We have been asked several times why some elements/annotations in active model are not visible or hide behind some reference elements. I think this blog will help you understand this.
In case of overlapping elements, what you see depends on what draws last. You come across these overlapping elements situation mostly while working with Drawing/Sheet models. You place several annotations on these models to get your final deliverables ready. For example, you place "Section Callout" on a reference. this section callout leader line overlaps with reference attachment. Since section callout has been placed on active model, you must make sure the active model draws last to see the leader line displayed.
You can change the update sequence of active model and reference attachments using "Update Sequence Dialog". One of the entry points of this dialog is in the settings menu of reference dialog.
This dialog lets you change the order of display of active model and reference attachments. The default button above is used to draw the active model always first and then the references.You might be thinking about this additional headache that you need to take for each model in your project. To solve this problem for the recommended workflow, we introduced three configuration variables in MicroStation V8i Select Series 1 for each model:
MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_DESIGN (Design Model Update Sequence): This controls the default update sequence of references and master model in the design model. If 1, the master design model is visible on top of the references.
MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_DRAWING (Drawing Model Update Sequence): This controls the default update sequence of references and master model in the drawing model. If 1, the references are visible on the top of the master drawing model.
MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_SHEET (Sheet Model Update Sequence): This controls the default update sequence of references and master model in the design model. If 1, the references are visible on the top of the master sheet model.
These are default values for three configuration variables:MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_DESIGN : 0MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_SHEET : 1MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_DRAWING : 1
These default values make sure that active model draws first for design models and last for drawing/sheet models. We did this keeping in mind the fact that we put several annotations on drawing/sheet models. Before MicroStation V8i Select Series 1 release, the default was to draw the active model always first and then the references. To make sure the older files display remain intact, these new configuration variables are used only for the new models that you create.
For more information watch this video.
Note 1: Double-click to view Full Screen Note 2: To run this video in Fire fox Click Here to download plug in.
More blogs are coming up so be there.
Hi Roy,
These variables control the update order of your references if defined as 1 and there is no existing references files attached with a display order defined then we will always draw the active model information on top of the references. This is regardless of the display style used.
Does this resolve the display priority differences between to the way MS 8.5 & MS 8.9 and above handle mixed 2D & 3D data. It appears that in your video you are in a 2D model referenceing a 3D model and are able to pull the 2D graphics above the 3D. I thought this was only possible when using the "Legacy Wireframe" display style.(http://communities.bentley.com/Products/MicroStation/MicroStation_V8i/f/19565/t/15737.aspx)
I now see (haven't heard much on this) that many of the display styles have a "Use File Order for Display" setting; is this related or no?
Thnaks - Roy
Although I'm aware of the workflow involved in Update Sequence, thanks for the post.
Keep then coming as they are really helpful.