SHEET, DRAWING OR DESIGN: John Melbert Helps LEARNing Conference Attendees Decide

In this lecture, John Melbert helped users discover the differences and similarities of Design, Drawing and Sheet Models in MicroStation, highlight the tools and capabilities that “make your life easier”.

“Think of a model as a drawer within a file cabinet”

Design Model: consists of design geometry; can be 2D or 3D; typically has a black background.

Drawing Model: used to apply annotation; can only be 2D; typically has a gray background

Sheet Model: serves as an electric drawing sheet; normally 2D but can be 3D; typically has a white background

Common to all three models:

  • Simplified sheet set-up
  • Allow for automated printing
  • Allow for automated sheet numbering and sheet titles

….Drawing Models add shared annotation capability!

John discussed folder structure and its relationship to basic project configuration before discussing specific elements of the workspace configuration. He reminded users as they work with project configuration they need to think about how they’re going to work with seed files.

Project Configurations

  • DGN search paths
  • Reference file search paths
  • Seed file search paths and names
  • DGNLIB search paths
  • Print specific settings
  • Project Cell Libraries
  • Custom variables

Working with Seed Files

  • Decide how you want your seed files structured:
      • Single seed file with multiple models
      • Separate seed files for all models
      • A hybrid to accommodate your workflow
  • Define your search paths
  • Define which models will be used
  • Use custom variables and logic statements to “make your life easier”

Work with Project Explorer to Build Your Sheets

  • Works like a web browser for your design data
  • Automatically mines project data (CAD files, Office Documents, PDFs)
  • Will link to URLs, folders and configuration variables
  • Will allow you to link data to elements in your design file and drag and drop data directly into MicroStation
  • Allows you to browse data in your current file 

Using Print Dialog and Print Organizer

  • Create print styles to take the guess work out of printing
  • Both print/plot and print organizer can take advantage of print styles
  • Make sure your sheet size definitions and page sizes in your plot configuration match
  • For simplicity sake, name your seed models to correspond to your sheet sizes
  • If properly configured, you should never have to…
    • Select a plot configuration or pen table
    • Define your printing area or sheet size
    • Select a scale factor for your output

Just click print!

To share in the #Bentley15 learning, take the on-demand course available in the LEARNserver. Click here and scroll down to see Sheet, Drawing, or Design: Deciding Which One to Use.