Hi,
I get very frustrated when working with attached raster files. To me, they seem like they should be the same as reference file.
With the referenced files, you use the tools in the References Dialog box to manipulate the reference. Unless you turn Locate on, none of the normal element tools do anything to reference files. You can even turn on Locate and "Treat Attachment as Element for Manipulation" and have the referenced file act as a single standard element. You can also turn on/off the display of a reference file with a single click. References files seem easy to use.
With Raster Files, I don't know how to turn locate off. When they are displayed, they keep responding to normal commands (move, copy, delete). Also, if I click on a raster, then turn off its display in a view, select a couple element and hit "delete", I don't see that the raster file gets deleted. If I have certain tools selected (trim, break element, etc.), when I go to the Raster Manager dialog box, I can't select the raster files. Also, if I want to turn off the display of a raster file, I have to 1) get out of the current command that I'm working with, 2) select the raster, 3) turn off the display for all the views that I have open, 4) unselect the raster (which I always forget, 5) start my tool again. With a reference file, I can do all that with one click.
Are my frustrations with the Raster Manager and raster files justified? Would it make sense that a raster file should behave the same way as a reference file? Is there anything that I'm missing?
--Thanks,--Robert Arnold
Hi Robert,
RobertArnold said:I get very frustrated when working with attached raster files.
Yes, it can happen easily. In my opinion the main problem is that raster files have gone through several iterations of implementation and technologies (plus necessary compatibility with AutoCAD ideas ha been added also), so they are now a bit weird animals, not references, not elements, but a mixture of features.
RobertArnold said:To me, they seem like they should be the same as reference file.
No, they are not, and they have never been. Rasters are closer to elements, not to references.
RobertArnold said:Are my frustrations with the Raster Manager and raster files justified?
I think the problem is that there are several different ways how to use rasters, offering similar, but not the same set of features. What approach is the best depends on many things (type of rasters, how they are used, type of project...). What I usually do (unsorted thoughts, not specific for CE):
RobertArnold said:With a reference file, I can do all that with one click.
I think when you will treat the rasters as elements and will use dedicated level(s) for them, to control visibility is to switch on/off level, which is one click ;-)
With regards,
Jan
Bentley Accredited Developer: iTwin Platform - AssociateLabyrinth Technology | dev.notes() | cad.point
Answer Verified By: RobertArnold
Jan Šlegr said:[Level Manager] Lock the "raster level" ... it's the alternative to "Disable Delete". When the rasters are attached and not modified often, I prefer this way,
I prefer this way also when I am performing some one-off tasks, but when we work with raster files for a project they are housed in their own file and that file gets referenced.
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Hi Jan,
Attaching them as nested references is a very good idea. That is probably the secret that would help. Thanks for your suggestions.
--Robert
another good reason to create a dgn as the Holding file for rasters to be attached later as a reference file thro the ref manager is some rasters cannot be clipped like ECW files but if they are in a dgn ref file the ref file can be clipped thro the ref manager. also you can change brightness etc in the ref file... this is how I attach rasters 99% of the time even logos I attach to the ref file title block dgn.
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