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Microstation Basic Training Manual

Table of Contents
Microstation Manager Dialog box .......................................................................................................................................................3 Open File:.........................................................................................................................................................................................3 New dialog box: ...............................................................................................................................................................................4 Seed File: .........................................................................................................................................................................................4 File location: ........................................................................................................................................................................................5 Difference between 2D and 3D ...........................................................................................................................................................5 Microstation Button/Box Concept.......................................................................................................................................................5 MicroStation Window Layout ..............................................................................................................................................................6 Standard Tool Box: ..........................................................................................................................................................................6 Primary Tools: ..................................................................................................................................................................................7 Attributes:........................................................................................................................................................................................7 Main Toolbar: ..................................................................................................................................................................................7 Task Navigation (Drawing Task): ......................................................................................................................................................8 View Controls: .................................................................................................................................................................................8 Basic Microstation drawing elements .................................................................................................................................................9 View: ..................................................................................................................................................................................................11 View Attributes ..............................................................................................................................................................................12 Saved Views ...................................................................................................................................................................................12 Introduction to Symbology ................................................................................................................................................................13 Level Manger .................................................................................................................................................................................13 Level display ..................................................................................................................................................................................13 Attributes Toolbar .........................................................................................................................................................................13 Level Attributes .............................................................................................................................................................................13 Button Assignment ............................................................................................................................................................................14 Design File Settings ............................................................................................................................................................................14 Working Units ................................................................................................................................................................................14 Preferences........................................................................................................................................................................................14 Operation ......................................................................................................................................................................................14 Saving File and Settings .................................................................................................................................................................14 Accudraw ...........................................................................................................................................................................................15 Accudraw .......................................................................................................................................................................................15 Polar Coordinate ............................................................................................................................................................................15 Accudraw Calculator ......................................................................................................................................................................15 Accudraw Shortcuts .......................................................................................................................................................................15 Snap ...................................................................................................................................................................................................16 Text and Dimensioning ......................................................................................................................................................................16 Maniplating and Modifying Elements ................................................................................................................................................17 References .........................................................................................................................................................................................17

Naming Convention ...........................................................................................................................................................................18 Shortcut Keys: ....................................................................................................................................................................................18 Layout ............................................................................................................................................................................................18 Key-In: ............................................................................................................................................................................................18 Comfort: ........................................................................................................................................................................................18 Designing Efficiency: ..........................................................................................................................................................................18 Ask Yourself ...................................................................................................................................................................................18 Efficiency is not speed ...................................................................................................................................................................18 3D Design Concepts: ..........................................................................................................................................................................18

Microstation Manager Dialog box


Open File: When you start MicroStation without designating a DGN/DWG file to be opened automatically, the first dialog box you see is MicroStation Manger. The Look in, List Box, File Name, Files of Type, Open, Icon Bar, and Options controls are corresponding to those in the Open dialog box, which opens when 'File Open' is chosen in MicroStation. The most commonly used buttons have been highlighted below.

2 3

Annotation 1. 'New File'. Opens the 'New Dialog Box', which is used to open a design file as the active file 2. 'User'. This sets the MicroStation environment or configuration that you want the next DGN File session to use. These are set up by your CAD Administrators. 3. 'Project'. Sets the location and names of data files associated with a specific project configuration.

New dialog box: Used to create and open a DGN/DWG file as the active DGN/DWG file. Opens when 'File New' is chosen.

Seed File:

Seed files When you create a DGN file, you identify a seed file as a template for the DGN file. The new DGN file is actually a copy of the seed file. Seed files do not (necessarily) contain elements but, like other DGN files, they contain at least one (default) model, settings, and view configurations. You should create a seed file with customized settings so that you don't have to adjust settings each time you open/create a DGN file. To optimize work flow you can have a different seed file for each type of drawing. General seed files will be made by CAD Administrator appointed to the corresponding project. A number of discipline-specific seed files are provided with Microstation, in addition to the generic seed files, 'seed2d.dgn' and 'seed3d.dgn.' In Ramboll's main office, seed file area kept in K drive \\rogqasql32\ustn under MSXM and then client, and are setup by a CAD administrator. To select a seed file 1. From the File menu, choose New. The New dialog box opens. 2. Click the Browse button adjacent to the Seed field. The Select Seed File dialog box opens. The default filter is 'MicroStation DGN Files [*.dgn].' 3. In the list box, select the desired seed file. Or In the File name field, key in the name of the desired seed file. 4. Click Open.

