Please note that some of these variables have been changed in CONNECT Edition.
Three mechanisms are available to provide consistent settings for DWG Import/Export. Exporting settings to a .DWS file for reuse is a good method to apply differing but consistent groups of settings, particularly with batch export/import. Defaults can be set at site or project level using a dwgsettings.rsc file as described in How to Setup DWG Options settings for multiple users across network or more visibly by using configuration variables as described in this article.
The group of settings shown below would typically be added to a site standards.cfg file (see other blogs in this series regarding this file). These are not firm recommendations, only an illustration of what is possible. The settings shown may not suit your particular purposes so each should be considered then altered are required. The available V8i variables are listed in MicroStation V8i Variables.
These can be used in conjunction with .DWS files that apply project or process specific variations, the .DWS settings will apply once loaded. The configured defaults will apply once the application is restarted or, if variables are applied at project level, when a new PCF is applied.
Omit any notes in red text if you copy this text to your own configuration!
#-------------------------------------------------------------------# dwg #-------------------------------------------------------------------
MS_DWGDATA = $(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)Resources/ #Site specific location
MS_DWGSYSTEMDATA = $(_USTN_SITE)dwgdata/ #Site specific location
MS_NO_DWG_BACKUP = 1
MS_DWG_PGPFILE = $(_USTN_SITE)data/acad.pgpMS_DWGFONTPATH = $(_USTN_SITE)symb/shx/
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - BasicMS_DWG_LEVEL_DISPLAY = 1# MS_DWG_LEVELSYMBOLOGY_OVERRIDE #comment out to leave open allowing control by user or settings file.MS_DWG_SAVE_FILE_SETINGS = ON
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - AdvancedMS_DWG_DROP_UNSUPPORTED_LS = ONMS_DWG_INDEXCOLOR_TO_TRUECOLOR = OFFMS_DWG_EMPTY_EDF_TO_SPACE = OFFMS_DWG_ACS_TO_UCS = ONMS_DWG_NONDEFAULT_DESIGNMODEL = Ignore If Not MergedMS_DWG_CREATE_SEPARATE_SHEETS = OFFMS_DWG_LEVELDISP_FOR_VPORTFREEZE = OFFMS_DWGSAVEAPPLICATIONDATA = OFF
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - ReferencesMS_DWG_OVERLAY_FOR_REFERENCES = ONMS_DWG_SAVE_REFERENCE_PATH = NeverMS_DWG_LOGICALNAME_TO_XREFNAME = ON
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - ClassesMS_DWG_CONSTRUCTION_CLASS = Save To "Construction" LayerMS_DWG_LINEARPATTERN_CLASS = Save To "Linear Patterned" LayerMS_DWG_PATTERN_CLASS = Save To "Pattern" Layer
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - CellsMS_DWG_ONE_BLOCK_FOR_DUP_CELLS = ON
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - FontsMS_DWG_TEXTSTYLE_NAME_TEMPLATE = %s (dgn)MS_DWG_SHX_OUTPUT_PATH = $(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)Resources/ #Site specific location
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - DimensionsMS_DWG_SAVE_DIMENSION_SETTINGS = ON
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - TriformaMS_DWG_BLOCKNAMES_FROM_TRIFORMA_PARTS = ON
# DWG/DXF Options References TabMS_DWG_REFERENCE_EXTERNAL = Merge To CellMS_DWG_REFERENCE_SELF = Merge To CellMS_DWG_NONDEF_DESIGNMODEL_ATTACHMENTS = Merge To CellMS_DWG_REFERENCE_MASKED = Merge To CellMS_DWG_REFERENCE_COPYLEVEL = If Not FoundMS_DWG_REFERENCE_CONVERT = OFFMS_DWG_REFERENCE_MERGE_OPTIMIZEDCLIP = ONMS_DWG_REFERENCE_COPYNESTED = OFFMS_DWG_REFERENCE_MERGE_DISPLAYEDLEVELSONLY = ON
Note the 'Merge to Cell' settings in the final section above, these are the four settings that most people want to control or vary by .DWS.