Displaying Shapefiles

MicroStation V8i SS4, 08.11.09.829

Power Geopak V8i SS4, 08.11.09.878

I routinely reference file attach shapefiles to my dgn basemap files.  Some shapefiles I can simply reference file attach in MicroStation and the graphics will display just fine, other shapefiles, after attaching, I then have to active Bentley Map to get them to display.

Why is this?  What is it about the shapefiles or the data, or the other files associated with the .shp file that makes it necessary for to have to activate Bentley Map to get them to display?

Thanks,

Brian L.

Parents
  • Brian,

    Do your "dgn basemap files" include an active geographic coordinate system? Does the folder that the Shapefiles are in contain a .prj file? If the answer to both are 'yes', and the systems are different, you should select the "Geographic- Reprojected" option when attaching a Shapefile as a reference. This should bring both sets of data into alignment.

    In addition, if someone in your organization created a Custom Coordinate System using Bentley Map, then having that activated may bring the data into alignment while in Map.

    Theoretically there is no difference in V8i between opening a DGN File using MicroStation vs. Bentley Map - all of the Coordinate system tools are contained in MicroStation - except the capability to create a Custom Coordinate System, which Map offers.

    Look for that .prj file. If it is not present, find one for data in what should be the same coordinate system, copy & rename it to the Shapefile-name that is missing the .prj, and Reference-attach the .shp using the Geographic-Reprojected option. This may bring the data into alignment.

    And if the .prj file is present, and none of the Reference Attachment orientation options bring the data into alignment, rename the .prj file and try again. Sometimes the details in the .prj weren't created properly, or the file is missing some spatial reference details. Renaming the file will cause MicroStation to ignore it and attach the data where it lays, without any sort of transformation or reprojection.



Reply
  • Brian,

    Do your "dgn basemap files" include an active geographic coordinate system? Does the folder that the Shapefiles are in contain a .prj file? If the answer to both are 'yes', and the systems are different, you should select the "Geographic- Reprojected" option when attaching a Shapefile as a reference. This should bring both sets of data into alignment.

    In addition, if someone in your organization created a Custom Coordinate System using Bentley Map, then having that activated may bring the data into alignment while in Map.

    Theoretically there is no difference in V8i between opening a DGN File using MicroStation vs. Bentley Map - all of the Coordinate system tools are contained in MicroStation - except the capability to create a Custom Coordinate System, which Map offers.

    Look for that .prj file. If it is not present, find one for data in what should be the same coordinate system, copy & rename it to the Shapefile-name that is missing the .prj, and Reference-attach the .shp using the Geographic-Reprojected option. This may bring the data into alignment.

    And if the .prj file is present, and none of the Reference Attachment orientation options bring the data into alignment, rename the .prj file and try again. Sometimes the details in the .prj weren't created properly, or the file is missing some spatial reference details. Renaming the file will cause MicroStation to ignore it and attach the data where it lays, without any sort of transformation or reprojection.



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