File location:

Currently at Ramboll we are using the K: drive to store our Seed files, Cell files, plot drivers and other files. Make sure you have K drive mapped out before you start any project as it will enable usage of User & Project in the Microstation Manager

Difference between 2D and 3D


2D and 3D refer to the actual dimensions in a computer's workspace. 2D is 'flat', using the X & Y (horizontal and vertical) axis', the image has only two dimensions and if turned to the side becomes a line. 3D adds the 'Z' dimension. This third dimension allows for rotation and depth. When drafting or designing be careful as some 2D drawings are 3D DGN and can cause complications later. It is recommended to check that side/front have elements lying flat line. To avoid this it is advised to lock the z axis if drafting under the above situation.

Microstation Button/Box Concept


MicroStation has a concept of using buttons and drag boxes. A common method is to setup the frequently used tool boxes and docking them into the centre or the sides of MicroStation. Once a user chooses a tool they will know it is active by the status bar and from the active tool settings (the box header will turn dark blue), pressing [F10] will move focus to the open tool settings box. In the Main Tool box with the exception of 'Element Selection'(1) and 'Delete Element'(8), the tools in the Main tool box are also members of a 'child' tool box. When you point to one of the other tools holding down the data button, a drop-down menu opens from which a tool in the child tool box can be selected. The child tool box can be 'torn off' and floated by choosing Open as Toolbox from the drop-down menu. When a tool is selected in a child tool box (attached or floating), the tool automatically becomes the 'representative' of the child tool box in the Main tool box. And a tools setting box will appear on screen.

Main Toolbox

Child Toolbox

Tool Settings (Inactive)

Tool Settings (Active)

MicroStation Window Layout

Standard

Primary Tools

Attribute

Task Navigation

Main Toolbar View Controls

Status Bar View Groups Key-In Accudraw

Standard Tool Box:

New (' FileNew ') Open (' FileOpen ') Save (' FileSave ') Print (' FilePrint ') Cut (' EditCut ') Copy (' EditCopy ')

Help (' HelpContents ') Bentley Library Redo ('EditRedo ') Undo (' EditUndo ') Paste (' EditPaste ')

Primary Tools:

Models References Level Manager Level Display Element Information Toggle Accudraw PopSet Disable Attributes:

Active Element Template Active Level Active Colour Active Line Style Active Line Weight Active Element Transparency Active Element Priority Main Toolbar: Element Selection Fence tool box (Place Fence) Manipulate tool box (Copy) View Control tool box (Update View) Change Attributes tool box (Change Element Attributes) Groups tool box (Drop Element) Modify tool box (Modify Element) Delete Element

This tool bar is used to select general usage element selection, manipulation, and modification tools. The table above shows the 'as delivered' arrangement of the Main tool box and identifies the corresponding child tool boxes.

Task Navigation (Drawing Task): Linear task (Place SmartLine) Polygons task (Place Block) Ellipses task (Place Circle) Patterns task (Hatch Area) Tags task (Attach Tags) Text task (Place Text) Cells task (Place Active Cell) Measure task (Measure Distance) Dimensioning task (Dimension Element)

The Task Navigation tool box contains the Task List and the tools of the active task. In the as-delivered application window layout, the Task Navigation tool box is docked to the right-hand edge of the application window, and the active task is the Drawing task. To change task, you have to click on 'sphere on a triangle' button and select the approperite task. To see what is in a task simply press the '+' buttons to see. The table above shows the 'as delivered' arrangement of the Main tool box and identifies the corresponding child tool boxes.

View Controls:

New (' FileNew ') Update View Zoom In Zoom Out Window Area Fit View Rotate View

View Display Mode Change View Perspective Copy View View Next View Previous Navigate View Pan View

View Controls are used to manipulate a view, the most commonly used View Controls can be selected in the View Control Bar docked to the top of each view window. Above is the standard setup of the' View Control Bar', to add or remove buttons simply right click and toggle between off and on.

