Re-sort References Slot Numbers

There is any way to re-sort the slot numbers of a set of references easily?

I have two cases scenarios, the first: usually start planing with preliminary info and sometimes one level of specialties is divided into several references, so at the beginning I could have :

Slot File name Model
1 25-FF-Arch-01 Default
2 25-FF-Arch-02 Default
3 25-FF-Arch-03 Default
4 25-FF-Arch-04 Default
5 25-FF-Arch-05 Default
6 25-FF-Arch-06 Default
7 25-FF-Arch-07 Default
8 25-FF-Arch-08 Default
9 25-FF-Arch-09 Default
10 25-SF-Arch-01 Default
11 25-SF-Arch-02 Default
12 25-SF-Arch-03 Default
13 25-SF-Arch-04 Default
14 25-SF-Arch-05 Default
15 25-SF-Arch-06 Default
16 25-SF-Arch-07 Default
17 25-SF-Arch-08 Default
18 25-SF-Arch-09 Default
19 25-SF-Arch-10 Default
20 25-SF-Elec-01 Default
21 25-SF-Elec-02 Default
22 25-SF-Elec-03 Default
23 25-SF-Elec-04 Default
24 25-SF-Elec-05 Default
25 25-SF-Elec-06 Default
26 25-SF-Elec-07 Default
27 25-SF-Elec-08 Default
28 25-SF-Elec-09 Default
29 25-SF-Elec-10 Default
30 25-SF-Elec-11 Default

But as the proyect goes the this references get together forming something like:

Slot File name Model
1 25-FF-Arch-01 Default
10 25-SF-Arch-01 Default
20 25-SF-Elec-01 Default

In this little simple, it's easy to change one by one, unfortunaly this is a Little sample, because the number of references in some files, besides the specialties and everything sometimes goes above 100 references, remaining in about 45 or more. There is any "Easy" way to resort this without VBA?

Second Scenario:

Usually I gets prepared in one file all the references needed for any proyect, so in the rest of the files, we just attach that file and copy the attachments to the new file and remove that one from the list of references:

Slot File name Model
1 25-General.dgn Default Slot File name Model
2 25-FF-Arch-01.dgn Default 2 25-FF-Arch-01.dgn Default
3 25-SF-Arch-01.dgn Default 3 25-SF-Arch-01.dgn Default
4 25-SF-Arch-02.dgn Default 4 25-SF-Arch-02.dgn Default
5 25-SF-Arch-03.dgn Default 5 25-SF-Arch-03.dgn Default
6 25-SF-Arch-04.dgn Default 6 25-SF-Arch-04.dgn Default
7 25-SF-Arch-05.dgn Default 7 25-SF-Arch-05.dgn Default
8 25-SF-Arch-06.dgn Default 8 25-SF-Arch-06.dgn Default
9 25-SF-Arch-07.dgn Default 9 25-SF-Arch-07.dgn Default
10 25-SF-Arch-08.dgn Default 10 25-SF-Arch-08.dgn Default
11 25-SF-Arch-09.dgn Default 11 25-SF-Arch-09.dgn Default
12 25-SF-Arch-10.dgn Default 12 25-SF-Arch-10.dgn Default
13 25-SF-Elec-01.dgn Default 13 25-SF-Elec-01.dgn Default
14 25-SF-Elec-02.dgn Default 14 25-SF-Elec-02.dgn Default
15 25-SF-Elec-03.dgn Default 15 25-SF-Elec-03.dgn Default
16 25-SF-Elec-04.dgn Default 16 25-SF-Elec-04.dgn Default
17 25-SF-Elec-05.dgn Default 17 25-SF-Elec-05.dgn Default
18 25-SF-Elec-06.dgn Default 18 25-SF-Elec-06.dgn Default
19 25-SF-Elec-07.dgn Default 19 25-SF-Elec-07.dgn Default
20 25-SF-Elec-08.dgn Default 20 25-SF-Elec-08.dgn Default
21 25-SF-Elec-09.dgn Default 21 25-SF-Elec-09.dgn Default
22 25-SF-Elec-10.dgn Default 22 25-SF-Elec-10.dgn Default
23 25-SF-Elec-11.dgn Default 23 25-SF-Elec-11.dgn Default

There is any "Easy" way to resort this without VBA?

