Maik Schulze's Activities

Pattern angle orientation absolute or by element

Maik Schulze — Mon, 09 May 2022 12:27:17 GMT

Hello,

is there an option to handle the orientation angle of patterns / hatches in Microstation?

Here you see the same polygon from two referenced DGN with the same pattern angle of 0°:

In 3d DGN (yellow) the pattern is oriented to the first edge (upper left edge) so the pattern of 0° is parallel to that edge.

In the attached 2d DGN (red) the pattern is oriented absolute in north direction, so 0° is from west to east.

Is there an option / configuration variable to handle that issue? It should look the same despite its dimensionality.

The geometry isn't created in Microstation (FME) and the pattern is associated to it's boundary. And we use Microstation Update 16 but we see it in OpenCities Map or others too.

Kind Regards,

Maik Hertel

How to Update Plan and Profile Drawings Once the Alignment Has Changed (second attempt)

Keith Holt — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 13:13:57 GMT

I posted this question some time ago (https://communities.bentley.com/products/road___site_design/f/geopak-inroads-mx-openroads-forum/187923/how-to-update-plan-and-profile-drawings-when-alignment-changed?ReplySortBy=CreatedDate&ReplySortOrder=Ascending) but have not had an answer that fully resolves the issue.

Bentley's website states that drawing production is automated and as 'the design changes, so will the sheets. Make edits directly in the design model and the application will update the sheets.' However, I'm struggling to work out how to update a series of plan and profile drawings if the horizontal alignment has changed. Neither the named boundaries or the profile annotation update automatically and it appears that you have to go through a process of deleting the boundaries and associated models, though I'm having problems even doing that.

There is clearly a need for drawings to be updated or, at the very least, for warnings to be displayed highlighting that the data that is presented in them is out of date, which may not be obvious if the alignment changes are small. This process should be automatic and Bentley's website suggests that it is.

Please can a Bentley representative explain how this should be done. I have searched for Bentley guidance, but have found none so far.

multiple lines Annotation not working as supposed

Maik Schulze — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 09:45:51 GMT

Hi,

with OpenCities Map Advanced Update 16 we have issues with multiple line annotations that are created from one attribute.

For example there is an xfm attribute INFO with the value "1st line \010 2nd line \010 third" it creates following annotation:

In Bentley Map the 2nd line was "2nd line", now all new lines starting with a number are cut in that way (spaces in front of the number won't solve that issue).

Is it a bug and do you have any hints on how to use \010 as new Line in current versions? The annotation is created by a usual PBA expression like [INFO].

Kind Regards,

Maik

OpenCities Map and Map Connections Dialog issues

Maik Schulze — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 08:45:44 GMT

Hello,

we use the Map Connections Dialog to query and post Oracle data from a configured graphical source.

The workflow looks like: query data > lock for edit > edit > post back.

Since there are cases where we need to edit a bunch of datasets (like 200k+) it takes a long time to query data (particularly when using a fence from a polygon) and much more time to lock these datasets (like more than an hour) until it comes to the real work.

In order to improve the workflow we configured all the where-clauses we need and stored that as an ORAX-file. That works but not with the valid date. For each feature it has the date from ORAX-file-creation stored and when I reload this ORAX-template it shows up the old date but we want to query current state datasets. Is there a way to get that improved, I couldn't find a VBA-based option to operate with Map Connections explorer. I could alter the old date to be current manually but we've got a bunch of features to query and that would take a while.

A second question is whether I may alter the locking type from pessimistic to optimistic (that is greyed out for some reasons) without using the Oracle versioning option. It takes much longer creating a new Oracle version and querying/posting data that way. I know there are data security issues with concurrent data edition but that's not the case here.

Kind Regards,

Maik

Is OpenCities Map with Oracle 19c an 3d data working?

Maik Schulze — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 12:45:56 GMT

Hi,

I'm checking the new OCM Advanced Update 16 in combination with Oracle 19c and 3-dimensional data.