Basic Microstation drawing elements


Under Area there is, fill type, and fill colour. You can change the fill type to opaque or outlined. Opaque will place the circle and fill the object with fill colour you choose. Outlined will also place the circle with fill colour, but still preserve the outline colour. Toggling on 'Diameter' will allow you to place a circle with the placement point set by method model. Each Method allows for different ways to place a circle, the different methods are explained bellow. Centre 1 Edge Diameter

2 1 2

3
User defines three points on the circle edge User defines two points on the circles edge as the diameter

User defines two points: the centre point and a point on the edge

Placing an arc is quite similar to placing a circle. The most commonly used 'Method' is 'Start, End, Mid', all methods for an arc have self explanatory names and are easy to use with a little practice. Note when using and unsure of the next step look to the bottom left to the Status Bar to see what the next step is.

Although called SmartLine you can use it to make multiple element types, such as Line, if it only has one line segment Arc, if it only has one arc segment Line string, if it has several line segments Complex chain, if it has several line and arc segments Complex shape, if its a closed element A SmartLine can have arc and lines. You can change the segment type from line to arc and vice versa during placement of the element. You can also change the vertex type to rounded (fillet) or chamfered. Using [~] you can toggle between the top most parameter in the active tool setting.

Place Line allows you to place a line according to parameters set in the tool settings. If you draw 4 line segments it will split into 4 line segments (Unlike SmartLine's 'Join Elements').

Place Block places a rectangle, as MicroStation calls rectangles, blocks. They are simple to place and have two methods of placement. See below.

Rotated 3 Orthogonal

2 2 1

Orthogonal requires the user to define two points at the block opposite corners.

Rotated requires the user to define three points, start point, rotation point and the opposite corner of the start point.

Place shape is like place SmartLine but you have to define the last data point as the first data point as well. Close Element button automatically closes the shape for the user. Orthogonal shape is similar to place shape. The only difference is the edges are perpendicular to each other.

View:
Whether a large & complex drawing or a simple 2D drawing, the additional windows in MicroStation give you an invaluable advantage. With a 3d drawing the views can be setup to different angles/perspectives for 3d, or simple to avoid zooming in & out by show different areas. The most views that can be opened at one time in MicroStation is 8, multiple monitors enhance this feature. Each viewing window can be treated as an individual view, and each can have different view attribute applied to them. This allows for annotation (Text and Tag) or depth to be viewed in one window, not all windows.

View 1. Is the fit view of a project from a 'Top View'. View 2. Is the 'Isometric View' with line weight switched on. View 3. Is the 'fit view' of the project from a 'Front View' View 4. Has depth set from the top view and is a 'Right View' You can open and close views using the view buttons in the view group.

Or using 'Window MenuViews'. By using the Window Menu you can also arrange and manage views by using 'Cascade', 'Tile', or 'Arrange'. An alternative to panning is to set scroll bars in the view windows, here in the Window Menu this can be done by toggling 'Scroll Bar'. View Toolbox will place View Toolbox's on all viewing windows. Selecting 'Task Navigation in View' will remove the 'View Toolbox' and place a Task navigation tool box in each viewing window. You can only view one toolbar at a time and in order to view either, 'View Toolbox' must be toggled on.

Window Area is a very useful tool in MicroStation, especial for 2D. It allows you to define an area in view 3 using the tool but show the selected area in view 2.

View Attributes Each Microstation view has a view attributes window, but by simply changing the 'View Number' it changes the window that the View attributes effects. For example, we can show annotations (Text and Tags) in view 1, but turn them off in view 2 or shading in view 1, but wireframe in view 3. Remember that to change an attribute for all views, toggle 'Apply to All' on and then make the change. Saved Views

Saved views will save your configuration for an individual view. Saved views are very important when it come to exporting 3D models to 2D detail drawings. It is important to check your project procedure for guidelines to the naming and describing of a saved view. If clips are using in the view, remember to toggle on 'Associative Clip Volume' before saving the view. 'Associative Clip Volume' does not save as part of Saved Setting. When you click Apply the view will be loaded into the view number corresponding to 'View:'

Introduction to Symbology
Level Manger Each element in a model is on a drawing level. Microstations levels are used to separate and distinguish objects in a drawing, MicroStation level are akin to AutoCAD Layers. You can create, delete and manage levels in general from the 'Level Manager'. You can open the level manager from 'Settings Levels Manager' or double clicking the level name at the bottom right or from Primary Tools Toolbox.

