Like V8i ? You’ll Love CONNECT - Make Using Bing Maps a Snap by Using MicroStation CONNECT Edition

You like MicroStation V8i, but…  

Have you resisted using Bing Maps aerial and road information as a background to your design in MicroStation V8i because you weren’t quite sure about the licensing and costs involved or because it involved edits to the configuration files?

There are many reasons that you may say yes to that question. Among them;

• Creating a Bing Maps account with Microsoft.
  • “…should I do it, my company or my IT department?”
• Understanding the overwhelming license agreement when obtaining a Bing Maps key.
  • “… will I be charged for use or not?”
• Obtaining a license
  • “… WOW there are a lot of license types available, which applies to me? ”
• Keeping and updating the license key.
  • “…Just great, they expire after a given term, I get to do it all over again in three or six months.”
• Creating a new MicroStation variable, MS_RASTER_BINGMAP_KEY.
  • “… can I even do that myself or do I need to involve my CAD Manager ?”
• The Key must be in a CFG for MicroStation to read it.
  • “… which configuration file and can I even do that, and what is a CFG file anyway?“

Once every one of these issues are overcome, you need to restart MicroStation to re-read the CFG. Then assign a correct Geographic Coordinate System or GCS to the active model, next using Raster Manager, Attach Bing Maps, and then finally pick the layer desired. Not exactly point and shoot.

You’ll Love MicroStation CONNECT Edition because…

Beginning with MicroStation CONNECT Edition- Update 7 Bing Maps are available as a background image. This addition to the MicroStation CONNECT Edition saves you time by eliminating the lengthy setup process. It saves you money as well, because it’s free. There is no key or account or potential charge to you or your organization. And finally, you save time and money by getting up to speed without additional training on Raster Manager, Bing Maps is just one click away in View Attributes, putting the power at your fingertips.

• No separate Bing Maps Account needed.
• No Bing Maps Key needed.
• No MicroStation Variable to add.
• No potential invoice from usage.
• No expiring license keys.
• Availability in View Attributes, no additional training needed.

To use Bing Maps in MicroStation CONNECT Edition, simply define a correct Geographic Coordinate System or GCS in the Active Model, then from the View Attributes, pick the Background Map Type.

If you don’t see Background Maps available under View Attributes, check the defined Geographic Coordinate System for that Active Model. If you don’t have a GCS defined, the option will not be available.

Then pick one of the three standard Bing Maps available, Street, Aerial and Hybrid. That’s all there is to it!

Leverage the power of Bing Maps today- remember a picture is worth a thousand words.