What do I need to do to created a new tool bar and task menu?

Hi Daniel,

This can depend on the version of MicroStation you are currently using. It would be helpful if this could be supplied first.

Just from the description of "tool", "toolbar" and "task" it sounds like the version might be either the XM or V8i versions as Bentley are now focusing on Ribbon tools and menus in the CONNECT version of MicroStation.

The first item you would need to focus on is that these type of customization's are stored in Design Libraries (DGNLIB) which you need to be either in a specific location of your workspace or referenced using the configuration variable MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST. The following Wiki article might assist in what would be required here.

communities.bentley.com/.../8838.creating-a-dgnlib-library-file-for-customizing-microstation-s-user-interface

The following Wiki articles should also help to explain how these tool, toolbars, menus etc. can be customized.

communities.bentley.com/.../10364.customizing-tools-and-tool-boxes-in-microstation

communities.bentley.com/.../migrating-customizations-to-ms-v8i

It might also be useful for you to have a look through the Help Documentation that comes with MicroStation. Information can be found under the area:

> Contents > Setting Up Projects > Workspaces > Customizing the User Interface

I hope this information is of assistance.

I am using 08.11.09.714. We are getting ready to move to SS4 and I don't think we'll be moving to Connect anytime soon.

I'd like to set up the tool boxes we were using in SS3 that were tied the the D&C Manager. I think in time we are going to get rid of the D&C Manager so setting up a task menu will help my team follow a drafting standard.

I have an element template set up for each feature we want to draft. I'd like to set up a task menu for a one click operation to place a line on a certain level and style, or place a cell on the proper level and symbology.

I have tried all the steps listed in these documents. I can't figure out why the newly created .dgnlib does not show in the 'User Tools' in the Customize menu box. Everything in the Customize menu box is grayed out.

If there is another process out there I can set up as a one click application, instead of the task menu, please let me know.

Thanks,
Dan

I got the dgnlib to show after I added it to the MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST. I had to rename the .cfg file to trick SS4.

I am able to create a tool now!

My next step is to create a tool that will grab an Element Template and draw a smart line or place a cell. Do you have any sites the list possible keyins I can use?

Thanks,
Dan

record a Basic macro ( not  VBA one ) this will record  all the steps that are done  manually..

Then open the macro.bas file  with note pad and you'll see a lot of send cad input  statements most  of which are the  keyins you want.. Also look up in ask inga in Be Communities, "Set item tool settings "   this will help you a lot  to figure out keyin settings  for tricky stuff....

good luck and  let us know how you get on...

Unknown said:

Record a Basic macro ( not  VBA one )

Curious advice.  Why do you advocate the deprecated MicroStation BASIC approach rather than the well-supported and documented VBA alternative?  MicroStation VBA also offers a macro recorder....

If anyone using MicroStation V8i is planning to move to MicroStation CONNECT, then the BASIC route is a dead-end.  MicroStation CONNECT supports only VBA and BASIC is no more.

Hi Dan :

Check the following keyins...

lock templateassociation on; Template active Road\State Line; place smartline
lock templateassociation on; Template active Road\Country Line; place smartline
lock templateassociation on; Template active Road\Bridge; place cell interactive - Set the Cell Name in the Template.

Regards,
Leonard Jones.

Hi Daniel,

Unknown said:

I am using 08.11.09.714. We are getting ready to move to SS4 and I don't think we'll be moving to Connect anytime soon.

Andrew asked what MicroStation version do you use. I want to add a question "What product do you use?" (not bad idea to read and follow MicroStation Forum best practices). There is no official build 08.11.09.714 of MicroStation available and there is also no MicroStation V8i (SELECTseries 4) ... yet. But there was such build released as a dependency for several other products. Because of that and because you mentioned D&C Manager, I guess you use some civil product (MX, InRoads)? Despite of the discussed customization is MicroStation feature, configuration details can differ because of different workspace settings. So it's important to define clearly what product(s) do you use.

Unknown said:

I can't figure out why the newly created .dgnlib does not show in the 'User Tools' in the Customize menu box.

As mentioned already, dgnlib files used for MicroStation configuration have to be defined using MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST. Quite often, because GUI customization depends on other standards (typically levels), the same dgnlib is used for GUI and levels etc. settings, so it's configured using MS_DGNLIBLIST variable and MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST us set to point to MS_DGNLIBLIST (it's default MicroStation setting).

Be aware you have to restart MicroStation if new dgnlib is created. You can specify dgnlib file both directly (MS_DGNLIBLIST > c:\mydgnlibs\test1.dgnlib) and using wildcards (MS_DGNLIBLIST > c:\mydgnlibs\*.dgnlib).