Level can only be deleted if empty. Should a level be empty and won't delete, check if a shared cell file is using that level. If so detach the cell file and then try to delete the unwanted level. Change the attributes of a level is as simple as clicking the attribute of the level you want to change, then a list box or colour panel will appear and you can change the attributes by clicking the appropriate value. Double clicking or right clicking and selecting 'set active will set that level as the files active level. Level display Level Display allows you to have full control of all levels in each view, even in references. It can be opened by 'Settings Levels Display' or from the Primary Tools Toolbox. It allows you to view which levels are in use as they have bullets in the 'Used' column. If a level is in highlighted dark green then it is the active level in the file, if dark blue then that level is visible in all views. If brown the level is only visible in some views, whereas if white it is turned off in all views. Attributes Toolbar Microstation level Attributes or Attributes toolbar is docked underneath the main taskbar at the top. MicroStation has many level attributes. By default, it will only show you three attributes: Colour, Line Style, and Line Weight. When clicking on the levels name a drop down list comes up showing the 'Name', 'Display', 'Lock' and 'Colour'. You can change active level by changing the 'Name', to correspond with needed level. Note, holding down [Alt] and clicking on an element will make the attributes bar copy that elements attributes. Also [Shift] + [F2] can be used on the active screen to change levels by selecting the need level from a drop down list. By default, object attributes will use by level. It means your object will use the attributes you set for that level. However, you may need to override the attributes when you place your objects. You can do this the from attributes toolbar. Remember useless required otherwise keep all attributes to 'by level' as default. Level Attributes MicroStation has two types of line style: standard or custom. The standard Line Styles are mark by number: 0 to 7. While the custom line style are using names (And AutoCAD Styles). To distinguish objects in black and white documents MicroStation uses the line weight. There are 32 line weights, from 0-31. The number is just index, not actual weight (5 is not 0.5 mm). Pen weights will be mapped to an actual plot weights. To Change a levels attributes/level simply select the elements that you want to change and then select the level to switch to from the drop down bars in the attributes toolbar.

Button Assignment
1) [Left click]; is called data point (DP). When an object is to be placed, the user needs to define a data point. A User can define a Data point by clicking the left mouse. Users can also use data point to activate tools from task navigation and as OK/accept button. [Right click]; is called Reset. Reset is used to cancel a running process or finish using a tool. [Middle Button] is called the Tentative Button. This is used for temporary snap. Scrolling with the [Middle Button] will allow the user to scroll in and out.

2) 3)

First time you open MicroStation you're [Middle Button] will actually be pan, the [Middle Button] should be changed to Tentative as it is easier to use than the left and right click buttons pressed at the same time. Change the button assignment by selecting 'Workspace Button Assignment' and select', Remap Buttons. Select tentative, click with the [Middle Button] in the Button Definition Area.

Once this is done you lose the use of pan as the [Middle Button], so alternatives for this are using [Shift] + [Left Click] which allow for trace pan to be used. Or applying scroll bars to view windows is another option. Alternatively you could remap your button so that pan is [Alt] + [Left Click]/ [Right Click].

Design File Settings


Working Units MicroStation works diffrently to AutoCAD in this regard as in the later working units can be changed at any time. Whereas in MicroStation working units if changed, will change the values of the elements already in the file. You can check your working unit by accessing menu 'SettingsDesign File' and click on the category 'working units' on the left.

Preferences
Operation When switching to two screens select 'Workspace Preferences' and click on the category 'Operation'. Here you will have to toggle on 'Open Two Application Windows', and then close and open MicroStation. Saving File and Settings Microstation 'Save File', saves elements to the file though 'Filesave' ([Ctrl] +[S]). Elements mean objects such as lines and complex shapes. Microstation also has save settings, 'FileSave Settings' ([Ctrl]+[F]) which saves working units and window views so than when you open the DGN again you will be back in the same area you where in before closing. It is also advised to have 'Save Settings on Exit' and 'Automatically Save Design Changes' toggled on.

