in the file and the area is zoomed to in the
active view.
 Exercise: Audit the dimensions

1 Continuing in the Annotating model, select Utilities > Dimension Audit.
2 In the Dimension Audit dialog, enable only Find Non‐Associative
Dimensions.
3 Click Dimension Audit Find.
4 Click the Expand arrow in the dialog and note the report.
To page through problems, click the Next Item arrow in the dialog.
Module Review
You can test your skill using the geometry in the Annotating Designs Challenges,
Test Your Skill, model.

Module Review
Questions
1 What additional element attributes do text elements have?
2 What is line spacing?
3 True or False: Text can be copied and pasted from other applications into
the word processor and all formatting will be retained.
4 Name two different ways you can change text.
5 Name the three places from which text fields are derived.
6 Name four components of a dimension.
7 What does the Associate option in the dimensioning tool settings do?

Module Review

MicroStation Design Files
Module Overview
This module discusses aspects of working with design files.
Module Objectives
• Save information
• Create files using seed files
• Set working units
• Compress files
• Create Saved Views
Aug-09 183 MicroStation Design Files

Questions
1 What happens when you turn off display of a level?
Answers
1 Turning levels on or off changes the display status of the elements that
reside on the level.
2 False. You can use a view control in any view.

Design file, or DGN, is the name of MicroStation’s primary data storage file, due to
the .dgn file extension. The term design is often used interchangeably with the
term design or drawing.
However, a design is a collection of elements that are drawn at full scale. A

drawing is a collection of elements and other items assembled for presentation
purposes.
Closing Files
You have finished with the file you are in and want to close it. There is still more
work to do in MicroStation though, so you don’t want to quit the application. You
just want to close the current design file.
• Selecting File > Open lets you select the next file you wish to open. The file
you are currently using will close and the new file will open.
• Selecting File > Close will close the current file, returning you to the File Open
dialog.
 Exercise: Closing the active design file

1 Continuing in the present model, select File > Close from the main menu
bar.
The design file closes and you are returned to the File Open dialog.
MicroStation Design Files 184 Aug-09

You can only open one design file at a time in a MicroStation session. If you find
that you need to have two design files open at the same time, you must start a
second MicroStation session to open the second design file. It is a good practice
to select a different User in the File Open dialog when opening the second
session. Note that only one license is used for both sessions.
Saving information
The method MicroStation uses to save information is slightly different from the
methods other applications use. When you open a design for modification in
MicroStation, the program reads the design’s data from the design file stored on
the system’s hard disk or network device into the computer’s local memory
(RAM). During the design process, MicroStation periodically writes the changes
back (saves) to the open file on the hard drive. This contrasts with other
applications that require you to perform a Save operation to permanently save
your changes.
Creating a MicroStation design file
To work in MicroStation you must either open an existing design file or create a
new one. In the next exercise, you will create a MicroStation design file and give it
a name before opening it. You will use the File Open dialog to create the file, but
you can create a file from inside MicroStation by selecting File > New.
Hint: A benefit of creating a file from inside MicroStation is that the new file opens
immediately.
 Exercise: Creating a new file

1 Click the New file icon at the top of the File Open dialog.
2 Type myfile in the File name field of the New Design File dialog.
Do not press Enter yet. Doing so is the same as clicking OK or Save, which
will finish the creation process and close the dialog you are using.
3 Observe the Save as type field.
It is set to MicroStation DGN Files. This field is used to select the desired
file type. The correct extension will be appended to the file name
automatically.
4 Observe the Seed field, and then click the Browse button.

It shows the path to the seed file that will be used; in this case, it is called
ExampleSeed.dgn.
Other delivered seed files are in the folder. To use one, select it and click
Open.
5 Click Cancel to continue to use ExampleSeed.dgn.
6 Click Save.
The new file name, myfile.dgn, appears in the File Open dialog.
You can open existing MicroStation files and create new files from your own
workstation or any accessible device on your network that has access to a
MicroStation license. Your system administrator, CAD manager or project leader
will probably set the location of your project’s files.
Now that you have created a new design file, open it and see what is inside.
 Exercise: Opening the new file

1 With myfile.dgn selected in the File Open dialog, click Open to open the
file.
You see any elements that were present in the seed file.
2 Select File > New from the main menu bar.
Seed files
A new design file is created by copying an existing seed file, which serves as a
template. It contains preset values such as initial element parameters, the type of
design to be created (2D or 3D), the working units used and perhaps some initial
design elements. An example of the latter would be a seed file containing your
company’s sheet border and title block.
 Exercise: Selecting a seed file

1 Click the Browse button next to the Seed field at the bottom of the New
file dialog.
2 In the Select Seed File dialog, select 2dMetricGeneral.dgn.
3 Click Open.
4 Type myfile2 in the File name field of the New file dialog.

Working with Files
5 Click Save.
The file opens. You can see that this seed file contains no elements.
Note: If you try to use a file name that already exists, an alert appears, warning you
the file already exists. You will overwrite the file if you continue with file
creation. When such a window appears, play close attention and make sure you
really want to overwrite the file.
The MicroStation installation contains many useful standard seed files. They are
located in the \WorkSpace\System\seed folder. Use the Look in field at the top of
the File Open dialog to navigate through folders.
Hint: You can click the Up One Level icon to move up one folder from the present
one.
As you have seen, seed files can contain geometry or they can be pre‐configured
with many of the standards common to a particular project. Your CAD manager or
project leader will probably customize certain delivered seed files for your use.
Having the customized seed files will make it easier for you to adhere to required
project parameters.
Working with Files

Attributes settings affect individual elements placed in a design file. Some settings
and operations affect everything in the file, or the file itself.
Setting working units
Working units are real‐world units to which the design plane is configured.
MicroStation uses true working units that are based on the meter. All
measurement information is stored in the metric system and converted to other
systems when requested. The conversion is completed with 14 places of accuracy
to the right of the decimal point. You use units of measure, selecting the preferred
units from a collection of imperial and metric units.

Working with Files
Changing units in a model does not change the physical size of the design
geometry. It simply changes the display of measured distances to the units of
choice.
Working units are composed of Master Units (MU) and Sub Units (SU), for
example, meters and centimeters. Sub units must always be equal to, or smaller
than, the master unit.
Working units, and how they are reported, are set in the Design File Settings
dialog. Select Settings > Design File, then the Working Units category.
• The Master Unit and Sub Unit options are set by the system and can be edited
by an administrator.
The Format and Accuracy settings are used when displaying coordinates,
distances, and angles in the status bar and dialogs. Setting these does not
affect the accuracy of calculations, only the precision with which the Format
options establish which units are displayed. MU displays only the master units.
MU:SU displays both master and sub units.
Working Units MU:SU and Distance

Feet / Inches 120:10 is 120 feet, 10 inches
Miles / Yards 26:385 is 26 miles, 385 yards
Meters / Millimeters 5:25 is 5 meters, 25 millimeters
Millimeters / Micrometers 0:500, or:500 is one half millimeter
For example, one and a half feet is 1.5 feet, or two meters and 750 millimeters
is 2.75 meters.
• Accuracy sets the number of decimal places, or fractional accuracy readout.
You can change working units quickly in the Drawing Scale dialog. Select Settings >
Drawing Scale to open it.
Note: Any changes made in the Design File Settings and Drawing Scale dialogs must
be saved by selecting File > Save Settings.

Saved Views
Compressing files
Compressing a design file reduces its size by purging empty and unused data
resources. Select File > Compress > Design to compress a file. Note that this clears
the undo buffer, so you will no longer be able to undo and redo.
Saved Views
You can create models to hold different elements, to establish window size and
position, to determine the displayed area of a design, and other settings.
A Saved View is another way to store view attributes, window size and position,
the displayed area of a design and other settings. It is a named view definition
saved in a DGN file for later recall or for attaching to another model file as a
reference.
Saved Views can be recalled anytime and are often used to set up standardized
views for plotting.
 Exercise: Saving a specific view

to return to myfile.dgn.
2 Click the icon again to return to the Annotating Designs model in
MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn.
3 Open the model named Element Creation, Essentials Geometry.
4 Click the Saved Views tool in the Primary Tools toolbox.
5 Select the Window Area view control and window around the North arrow
at the lower right of the map.

Saved Views
6 Click Create Save View in the Saved Views dialog, and set the following:
Method: From View
View Type: Saved View
Name: northarrow
The view is added to the list.
8 Select the View Previous view control to return to the original view.
Apply Options
There are several parameters saved with a saved view. Window size and position,
aspect ratio, reference settings, levels, camera position, view attributes, and clip
volume. Enable or disable these options when you apply a saved view to retain or
discard parameters.
When the Window icon is enabled, setting the option menu to its right to Aspect
Ratio keeps the saved view proportionate. Selecting Size keeps it the same size, or
a 1:1 ratio. Selecting Size and Position keeps the exact size and position.
Enable View Attributes so that the saved view’s view attribute settings are
maintained, rather than accepting those that are active in the view to which it is
being attached.
The other options work the same way. If the icon is enabled the saved view will
maintain its own parameters as opposed to accepting those that are active in the
view to which it is being attached.
 Exercise: Attaching the saved views

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, open View 2 and select
Window > Tile from the main menu bar.
2 Make sure the Saved Views dialog’s title bar indicates that View 2 is the
view to which changes will be applied.
If you want to change the view to be affected, just click its title bar.
3 Select the northarrow view in the list of names and click Apply Saved
View.

