See attached references of DGN file without opening it in Microstation

Is there a way or application I can use to just see a .dgn attached referenc tree, instead of opening it through microstation?

The situation I'm running into is I have a huge project files, and I need to go through all my files to determine all the reference attached, and it would very useful if theer was a way I could just see the reference manager without opening each files one at a time, waiting for microstation to load up all the drawings. 

  • Here is a macro I have posted here before that will list ref attachments from select folder  it opens them in non graphic mode so its pretty fast at processing entire directories is public domain but dont take out the creators name please.

    Then it saves a report to txt file format .. you can then open in excel or use  excelhook file with programming  provided and see the listing including if ref is attached but not turned on off .. unfortunately doesnt show nesting but it if the nested ref is in the same folder it lists the ref file references so with excel you can work out which are the nestings..

    only other draw back is you have to open at least one microstation file session so it can be empty and no refs just so you can run the macro..

    It works pretty well and has readme included... 

    it will process an entire directory just by selecting any file in that folder and it write the  output list to that folder so you can go folder by folder one folder at a time..

    Still very very fast  even if its mstn basic... Say if anyone can redo this in vba I'd love acopy as my vba skill isnt up to the task....listRefs.zip

    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 

  • again - I would like to ask why you are looking for this information ? What specifically do you want to use it for or what are you looking to do with this information ?

    Timothy Hickman

    CADD Manager | CADD Department

    timothy.hickman@colliersengineering.com

    Main: 877 627 3772| 

    1000 Waterview Drive Suite 201 | Hamilton, New Jersey 08691

  • Mara reply was what I needed. Based on Jan post, it would be nice to be able to see the live nested ref as well. But I think solution Mara posted, would be good enough to at least see one level of reference. I was basically needed to be able to see the reference link from a given cadd file, I able using this to determine the master ref file a project is using to see if every files are using the same master ref, or if there was some odd ball files using different ref. Thanks for the help. I look Lory marco file, and tried it out and I think I'm doing something wrong on how exactly to use it, I'll play with it some more..
  • Unknown said:
    look Lory macro file, and tried it out and I think I'm doing something wrong on how exactly to use it, I'll play with it some more..

    unzip the macro zip file say into c:\temp\macro ( there is a readme when you extract that explains how  but it is very brief ) below is my explanation of how to use the tools....BTW this in a public domain macro created and donated by Allan Seidel 7/27/98 akseidel@swbell.net .. Please do not remove his details from the macro code comments.

    ok  lets start ....

    open any microstation session file even new

    from the keyin window key in macro <and hit enter>

    this brings up the macro browser  now use the  browse function to  go to c:\temp\macro

    there will be the . bas file click on it and it will ask you if you want to run it press ok

    then it will ask you to browse to the folder where the dgn files that you want to list live  choose any dgn in that folder and the  macro will scan all dgns in that  folder and  out put a file to REFENTEXT.TXT in the same  folder you selected the dgn in

    you can now either open and edit this file in excel your self  or use the REFLOOKR.XLS in c:\temp\macro to load it where it lives and it will format it excel style for you very easy to read and use and gives lots of information..

    Repeat running the macro and  this time go to a different folder and choose any dgn and it will again scan all dgns in that  folder only and report  a text file there...

    I have used this to look for circular ref files or ref files that  others have made and you dont know the impact of moving or deleting ... I believe this is the fastest cheapest method I have found in 15 years  lets hope that bas program ability stays around in msnt a few more years yet..... the only other way is to by  projectwise or Axiom tools  and these are very good but very expensive...

    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