Using the MicroStation CONNECT Edition plugin

When working with MicroStation design models, first decide whether to use iModel Connections or SYNCHRO 4D Pro importers. If you choose to use the 4D Pro importers, the MicroStation files will need to be exported to an SPX file through the SYNCHRO Pro Plugin for MicroStation files which can be later imported into SYNCHRO 4D Pro. DGN and i.DGN files can also be directly imported to SYNCHRO 4D Pro. Below are directions for using the plugin

Loading the Plugin
After installing the SYNCHRO plugin for MicroStation CONNECT edition, it will not immediately be loaded into MDL Applications. The following process must be performed only once before the first use of the plugin:

1. In MicroStation, go to File>Settings>Configuration>Configuration Variables
2. Find "MS_DGNAPPS" variable and press edit
3. Append "SynchroPlugin.dll" value
4. It will append "MS_DGNAPPS > SynchroPlugin.dll" to your configuration file ( C:\Users\...\AppData\Local\Bentley\MicroStation\10.0.0\prefs\Personal.ucf )
5. The next time you run Microstation the plugin will be loaded automatically

Using the MicroStation CONNECT Edition Plugin

1. In Microstation, go to Utilities tab and select MDL Applications button
2. Find "SYNCHROPLUGIN" in Loaded Applications list and press Key-ins button
3. Double click "open"
4. Choose Settings as desired
   
   
   Coordinate System - Can be used to export in world coordinate system or in local \"Global Origin\" coordinates system.
   
   Engineering Components
   Element Properties - Can be used to skip the export of Engineering Component properties as SYNCHRO User Fields.
   Element Classes - Can be used to export of Engineering Component classes as SYNCHRO 3D Sets.
   
   Hidden Objects
   Hidden Elements - Can be used to export hidden elements.
   Level Display - Can be used to skip levels that are not added to Level Display in selected 3D view.
   
   Object Tree
   Break By Levels - When enabled, 3D elements are grouped by levels.
   Break Cells - When enabled, creates separate node for each 3D element under leaf cell.
   Limit 3D Object Tree Depth - Enable to limit the maximum depth of 3d object tree.
   Limit 3D Object Tree Levels By - This option determines the maximum depth of 3d object tree.
   
   Objects
   Construction Elements - Can be used to skip the export of construction elements.
   Dimension Elements - Can be used to skip the export of dimension elements.
   Named Groups - Can be used to export Named Groups as Synchro 3D Sets
   Tags - Can be used to export Tags as Synchro User Fields.
   Text Elements - Can be used to skip the export of text objects.
   Wireframe Elements - Can be used to skip the export of polylines, lines, circular arcs, circular arcs, circles, elliptical arcs, ellipses, nurbs curves objects.
   
   Optimization
   Optimize 3D Model - Enable optimization of 3D model on export.
   Optimize Geometry - Enable optimization of geometric objects.
   Optimize Identical Geometry - Enable optimization of identical 3D objects
   
   Build Resources - Create resources by 3D entity tree on export
   
   Tessellation Accuracy - Tessellation accuracy ( 0 - 100 ).
   
   
5. Press Export SPX button
6. Choose file location
7. Dialog will be raised when export is finished
8. Log panel will be populated with any messages
   
9. Import the resulting SPX file to a master SYNCHRO 4D Pro project using File>Import>SYNCHRO Project
10. If the MicroStation model is updated, repeat the process to re-export a new SPX and Synchronise from it in the master project