I need to place the same text into multiple positions at once. (ie, in a table on a drawing) I then need, at a later date, to change these multiple sets of text to a new value. (which will all be the same text) What is the best way to achieve this?

Updating multiple text fields at one time

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  • I use V8i, and there are a few different ways I do this, depending on what I'm after.

    One method that is good for tables, is to create a spreadsheet in Excel, and paste a link into my drawings. After that, all I ever need to do is edit the spreadsheet (and save it) and Update Links in Microstation. This updating can even be done as a batch process using the command OLECNTR UPDATE.

    For something that looks a bit more complex, I use a reference file. We use plan legends for various sheets; sometimes they are all text, sometimes they include graphics. I create a drawing for my legend, place my text and symbols, then attach that as a reference file to whatever drawings need it. That way, and changes I make to my legend are reflected on every single sheet.

    The only ways these really fall down for me are if the "size" of the table or legend changes - particularly if I have to add rows or columns. When that happens, I have to either re-clip my reference, or I have to go to File -> Edit-> Links...and Change Source. Neither of them is too bad, but they are manual work in each file.

    I've heard that the Connect Edition has more tools and better solutions for this sort of thing, but if you're in V8i I'd suggest one of these approaches.

    MaryB

    Power GeoPak 08.11.09.918
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  • I will have to do my home work and study up on spreadsheets and Microstation.

    Using reference drawings is a good idea if I had multiple drawings that I need to change all at once (which is another problem I have, and this is a good tip that I will try) The problem is I have multiple examples of the same text on the one drawing that I need to change in one go. I could use the find replace text command but I would like to type in the data at the start of the drawing and have the same text populate multiple rows.

    An example would be that if I entered the drawing number into the title block, that same number would be automatically entered into the top left hand corner of the drawing as well. (I am just trying to automate out of the process the possibility of forgetting to change or include some text.)

  • Unknown said:
    The problem is I have multiple examples of the same text on the one drawing that I need to change in one go.

    If you don't want to use third-party software and you don't want to use Excel then consider MicroStation VBA.  A VBA macro could offer a user interface that prompts you for text and writes that text to several places in your DGN model.

     
    Regards, Jon Summers
    LA Solutions

  • 1. can you  supply an example dgn here  via the upload?

    2. Where do or did you aquire the original information for your table and  how do you get  the update information that you need to edit in your table?

    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 

  • Thanks for your help. I think I will have to let this one go. I am spending too much time on something I will probably never use again.

  • Unknown said:
    Excel-text-table.zip

    I will have to do my home work and study up on spreadsheets and Microstation.

    Using reference drawings is a good idea if I had multiple drawings that I need to change all at once (which is another problem I have, and this is a good tip that I will try) The problem is I have multiple examples of the same text on the one drawing that I need to change in one go. I could use the find replace text command but I would like to type in the data at the start of the drawing and have the same text populate multiple rows.

    An example would be that if I entered the drawing number into the title block, that same number would be automatically entered into the top left hand corner of the drawing as well. (I am just trying to automate out of the process the possibility of forgetting to change or include some text.)

    ok from your  work flow I thin the best way is to use an embeded excel spread sheet option with some equations built into the spreadsheet  so if you double click on  main piece of text, it will open excel you edit the  main text once and all the other cells update through equations... only quick way I know but you need to build the table in excel.

    See the dgn attached  as zip .. site woudnt let me  just add a dgn.really strange micorstation forum cant accept a DGN file format... oh well.. zip it is..

    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 

  • I agree with Jon that VBA would be suitable for this task though I personally would manage the text editing from Excel (as opposed to a Userform interface) and use Tag elements instead of text elements. Lorys's recommendation is much simpler as you don't need to learn how to code in VBA but iirc, linked excel spreadsheets don't look as clean as geometry (I think they have to print as raster - but I may have that wrong as its been ages since I linked in a spreadsheet). 

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  • I agree with Jon that VBA would be suitable for this task though I personally would manage the text editing from Excel (as opposed to a Userform interface) and use Tag elements instead of text elements. Lorys's recommendation is much simpler as you don't need to learn how to code in VBA but iirc, linked excel spreadsheets don't look as clean as geometry (I think they have to print as raster - but I may have that wrong as its been ages since I linked in a spreadsheet). 

Children
  • I attached the excel as  embedded no need to print with rasterise on, I do it a lot  for indexes of drawings and print to pdf, it doesnt  always look perfect clean on paper printed from pdfs depends on 1, printer and fonts used and what you use to  load the pdf to print it but as  most of us already have excel on pc,  its a quick, easy, cheap means to an end  for a single drawing  

    To update the text just open the dgn, click on the border of the embedded excel then edit the  master text cell and the daughter ref cells will update automatically through the equations ie =cellnameof master or =A12 

    Then closing the excel without saving will auto update in the dgn, one big advantage is the excel is part of the dgn  and  lives inside the dgn no need to have separate excel files lurking around and  giving the dgn to others like a client means its all intact...like a bound xref in acad....

    Also this method always works as the update links to external excel  automatic doesnt and never has worked in V8i and all previous versions on mstn.. Not sure if this was fixed in CE but I doubt it...

    Oh  and  in this post attached I put a filled BG shape with holes so only the excel text  cells I want  show through the  holes you could then  ref on top a drawing title block etc to make it  look more like what you want..and when you  print to pdf only what  you want to see is shown...so any other stuff in the excel is hidden by the BG filled polygon, a bit of over kill but I wanted to show all the possibilities...

    7563.Excel-text-table.zip

    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: Trevor Smith