Saved Views
4 Click the Window icon and set the option to Size and Position.

The saved view is attached to view 2 and the view window resizes so that
it is the same as it was when the saved view was created.
6 Close the Saved View dialog.
Hint: Predefining a series of saved views in a seed file is a good way to standardize
commonly used views. For instance, set up a standard view for plotting that
defines the appropriate displayable elements and view attributes.
The ability to control the elements on the screen is important. A clip volume is
used to limit the displayable area of a design using the boundaries of a closed
shape. When clip volume is applied to a selected view, only the content within the
boundary element is displayed. Each of MicroStation’s eight views can have a
different clip volume.
 Exercise: Using a clip volume

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, close View 2.
2 Maximize View 1.
3 Select the Clip Volume view control, with the following tool setting:
Apply Clip Volume by 2 Points: Enabled
Display Clip Element: Enabled (you see the element that defines the area)
Create Dynamic View: Disabled

Ending a MicroStation Session
4 Enter two diagonal data points anywhere in the file and note the results.
Only the area inside the clip element is visible. The clip element that
bounds the area is an element that can be moved or resized.
5 Expand the Clip Volume tool settings by clicking on the downward arrow
at the lower right.
This area lets you save a clip volume for future recall.
 Exercise: Saving a clip volume

1 Continuing in the Element Creation model, click Create Named Fence from
Clip Volume in the tool settings.
2 Replace Untitled with a name of your choice and press Enter.
This saves the area so that it can be recalled.
3 Click the Clip Volume view control and select Clear Active Clip Volume.
5 Select File > Save Settings from the main menu bar so the view will be the
same the next time you enter the model.
Ending a MicroStation Session

MicroStation does not immediately write changes to design file settings or
attribute settings to disk.
Save Settings
When you make changes to settings that you want to permanently store, you
must save them to disk. To do this, select Save Settings from the File menu on the
main menu bar. A shortcut exists for this command as noted in the File menu, Ctrl
+ F.

Module Review
Save Settings saves the current settings in the active design file. These settings
include those that you set in file settings dialogs, as well as the view
configuration. The view windows will look exactly the same in size, position, and
content when you reopen them if you Save Settings before you close a file.
Module Review
You can test your skill using the geometry in the MicroStation Design Files
Questions
1 New design files are based upon what kind of files?
2 What is the difference between a design and a drawing?
3 What are working units?
4 True or False: Changing units in a model changes the physical size of the
design geometry.
5 Name two things saved with a Saved View.
6 True or False: You can save a clip volume so that it can be recalled.

Module Review

Organizing Design Data
Module Overview
This module explains how to use the data in different files for reference purposes.
• Some knowledge about MicroStation elements
• An understanding of the way an overlay system works
Module Objectives
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
• Attach and control reference information
• Create and use models
• Attach and control images with Raster Manager
Aug-09 195 Organizing Design Data

References
Questions
1 What is a model?
2 How do you open one?
3 Why might you want to look at another model at the same time as the one
on which you are working?
Answers
1 A model is an independent container within a DGN file that stores
graphical information and specific settings.
2 Select the model name in the View Groups dialog at the bottom left of the
application window. You can also open the Models dialog from the
Primary tools toolbox and double click the model name.
3 You might want to make measurements, check element attributes, make
sure features match, or print the contents of that model along with those
of your active model.
References
A DGN file is composed of models. When you place elements with MicroStation
tools, the elements are added to the active model. A model can be either 2D or
3D and is stored as a discrete object within a DGN file.
A reference is a model that is attached to, and displayed along with, the active
model for various purposes. When you use a design file that was created by
someone else, you generally want to look at it without modifying it. References
let you do this.
To create a design composition using MicroStation, you build a model consisting

of references of models you want to see. For example, you may attach a collection
of survey points as a guide for placement of additional geometry.
Organizing Design Data 196 Aug-09

References
You can reference models from the active DGN file, or from other DGNs that may
currently be in use by other users. Similarly, other users can reference the model
that you are working on. You can also attach DWG files.
When working with references, the active file, the one that you are in, is called
the master file. Elements in a reference display as though they were in the active,
or master, file.
Attaching references
 Exercise: Select a file to attach
1 Open the model named Streets.
2 Select the References tool from the Primary Tools toolbox.
3 In the References dialog, click Attach Reference.
4 In the Attach Reference dialog, select MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn.

Do not click Open yet. Examine the dialog.
The default attachment method is Interactive. With this method, additional

settings are set in the Reference Attachment Settings dialog. The Attachment
Method option menu on the right side of the dialog lets you select the method.
When you use the other attachment methods the Reference Attachment Settings
dialog does not appear. The default attachment settings, or the attachment
settings used for the last reference attached, are used instead. Once a method is
selected, it remains in effect until it is changed.
The Save Relative Path check box in the Attach Reference dialog is important.
A reference attachment that identifies the location of the file in which an attached
file resides by its full, or absolute, path is not portable across directories, projects

References
and networked systems. If the attached file is not found in that exact location, the
attachment will be missing. The best way to ensure portability when attaching
references is to enable Save Relative Path. This causes the relative path to the file
to be saved as attachment data in the DGN file so the file can be more easily
located.
 Exercise: Save the relative path

1 Continuing in the Attach Reference dialog, check the Save Relative Path
check box.
Leave the Attachment Method set to Interactive so that you can set
additional settings in the Reference Attachment Settings dialog.
2 Click Open.
Attachment settings
• The first option in the Attachment Settings dialog is the model you want to
attach.
• Since the same model can be attached many times, the Logical Name field
helps you to distinguish between them.
• Orientation sets the view of the model that you will see. Coincident, the
default, aligns the references with regard to design plane coordinates of the
file to which you are attaching the reference. Coincident World aligns the
references with the active model with regard to both Global Origin and design
plane coordinates. You can also choose to attach a particular saved view or
named fence if these are present.
• Scale (Master:Ref) sets the ratio of the master units in the active file to the
master units in the attached model. Use this if the reference elements need to
be scaled. For example, 2 to 1 would make the referenced elements twice as
large as elements in the master.
 Exercise: Attach the hydrography model

1 Continuing in the Streets model, set the following attachment settings in
the Reference Attachment Settings dialog:
Model: Hydrography
2 Click OK.

References
You now see the elements that are in the Hydrography model.
Note: You can also drag files from Windows Explorer and drop them into the
references dialog to attach them.
Attachment settings toggles define settings for the reference. The icons
correspond to columns in the References list box and information panel. If an icon
is pressed, the setting is on. Click the icons to toggle the settings.
• The first one is Display. If it is on, the reference is displayed. This is on by
default.
• Second is Snap. If on, you can snap to elements in the selected reference. This
is on by default.
• Next is Locate. If it is on, you can select elements in a reference for

construction purposes. This is on by default.
• Treat Attachment as Element for Manipulation lets you manipulate

references, as a whole, with the standard manipulation tools.
• True Scale uses units in the active model and those in the referenced model to
calculate an appropriate scaling factor so that the reference scale reflects a
true real‐world scale.This is on by default and is discussed later in the module.
Updating reference elements

 Exercise: See reference changes
1 Right click on the Hydrography model and select Exchange from the pop‐
up menu.
The model opens. Use Exchange to switch models when you need to make
changes to that particular model.

References
2 Expand the Element Selection tool settings.

3 On the Level tab, select the level river‐fill.
4 In the Attributes toolbox, set the active color to 97, a dark blue.
The river fill is now dark blue.
to return to the Streets model.
The change to the reference is seen immediately.
7 Click Next Model to return to the Hydrography model.
9 In the Attach Reference dialog, select MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn,

and attach the Parks model.
to return to the Streets model.
Manipulating references
Although you cannot manipulate elements that are in references, you can snap to
them and even copy them into the active model. You can also manipulate the
reference as a whole.
Manipulation tools
Tools at the top of the References dialog let you manipulate a reference. They
work like the element manipulation tool with the same names; Move, Copy, Scale,
Rotate, and Mirror.
Highlight the name of the reference you want to work with in the References
dialog, click the tool, and follow the status bar prompts to manipulate the
reference.

References
Note: Tools for working with references can also be found in the References toolbox.
Select Tools > Reference to open it. It contains the tools in the References dialog
and more. And, remember that if you enable Treat Attachment as Element for
Manipulation you can manipulate references with the standard manipulation
tools.
Reload Reference
Reload Reference reloads and redraws a reference, which lets you see changes
that have been made to a referenced model since it was last attached or reloaded.
MicroStation checks to see whether the file size or file time has changed for the
referenced model before reloading. If these have not changed, the file is not
reloaded.
Reference clipping and masking
The Clip Reference tool uses a boundary, such as an element or fence, to clip a
reference. The area of the reference outside the boundary is not displayed.
The Mask Reference tool covers a portion of a reference that is inside a boundary.
More than one clipping mask can be specified
Use References Dialog List option
One of the reference tools’ tool settings is Use References Dialog List. This option
lets you select the reference you want to manipulate from the References dialog.
If you are not sure of the name of the reference you want to manipulate, you can
disable this option and enter a data point on an element from the reference you
wish to manipulate.
Reference exchange and activation
You can switch into a referenced model if it is necessary to change something. You
can also edit “in‐place” using the Activate option. If someone else has the file
open, you see an Alert that gives you an option to open the file read‐only.
 Exercise: Reference activation

1 Continuing in the Streets model, with the Element Selection tool active,
right click the Hydrography model in the References dialog and select
Activate from the pop‐up menu.

