How to add a existing cell into cell library

MS V8i SS5

Hello All,

I have a cell (sourcecell) in a dgn file, the cell has some tag inside. I'd like to use the cell in other files. But I don't know how to add the cell into a cell library. I have tried:

1. Attach the dgn file as cell library or open the cel library file, copy the cell by Ctrl+C/V, in this way, the original cell (sourcecell) will be a nested cell in the new cell.

2. Drop the cell, all the attached tags will gone, cannot create a new cell same as the original cell.

Does anyone know how to add a exsiting cell with tags into cell library, so it can be reused? Otherwise it almost impossible to use existing cells without the cell library. Thanks a lot!

  • Unknown said:

    MS V8i SS5

    Hello All,

    I have a cell (sourcecell) in a dgn file, the cell has some tag inside. I'd like to use the cell in other files. But I don't know how to add the cell into a cell library. I have tried:

    1. Attach the dgn file as cell library or open the cel library file, copy the cell by Ctrl+C/V, in this way, the original cell (sourcecell) will be a nested cell in the new cell.

    2. Drop the cell, all the attached tags will gone, cannot create a new cell same as the original cell.

    Does anyone know how to add a exsiting cell with tags into cell library, so it can be reused? Otherwise it almost impossible to use existing cells without the cell library. Thanks a lot!

    in your  file that has the  tagged cell, 

    Go to Element >tags > define

    find the tag set  in the diaog , 

    File >export>create tag library

    copy the  cell and drop it  fence file the  copy out

    open the  files our copy 

    ref attach the  orginal file near  the new dropped cell so we can match text and levels and  where the tags  go

    now from the The menu Elements > tags >define  choose import from library now we have the tags defined use the attach tags tool in tags

    now you as  you can see the original cell from the ref and you can match properties you can now  move the tags around to suit the  right places and  font style and als text settings  levels etc...I would ensure they are all made visible first move around  style etc then turn off those you want  off by default..

    Detach the ref  now place fence around your dropped and tagged elements and from the  cell tool add an origin ( old school method)  make sure cell lib you want to use is attached and  use the  create cell button  and your tagged cell should now work... and not   nested but tags work..

    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 

    Answer Verified By: Changsong Ling 

  • " you can now move the tags around to suit the right places and font style and als text settings levels etc" --it means place all the tags manually, that's what I don't like to do, there are nearly 100 tags...
    So technically MS cannot reuse cells without cell library? ACAD can achieve it easily, don't understand why MS cannot do it... MS is much powerful than ACAD in my mind, now I find an exception...
    Thanks any way!
  • Unknown said:
    So MS cannot reuse cells without cell library?

    A DGN file is versatile.  A cell is a model; a model is a cell.  A DGN file contains one or more models; a cell library contains one or more cells.

    You can use a DGN file as its own cell library.  Open the Models dialog and add a new model, then flick the option Ability to be Placed as Cell.  Create or copy your graphics and tags into that cell/model.

     
    Regards, Jon Summers
    LA Solutions

  • I tried so, If I didn't drop the original cell, all tags remain, but the result cell will be a nested cell.
    If drop the original cell, tags are missing, the result cell is same as the original cell without tags.
    Thanks a lot!
  • Unknown said:
    I tried so, If I didn't drop the original cell, all tags remain, but the result cell will be a nested cell.
    If drop the original cell, tags are missing, the result cell is same as the original cell without tags.
    Thanks a lot!

    That's why I gave you the  long way  so as to guarantee  the tag integrity and  not  nested

    I don't  know  if you can  just copy the  tags into a copy  of the cell ( dropped) and xref the original cell so as to copy the tags ... if you can find out  which element  has the tags associated you could copy that  element  with its tags into the  new  model ( future cell) ..

    How many tags we talking about here  .. if you use the xref method  should be easy to find where to move the tags too....

    There are   vba's floating around the copy and reassociate tag sets  but  none I've seen are free, and  for you to make your own its faster to just rebuild the tags  like I said ...

    Why not  post a copy  and  we can see what were talking about?

    or at least a picture ... but nobody will do it for you  if its a picture  :) ( smile) 

    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