[V8i SS3] Avoid auto cell renaming when saving to DWG

Need a solution how to avoid automatic renaming of duplicate cells. The cell in attached file UDVENT is correctly created using ByLevel/ByCell attributes but still when converting DGN (normal) cells to DWG(shared cells) it is renamed to UDVENT1, UDVENT2, etc. This is wrong behavior as cell geometry is identical. ByLayer/Byblock symbology is AutoCAD compatible so cells shouldn't be renamed.

Even if cells are different there is need to avoid automatic renumbering and ask user how to solve this issue. MS_RESOLVESCNAMECONFLICT variable doesn't help in this case.

CellNameConflict2DWG.dgn

  • I understand that this may be workflow specific but I still think that in case all elements share one level and the attributes are set ByLevel the DWG save process could do better. Not sure how the comparison is done between cells but it may try to ignore level when comparing or have the option that the  shared cell instance is placed on the level of the first graphical element of the original cell. This is default behavior if "Insert Layer for Normal Cells" is off so there is need to have additional option to apply this to all cells and use only cell name for comparison.

    Main reason why this is needed in DWG save is because shared cell concept in DGN workmode is unfinished/outdated and have issues. Similary as with annotation cells that idea is good but it is not well implemented and it renders them hard  to use in practice.

    Filed formal Enhancement Request 160892 for this.

  • What you have said about the option of insert layer for normal cells is correct and it just tells you the conceptual difference of the two types of cells from a different angle - because a normal cell is defined by itself it has no separate instance vs definition so there is no level for a normal cell. When you convert a normal cell to a shared cell, a level is required for the shared cell instance. By default, the level of the first child element is used as the level of the shared cell instance for DGW save as. Some users wanted to place the instances on different levels. This option is helpful for that purpose.

    I'm curious about what problems you might have using annotation cells. Would you mind to share with us some details about them? Also, somehow the link you have under "issues" did not lead me to a correct address.



  • Fixed the link. Annotation cells are different topic but it shares same issue as with shared cells that it is not well implemented. This cell type element type differs and lot of tools do not work correctly. See this topic - http://communities.bentley.com/products/microstation/f/273/t/103507