References
The elements in the active model are grayed out and you can see the
elements in the Hydrography model clearly. Use this method when you
need to snap to elements in the model, but do not want to leave the
present model.
There is an Activate Status column in the References dialog. When a
reference is activated, there is a dot in the column. When a reference is
activated, it is locked to other users. If you activate, remember to
deactivate when you are done.
2 Right click the reference and select Deactivate.

3 Minimize the References dialog.
Reference levels
You can turn reference levels on and off independent of the levels in the master
file.
 Exercise: Turn off the fill levels

1 Continuing in the Streets model, click the Level Display tool in the Primary
Tools toolbox.
2 In the Level Display dialog, select the Hydrography model in the list at the
top of the dialog.
The names of referenced models are listed showing the model name first,
then the file name. When you click one, the levels contained in that model
are those listed in the dialog.
3 Click on the creek‐fill and river‐fill levels to turn them off.
The elements on those levels disappear.
4 Close the dialog.
Transparency and priority
References have transparency and priority attributes that you can apply.

References
 Exercise: Apply transparency to a reference

1 Continuing in the Streets model, click the View Attributes tool in the view
control toolbox.
2 Click the Transparency icon.
The transparency attribute is now allowed in this view.
4 Attach MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn; the Limit model.
The map is hidden by the limit boundaries.
5 In the References dialog, right click the column headings and select
Transparency from the pop‐up menu to add the column to the dialog.
6 With the Limit model highlighted in the References dialog, click in the
Transparency column and select 50.
Hidden elements show through the limit boundary.
Detaching references
Be sure you want to detach a reference file before you do so. The scale, rotation,
location, etc., of the reference are not saved when you detach the file. You will
have to specify these settings again if you decide to re‐attach it.
 Exercise: Detach a model

1 Continuing in the Streets model, in the References dialog, select the Limit
model and click Detach Reference.
2 Click OK in the Alert dialog.
Reference nesting
Live nesting lets you see a reference that is attached to a reference. Suppose you
have a DGN file called x.dgn. A.dgn is a reference to x. A.dgn has two references of
its own, 1.dgn and 2.dgn.

References
If A is attached as a reference to x with nesting disabled, only A will be listed in the

References dialog hierarchy as a reference.
If A is attached as a reference to x with nesting enabled and set to a depth of one,

it can be expanded in the hierarchy to show its references, 1.dgn and 2.dgn.
A benefit of live nesting is that any changes to these sub‐attachments are

dynamically updated in any file to which their master file is attached.
When you attach a reference, you have three options for the nesting.
• No Nesting means that references attached to the attached model are not
seen in the active model.
• Select Live Nesting so references attached to the attached model are seen in
the active model.
• Copy Attachments copies reference attachments to the attached model into
the active model.
 Exercise: Enable live nesting

1 Continuing in the Streets model, in the References dialog, click the Show
Hierarchy tool.
2 In the hierarchy frame, click the + preceding the file name to see attached
models.
3 In the hierarchy frame, right click Hydrography and select Settings from
the pop‐up menu.
4 From the Nested Attachments options, select Live Nesting. Set the Depth
to 1.
The Depth field determines how many files deep you can see. Set to 1 you
can see the first set of references that may be attached to the
Hydrography model. Set to 2 you will be able to see any references
attached to those references.
5 Click OK.

References
The parks that you previously attached to the Hydrography model are now
visible.
In the right frame, you can see the Hydrography model’s references. You
can control the display, snap and locate settings for the nested references.
Just right click and select Settings from the pop‐up menu, or select the
reference in the right frame and toggle the check marks in those columns.
Display, snap, and locate columns
Resolving different working units

measurement. When working units differ between files, the relationships must be
determined and then references scaled accordingly. True Scale makes the
adjustments automatically. True Scale aligns the units one to one with the units in
the active model.
If a reference model was created using feet and inches, but the working units in
the active model are Metric, you will need to reconcile the different units so that
elements are the right size. True Scale reads the units in which the reference
model was created and adjusts the scale based on the active model’s working
units.
Hint: It is a best practice to have True Scale on when attaching references. If there is
any question, consult your administrator.
 Exercise: Reference tools and True Scale

1 Open the model named Refborder.
2 In the References dialog, click Attach Reference and attach
MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn, the Area Plan model.
Most view controls work the same with references as with the active
design. However, Fit View, includes options specifically for reference files.
3 Fit View.
4 Change the following tool setting, and then click in the view:
Files: Reference
Only the reference elements are fit to the view.

References
5 In the tool settings, change Files back to All, and then click in the view.
Fit View retains the last selected option. By returning to All you are
assured that when you fit view everything in the design file will be
included.
The title block and the site plan are not in alignment. You will fix this using
reference tools.
6 With areaplan.dgn highlighted in the References dialog, click the Move
References tool with the following tool settings:
Move Boundary with Reference: Enabled
Use References Dialog List: Enabled
When this is enabled you select the desired files in the References dialog,
rather than by identifying them in the view. If you leave Move Boundary
with Reference checked, the outline of the selected reference file is
attached to the pointer to help with placement.
7 Following the status bar prompts, move the site plan into the center of the
sheet and enter a data point.

measurement. When working units are different between files, the relationships
must be determined and then references scaled accordingly. True Scale makes the
adjustments automatically.
 Exercise: Attach a reference with different units

1 Continuing in the Refborder model, attach
MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn, with the following attachment settings:
Model: Building Plan

References
True Scale (toggle): Disabled
2 Fit View.
The floor plan is referenced at the wrong scale. The plans have different
units, and you did not use True Scale to rectify that.
3 Detach the Building Plan model.

4 Reattach MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn, Building Plan model, with the
True Scale icon enabled.
5 Fit View.
The file is referenced at a proper scale.
 Exercise: Position the building

1 Continuing in the Refborder model, open View 2, and then select Window
> Tile.
2 In View 2, Fit View and then Zoom In on the red building footprint.
3 In View 1, Window Area around the upper left corner of the Building Plan
model.
Using both views lets you see the current location and the destination.

References
4 With the Building Plan model highlighted in the References dialog, click
Move Reference.
5 Snap to upper left corner of the column at the upper left corner of the
building in View 1.
6 Move the pointer to the upper right corner of the building footprint in
View 2 and enter a data point.
7 Reset.
The reference is moved. Now you must rotate it.
8 Maximize View 2.
9 Click Rotate References with the following tool settings:
Method: By Points
10 Snap to the upper right corner of the red building footprint and accept as
the pivot point.
11 Enter a data point at the lower right corner of the footprint to start the
rotation.
12 Rotate the reference boundary until it fits in the footprint, and then enter
a data point to accept.

Models
13 Reset.
Models
A model is stored as a discrete object within a DGN file. Each DGN file, therefore,
contains one or more models. It may be helpful to think of a DGN file as a box that
can contain different objects, models, any of which you can view individually.
Every model has its own set of eight views. The model whose views are displayed
at a given time is the active model. Every model has its own working unit system.
However, levels are DGN file‐specific and not model‐specific. Levels are shared
throughout the entire DGN file.
Hint: Think of models as containers. References are the pipes that connect them
letting water, or information, flow between them.

Models
Types of models
• A Design model holds geometry and can be either 2D or 3D. These are similar
to DWG models (model space). A design model can also be used as a
reference or placed as a cell. In MicroStation, you can create an unlimited
number of design models in a DGN file.
Separate models in a building DGN contain different parts of the overall plan
• A Drawing model is a subset of a 2D or 3D design model, used to apply

annotations, dimensions, callouts, and other embellishments to a design. A
drawing model can be only 2D.
• A Sheet model is used for composing finished, deliverable sheets. These are
similar to DWG drawing layouts, or paper space. MicroStation lets you create
an unlimited number of sheet models per DGN file.
Creating models
Create models in the Create Model dialog. To open it, click the Create a new
model icon in the Models dialog.
Type options
• Design creates a design model. A design model has its own set of eight views
and serves as a container for design geometry. The 2D/3D option for all types
lets you choose whether the design model is 2D or 3D.
• Drawing creates a drawing model. This is like a design model, but a drawing
model can be only 2D.
• Sheet creates a sheet model. This lets you attach references to create a
drawing.
• Design From Seed creates a design model using the set of eight views from a
model in the file you select as the seed file.
• Drawing From Seed creates a drawing model using the set of eight views from
a model in the file you select as the seed file.
• Sheet From Seed creates a sheet model from a model in the file you select as
the seed file.