Data consists of simple lines, has a valid 3d spatial index and is listed in user_sdo_geom_metadata.

I created a project in Geospatial Administrator, registered a feature, created a workspace an tried to extract data in OpenCities Map.

That's working fine as long as I'm not querying by fence or view. In these cases it throws:

ORA-29902: error in executing ODCIIndexStart() routine
ORA-13243: specified operator is not supported for 3- or higher-dimensional R-tree
ORA-06512: at "MDSYS.SDO_INDEX_METHOD_10I", line 671

I guess the operator is: WHERE SDO_ANYINTERACT ( SDOGIS.HOEHENLINIEN_SDO.OGC_GEOMETRY, :1) = 'TRUE'

DesignFile is 3D and I was assuming that the Connector is using the correct 3D operators when querying data.

When I connect to a 12g database it's working fine and I can extract 3d data via fence.

Is anyone else affected by this behavior? Or do I miss anything?

Kind Regards,

Maik

Hatch Area Angle - differences between v8i and CONNECT

Maik Schulze — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 13:43:49 GMT

Hi,

when attaching Hatch Area patterns to shapes I can see differences in Microstation v8i and CONNECT edition.

In v8i (Microstation + Bentley Map for Microstation) I wrote a VBA that managed to add hatching to buildings depending on orientation of the longed edge of the polygon. For example it should be hatched with 45° and VBA calculated the correct angle depending on the north direction of the buildings longest edge.

Now in CONNECT my VBA doesn't need to calculate any angle since I can just say "place it with 45°" and the lines are placed with 45° related to the buildings first edge (as I guess).

To make that more absurd: when I copy that building polygon, remove the hatch and add it manually, it's placed with 45° related to north direction, as you may see here (left side hatched with angle 45° with VBA, right side manually placed with 45°):

I cannot see any differences in element properties, both is 45°, I didn't find any options or parameter to set for that behaviour. In VBA I'm using CreateHatchPattern1() and SetPattern().

The behaviour of Microstation that let me add hatches or chrosshatches in relation to the geometry is good, but I don't know why it let me do that and why not manually?

Hope someone may help me or give me a hint where to look for further information.

Kind Regards,

Maik

OpenCities Map: Future development and directions?

Jan Šlegr — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 08:25:26 GMT

Hi,

I am posting this question as a result of several discussions I had recently with customers. I am aware it's not a representative pattern, because I typically serve smaller companies and individuals, but in my opinion the topic is important generally.

My customers use BM (or more often BMPV because of very good price offer in the past) as drawing tool only, with spatial data support. BM was often used because INSPIRE and other data are important, and even when not well supported in V8i versions (WFS, WMTS, local formats...), it was still better than in plain MicroStation. In V8i, it works quite fine, because it's "like MicroStation", so experience and setting can be shared easily and it allows to access data in ad-hoc style and to create output on top of them.

When talking about "BM as GIS", it's much worse. Right now I have only one customer who use BM as GIS tool, all other left Bentley platform towards to competitive (better supported with more advanced functionality).

All these users are now evaluating a migration to CONNECT Edition. They are usually have mixed environments with MicroStation, PowerDraft or civil products. Sometimes competitive tools like AutoCAD or ArcGIS are also used in parallel. The question is: What is the future and directions of OpenCities Map? Does make it sense to move to CE platform, or to plain MicroStation / PowerDraft, or to some competitive platform?

I must admit, that I have had no clear answer or recommendation for them. And I realized I have no idea what OCM product line should be used for, what are development aim, targeted areas and workflows and competitive strengths. Whereas I see priorities and quite clear directions for products like MicroStation (the platform in general), OpenRoads Designer or GenerativeComponents, because there are active discussions, webinars, SIG sessions etc. available, OCM world looks more like "we gave up".

