Why are shape and complex shape elements being imported as linear features?

Hi Chuck,

there are more topics overlapping in your description, so I'd like to ask you to decompose it to provide more information and split your situation into separate areas.

In the first step I think it's necessary to focus on the input data. You mentioned they are shape files. Later you wrote some from them are polygons and some are linear elements. Is it correct? Shp format allows to store only one topology element type (point, linear, polygon) in one file. So it looks like they come from different shp files. Correct? If shp file was created as linear feature, Bentley Map (you didn't mention it, but I guess you use Bentley Map as you posted your question to Geospatial Forum) cannot onvert it to polygons automatically, you have to take care about it.

Another question is about complex shapes you mentioned in question subject. Where these complex shapes come from?

With regards,

Jan

The shape files are polygon based and provided by government agencies. I have created shapes in a dgn file that I want to union with one shape file and then union that output with the other shape file. I have to do it in this order as my attempts to union the two shape files first, locks up my workstation.
I activate map and the shape files are in my map definition automatically and are polygons. This is what I want.
The shapes in my DGN only display with a linear icon in the Layers tree. I have tried numerous things but thay are always treated as linear objects.
As linear objects, the options for the union command does not fit my needs.
My question is, how do I get map to see my shapes in my dgn file as polygons to be added to the map, as opposed to linear elements?

The shape files are polygon based and provided by government agencies. I have created shapes in a dgn file that I want to union with one shape file and then union that output with the other shape file. I have to do it in this order as my attempts to union the two shape files first, locks up my workstation.
I activate map and the shape files are in my map definition automatically and are polygons. This is what I want.
The shapes in my DGN only display with a linear icon in the Layers tree. I have tried numerous things but thay are always treated as linear objects.
As linear objects, the options for the union command does not fit my needs.
My question is, how do I get map to see my shapes in my dgn file as polygons to be added to the map, as opposed to linear elements?

Hi Chuck,

frankly, you don't do the situation clear too much ;-)

Let's make it as simple as possible, facts only (some still not know for us):

• You use some unknown product of uknown version. Because you use the term "activate map", I guess you have some civil product with Bentley Map integrated. But it's my guess only, so can you provid what product and what build do you use?
• There are shape files with polygon features. You attach them as references. They are recognized as polygons, so it's fine for further topological operations.
• There are shapes in you DGN, but they are recognized as linear objects. Well, if they are recognized as liner objects, they are probably linear objects and are not closed element. Can you provide some example file or to provide exact description how the shapes using what tools (was it MicroStation or civil tool?) were created.

I tried (I guess) similar situation in Bentley Map (both SS3 and SS4), created map model, attached shp file as reference, place shapes using MicroStation tools (Place Shape) and try to created unions and intersections. It works fine.

With regards,

  Jan

I have no idea how to tell what version of map I'm using. You are correct, I am coming in from Power InRoads. That's my platform and license source.
The DGN file of shapes is created by others and some shapes were not closed elements and many were complex shapes and some were just lines.
So I copied only the Complex Shapes and Simple Shapes into my DGN file. I used the modify element tool to uncomplex the complex shapes until the only elements in my file on the target level were shapes. I restarted my session multiple times but the software kept seeing linear elements and not polygons.
This is a pilot project to evaluate a workflow. When I drew polygons at home in a file, I got polygons. I need it to work with files that may not be "perfect" that others may have created. If I import a CAD file into ESRI, I can say to it "these are points, lines or polygons" and it ignores the ones that do not match what I tell it. I just want Map to recognize that there are polygons and allow me to work with them and if there are other non-polygon elements and I do not tell it to use them, it should be able to ignore them.

Hi Chuck,

Unknown said:

I have no idea how to tell what version of map I'm using. You are correct, I am coming in from Power InRoads.

When Bentley Map is activated, you can display a dialog "About Bentley Map" from menu Help > About Bentley Map (not sure how it's in English exactly). It's equal to dialog aboutgg key-in. Because we finally know you work with PowerCivil, even PowerCIvil build number would help. Is it so big secret after several posts this important information is still not known?

Unknown said:

The DGN file of shapes is created by others and some shapes were not closed elements and many were complex shapes and some were just lines.

So why to don't simplify the whole (and not very productive so far) discussion to simple question "How the data in this file can be modified to be correct topology polygons usable with Bentley Map topology tools?" There are plenty of ways how complex elements can be done, also there are GIS workflows and tools how liner elements can be polygonized, and also some configuration settings. Without sharing the file, just to talk about it will be probably wasting of time.

Unknown said:

I need it to work with files that may not be "perfect" that others may have created.

Working with Bentley Map, you are not in CAD world with huge flexibility, where plenty of "sins" are allowed, but in GIS world, where the main "mantra" is "data has to be topologically valid, because otherwise GIS tools will not work ... and the true is Bentley Map is one of the most tolerant GIS tool I know, others are much more strict. So in my opinion the whole discussion is about how input CAD data can be converted to GIS structure by some standardized way.

Unknown said:

and if there are other non-polygon elements and I do not tell it to use them, it should be able to ignore them.

You are digressing from the original topic, which is "Why what I guess are closed elements are not recognized as closed elements?" If Bentley Map have problem with other elements, it's the topic for another thread (and my experience Bentley Map usually has no problem with other elements types).

Righ now, until real data will be available, I treat this discussion as closed, because theoretical discussion what-if-and-why without knowing anything about the data is not efficient.

With regards,

  Jan