Models
Ref Logical field
Sets the logical name for the model. The logical name identifies the model when it
is attached to another model as a reference.
Annotation Scale
Choosing a value from this list sets the scale factor for text and dimensioning in
the model.
Update Fields Automatically check box
If this is enabled, (text) fields are automatically updated when a file is opened.
There is no need to issue a key‐in to update them. It is a best practice to enable
this option.
Can be placed as a cell check box
If this is enabled, it is possible to place the model as a cell.
Create a View Group check box
If this is enabled, a View Group is created with the model and it is listed in the
View Groups dialog.
Display Sheet Boundary check box
(Sheet models only.) If this is enabled, an element representing the extent of the
sheet boundary appears in the new sheet model.
Drawing composition using models
Instead of redrawing a model’s geometry to produce different views of the same

data, you attach views of design models as references. Then, any changes made to
the design models, are reflected immediately in the sheet.
Creating a sheet model for printing as a drawing, typically involves working with
the following components:
• Design models, where the design geometry is created
• The sheet model, which is the electronic drawing sheet

Models
• A border model which contains the border and title block for plotted output
• Saved views that are used to set up just the views needed for the drawing
Since drawing composition is used to assemble project data, these exercises use
the files and models delivered in MicroStation’s Geospatial example project.
 Exercise: Create a model

1 Set the following in the File Open dialog:
Project: Geospatial
2 Navigate to \dgn\Drawings\BSI200‐D04‐City Drawing Compostion.dgn.
3 Click the Drawing Composition task.
4 Open the Models dialog and click Create a New Model.

5 In the Create Model dialog, set the following:
Type: Drawing
Name: Hydro‐Bridge
Ref Logical: Hydro‐Bridge
(Annotation) Scale: Full Size 1=1

Models
Update Fields Automatically: Enabled
6 Click OK.
The model opens.
First you attach designs, the files that contain geometry, to the model.
 Exercise: Attach designs to the drawing composition

1 Continuing in the Hydro‐Bridge model, in the References dialog, click
Attach Reference.
2 Attach (Workspace\Projects\Examples\Geospatial\dgn)\Designs\BSI200‐
R02‐Land Acquisition.dgn, with the following attachment settings:
Model: Limit
Scale: Full Size 1=1
Level: Default
Hint: You can press the D key on the keyboard to skip to the level names
beginning with D.
3 Fit View.
You will attach more files to compose the drawing. Each subsequent
reference will be attached using the same settings, so you only need to
specify the model you want to attach and the level on which you want it to
reside.
4 Attach \Designs\BSI200‐R01‐Environmental.dgn, with the following
attachment settings:
Model: Hydrography
Level: river_lake_canal
5 Attach \Designs\BSI200‐R03‐Public Works.dgn, with the following
attachment setting:

Models
Model: Bridges
Level: road over river
A drawing is a place for elements that will appear in multiple places. These are
things like a municipality or a river, and their labels. You would use annotation
scale when placing the text, since it may appear at different scales. When these
are included on sheets for delivery, any changes will be reflected in all the sheets
that use this information.
Hint: You can keep text independent of design elements and make it easily scalable
by keeping it separate from design elements and then referencing it mid‐stage.
 Exercise: Attach a drawing to the composition

1 Continuing in the Hydro‐Bridge model, click Attach Reference.
2 Move up one level, open the Drawings folder, and attach BSI200‐D02‐Land
Acquisition.dgn with the following attachment settings:
Model: Wards Labels
Level: Limit text
Nested Attachments: Live Nesting set to a depth of 2
3 Minimize the References dialog.
You now have a composition that contains information that relates to the
hydrography and bridges in all the wards.
 Exercise: Reference levels

1 Continuing in the Hydro‐Bridges model, open the Level Display dialog.
2 With the Bridges model selected at the top of the list of files, locate the
road over river level.
Hint: Click the column heading to sort the levels by name.

3 Click the level name to turn it off.
The reference elements disappear because the reference was placed on
that level. This is a good way to limit the amount of information you see
on the screen, while keeping it available. Remember that if you detach a
reference, you must reattach it, and all the attachment settings are lost.
4 Turn the level back on.

Models
View composition
In these steps, you will create views of parts of the design.
Clipping referenced models
You can create a clip volume to focus on certain parts of a model and hide the
rest. When a clip volume is applied, only elements that are located within the clip
volume will display. This is useful for working within a limited area of a model
without being hindered by geometry outside the area of interest. Each view can
have a different clip volume applied.
You can also create a clip mask to hide the display of certain parts of a model.
When a clip mask is applied to a view, only elements that are located outside the
range of the clipping element will display, or can be snapped to, in that view. Each
view can have a different clip mask applied. Operations, such as view rotation and
fence processing honor the clip masks. They ignore any elements that are not
displayed in the view.
 Exercise: Change the task

1 Continuing in the Hydro‐Bridge model, in the Tasks dialog, click the Create
Views (2D) task.
2 In the References dialog, click in the Display column for the Limit model to
turn display off.
Hint: This is another good way to limit the amount of information you see.

Models
3 Select Place Fence from the Main toolbox, with the following tool settings:
Fence Type: Block
Fence Mode: Inside
4 Following the status bar prompt, place a fence near the center of the map
where there are several bridges.
5 Expand the tool settings and click Create Named Fence From Active Fence.
6 Click Untitled, rename the fence Ward 4 hydro‐bridges and press Enter.
This saves this fence so you can recall it at any time.

7 Now, in the References dialog, select the Hydrography and Bridges
models.
You want to include elements from these files in the clip volume.
8 Click Clip Reference in the References dialog.

Method: Active Fence
Discard Existing Clip Masks: Enabled
Use Reference Dialog List: Enabled (use the selected references in the
References dialog.)
11 Click in the References dialog to deselect the references.

Models
The boundaries disappear. Now all you see is the hydrography and bridges
in this area.
 Exercise: Create the saved view

1 Continuing in the Hydro‐Bridge model, select Create Saved View in the
tasks dialog, with the following tool settings:
Method: From View
View Type: Saved View
Name: Ward 4 hydro‐bridges
Clip Volume: From View
Associative Clip Volume: Enabled (associates clip volume with the saved
view)
Create Dynamic View: Enabled

3 In the Create Dynamic Views dialog, enable the Create Sheet check box.
4 Leave Seed Model checked and enable Open Model.

5 Click OK.
The new sheet model opens, showing the contents of the clip volume.

Models
 Exercise: Add a border

1 Continuing in the Ward 4 hydro‐bridges sheet model, in the References
dialog, click Attach Reference.
2 Attach \Examples\Geospatial\bdr\BSI200‐G02‐Map Border.dgn using the
default attachment settings.
3 Fit View.
Since you attached a saved view as a reference, with Synchronize with Saved View
enabled, the sheet will also update if the saved view is changed.
 Exercise: Dynamically changing the sheet

1 Continuing in the Ward 4 hydro‐bridges sheet model, open View 8.
2 Select Window > Tile, and then Fit View in each.
3 Open the Saved Views dialog and attach the Ward 4 hydro‐bridges view to
View 8.
4 With View 8 active (click the title bar), open the Level Display dialog.
5 Select the Bridges model and turn off display of the level road over river
and close the dialog.
6 In the Saved Views dialog, click Update Saved View Settings with the
following tool setting:
Saved View: Ward 4 hydro‐bridges
The bridges are turned off in the sheet.
Publishing i‐models

Models
An i‐model is a format used for in‐house project information exchange, such as

when project information needs to be reviewed at a milestone. An i‐model is a
copy meant for information exchange. It is not the source content that you create
and modify.
An i‐model is read‐only and is always saved with an i.dgn extension. It converts

information to a simpler representation, with smaller file size and easy navigation.
No matter what format the input data is in, the i‐model unifies it in a simple form.
The process of converting the .DGN or .DWG file into an I.DGN file is called
publishing.
 How to publish a design file to an i‐model:

Select File > Publish i‐model. In the Publish i‐model dialog, enable the Force
republishing of all files check box.
Do this because, by default, a file is not republished if it has not been

modified. This option forces the master and reference files to be republished,
even if they weren’t modified since the last publish. This is useful when the
original files have not been modified, but configuration files or project files
that affect the published file were.

Raster References
Then, click OK. An i‐model with an the i.dgn extension is created in the
location that appears in the Message Center, usually the same folder as the
original file. An i‐model is created for each attached reference.
On the left, before publishing Design‐Composition.dgn.

A list of files in the folder is shown above, and attached references below
On the right, after publishing. An i‐model is created for each reference and those are attached to the i‐model.
If the referenced i‐model files are deleted from the folder, Design‐Composition.dgn.i.dgn will still appear the same
The Create a package option may be used by an administrator to create a

named i‐model, such as “50 percent milestone”, for external use. This i‐model
can have security applied.
Raster References
A Raster Reference is a link to an external image that resides outside the design
file. Use the Raster Manager to attach, display and modify images in various
formats. Raster tasks provide tools for working with image files.
Rasters are assigned to the active level when they are attached. You can change
the level that a raster is assigned to in the Workspace > Preferences dialog. Select
the Raster Manager category and then select the level under Default Raster
Attributes.
When attaching a file in a 2D model, rasters can be on different planes.

• Foreground Plane means they are on top of elements and references.

Raster References
• Background Plane means they are behind elements and references.

• Design Plane means they share the same space as design elements with
Display Priority.
These exercises return to the example files delivered in MicroStation’s General

project.
 Exercise: Placing a raster image

Project: General
2 Open Raster.dgn.
3 Open the model named Display Priority.
4 Click the Raster Manager tool in the Primary Tools toolbox.
5 In the Raster Manager dialog, select File > Attach > Raster.
6 Navigate to the Examples\General\data folder.
7 Select satellit.itiff and click Open.
8 Set the following in the Raster Attachment Options dialog, and then click
Attach:
Action tab > Place Interactively: Yes
Image tab > Description: Plane change
9 Following the status bar prompt, enter two diagonal data points, placing
the image over those in the file.
When you place a raster interactively, you select the space it will occupy. If
you do not place interactively, you just enter a data point to place the
image in the file.

