Best solution for seed file resolution of new seed files if working in imperial as well in metric .

What version of MicroStation are you using ? If it is a pre V8 version then the resolution would be a concern. If you are using V8, the resolution should not be an issue. V8 is smart enough to know when another file is being referenced that has a different coordinate system it will attach it at the correct scale.

Is there a specific issue you are encountering ?

As long as the resolution of the "positional units" (the smallest) unit is sufficiently high. I had some files a while ago (from DWGs) where the resolution was too rough. Result was that I was not able to zoom in further into detail. I had to scale up the whole content (like in the old V7 times) by x1000 and readjust the resolution of the working units accordingly. So to be sufficiently precise your resolution still needs to be high enough. I think in your case a mm  based drawing still should be fine to start with (?). What I do: If I want to draw in inches I just switch the units - using the Settings>Drawing Scale dialog - any time on the fly. If I need to keep the other units I "Save Settings". Depending which units you are primarily use I would "Save Settings" my seed with those.

Hi Tim, hi Gerd,

The new seed files and cell libraries are created for using with the actual V8i version of MS!

In fact, when a file is referenced there is no issue with the resolution, but scaling will be more difficult..... especially when a drawing need to be scaled after resolution change.

For example, one issue I have: Let's use seedfiles configured as following: - Inch-Seedfile: Resloution 100.000 per distance inch - Metric-Seedfile: Resolution 10.000 per distance millimeter à resolution factor difference is ((25.4/100.000) / (1/10.000)) = 2.54 !!

and a drawing drawn in inch on an inch-seedfile need to be changed to mm or a drawing drawn in mm on a metric seedfile need to be changed to inch…...

1. Example from inch to mm: First step is to change the unit from inch to mm. Second step is to scale the drawing (elements) with scale factor 2,54
2. Example from mm to inch: First step is to change the unit from mm to inch. Second step is to scale the drawing (elements) with scale factor 0,03937007874015748

My thoughts…..

If the seed files were configured for ex. as following: - Inch-Seedfile: Resloution 25.400 per distance inch - Metric-Seedfile: Resolution 1.000 per distance millimeter à resolution factor difference is ((25.4/25.400) / (1/1000)) = 1 !!

So I think, it could be more convenient to configure the seed files so that the factor between metric and imperial is integrated into the resolution settings.

I hope I could explain the problem… :)

Thanks Regards Raphael

Changing the working unit should not require you to scale the file - this is the point I am trying to make. If you are in a file that is in inches and you draw a line 8 inches long and then change the working units to mm, that line will now measure the mm equivalent or 203.2mm - you do not need to scale anything. 

Hi Raphael,

I agree fully with Tim: There is no reason to scale anything when working with MicroStation ... or maybe it's better to say such such situations probably exists, but are pretty rare and often caused by wrongly created drawing.

Anything created in MicroStation should be created in "physical real world unit" like milimeters or inches. MicroStation knows how to work with these units (lets ignore for a while discussion about different versions of feet ;-)

• When you change working units of a model from e.g. mm to inches, the model size will not change, MicroStation change only the units used to present the model size.
• When you have metric model and you want to present it in inches, you can also create new empty model in inches and to reference the metric one, and in such case 1:1 scale will ensure correct transformation from metric world to inches.

With regards,

  Jan