Unknown said:

I got the dgnlib to show after I added it to the MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST. I had to rename the .cfg file to trick SS4.

This is not good and correct. There is no reason to rename any .cfg file. To add own dgnlib, the right way is to edit user (ucf), project (pcf) or standard.cfg file, depending on what workspace level you want to change, and to add MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST or MS_DGNLIBLIST definition into the chosen file.

Unknown said:

Do you have any sites the list possible keyins I can use?

You can use any MicroStation key-in and also, of configured properly, key-ins from any installed application. As you can expect, there are thousands of them. It's better to start a tool you want to use in your customization (e.g. Place Cell) and press F1. MicroStation helpfile should open at a proper page (and if not, search help for the tool description). At the end of every chapter, tool key-ins are described.

Unknown said:

My next step is to create a tool that will grab an Element Template and draw a smart line or place a cell.

To place a cell is slightly more complex than to place line, because it requires extra settings (cell name is defined using Element Template):

Use MS_CELLLIST variable to define list of cell libraries, that should be used when a cell of defined name will be placed. If MS_CELLLIST is used, you don't have to attach a specific cell library. All libraries are searched and if the cell is found, it's attached automatically in background.

Create Element Template that defines a cell you want to use.

In a tool definition, set the tool parameters, especially key-in (place cell icon) and used template:

When the tool is started, the template is activated (settings like cell name, level etc. are applied) and the tool key-in is called. It should work... ;-)

Have to mention also that there are more ways how to define cell placement tool, because the cell name can be defined as a part of the tool key-in, but in my opinion this one is the most standard, because Element Template defines "what to set" and Tool defines "what to do".

With regards,

  Jan

Hi Daniel,

Unknown said:

I am using 08.11.09.714. We are getting ready to move to SS4 and I don't think we'll be moving to Connect anytime soon.

Andrew asked what MicroStation version do you use. I want to add a question "What product do you use?" (not bad idea to read and follow MicroStation Forum best practices). There is no official build 08.11.09.714 of MicroStation available and there is also no MicroStation V8i (SELECTseries 4) ... yet. But there was such build released as a dependency for several other products. Because of that and because you mentioned D&C Manager, I guess you use some civil product (MX, InRoads)? Despite of the discussed customization is MicroStation feature, configuration details can differ because of different workspace settings. So it's important to define clearly what product(s) do you use.

Unknown said:

I can't figure out why the newly created .dgnlib does not show in the 'User Tools' in the Customize menu box.

As mentioned already, dgnlib files used for MicroStation configuration have to be defined using MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST. Quite often, because GUI customization depends on other standards (typically levels), the same dgnlib is used for GUI and levels etc. settings, so it's configured using MS_DGNLIBLIST variable and MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST us set to point to MS_DGNLIBLIST (it's default MicroStation setting).

Be aware you have to restart MicroStation if new dgnlib is created. You can specify dgnlib file both directly (MS_DGNLIBLIST > c:\mydgnlibs\test1.dgnlib) and using wildcards (MS_DGNLIBLIST > c:\mydgnlibs\*.dgnlib).

Unknown said:

I got the dgnlib to show after I added it to the MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST. I had to rename the .cfg file to trick SS4.

This is not good and correct. There is no reason to rename any .cfg file. To add own dgnlib, the right way is to edit user (ucf), project (pcf) or standard.cfg file, depending on what workspace level you want to change, and to add MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST or MS_DGNLIBLIST definition into the chosen file.

Unknown said:

Do you have any sites the list possible keyins I can use?

You can use any MicroStation key-in and also, of configured properly, key-ins from any installed application. As you can expect, there are thousands of them. It's better to start a tool you want to use in your customization (e.g. Place Cell) and press F1. MicroStation helpfile should open at a proper page (and if not, search help for the tool description). At the end of every chapter, tool key-ins are described.

Unknown said:

My next step is to create a tool that will grab an Element Template and draw a smart line or place a cell.

To place a cell is slightly more complex than to place line, because it requires extra settings (cell name is defined using Element Template):

Use MS_CELLLIST variable to define list of cell libraries, that should be used when a cell of defined name will be placed. If MS_CELLLIST is used, you don't have to attach a specific cell library. All libraries are searched and if the cell is found, it's attached automatically in background.

Create Element Template that defines a cell you want to use.

In a tool definition, set the tool parameters, especially key-in (place cell icon) and used template:

When the tool is started, the template is activated (settings like cell name, level etc. are applied) and the tool key-in is called. It should work... ;-)

Have to mention also that there are more ways how to define cell placement tool, because the cell name can be defined as a part of the tool key-in, but in my opinion this one is the most standard, because Element Template defines "what to set" and Tool defines "what to do".

With regards,

  Jan