Populating Drawing Boundaries with Content from Named Boundaries

In the previous blog we created drawing boundaries in a seed file for plan and details. In this blog, we will add content within these drawing boundaries from named boundaries. Content within a named boundary dynamically updates when any changes are made in the design file.

Let us see an example of how this can be done:

Open the DRAINAGE STRUCTURES.dgn file (…\MSBasicsCivil\Standards\Dgnlib\DrawComp\Roadway\DRAINAGE STRUCTURES.dgn).

Say we want to compose a specific part of the plan on a sheet, to plot. For this, we will create a named boundary around the desired area in the plan. We will then compose the content within this named boundary using the sheet model seed that we created in the previous blog. Follow the steps below:

1. In the DRAINAGE STRUCTURES.dgn file, create a new sheet model named Drainage Structures Part Plan.
2. While creating the sheet, in the Create Model dialog for this sheet, select Type as Sheet From Seed, in Seed Model choose Civil_Drawingseed.dgn (.... \MSBasicsCivil\Standards\Dgnlib\ DrawComp) and select the PLAN model.
3. Make other settings as follows:
   A new sheet named Drainage Structures Part Plan is created and it displays the plan drawing boundary from the seed.
   Note: In the Create Model dialog you can turn on Add To Sheet Index and select a folder from the sheet index to add the new sheet to it.
4. Make the Drainage Master Plan model active.
5. Launch the Place Named Boundary tool and make the following settings:
   
6. In the view window, define the named boundary by entering two data points.
7. In the Create Drawing dialog make the following settings and click OK:
   
   The Drainage Structures Part Plan sheet model opens and the content within the drawing boundary is composed and displayed within the drawing boundary.
   
   
   
   Now consider that you want to compose two details associated with the drainage plan on a sheet using named boundaries.

   Follow the steps below:

1. Open DRAINAGE STRUCTURE DETAILS.dgn (…\MSBasicsCivil\Standards\Dgnlib\DrawComp\Roadway\DRAINAGE STRUCTURE DETAILS.dgn).
2. Create a new sheet model named DRAINAGE DETAILS, with the following settings in the Create Model dialog:
   
   A newly created sheet model displays the drawing boundaries from the seed file.
3. Open Drainage Structure Design model.
   You can see two details on this model. We will now compose these two details on the new sheet model using ‘Place a rectangular array of named boundaries’ option.
4. Select the Place Named Boundary tool and make the following settings:
   This time select the ‘Place a rectangular array of named boundaries’ option.
   

   Note: In case of more details you can select the number of rows and columns accordingly. You can also choose to maintain a defined overlap between the named boundaries too.

5. Create a named boundary around the bottom detail by entering two data points. The second named boundary will get automatically created around the other detail.
6. In the Create Drawing dialog make the following settings:
   
7. Click OK.
   The DRAINAGE DETAILS sheet model opens and the content within the named boundaries is populated within the two drawing boundaries.
   
   Note: In the Design model, you can turn off the display of the named boundaries in the Named Boundaries dialog so that they do not plot.
   
   
   The sheets are composed. Whenever any changes are made to the drawings in the design file, the content within the named boundaries will automatically update.