Accudraw
Accudraw Accudraw can help a user place elements precisely and efficiently, and is one of the main advantages of using MicroStation. MicroStation default is to keep the Accudraw tool above 'Status Bar', this can be 'torn off' and left floating. Leaving this bar floating has the advantages of knowing if Accudraw is active or inactive. You can toggle Accudraw on and off from the Primary Tools bar or press [F11]. Once you enter a data point, the data point becomes the origin for Accudraw and as you move the mouse the X and Y value changes accordingly. Moving it to the right or left of your compass the focus field becomes the X field. The focus field is the field is the highlighted field. If the pointer is moved up and down near the compass, the highlighted field becomes Y. Accudraw focus will always move to a field with the highest value. If the pointer is near to or in line with the X or Y axis, the line becomes thicker and sticks to the axis. It is called 'indexed'. Indexing will help you to draw lines parallel to the X or Y axis. You can also index their Accudraw by Smartlock, which locks the X, Y or Z axis by pressing [enter]. When Accudraw is active and Smartlock is used all but the highlighted field / selected field will change to yellow. If yellow it means that that axis is locked, once locked you can use [tab] to move to the next field or click another field they want to change. To unlock Accudraw you can press [enter] again or simply toggle the 'X','Y', or 'Z' buttons off. Pressing [Z] when Accudraw is active will lock the Z axis; this can be useful when you want to draw as if in a 2D environment Accudraw compass will be rotated and follow the previous data points orientation. To get the points to reset the compass orientation to the view, press [V] to reset the compass to view orientation. Accudraw comes with practice and most manipulation tools works with Accudraw. Polar Coordinate During the design process, you may need to use other methods to input your object. Not by X and Y values, but using distance and angle. This is known as polar coordinate. When Accudraw is active press [space bar] to change it to polar coordinate, this will change X and Y to distance and angle. It also changes the

Accudraw Calculator Accudraw has a built-in calculator function. This feature allows for mathematical calculations to be used when placing a data point. For + or operator, you should lock the X or Y value first. Otherwise, Accudraw will think you want to input negative or positive values. To lock the x axis press [x] do the same for the y and z axis using the [y] and [z] respectively.

Accudraw Shortcuts When Accudraw is active and you press [Shift] + [/] or [?] it will show you the short cut list for Accudraw.

Snap
Snapping is referencing to existing points with our file, as we need to place point at the end of a line, midpoint, and centre of a circle and so on. Using Tentative Snap point is almost like the Accusnap point, but its not yellow. Its a dashed cross. Move your pointer until you see the tentative point. Click the tentative icon. MicroStation will show you which point you are attempting to snap to. The tentative point becomes a large white cross, and MicroStation highlights the object. When it snaps to where you want it, click data point to accept it. This is important if there are a lot of objects in a drawing. Allowing you to review whether they are snapping to the correct object or not. If incorrect, click reset [right click] to cancel it, and try again. At the bottom right next to the Lock icon is a snap icon, if you click it you get the options for snapping. The default snap type is Keypoint. To change snap type simply toggle to the snap type that is required. You can also get this list by [Shift] + [Middle Button] (Make sure [Middle Button] is Tentative). Also if Accudraw is active the user can use quick keys to select a snap type, and to change the Keypoints use [K] to bring up the tool settings. Keypoint is set to default at 2, which means that it divides an element into two. This results into a start, middle and end snap point for a line.

Text and Dimensioning


There are many dimensioning and text tools that can be used, following the guides in status bar makes using any one of them easy and simple. And like many MicroStation tools the name explains the tool. Dimension appearance is controlled by dimension attributes. While each dimension can have different attributes, we can manage them efficiently using dimension styles. You can save different attributes settings in each style. You can access dimension style dialog from element>dimension styles. Style is always the top most parameter in a dimensioning oriented tool setting box, with the exceptions of 'match dimension attributes' and' reassociate dimensions'. This is how you define your dimension alignment. View; will give you dimensions aligned with your view. This is useful if you rotated your views and want to have dimension parallel to your view. Drawing; will give you dimension parallel to your coordinate (ACS). View rotation will not affect the dimension orientation. True; will create dimension parallel to your element. Arbitrary; will place your dimension arbitrarily. This is very useful if you want to create an isometric dimension. Under location option, you can see what kind of dimension you can create. In this example, you can see dimension types for dimension element. If you activate 'Association', this will associate your dimension with the element. If you move the element, resize, or do other modification then the dimension will automatically update.

