DETAILING SYMBOL STYLES

Re: DETAILING SYMBOL STYLES

ChrisRev — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:43:52 GMT

On basic automation of DV annotation, this is what I understand of DATAGROUP ANNOTATION, I'm sure there is more to it so feedback on this is welcome!

DRAWING RULES AND DATAGROUP ANNOTATION CELLS

Datagroup annotation rely on :

- A set of annotation cells as models located in a file Annotation_DG.cel , by default in the active dataset’s Cell folder. This file is controlled by the configuration variable BB_ANNOTATION_CELLLIB .

- A ‘’Drawing Rules’’ interface

1 – DG Annotation cells

The cell management interface is accessed via the Manage Datagroup Annotation Cells tool. This tool automatically opens the Annotation_DG.cel file for editing/associating/creating, on completion of which closing the dialog will revert automatically to the previous dgn.

Note that any edited models /new assignment to a type will need to be re-selected via the View Attributes/Building VIew/Architecture tab’s secondary dialog box before the changes are visible. I find this process has to take place in the Drawing Seed views before changes take effect.. Or perhaps restarting the application does it.. not too sure on this one.

2 – Drawing Rules

The Drawing Rules interface can be accessed from the View Attributes – Building – Architecture tab. Within this interface, the user can :

- Associate an annotation cell from the Annotation_DG.cel list of cells with any Datagroup type.

- Define offset values for the placement of the annotation cell when a DV is processed into a drawing

- Select which Datagroup types are automatically annotated when a DV view is processed into a drawing

DATAGROUP ANNOTATION SYMBOLOGY OVERRIDE

The Annotate Tool Settings functions as a symbology override interface and includes a section for Datagroup Annotation.

The Datagroup section, when expanded, presents the complete list of DG items (same as in the Manage Datagroup Annotation Cells/Type dropdown list.) The right hand column displays the symbology and cell used for each DG item. These attributes can be selected and modified to suit.

Note the override has no effect on already-placed DG annotation, which is something that should be improved IMO

As an aside, the second section of the Annotate Tool Settings deals with the "manual" equivalent of Datagroup and Detailing Symbol automated annotation.

The manual annotation tools rely on the Annotation.cel file, which to be complete needs doors and windows models imported from BB_ANNOTATION.cel. Both of those located by default in the active dataset’s cell folder – Annotation.cel configurable via TFANNOTATION_CELL_LIBFILE....

Re: DETAILING SYMBOL STYLES

ChrisRev — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:10:50 GMT

Totally clear on that, thanks Paul.

On the Annotate Tool Settings /Datagroup annotation section, I think it would be consistent with the library approach to have instant override of already-placed DG types...IMHO. Request material?

Re: DETAILING SYMBOL STYLES

Paul Wagner — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:34:36 GMT

The Annotate Tool settings do nto refresh like Detailing, Text and Dimension Styles.

Re: DETAILING SYMBOL STYLES

Paul Wagner — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:33:47 GMT

ChrisRev,

I hope others are reading this thread you started, you've got excellent information.

Yes, MS_DETAILINGSYMBOLS_CELLLIST defines the DGN library containing the cells used by the Annotate Composition Tools, the cells being individual 2D design models in the file. The default is the file DetailingSymbolsStyles.dgnlib. It also contains Detailing Symbol Styles. In the default file are the styles Building Section, Default and Detail Section.

I think you might want to look at defining MS_DETAILINGSYMBOLS_CELLLIST and ATF_DRAWINGSEED_DGNLIBLIST.

In made this screen capture from the example project file S-Grid.dgn (an example of a file that has no local detailing styles). As I hover over the list, I see the tool-tip that shows me which DGN library file contains the style. (Note the "unfilled" book icon indicates a library style).

It's the same thing you see in the Text and Dimension Style dialog boxes.

Let's say I want to use my own detailing cells and styles on a project. I set up a sample project (I'm using the structural discipline as my example). Copied over DetailingSymbolStyles.dgnlib and DrawingSeed_Structural.dgnlib into my project's ...\support\dataset\dgnlib\ folder and renamed them with "_My." in the name: _MyDetailingSymbolCells.dgnlib and _MyDrawingSeed_Structural.dgnlib.

I added these lines to my .pcf file:

MS_DETAILINGSYMBOLS_CELLLIST = $(PROJ_DATASET)dgnlib/_MyDetailingSymbolCells.dgnlib

STF_DRAWINGSEED_DGNLIBLIST = $(PROJ_DATASET)dgnlib/_MyDrawingSeed_Structural.dgnlib

Notice I an using the equals sign "=". So it overides any previous setting for those configuration variables.

I edited the cell-model names to all start with "My_..." and edited My_SectionLineWing cell to be a triangle instead of a rectangle.

In _MyDetailingSymbolCells.dgnlib, I created a new Detailing Style named "My Detailing Style" set all the cells to use the cells named "My...", and changed colors to color "0" and line weights to line weight "2". And set the Section Callout Tail Wing to use "My_SectionLineWing" (the triangle).

My last step is to open _MyDrawingSeed_Structural.dgnlib and set the saved views to use "My Detailing Style".

Ready to use my section cut!

I select the Place Section Callout tool and set the Drawing Seed to Struc - Framing Section, which is using "My Detailing Style", and place my section. It has the triangle on the wing terminator and is weight 2 and color 0 (black on my white background).

To see what all the Properties in the detailing style are controlling look at this in the Help Contents:

Help > Contents > MicroStation > Menus > Element Menu > Detailing Symbol Styles

Hope this helps.

Re: DETAILING SYMBOL STYLES

ChrisRev — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:55:32 GMT

Also on this subject, the Annotate Tool settings allows override of Datagroup annotation before placing a DG item, however doesn't function after the item is placed... Should it not function a bit like the Detailing Symbol Styles - ie can override an already-placed item?