It is a bit complicated to talk about GIS today:

I agree with an idea that "GIS is dead" ... it has become integrated technology, working often in a hidden way.
Also, the most of GIS has moved to web solutions (including editing and analysis), which is area what have been abandoned by Bentley years ago.
Existing GIS desktop products (ArcGIS + QGIS as ethalons) offer complex advanced functionality in a range from data capture, processing, analysis, visualization and even some cartography production).
GIS is spreading as technology to other disciplines and is incorporated, integrated or inspiring other areas (aggregating data, enrich them with spatial info, analyze them in cloud...).

So, what is OCM expected to be?

Desktop GIS product? No.
- Complicated for users, nothing is "click and use or drag-and-drop".
- Weird (even powerful) GSA, not flexible.
- Very limited functionality with a lot not well connected tools.
Data capturing tool? Not quite.
- To limit OpenCities Map PowerView to be spatial database read-only client, in time when spatial databases are core of spatial data world, force users to use other cheaper solutions.
- When for basic data capturing (or editing) another technology is used, why to use full OCM, which increases operation and maintenance costs?
Data processing tool? No.
- Still fragile weak support of spatial databases.
- When there is an issue, not enough materials.
- No migration, data cleaning, data quality etc. tools available.
Development platform? No.
- Comparing to MicroStation CE API, which is consistent and well designed (and pretty well performant), it's ... well, it cannot be used.
- Geospatial Extranet (the only source of some information) is not functional anymore.
Map production tool? No.
- Map producing tools are limited, basic functionality only (well, Update 5 offer a bit better labeling).
- Complicated styles / sings definition, limited, fragmented between MicroStation and Map-specific tools.
- No cartography tools at all.
Client side of server solution (ArcGIS Pro + ArcGIS Server, QGIS + PostGIS/PostgeSQL)? No.
- There is nothing available for main spatial DB (Oracle, SQL Server, PostGIS/PostgreSQL) that optimize the platforms for usage of OCM client.
Client side of web publishing solution? No.
- GeoWebPublisher is history, weak and dysfunctional.
- PostgreSQL + GeoServer + OpenLayers + ... can be alternative, but again painful to solve e.g. line styles, because no conversion tools or best practices availability.

So, what is unique feature of BM and what is its development priority?

Maybe it's 3D GIS, but it's something very specific, not interesting for 99% of users. Which does not mean it's wrong, because when old users will be lost, new ones can be found. But now, what users tell me, this platform cannot be trusted as stable for such expensive decision like the migration. Even when the migration to competitive platform is typically quite expensive (data conversion, users training etc.), in long term perspective it seems to be cheaper, because: directions are known, the solutions are well supported locally, there are companies available to develop local specific tools and there are best practices how to go for web, which is crucial.

So, end of whining. May I ask for some insight what is the future? When the current surviving mode will change to "we are on edge, these features are breaking news and we are able to offer bigger value than our competitors, including supporting local regulations and specifics"?

With regards,

Jan

Define criteria-based DomainList in Geospatial Admin

Maik Schulze — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 10:12:00 GMT

Hello everyone,

how is it possible to use the 'Use Criteria' entry in Geospatial Connector Admins Feature property definition? For Explanation look at that:

The Domain List behind is the following:

What I try to achieve is to filter the Domain List entries for the specific Feature through the 3rd column value. I'm using that Domain List for several Features - in each are displayed other values.

Is that possible or what is the 'Use Criteria' entry for? And how would the Syntax look like?

TIA,

Maik

One unitary CONNECT ConfigurationSetup.cfg for multiple Apps

Maik Schulze — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 09:14:50 GMT

Hello,

we are using different Bentley CONNECT applications and we've got a network share with our Workspaces. For Software Distribution we have to roll out a ConfigurationSetup.cfg for each product (for example to C:\ProgramData\Bentley\MicroStation CONNECT Edition\Configuration\). I know it's possible to create a MSI with that Parameter set, but for maintenance distributing that cfg is better for our IT.