Raster References
Attachment settings
Options in the Raster Attachment Options dialog set attributes of attached

rasters.
• The General tab has controls that are analogous to those in the Attributes
toolbox.
Level is the standard MicroStation list box to select a level. You can select
any existing level attached to the current DGN.
Color, Line Style and Weight, set the raster border color.
Priority sets the display priority at attachment time. The field will not be
visible if one of the selected rasters is not on the design plane.
• The Color tab has options that let you change the image’s tint, contrast,
brightness, etc.
Plane
Rasters are listed according to the plane that they occupy. You can change the
plane that a raster occupies after it is attached. When rasters are in the design
plane, they share the same space as design elements. If they are in the
background, they will always be behind any design elements. If they are in the
foreground, they will always be in front of any design elements.
 Exercise: Change the image’s plane

1 Continuing in the Display Priority model, with Element Selection active,
move the pointer over the rasters in the file and note the borders as they
highlight.
The original rasters are all on the Design plane. The new raster is on the
Background plane
2 Click the Plane icon that precedes satellit.itiff, Plane change, in the Raster
Manager.
3 Select Design and click OK.
All rasters now occupy the same plane. They are displayed in the order
they are listed in the dialog. You can drag to change the order of listing and
so, display.
4 Select Foreground and click OK.
The raster moves to the front.
5 Move the raster to the background.

Raster References
Next, you’ll see how to prioritize the display of rasters and elements.
 Exercise: Adding elements and setting display priority

1 Continuing in the Display Priority model, select Place Block with the
following tool settings.:
Method: Orthogonal
Area: Solid
Fill Type: Opaque
Fill Color: 7
2 Place the block so that it overlaps all the rasters.
3 With Element Selection active, click the block.

4 Click the Active Element Priority tool in the Attributes toolbox and change
the Priority to 200.
With the higher priority, the block moves in front of all the rasters.
6 Click the background raster.

7 Change the Priority of the raster reference to 300.

Attaching PDF Documents
It does not change because it is assigned to the Background.

8 Select the raster to the right of the block and change its Priority to 300.
Note the change in display order.
Attaching PDF Documents

The Adobe PDF format is available for attaching as a raster reference. The method
is the same as attaching any other raster reference, except that when you have a
multi‐page PDF you must choose a single page for attachment.
 Exercise: Working with PDF attachments

1 Continuing in the Display Priority model, open the PDF Reference model.
2 In the Raster Manager dialog, select 2DExample.pdf.
3 Select the Raster Manager Scale tool, with the following tool settings:

X Scale: 1.5
Y Scale: 1.5
5 Reset.
You can scale the PDF attachment.
6 From the Raster Manager’s menu bar, select Edit > Clip with the following
tool settings:
Method: Block

Module Review
Mode: Clip Boundary

7 Draw a block to isolate the top of the PDF.
8 Enter a data point to complete the clip.
You can use the raster tools with the PDF attachment.
Module Review
You can test your skill using the geometry in the Organizing Design Data
Questions
1 What is the difference between attaching a reference interactively and
attaching it using the other attachment methods?
2 What does the Save Relative Path option in the Attach Reference dialog
do?

Module Review
3 Name two ways to move an attached reference.

4 True or False: Scale, rotation, and location of a reference are saved when
you detach the file and then reattach it.
5 What is live nesting?
6 If you want to compose a print sheet, which type model should you use?
7 Name two ways to navigate models.
8 What are the planes on which a raster reference can be displayed?

Organizing Project Data
Module Overview
In this module, you will use Project Explorer to navigate the data that is part of a
project.
Module Objectives
Upon completion of this module you will be able to:
• Use Project Explorer to navigate project data
Questions
1 How do you open the Key‐in browser and what is its purpose?
3 What is snapping?
4 How can you select elements?
Aug-09 227 Organizing Project Data

Project Explorer
Answers
1 By selecting Utilities > Key‐in or Help > Key‐in Browser. You can also press
Enter with the pointer in a view. Use it to type in commands, like a
command line.
2 Real‐world units to which the design plane is configured.
3 The use of the tentative point to position a data point at an exact point on
the target element. Tentative points snap to an element when the snap
lock is on.
4 Using the Element Selection tool or a fence.
To group project data, you create links to data files. For example, a link can point
to a design or sheet model or to a DWG layout. You use Project Explorer to see
linked data. If link sets exist in the open DGN file, or in any configured libraries,
they appear in the Project Explorer dialog when you open it.
Project Explorer
Project Explorer supports links to office documents, PDFs, URLs, e‐mail addresses
and MicroStation key‐ins, as well as design and sheet models, references and
named views that have been saved. Project Explorer is a digital table of contents
for your project data, allowing for easy browsing.
These exercises use the models in example files delivered in MicroStation’s

Building project.
 Exercise: How links work

Project: Building
2 Open \dgn\Sheets\BSI300AE301‐Sections.dgn.
Organizing Project Data 228 Aug-09

Project Explorer
3 Move the pointer over the top drawing title symbol.
You see a link icon at the pointer.

4 Right click and select Follow Link >, then click the name of the destination
model.
You are directed to that model.
A link set is a group of links to files, models, references, saved views, and
supporting documentation. Within a link set, links can be organized into a
hierarchy of folders.
 Exercise: Navigate projects

1 Select File > Open, navigate to the project’s \dgnlib folder, and open
Linksets.dgnlib.
Note: Change Files of type to DGN Library Files (*.dgnlib).

2 This type of file is used to store project resources.
3 Select File > Project Explorer.
This file contains a project structure.
4 Expand the option list at the top and select the Default project.
You see the folders and links defined for the Default project.
5 Expand the option list at the top and select the Building project.
6 Expand the Designs node by clicking the +.
You see a list of design models contained in files in the project.
7 Right click on the first link.
You see a menu of options. You can select Add Link to Element and then
click an element in a model to link the element to this model. Click Open
to open that model.
8 Click Open.

Project Explorer
You are redirected to the model.

9 Click Previous Model in the View Groups dialog at the bottom left of the
application window to return to Linksets.dgnlib.
10 In the Project Explorer dialog, expand the Drawings folder.
11 Expand the East Elevation link and then expand References folder.
Each link may include References and Saved Views folders where any
references saved views that are present are listed. Saved views and
references are read in from the file that contains them. As saved views or
references are added to a model, Project Explorer updates to reflect them.
12 Right click on the link to the East Elevation reference and select Open from
the pop‐up menu.
You are redirected to the model. This file resides in the \dgn\Designs
folder.
13 Click Previous Model to return to Linksets.dgnlib.
The structure in Project Explorer lets you have all the designs and accompanying
data for a project in one location. These do not have to be DGN files, or even
items contained in them. They can be spreadsheets, Word documents, or PDF
files, for example.
Linking project files to elements
When you right click on a link in Project Explorer, you have the option to link it to
an element. The link can then be used to redirect to additional data.
To create the element link, first create the data link in Project Explorer. Then, right
click on it, select Add Link to Element from the pop‐up menu and enter a data
point on the element you want to link.
Link properties
Select Properties from the right click menu to open the Specifications dialog so
you can view the properties of the folder or link.
The Full Path is the location of the file that is the target of the selected link. If the
file cannot be located, the link is broken and this is blank.

Module Review
Validating links
The right click menu for folders includes a Validate option. Select this to verify
that the location to which the link points still exists. If the data does not exist in
that location, the link name and folder name turn red. Details are provided in the
Message Center. This will happen if you move, delete or rename the target file. If
you try to open the target of the broken link through Project Explorer, you will
receive an error message.
To restore an association you must correct any name change or restore the target
file to the correct location.
Note: Always check with an administrator to determine which files are most up to
date or to determine the appropriate file location.
Module Review
Questions
1 What are cells?
2 What is the relationship between cells and models?
3 What is a shared cell and why would you use one?
4 What is a link set?
5 What types of target data can be linked?
6 How do you validate a link?

Module Review

Creating Printed Output
Module Overview
In this module, you will become familiar with the options that help you produce
quality printed output.
• Fundamental knowledge of the Microsoft Windows operating system.
Module Objectives
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
• Control the printable area of a model
• Determine print scale, paper size, and other variables
• Produce quality printed output, images, or PDF files
Questions
1 How do you place a fence?
2 How do you open and close view windows?
3 How do you activate a model?
Aug-09 233 Creating Printed Output

Printing Basics
Answers
1 Select the Place Fence tool, set the tool settings and, enter one, two or
several data points depending upon the method that is selected.
2 Two methods are using the view toggles in the View Groups toolbox at the
bottom left of the MicroStation application window, or selecting Window
> Views > #.
3 Select the view group associated with the model in the View Groups
toolbox or click the Models tool in the Primary Tools toolbox and then
double click the model.
4 Real‐world units to which the design plane is configured.
Printing Basics
Printing can be as simple as setting up a view or placing a fence around the area of
interest and clicking the Print icon. Typically, the result will be printed output of
what you see on the screen.
The steps to create a print from MicroStation are as follows:

1. Open the Print dialog.
2. Select the print area.
3. Select a printer.
4. Set printing parameters, such as sheet size and scale.
5. Preview the print.
6. Click the Print icon to create output.
Selecting the print area
The initial print area is determined when you first open the Print dialog. If the
active model is a sheet model, the print area is obtained from it. If no sheet
Creating Printed Output 234 Aug-09

Printing Basics
definition exists, but there is a fence, the fence defines the print area. If no sheet
definition or fence exists, the print area is the first open view window.
 Exercise: Examine print area

Project: General
2 Open MicroStation_Essentials_V8i.dgn and open the model named Pipe
Support.
You see a sheet model.
3 Select File > Print.
In the General Settings section of the Print dialog, the Area is set to Sheet
because you are in a sheet model. If you open a design model, the area
will change to view and the active view number will be reflected. If there is
a fence in the file, the Area will be set to Fence. You can change the print
area at any time using the Area option menu.
Setting the output color mode
You may need to print in grayscale or monochrome rather than using actual
element colors. When you have a color printer, you can quickly set it to print in
grayscale or monochrome using the Color options in the Print dialog.
• If you select Monochrome, output is black and white
• If you select Grayscale, colors are output as grayscale
• If you select True Color, the actual colors in the model are used
Note: The colors in the model do not change; the print reflects the color change.
 Exercise: Preview the color modes

1 Continuing in the Pipe Support model, select Grayscale from the Color
option menu.
When you choose a different output, you can see the result in the preview
window.
2 Select Monochrome from the Color option menu.
Output is black and white.
3 Select True Color to use the DGN file colors.

