Linestyles in RSC or DGNLIB?

I've gotten a bit behind, but been trying to get up to speed with the dgnlib concept. With partial success.

My question is if my linestyles exist in my dgnlib do I also need the rsc file?

or MS_DGNLIBLIST points to the dgnlib, do I still need MS_SYMBRSRC to point to the linestyle rsc file? or are the linestyle definitions actually contained in the dgnlib?

Parents
  • Hi Bob,

    My question is if my linestyles exist in my dgnlib do I also need the rsc file?

    answered the question, but I have some extra comments:

    To use line styles, you need rsc or dgnlib, but not both (for the same line style definition). Both definitions can be combined, when part of style are in rsc files, the rest in dgnlib(s). But of course it makes proper style management more complicated.

    To edit line styles, (as was mentioned already) you need rsc file, because definitions in dgnfiles cannot be edited (it's not dgnlib feature, but Line Style editor tool problem). It can be solved in such way when style should be edited (which should not happen often), it's exported from dgnlib to rsc file and edited outside the workspace (to not confuse MicroStation with the same names).

    What was not mentioned yet, but in my opinion is a crucial difference between using rsc and dgnlib line styles, is how definitions are cached:

    • What is in rsc file remain in that file. So when you open the design file on computer without the same rsc file, the line is displayed without style applied.
    • What is in dgnlib, when is used for the first time, is cached in active file. When such design is opened somewhere else, it's still displayed correctly, because it keeps the definition inside (in the same way as levels, text styles and all other "style stuff" from dgnlib is managed).

    With regards,

      Jan

Reply
  • Hi Bob,

    My question is if my linestyles exist in my dgnlib do I also need the rsc file?

    answered the question, but I have some extra comments:

    To use line styles, you need rsc or dgnlib, but not both (for the same line style definition). Both definitions can be combined, when part of style are in rsc files, the rest in dgnlib(s). But of course it makes proper style management more complicated.

    To edit line styles, (as was mentioned already) you need rsc file, because definitions in dgnfiles cannot be edited (it's not dgnlib feature, but Line Style editor tool problem). It can be solved in such way when style should be edited (which should not happen often), it's exported from dgnlib to rsc file and edited outside the workspace (to not confuse MicroStation with the same names).

    What was not mentioned yet, but in my opinion is a crucial difference between using rsc and dgnlib line styles, is how definitions are cached:

    • What is in rsc file remain in that file. So when you open the design file on computer without the same rsc file, the line is displayed without style applied.
    • What is in dgnlib, when is used for the first time, is cached in active file. When such design is opened somewhere else, it's still displayed correctly, because it keeps the definition inside (in the same way as levels, text styles and all other "style stuff" from dgnlib is managed).

    With regards,

      Jan

Children
  • Thanks Jan, always relevant comment.

    So it seems using the dgnlib approach is superior, the ability to carry the linestyle definition without the RSC file is a real benefit. I did some horsing around yesterday, using just the dgnlib. I experienced inconsistent results, a file would show no linestyle, then when re-opened it would. Not sure if it's just another Connect bug or the usual operator error.

    I did quite a bit of reading a few months ago, trying to grasp the dgnlib concept and workings. Funny they never mentioned not have things defined in both a dgnlib and rsc. Also never read where dgnlib concept was mostly for use with Standards Checker. Guess the documentation has went the way of the programming, down the crapper.

    Connect r17 10.17.2.61 self-employed-Unpaid Beta tester for Bentley