Mstn CE Parametric Solids Roadmap?

Looking at the number of improvements that have been rolled out as part of Updates 1 to 6; it seems like the pace of improvements / enhancements is slowing down?

Working with a large engineer who has been using Revit because they found Revit's parametrics to be more capable, even though ProjWise and OpenPlant were used.

 

  • Looking at Revit, Mstn CE should be a lot more powerful as a 3d parametric modeler. Revit's parametric families are problematic as they need to be generated in the family editor which is separate from the general modeling environment. This prevents the user from 'working in context' like most MCAD modelers allow. 

    CE also provides 3d constraints. Something I don't think Revit has.

    I think that Mstn's Cells and Ref functionality => Functional Components should allow parametric assemblies to be created much more easily compared to Revit.

    OTOH, the family editor allows the user a consolidated UI for defining and managing geometric and non-geometric parameters. Something that CE still struggles with as a lot of the Parametric Solids parameters aren't even integrated into Mstn's Explorer or Info Panel; let alone the new Item Types etc.

    Revit also has grips built into the parametric object so that the parametric object can be manipulated graphically on screen using snaps etc. This is completely missing with CE, forcing the user to use the dialog box numerical entry only.

    Looking at the Ideas section on the EAP forum, my impression is that most of the missing usability features highlighted during the beta period still have not been addressed, six updates on. Hopefully, Bentley high command has not lost interest here. It would be a shame to see long time Bentley users shun all these new parametric capabilities because Revit or something else is just easier to use.

  • Unknown said:
    It would be a shame to see long time Bentley users shun all these new parametric capabilities because Revit or something else is just easier to use

    Well said!

     
    Regards, Jon Summers
    LA Solutions

  • It would be very interesting to hear from Bentley regarding all of this...

    Regards 

    Helge

  • Hi All, we do take 3D modeling very seriously and we have been working on improving and expanding our tools and capabilities. We have introduced some enhancements in our MicroStation CONNECT Edition Update 5 (you can check our latest post in the MicroStation blog) and we are doing our best to bring in some more in the future releases.

    Stay tuned!

  • Unknown said:
    Revit's parametric families are problematic as they need to be generated in the family editor which is separate from the general modeling environment.

    Exactly how is this problematic?

    Unknown said:
    'working in context' like most MCAD modelers allow. 

    What is MCAD(just so I don't misunderstand an acronym)?