Printing Basics
Selecting a printer
MicroStation lets you work with the Windows printer driver, which uses
configuration file printer.pltcfg, or Bentley drivers. Bentley drivers are text files
that supply all the necessary information to create a print or plot, in a particular
plotter language format. The option menu in the Printer and Paper Size section of
the Print dialog lets you switch between the two types of printers.
Selecting Windows driver loads the Windows printer driver configuration file.
When you select Bentley driver the Bentley printer driver configuration file that
you last used is loaded. You can select another one by clicking the Select Printer
Driver Configuration File icon, the magnifying glass, in the Printer and Paper Size
section of the Print dialog.
Note: Use the jpeg.pltcfg, png.pltcfg or tiff.pltcfg files to create image output. Use
pdf.pltcfg to print a PDF of the model.
Administrators can set a configuration variable to define a default printer driver

configuration file that is selected each time the Print dialog is opened. In that
case, you do not have to decide.
The Full option
When you are using the Windows printer, you can enable the Full check box to
maximize the portion of the sheet that is used. For example, when printing to a
sheet that is 381  279 mm the maximum print size may actually be less. If full
sheet is enabled, the print size will be the size of the entire sheet, or 381  279
mm. Some geometry may be clipped by the printer if it falls into the area around
the edge of the paper that the printer cannot print.
When you toggle this setting, you can see the area change from total area to
usable area or vice versa.
With the Full option enabled the total area will be printed
The actual usable area is smaller

Printing Basics
You also see the scale and size of the print change in the Print Scale and Position
section of the dialog.
Setting the printing parameters
Settings in the Print dialog let you select the sheet size, set the scale for the print,
and position the print on the selected sheet.
Setting the paper size, orientation, and destination
Using settings in the Printer and Paper Size section, you can do the following.
• Select a predefined paper size. Choices for page sizes are determined by the
type of printer that you select.
• Choose between Portrait and Landscape orientation.
• Select the output destination for the print.
Send to printer is available only when using a Windows printer driver.
Create plot file is available with the Windows printer driver and is the only
option when using a Bentley printer driver.
Create metafile is available only when using a Windows printer driver. Output
goes directly to a Windows enhanced metafile (.emf).
 Exercise: Select a Bentley driver, the paper size, and orientation

1 Continuing in the Pipe Support model, set the following in the Printer and
Paper Size section of the dialog:
Bentley Driver: Click the magnifying glass, select pdf.pltcfg, and click Open
Paper: ISO A3
Orientation: Landscape
Setting the print scale and position
Using settings in the Print Scale and Position section of the Print dialog, you can
set the required dimension or scale, and position the print on the sheet.
• Set the dimensional size of the printed output.

Printing Basics
• Set the scale of the printed output as a ratio of working units to printer units.
When setting the scale you are defining the number of design units (in
working units) that equal each paper, or printed output, unit (in printer units).
• Set the X and Y origins to position the printed output on the selected page.
• Maximize the printed output or center it on the page.
Setting the height or width of the printed output
As an alternative to setting the scale for the print, you can set the X (width) and Y
(height) size dimensions for the print.
When you first open the Print dialog, the printed output is maximized on the
selected paper size. That means that either its width (X) or height (Y) is scaled to
match the selected paper size, with the aspect ratio determining the remaining
dimension. Within the limits of the selected paper size and the X origin and Y
origin you can set the scale, the X (width), or the Y (height), of the printed output.
The settings for the width and height (the Size fields) and Scale are interlocked to
preserve the aspect ratio of the print area. Changing one setting results in
corresponding changes to the others. You cannot set the Size or Scale settings to
something that would place part of the printed output outside the area of the
selected paper size.
Setting scale units
A printer’s units and your design file units are not always the same. To change the
printer's units, in the Print dialog, select Settings > Units and then select new
printer units from the menu. You are setting the scale for the design as a ratio of
its working units to the printer units. This setting will remain until the units are
changed again.
Consider, for example, that your design file has Master Units (MU) of meters,
while your printer’s units are centimeters. Creating a 10 meter to the centimeter
scale output would require no changes to the printer units. You would enter 10 in
the Scale field to make the printed output scale 10 design meters per cm of paper.
To create a 1:20 scale output, you could first change the printer units to meters, to
match the design file’s master units. You would then enter 20 in the Scale field.
The printed output would be 20 design meters per cm of paper, or 1:20.

Printing Basics
The Scale Assistant
For more complicated scale values, you can use the Scale Assistant to help you set
the correct scale. You can define the scale criteria either as Design to Paper, or
Paper to Design. This is another setting that an administrator can pre‐define for
you. Then enter the required paper and design values in the fields below. The
scale will be calculated from these.
 Exercise: Change the printer units

1 Continuing in the Pipe Support model, note the ratio of inches of paper to
centimeters of the design in the Print Scale and Position section of the
Print dialog.
2 Select Settings > Units > cm in the Print dialog.
This sets the printer units to be the same as the design file’s master units.
Now one centimeter of paper will include centimeters of model.
The size of the design does not change, but the scale criteria along with
the size and origin change to reflect the new print unit setting.
Setting the print rotation
Use the Rotation option menu to select an orthogonal rotation.
• If you select None, no rotation is applied.

• If you select Rotate 90 cw, a rotation of 90° in the clockwise direction is
applied.
• If you select Rotate 90 ccw, a rotation of 90° in the counterclockwise direction
is applied.
• If you select 180, a rotation of 180° is applied.
If your administrator has configured your printing preferences so that you can use
the Rotation entry field, you can specify any rotation in the 0‐360 degree range as
long as you are not using the View print Area. If working in 3D, you can use the
field to rotate only prints that are not rendered and do not contain a camera
definition.

Printing Basics
Setting the print position
If the size of the print is smaller than the selected page size, you can control its
positioning on the page.
By default, when you open the Print dialog the printed output is maximized. That
means it is drawn to the largest scale that will fit on the selected paper size. Auto‐
center is also enabled by default so the printed output is centered on the page.
When you adjust the margins by setting an origin, Auto‐center turns off.
The image on the right shows the preview when the origin is set differently
The printed output is no longer centered on the paper
You can turn on Auto‐center to center the printed output, or click the Maximize
icon to maximize the printed output on the page, at any time.
Attaching pen tables
Pen tables are text files that let you remap design file element characteristics for
printed output. These are things like color, weight, or the order in which elements
are printed. Once a pen table has been created you simply attach it when it is time
to print.
To load an existing pen table, select Attach from the Print dialog’s PenTable menu.
Select the pen table you want to attach in the Select Pen Table File dialog and click
Open. The effect of the pen table can be seen in the preview window.
Previewing the printed output
The Print dialog’s preview window is good for quickly checking printing
parameters.
During the setup process, you may use view controls such as Window Area or the
zoom tools to redefine the view to be printed. After adjusting the view, you must

Printing Basics
update to ensure that the preview is displaying the new printing region. Click the
Update from View icon to do this.
For more accurate previewing, you can open a resizable Preview window. This lets
you check how the printed output will appear more thoroughly, and is useful for
checking fine detail. To open it, click the Preview icon in the Print dialog.
Creating the print
Once you have established settings in the Print dialog you can click the Print icon
to create the print. What happens at this stage depends on your system
configuration and your selected printer driver. For a standard configuration, with
no modifications to printer driver files or configuration variables, the print will
either go directly to a printer, or will be saved to disk for later submission.
You can submit printed output to any printer on your network, whether or not it is
physically connected to your system. MicroStation lets you use different methods
to submit printed output.
• Send the printed output directly to the system printer whether attached to
your system or on a network.
• Send the printed output directly to a locally connected printer through the
parallel port without first creating a print file.
• Create a print file on disk and copy this to the printer at a system prompt.
Send output directly to the system printer
To send the printed output directly to the system printer, establish the desired
settings in the Print dialog, select the Windows driver, and click the Print icon.
Send output to a printer through a parallel port without

creating a print file
To do this, establish the desired settings in the Print dialog and click the Print icon.
In the Name field of the Save Print As dialog, enter the name of the parallel port,
for example, lpt1: or lpt2: and then click OK.
Send a print file to a printer through a parallel port
Select Windows Start menu > Run, enter cmd in the Open field of the run dialog
and then press <Enter>. At the system command line, enter:

Creating Complete Scaled Sheets
copy /b <print_file> <port>
where:
• print_file is the print file to be sent.
• port is the parallel port on your system to which the printer is connected; for
example, lpt1: or lpt2:.
The /b switch specifies that the file is binary.
 Exercise: Print to PDF

1 Continuing in the Pipe Support model, in the Print dialog, click Print.
2 In the Save Print As dialog, navigate to a location you will remember.
By default, it is saved to the current project’s \out folder.
3 Save the print as Pipe Support.pdf.
4 If Adobe Reader is installed on your system, open the file.
Note: If Adobe Reader is not available, you can complete the exercise series using the
Bentley jpeg.pltcfg driver. Open the file in any imaging application or select
Utilities > Image > Display in MicroStation’s main menu bar and navigate to the
output file to display the results.