Is there a place to put ONE config-file for all products instead of one for each? I found a Directory C:\ProgramData\Bentley\CONNECT Edition\Configuration\ with a ConfigurationSetup file and thought it's the place to be, but it doesn't work.

Thank you in advance,

Maik

Bentley Image Server in Microstation Raster referencing from ProjectWise

Maik Schulze — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 09:08:54 GMT

Hello,

we've got plenty of images (jpg + jgw) located in ProjectWise and we're looking for a good way to access them in Microstation. Now the files in ProjectWise have non-helpful filenames (but better read-able document names) but when referencing Rasters by 'attach raster' it just shows the filename.

When I look at Microstation Reference Manger I see Image Server as a source and in documentation I found you need a Bentley Image Server configured.

Actually what is Image Server, is it a Bentley product (didn't find it yet) and is an Image Server capable of accessing Images stored in ProjectWise Explorer.

We're using Bentley V8i (not CONNECT yet).

btw: does anybody else have problems with this website here? In IE11 it shows me the menu (Wiki, Forum,...Calendar) vertically and not horizontally, that takes 70% of visibility

Data Browser copy and paste drop down values

Maik Schulze — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 07:15:37 GMT

Hello Community,

we upgraded our Oracle Connector and Geospatial Administrator recently (cause of upgrade Oracle 11g to 12c) and I did a re-Register of my Features in Geospatial Administrator.

Afterwards I saw that the Definition of my Domain attributes (Drop-Down-Lists) changed from type string to double (according to database type definitions). In prior releases it was string in my Map Workspace but numeric in database.

Now we are not able to copy and paste these attributes in Bentley Map Data Browser anymore. I select one data row, copy and I'd like to paste to other rows in the browser.

For string-typed attributes it is still working fine.

Are there any options I didn't find yet?

We're using Microstation SS4, Bentley Map SS4, ProjectWise & Oracle Connector CONNECT.

Thanks in advance,

Kind regards,

Maik

Register Feature Troubles with GSA

Maik Schulze — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 08:14:19 GMT

Hi Community,

I know that there are several posts concerning problems while re-register features in Bentley Geospatial Administrator.

Either I'm missing something and doing something wrong or there are real issues.

Usually I'm changing things in database (Oracle) and need them to be published in Bentley Map. Then I just do a 'Register Feature' in Geospatial Administrator where I don't change anything in the forms

and the following issues happen:

- some database sequences are missing (happens rarely)

- some attributes are now uppercase (happens rarely)

- my config of 'Store Last Value' is beeing reset and I need to re-configure to 'client' for all properties (happens every time)

- config of Default values for some properties is changed (sometimes)

- config for combobox-properties are reset, concerning Default values on placing and the 'List Width' that I had set and the 'Calculate List With' that is reset to 'on' (happens sometimes)

Some issues (lost Sequence) isn't a Problem, I just add them in ecSchema.XML, but others are annoying to reconfigure for we've got like 30 Features with plenty properties.

Does anyone have similar Problems and/or Information to get that solved?

We're using the latest GSA and Connector for Oracle and Bentley Map + Microstation SS4.

Thanks for help,

Maik

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Fri, 09 Mar 2018 09:21:53 GMT

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Bentley Map CONNECT Edition Technology Preview?

Rod Wing — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 22:48:09 GMT

I haven't seen any mention of this on the forum, so I'll ask...

Will there be a Bentley Map Technology Preview (or Beta) for the CONNECT Edition similar to what we had for MicroStation CONNECT and Bentley Map SS4?

If so, when is that expected to happen?

In working with MicroStation CONNECT workspaces and the changes to the user configuration level I would imagine that this will require a substantial change in how Bentley Map workspaces are set up. I would also like to start planning for any XFM feature migration required from Map SS4 to Map CONNECT.

Thanks.

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Wed, 13 Dec 2017 02:22:10 GMT

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