Slot File name Model
1 25-FF-Arch-01 Default
2 25-FF-Arch-02 Default
3 25-FF-Arch-03 Default
4 25-FF-Arch-04 Default
5 25-FF-Arch-05 Default
6 25-FF-Arch-06 Default
7 25-FF-Arch-07 Default
8 25-FF-Arch-08 Default
9 25-FF-Arch-09 Default
10 25-SF-Arch-01 Default
11 25-SF-Arch-02 Default
12 25-SF-Arch-03 Default
13 25-SF-Arch-04 Default
14 25-SF-Arch-05 Default
15 25-SF-Arch-06 Default
16 25-SF-Arch-07 Default
17 25-SF-Arch-08 Default
18 25-SF-Arch-09 Default
19 25-SF-Arch-10 Default
20 25-SF-Elec-01 Default
21 25-SF-Elec-02 Default
22 25-SF-Elec-03 Default
23 25-SF-Elec-04 Default
24 25-SF-Elec-05 Default
25 25-SF-Elec-06 Default
26 25-SF-Elec-07 Default
27 25-SF-Elec-08 Default
28 25-SF-Elec-09 Default
29 25-SF-Elec-10 Default
30 25-SF-Elec-11 Default
  • Hello,
    currently the method to change slot numbers is by clicking on the number in the slot column and edit the existing number.
    communities.bentley.com/.../change-reference-slot-numbers-with-ease
    Is there any reason why you would not consider creating a VBA?
    If you are interested in this, i would recommend that you post on the Programming Forum:
    communities.bentley.com/.../microstation_programming

    Regards
    Derval.



  • Just curious... is there any specific reason why you are looking at the "slot number"? Would sorting by just the File name achieve the same goal you want? If so, you could turn the slot column off in the References dialog.

      

  • VBA is not a choice to me, mainly because I don't have that kind of skills (programing)
  • Trying to get to explain further, For us, the slot number is the order for the "specialty type" of files, that mean first architectural files, the pipes, the ventilation, then lights, then electrical trays, and so on in some kind of order, second will be by order of floor, Something like:

    Slot No. File name Description Logical Name
    1 0000-00A#0-DK-A1-1683_VAA.dgn Arch - Techo/Loza - A50 DK - A1 - A50
    2 0000-00A#0-DG-A1-1683_VAA.dgn Arch - Ático/Penthouse - A50 DG - A1 - A50
    3 0000-00A#0-HG-A1-1683_VAA.dgn Arch - Planta Alta - A50 HG - A1 - A50
    4 0000-00A#0-HG-A1-1683_VAA.dgn Arch - Planta Alta - A50 HG - A1 - A50
    5 0000-00A#0-E1-A1-1683_VAA.dgn Arch - Planta Media/Plataformas - A50 E1 - A1 - A50
    6 0000-00A#0-EG-A1-1683_VAA.dgn Arch - Planta Baja - A50 EG - A1 - A50
    7 0000-00A#0-U1-A1-1683_VAA.dgn Arch - Sótano/Cimentación - A50 U1 - A1 - A50
    8 0000-00A#0-E1-D4-MED_GES-1683_VAA.dgn Tuberías - Plataformas/Mezzanine - A50 E1 - D4 - A50
    9 0000-00A#0-DG-D5-RLT-1683_VAA.dgn Ventilation - Penthouse - A50 DG - D5 - A50
    10 0000-00A#0-DK-D5-RLT-1683_VAA.dgn Ventilation - Techo/Loza - A50 DK - D5 - A50
    11 0000-00A#0-HG-D5-RLT-1683_VAA.dgn Ventilation - Planta Alta - A50 HG- D5 - A50
    13 0000-00A#0-EG-D5-RLT-1683_VAA.dgn Ventilation - Planta Baja - A50 EG- D5 - A50
    14 0000-00A#0-DG-M4-SPR_GES-1683_VAA.dgn Sprinklers - Ático/Penthouse - A50 DG - M4 - A50
    15 0000-00A#0-DK-M4-SPR_GES-1683_VAA.dgn Sprinklers - Techo/Loza - A50 DK - M4 - A50
    16 0000-00A#0-HG-M4-SPR_GES-1683_VAA.dgn Sprinklers - Planta Alta - A50 HG - M4 - A50
    17 0000-00A#0-E1-M4-SPR_GES-1683_VAA.dgn Sprinklers - Plataformas/Mezzanine - A50 E1 - M4 - A50
    18 0000-00A#0-EG-M4-SPR_GES-1683_VAA.dgn Sprinklers - Planta Baja - A50 EG - M4 - A50
    19 0000-00A#0-DG-D4-MED_GES-1683_VAA.dgn Hydrants - Ático/Penthouse - A50 DG - D4 - A50 - Hid
    20 0000-00A#0-DK-D4-MED_GES-1683_VAA.dgn Hydrants - Techo/Loza - A50 DK - D4 - A50 - Hid
    21 0000-00A#0-HG-D4-MED_GES-1683_VAA.dgn Hydrants - Planta Alta - A50 HG - D4 - A50 - Hid
    22 0000-00A#0-E1-D4-MED_GES-1683_VAA.dgn Hydrants - Plataformas/Mezzanine - A50 E1 - D4 - A50 - Hid
    23 0000-00A#0-EG-D4-MED_GES-1683_VAA.dgn Hydrants - Planta Baja - A50 EG - D4 - A50 - Hid
    24 0000-00A#0-DG-D2-1683_VAA.dgn Lights - Ático/Penthouse - A50 DG - D2 - A50
    25 0000-00A#0-HG-D2-1683_VAA.dgn Lights - Planta Alta - A50 HG - D2 - A50
    26 0000-00A#0-E1-D2-1683_VAA.dgn Lights - Plataforma/Mezannine - A50 E1 - D2 - A50
    27 0000-00A#0-EG-D2-1683_VAA.dgn Lights - Planta Baja - A50 EG - D2 - A50
    29 0000-00A#0-DG-H2-1683_VAA.dgn Electric - Ático/Penthouse - A50 DG - H2 - A50
    30 0000-00A#0-DK-H2-1683_VAA.dgn Electric - Techo/Loza - A50 DK - H2 - A50
    31 0000-00A#0-HG-H2-1683_VAA.dgn Electric - Planta Alta - A50 HG - H2 - A50
    32 0000-00A#0-E1-H2-1683_VAA.dgn Electric - Plataforma/Mezannine - A50 E1 - H2 - A50
    33 0000-00A#0-EG-H2-1683_VAA.dgn Electric - Planta Baja - A50 EG - H2 - A50
    34 0000-00A#0-U1-H2-1683_VAA.dgn Electric - Sótano/Cimentación - A50 U1 - H2 - A50

    So the Slot Number is the specific order for the specialties, then with logical name, we obtain order by floor and with name we got some other kind of order, in some cases the file name are on different file-name estructure, that is why sometimes we cannot rely completly on file name for order. I hope this gets clear that the only thing I'm looking for, is to re sort the references, so if some case one reference is removed for some sort of change on design or consolidation of information, the references are sorted instead to have "references in red", if I just remove references, then the next references added also miss some sort of order.

  • I dont think you can make  msnt do this the way you want it to

    I believe the  slot  numbers  refers to the  order the  references are printed as they were attached in that order  so that last in the  slot list is the  last to laydown over the top both in viewing and  printing... unless you go and add  priorities or 3d  heights .. I know you can change the  sequence  manually in the manager settings but I never paid attention that it would re order the  slots...) 

    Perhaps you should create  Empty or holding nested files instead  one for each discipline  and named by discipline ie Architectural, Plumbing, etc

    Lorys

    Started msnt work 1990 - Retired  Nov 2022 ( oh boy am I old )

    But was long time user V8iss10 (8.11.09.919) dabbler CE  update 16 (10.16.00.80) 

    MicroStation user since 1990 Melbourne Australia.
    click link to PM me