Because MicroStation designs can be printed at any scale, one model can be used
in a number of sheets. For example, one model may be used in an overall plan at
1:100 and parts of it in other views or details at 1:10, 1:20, and 1:50. With manual
drafting, each view or detail must be drawn separately. Using MicroStation, you
only draw the model once. It can then be referenced to other sheets at various
scales. You can use a whole model, or just a portion.
For this reason, planning is required to produce finished sheets with borders. Take
text placement, for example. If you place text elements in the model and it is
scaled, then the text elements also will be scaled.
Working with borders

With manual drafting, you scale a model to fit the border. In MicroStation, you
can do this using scaled references. Or, you can scale a border to fit a model.
Borders can be attached as references or they can be placed in the model as a cell,
just like any other symbol.
An advantage with the reference option is that only one model needs to be
updated if there is a change to the standard title block or border.
When putting together a sheet, you can place a full scale border and scale the
model, or scale the border to fit a full scale model.
Using a 1:1 scale border
With manual drafting, there is a full size drawing sheet into which you place
scaled views of models. In MicroStation, you draw the original model at full size
and then scale it, as a reference, to fit the border.
For this method, you first create a sheet model, with the sheet layout set to full
size. You reference a standard border at full scale into this model. Within the
confines of this border, you reference the designs at the required scales. All text
and dimensioning is placed in the model at full size.
When you install MicroStation with the default options a number of sample
border files are delivered to the ANSI, Architectural, and ISO sub‐folders of the
\Workspace\System\Borders folder. In each border DGN file there is a default
model, in which the title block is drawn at full scale.
When printing, you print the sheet at full size. The border and text will print at
their actual size while the elements will print to the scale at which they were
referenced to the sheet model.
 Exercise: Compose a sheet using a 1:1 border

1 Continuing in the Pipe Support model, open the Models dialog.
2 Click Create a new Model, set the following in the Create model dialog,
and click OK:
Type: Sheet 2D
Name: Print Sheet
Ref Logical: 1:1 border

Scale: Full Size 1=1

Size: ISO A1
3 In the References dialog, attach \Workspace\System\Borders\ISO\A1‐

border.dgn, with the following attachment settings:
Model: Default (this is a Full Size 1=1 model)
Detail Scale: Full Size 1=1
4 In the References dialog, attach
Workspace\Projects\Examples\Building\dgn\Designs\BSI300AE9‐
Atrium.dgn with the following attachment settings:
Model: Composite
Orientation > Standard Views: Front
Detail Scale: 1:100
Nested Attachments: Live Nesting Depth 4

Toggles: turn on Treat Attachment as an Element for Manipulation
Detail Scale to 1:100 means the ratio of the units in the active model to
those in the attached model (Scale (Master:Ref)) changes to 1:100. The
toggle lets you use the Manipulation tools to work with the reference.
5 Click OK and enter a data point to place the reference at the top of the
sheet.
6 In the References dialog, attach BSI300AE9‐Atrium.dgn, with the following

Model: Floor Plan
Orientation: Coincident
Detail Scale: 1:200
7 Select Move from the Main toolbox.

8 Move the reference to the left side of the sheet.
9 In the References dialog, attach BSI300AE9‐Atrium.dgn, with the following

Model: Atrium Ground Floor
Detail Scale: 1:50
10 Fit View to see the reference.
11 Select Move from the Main toolbox and place the reference on the right
side of the sheet.
Scaling a border to fit elements
Creating completed scaled sheets that include a border requires extra planning
and setup prior to printing. If you place text elements in a model and it is scaled,
then the text elements also will be scaled.

Module Review
An alternative to using a 1:1 scale border is to create a sheet model that is scaled
to surround the required part of the model or the required elements. Do this by
setting the Annotation Scale to the required value when creating a sheet model.
When you place text with the Annotation Scale lock on, the text and dimensioning
is scaled so that it prints at the correct size. For example, if a border were 12 times
its normal size, all text also would have to be 12 times its normal size.
This sheet model has an annotation scale of 1 inch to 1 foot. No matter how the
model is scaled, the text will always maintain this ratio.
Note: An advantage of referencing a border is that only one file or model needs to be
updated if there is a change to the standard title block or border.
Now you can reference the elements that you want to print at a scale of 1:1.
In such a case, when the final printed output is created, you would use the scale
of 1:12 to reduce the border and text back to their normal size. At the same time,
the elements will be reduced by the same ratio. You print the sheet model at a
scale that returns the border back to its normal size, at the same time scaling the
elements, text, and any dimensioning that was placed using an annotation scale.
The sample borders delivered with MicroStation each have a default model, in
which the title block is drawn at full scale. This model then is referenced to other
models for various scales, including Full Scale.
Simply select the desired scale model when attaching the border as a reference or
when placing it as a cell. The description for each model indicates the size
required for any text in order to produce standard size text in the printed output.
Module Review

Module Review
You can test your skill using the geometry in the Creating Printed Output
Questions
1 How is the initial print area determined?
2 True or False: When you change the output color mode, it changes the
colors in the design file.
3 What does the Full option do?
4 Why would you change the scale units (Settings > Units in the Print
dialog)?
5 What does a pen table do?
6 What is the difference between using the Windows printer and a Bentley
printer driver?

Module Review Answers
Welcome to MicroStation
Questions
1 How do you open files using a Workspace?
2 Identify four elements of MicroStation’s interface.
3 Where must focus be to use task navigation and keyboard mapping?
Answers
1 Select a User, then a Project, and then select a file.
2 Status bar, tool settings, toolboxes, Main menu bar, message center,
AccuDraw window.
3 Home. Press Esc on the keyboard to bring the focus home.
4 False. You can use a view control in any view.
Element Creation
Questions
1 True or False: An active creation tool can only be used to draw one object.
To draw two objects you must select the tool again.
2 Name an attribute that closed elements can have, which open ones
cannot.
Aug-09 249 Module Review Answers

3 Why are Place Block and Place Regular Polygon the most useful of the
Polygons tools?
4 Name three methods you can use to create a region.
5 Name three snap modes.
6 How can you determine the name of a cell that is in a design?
Answers
1 False. Tools remain active until you choose another tool.
2 Fill. They can be filled with color.
3 The Place SmartLine tool can produce the same geometry as other tools,
such as Place Shape and Place Orthogonal Shape.
4 Union, Difference, Intersection, and Flood.
5 Choices are Nearest, Keypoint, Midpoint, Origin, Center, Bisector,
Intersection, Tangent (Point), Perpendicular (Point), Parallel, Point On,
Thru Point.
6 AccuSnap’s pop‐up information shows the name of a cell.
Questions
1 What are the operational steps when using AccuDraw?
2 How do you place the AccuDraw compass at a snap point?
3 Name three AccuDraw shortcuts.
4 What are the shortcuts that open the Pop‐up calculator?
Answers
1 1. Enter a data point, either graphically or using precision input, to fix the
location of the compass.
2. Move the pointer in the direction in which you wish to draw.
Module Review Answers 250 Aug-09

Working with Existing Elements
3. Enter the desired distance value into the AccuDraw window’s key‐in
fields.
2 Use AccuSnap or issue a manual tentative snap and use the AccuDraw
shortcut O.
3 V, RQ, Enter, Space, O, I, N, C, etc.
4 +,‐,*,/,=.
Working with Existing Elements
Questions
1 How can you copy multiple elements?
2 How can you copy an element multiple times?
3 What is a passive member of a Named Group?
4 Name two methods for using the Measure Distance tool.
5 Which method would you use to pattern an area made up of multiple
elements?
Answers
1 Use Element Selection or fence to select them. Then use the Copy tool.
2 You can copy an element multiple times using the Copies option in the
Copy tool settings or you can leave Copies set to 1 and enter multiple data
points.
3 It is a member that acts like part of the group when the graphic group lock
is on, but separate from the group when the lock is off.
4 Choices are Along Element, Minimum Between, Between Points and
Perpendicular.
5 The Flood method fills the area enclosed by a set of elements.
Modifying Existing Elements

Annotating Designs
Questions
1 What are the different ways you can you modify an arc?
2 Name two element types on which you can use the Extend Element tool.
3 Describe the functionality of the Trim Element tool.
4 What tool would you use to complete the following modification?
Answers
1 Relocate the arc endpoints, move the arc radius preserving endpoints,
modify the arc angle.
2 Choices are line, line string, arc.
3 You identify the element to trim and then the elements you want to trim.
4 Delete Part of Element; partial delete.
Annotating Designs
Questions
1 What additional element attributes do text elements have?
2 What is line spacing?
3 True or False: Text can be copied and pasted from other applications into
the word processor and all formatting will be retained.
4 Name two different ways you can change text.
5 Name the three places from which text fields are derived.
6 Name four components of a dimension.
7 What does the Associate option in the dimensioning tool settings do?

