[V8i] How to Specify Cell Library in Element Templates

I have created element templates that set the active attributes based on client standards. So far they work great.

We have multiple cell libraries from the client broken down by discipline, all these cell libraries are attached using the MS_CELL variable in our project workspace. There are several cells in different cell libraries where the cells have the same name.

I'm having problems when I set an element template that includes the cell name, but the cell name is identical to another cell in another cell library. Element Templates seems to only find the first instance of that cell name from the list of cell libraries and uses that as the active cell.

For example: I choose the element template for a blind spot symbol (cell name "PBS") under the ITS discipline, but there is another cell named "PBS" under the electrical discipline for a proposed push button symbol. MicroStation will find this cell first and load it as the active cell, when I actually needed the blind spot symbol. This is also happening with "PJB" where it is a proposed junction box, but different sizes.

Is there a way to specify the cell library along with the cell name to make active in the Element Templates?

  • Currently you only specify the cell name and not the cell library, this is by design. There have been change requests filed to add this to element templates.



    Answer Verified By: ADGuzman81 

  • Thanks Reginald. I was afraid of that.

    Looks like I'll have to just make all my users aware of this limitation when choosing cells in Element Templates... or come up with some clever work-around for selecting the correct cells.

    Angel D. Guzman Nothing's impossible; just really, really hard.

  • FYI

    Element template do not invoke any commands and can only hold data that could be verified in standards checker given just the design file to check.  i.e. Cell elements store properties like name, angle, scale MicroStation can check them in standards checker.  The cell element does not store a cell library name.  

    In most cases the use of supplying a list of cell libraries in the MS_CELLLIST configuration is sufficient in instances where it is not it suggested to use a custom tool to activate a specific cell library and active a specific element template.



  • I understand. Normally specifying the name of the active cell alone is more than adequate with most of our clients. Most of our clients have a pretty good coordinated set of standard resource files that we can use "out-of-the-box", so to speak.

    The issue only happens when we deal with one client in particular, who has developed a set of standards for most of the work and a completely unique set of standards for just one discipline. When the work involves multidisciplinary coordinated drawings, we start to run into these types of issues.

    Although it would be helpful to be able to specify in element templates the cell library to find the cell we want, it doesn't happen enough to be a major issue. I was just hoping for an easier method, to reduce user error; especially when the problem is so rare.

    I think the solution for now is to just keep the one discipline as it's own project workspace whenever possible, to avoid this cell name conflict. I may consider removing the problematic cell names from the element templates altogether to avoid inserting the incorrect cells.

    Angel D. Guzman Nothing's impossible; just really, really hard.

  • Unless something has changed recently, utilize the cellist variable. Search and place cells without attaching the library. Set up your cellist variable with the order you wish your cell library searched.