Text appearance is controlled by text attributes. While each text can have different attributes, we can manage them efficiently using text styles. You can save different attributes settings in each style. You can access text style dialog from element>text styles. Style is the top most parameter in Place Text tool settings.

Maniplating and Modifying Elements


Element manipulation is easy to use, and will become easier with practice. Most the manipulation tools work similar to AutoCAD with the only difference being 'Method' which is incorporated into 'Scale', and 'Rotate'. The methods are (1) Active Angle the element(s) are rotated by the Active Angle, which can be keyed in. (2) 2 Points the angle of rotation is defined by entering two data points. (3) 3 points the angle of rotation is defined by three data points. Modify elements again are similar to those found in AutoCAD and using them is simple as long as you follow the status bar and the tool settings.

References
Unlike AutoCAD and Xref you cannot effect any changes on a reference without using specific reference tools. The tools can be found in the 'toolreferences' opening the tool box or in the references manager which can be opened from the primary tool box or 'filereferences'. In the reference manager the select/active references are highlighted by blue. Some normal manipulation tools work when a reference is highlighted such as 'move'.

3
(1) These are the reference tools that are also include in the reference tool box. (2) This is the reference list; these columns hold information to some reference properties. From left to right display, snap-able, selectable and treated like other elements. (3) Here the information for a reference is displayed and can be changed from here. When referencing into a drawing, maintain a naming convention and check to see if the project has a set naming convention. By default try to keep model name, view or object name in the 'Logical Name'.

Naming Convention
The general rule is to use the naming convention that is layed out by your project leader or CAD manual. Remember that file name, saved view, refrences all must have a correspoinding naming convention for the flow of work and to trace it back to drawings.models. if you merge refrences in a drawing to release a copy remember to Save As and apply the set out name extention, such as _Rev0 or _r1.

Shortcut Keys:
Layout The Microstation keys layout is simple, quick and efficient. The main manipulation toolboxes are under 1-9. Task tools are under Q-R; A-F after opening any toolbox it will appear like a dropdown box, allowing you to select the required option. Tools in the dropdown can also be opened by using the corresponding key between 1-9 and Q-R. Each tool has a Tool Box, these have options that can be changed/edited/selected by clicking on them. To access the active tool settings you would have to use the 3rd set of quick keys which are Y-P, H-L.

Key-In: To get key-in go to 'UtilitiesKey-In', or press [enter] without selecting anything selected or press [F9]. Key-In are general used when accessing tools that aren't in task navigation. If you type's p the key-in will display all tools stating with p and once the correct tool is highlighted pressing space will automatically complete the word. Comfort: Although one can use quick keys to select a tool from a toolbox, it is almost equally as quick to just click on the tool needed as the toolbox appears underneath your cursor or from a docked tool box. If you use shortcut keys ensure you are comfortable with the keys you are using as there is less rework from errors.

Designing Efficiency:
Ask Yourself Sometimes the easiest thing to do is just look at how you are designing and question yourself, is this the easiest way. Any objects that are symmetrical and you are not using mirror ask yourself do you have to draw the whole object or just half. This is one of the most efficient ways to cut down your designing time and it is best to reduces unnecessary keystrokes or mouse movements that are not needed. Efficiency is not speed Avoid confusing efficiency with speed. Efficiency cuts down on keystrokes and mouse movement, whereas speed is how quickly you do your designing/drafting. It is better to keep your normal speed at all times as it leads to fewer mistakes. Selecting tangents and typing in dimensions should, always been done at normal speed as they can cause the largest rifts in a drawing. Typing in quick keys (Shortcuts) is limited to ones familiarity with a keyboard, and it can be equally as quick to select from toolbars.

3D Design Concepts:
The most basic concept is to work in 4 views at one time. This is to have a top, front, right and isometric view open when designing in 3D. Real World coordinates, even thought sometime we have the RWC it is easier to model by placing one object at 0-0-0 and modelling using that object as your basis. Then move or reference your model to its RWC. Try to avoid objects such as Boolean or BSpline, as in large models they will slow down the speed at which one can move through or model in.

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