Answers
1 Font, slant, justification, line spacing.
2 The distance between individual lines of text in multi‐line text. This value
also specifies the distance text is placed away from an element when the
placement method is set to Above, Below, or Along.
3 True.
4 The Edit Text tool lets you edit the content of existing text. Change Text
Attributes changes the attributes of existing text elements.
5 The attributes of an element, the properties of a model or the properties
of a file.
6 Dimension text, dimension line, line terminator, extension line.
7 The Association option associates the dimension you are placing with the
points on the element being dimensioned. If the element is then modified,
the dimension updates to reflect the change.
Questions
1 New design files are based upon what kind of files?
2 What is the difference between a design and a drawing?
4 True or False: Changing units in a model changes the physical size of the
design geometry.
5 Name two things saved with a Saved View.
6 True or False: You can save a clip volume so that it can be recalled.
Answers
1 Seed files. A new design file is created by copying an existing seed file,
which serves as a template.
2 A design is a collection of elements that are drawn at full scale. They
encapsulate part of a project for the purpose of active editing. A drawing is

a collection of elements and other items assembled for presentation

purposes.
3 Working units are real‐world units to which the design plane is configured.
4 False. Changing units in a design model does not change the physical size
of the design geometry.
5 Options are window size, position, aspect ratio, reference settings, levels,
camera position, view attributes, clip volume.
6 True. Save it as a named fence.
Questions
1 What is the difference between attaching a reference interactively and
attaching it using the other attachment methods?
2 What does the Save Relative Path option in the Attach Reference dialog
do?
3 Name two ways to move an attached reference.
4 True or False: Scale, rotation, and location of a reference are saved when
you detach the file and then reattach it.
5 What is live nesting?
6 If you want to compose a print sheet, which type model should you use?
7 Name two ways to navigate models.
8 What are the planes on which a raster reference can be displayed?
Answers
1 The Reference Attachment Settings dialog does not appear using the other
attachment methods.
2 Ensures portability because a relative path to the file is saved as
attachment data in the DGN file and so, the file can be easily located.
3 Use the tools in the References dialog or the Reference toolbox. You can
also enable Treat Attachment as Element for Manipulation so you can
manipulate references with the standard manipulation tools.

4 False. These are not saved when you detach the file. You will have to
specify these settings again if you decide to reattach it.
5 Live nesting provides the ability to see a reference that is attached to a
reference.
6 If you want to compose a print sheet, use a sheet model.
7 Select the option menu in the View Groups toolbox if a view group was
created for the model. You can also use the Models dialog or the Previous
Model and Next Model icons in the View Groups toolbox.
8 Foreground, Background, and Design.
Questions
1 What are cells?
2 What is the relationship between cells and models?
3 What is a shared cell and why would you use one?
4 What is a link set?
5 What types of target data can be linked?
6 How do you validate a link?
Answers
1 Cells are complex elements that let you group elements permanently.
2 A DGN file can also be created and attached as a cell library. Each model in
the file that was created with the Can be placed as a cell check box
enabled will be listed as a cell in the Cell Library dialog. You create a design
model, place the cell geometry and then attach the DGN in the Cell Library
dialog.
3 A shared cell can have many instances in a DGN but has only one
definition. This keeps the size of the file smaller. To place more instances
of a shared cell, the cell library does not need to be attached.
4 It is a group of links to target data. The Link Set dialog is where you add,
copy, rename, delete, and import link sets.

5 Design files, models, references, saved views, and supporting documents

such as text files or PDFs.
6 Right click on the link or the folder and select Validate from the pop‐up
menu. Any broken links will turn red.
Questions
1 How is the initial print area determined?
2 True or False: When you change the output color mode, it changes the
colors in the design file.
3 What does the Full option do?
4 Why would you change the scale units (Settings > Units in the Print
dialog)?
5 What does a pen table do?
6 What is the difference between using the Windows printer and a Bentley
printer driver?
Answers
1 When the Print dialog is opened, if the active model is a sheet model, the
print area is obtained from it. If no sheet definition exists, but there is a
fence, the fence defines the print area. If no sheet definition or fence
exists, the print area is the first open view window.
2 False. The colors in the design file do not change. Only the print reflects
the change.
3 Maximizes the portion of the sheet that is used. The print size will be the
size of the entire sheet. Some geometry may be clipped by the printer if it
falls into the area around the edge of the paper.
4 A printer’s units and your design file units are not always the same. You set
the scale for the design as a ratio of its working units to the printer units.
5 Lets you produce printed output that looks different from the on‐screen
view. By using different pen tables, you can produce printed output having
different element symbology to that of the original model.

6 Selecting Windows driver loads the Windows printer driver configuration

file. Bentley drivers are text files that supply all the necessary information
to create a print or plot, in a particular plotter language format.


Design Labs
What to Design
The total floor area of a floor framing plan for a small, self‐contained, area is 206
square meters. However, the total space available for development is less than
154 square meters. The dashed lines define circulation space, which must remain
clear. Starting with a new file, you must draw the floor plan and lay out
workstations in the area.
Each work station will consist of a cubicle with an L‐shaped computer table with
dividing partitions, a utility casing post, which can be shared among stations, and
a chair.
Aug-09 259 Design Labs

What to Design
The sketch shows all parts of the cubicle and the dimensions. Using this, complete
the space utilization design.
Parameters
• The room must contain at least 18 work stations, but place as many work
stations as you can fit into the available space.
• Provide aisles to give access to work stations. Aisles must be at least 70
centimeters wide.
• Avoid the columns in the center of the floor space.
• Here are 2 arrangements for clustering work stations.
Design Labs 260 Aug-09

How to Design
How to Design
1 Create a new file for the floor plan.
2 Draw the outer and inner walls and doors.
3 Draw the circulation area, which is centered on the room.
4 Draw square circulation zones, which should be centered horizontally and
spaced evenly vertically.
5 Design the first L shaped workstation.
Consider using Place SmartLine and AccuDraw.
6 Draw the cabinet.
7 Draw the equipment cable access portal.
8 Draw the utility casing post.
9 Draw the chair.
Next, solve the space utilization plan. Fit cubicles in various cluster
layouts.
10 Use Copy, Move, Rotate, and Mirror to place at least 18 cubicles, keeping
aisle spacing and walking areas clear.

Review the Design
Review the Design
What to Design
This lab creates a P & ID diagram.
How to design
1 Create a new file.
2 Following the schematic, create cells for the various features.

What to Design
3 Place the created cells in the proper locations.

4 Draw the connecting piping.

What to Design


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MicroStation V8i Essentials

Bentley Institute Course Guide

AutoCAD is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.

United States Patent Nos. 5,8.15,415 and 5,784,068 and 6,199,125.

©2000‐2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated.

MicroStation V8i Administrator Update ii Oct-09

Course Overview ____________________________________ 1

Welcome to MicroStation ____________________________ 3

Element Creation ___________________________________ 23

Aug-09 iii Table of Contents

Introductory Knowledge ________________________________ 23

Precision Input with AccuDraw ________________________ 59

Aug-09 iv Table of Contents

AccuDraw Basics ______________________________________ 60

Working with Existing Elements ________________________ 87

Aug-09 v Table of Contents

Modifying Existing Elements __________________________ 129

Annotating Designs __________________________________ 151

Table of Contents vi Aug-09

MicroStation Design Files _____________________________ 183

Aug-09 vii Table of Contents

Organizing Design Data _______________________________ 195

Organizing Project Data ______________________________ 227

Creating Printed Output ______________________________ 233

Table of Contents viii Aug-09

Module Review Answers _____________________________ 249

Aug-09 ix Table of Contents

Organizing Project Data _________________________________255

Design Labs ________________________________________ 259

Table of Contents x Aug-09

Aug-09 1 Course Overview

Copyright © 2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated

Course Overview 2 Aug-09

Aug-09 3 Welcome to MicroStation

Copyright © 2009 Bentley Systems, Incorporated

The File Open Dialog

Welcome to MicroStation 4 Aug-09

If the file is from an earlier MicroStation version, a thumbnail is not displayed.

Thumbnail File Association

V8 generation DGN files and later revisions of .dwg files

V8 generation DGN files and later revisions of .dwg files, when a

MicroStation/J and older versions of MicroStation

Older DWG versions

Aug-09 5 Welcome to MicroStation

A workspace is a custom MicroStation configuration that is set up by an

MicroStation is delivered with a sample workspace containing example files,

 Exercise: Select a Workspace

Welcome to MicroStation 6 Aug-09

View Groups dialog

Aug-09 7 Welcome to MicroStation

The status bar

Welcome to MicroStation 8 Aug-09

The most often used tools

Aug-09 9 Welcome to MicroStation

Creation tools (from the Tasks dialog)

Manipulation tools (from the Main toolbox)

Modification tools (from the Main toolbox)

Welcome to MicroStation 10 Aug-09

 Exercise: Access a tool using keyboard navigation