[MStn CE U15] Bug: Raster + vector displayed differently than in V8i

Hi,

I tried to search whether this bug was reported in the past. Maybe it's the same as issue discussed here (plus I found a few more similar discussions), but because it's more than a year old discussion and the bug still exists, I wrote this post.

The problem was discovered by by customer, but original data cannot be shared, so I created very simple test case to illustrate the bug. Unfortunately, it's critical issue, blocking migration to CE (they use MicroStation and ORD). I informed my other customers working with similar data (literally, all civil customers) about this threat, because data are displayed differently.

Problem description

There is 2D model, referencing another 2D DGN and DWG (3D, but with 2D elements at Z=0 in tested case). In the root model, there is a raster attached (tested with WMS, but raster file attached from disk has the same problem). Because the raster is at background plane, in V8i is correctly displayed behind all elements. But in CE U15, it hides elements from DWG:

Problem analysis

I guess the problem itself is clear: Even when the raster has to be always at background, it's not. And because the results are different in CE U15, it's very dangerous (and migration blocking) bug, because some geometry can be hidden without any notification. And there is no chance, when typical civil design consists from tens of DGN and DWG files, to check every file whether everything is correct or not.

Quite accidentally I found a dependency: When references Update sequence dialog is used and root model is changed to be first, hidden elements are displayed. But it cannot be used as a workaround in many situations, because such change would break something else.

I will create also Service Ticket for this issue.

The test case is attached (used WMS is public). Can somebody from Bentley confirm the issue, whether it's defect #1064558 or a new one, and if its fix is planned for U16?

With regards,

  Jan

test-case.zip

Parents
  • The Update Sequence is incorrect if you want the references to display on top of the raster. The Update Sequence of the references will display the last one in the list on top of the previous files.

    Think of it this way; the one listed first is the first one processed and displayed. The second one listed is then processed next and will be displayed on top of the first one processed. (newest on top) MicroStation continues down the list displaying each file on top of the files further up the list.

    So the first thing you want to do is move the Active Design File to the top of the list in the Update Sequence dialog box. This will take care of the DWG file displaying on top of the active file (raster image).

    Something that may be effecting the display order is the “Plane” setting in the Raster Manager dialog box. With your drawings, this setting was available to me sometimes and not other times. It should only be available for raster references and not embedded rasters. I am not sure why I got it sometimes but it does seem to effect the display order of DGN references and rasters. It allows you to display rasters as a background. This may be why the referenced DGN was displayed on top of the raster image and not use the Update Sequence. It did not affect the display order of the DWG reference. If anything, this needs to be looked into be Bentley.

    Since the Update Sequence was wrong in your drawings, and should have the active file listed first, this may be Working As Designed. I do not have V8i installed to compare the two versions but V8i Did not have the “Plane” setting in Raster Manager and could be causing the difference.

    @Jayson; you may want to research this issue further.

  • Hi Pellet,

    The Update Sequence is incorrect if you want the references to display on top of the raster.

    In my opinion you do not understand the reported problem: It's not about whether Update sequence is correct or not, which, btw, is), but that design files created in V8i are displayed (and printed) differently in CE, which can easily lead to serious troubles in engineering practice.

    Think of it this way

    Even when you are right in general, this rule is not valid for the discussed situation, because when a raster is placed at background plane, it was defined (at least in V8i) it will be always behind vector elements. It's the reason why the background plane (and foreground plane) exists.

    With your drawings, this setting was available to me sometimes and not other times.

    They are clear rules defined, when planes can be used (are supported), so it's not "sometimes". The planes were introduced together with element priority concept and they made Update sequence obsolete in 2D completely (but still useful in some 3D scenarios).

    Since the Update Sequence was wrong in your drawings

    Again, you missed the point: Something that works fine in V8i does not work in CE.

    The second point you miss is that assignment to background planes have the highest priority (controls how raster are displayed) over all other settings.

    Regards,

      Jan

  • Hi Jan, 

    Thanks for the investigation. I tested the DGN you sent, if we move the active model to the top in the Update Sequence list, all these 3 files display correctly,

     

     

    I agree with Pellet, which should be WAD. The different display between v8i and CE , I think , was caused by the different settings of below 3 configuration variables:

     

    MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_SHEET

    MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_DRAWING

    MS_REF_MASTERFILELAST_DESIGN

     

    Which control the default update sequence of references and master model in the design model.

     

    The help document:

     

    https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation%20Help-v17/en/ReferenceFilesUpdateSequence.html

     

    Best Regards

    Chris

  • Hi Chris,

    thanks for your answer.

    I agree with Pellet, which should be WAD.

    With all respect, I tend to disagree with this conclusion. A part of the problem is that when background/foreground planes were introduced, it was never clearly defined what does it mean in context of older update sequence concept.

    But the planes were always presented like "always at background" and "always at foreground", without any condition or dependency on the update sequence, attached structure of references etc. And it's how it works in V8i "out of the box" without any variables settings or update sequence changes.

    The help document:

    Sorry, but as long as the documentation does not provide clear rules how the update sequence and background/foreground planes fit together, the help is not the justification of the problem.

    I think , was caused by the different settings of below 3 configuration variables:

    I will check it (will try later today), but right now I am pretty sure in both configurations, no these variables are used, so we are back in the original issue "the same configuration for V8i and CE, but different result". But as I wrote, I will check and confirm the variables setting to be sure ;-)

    Regards,

      Jan

  • Hi Chris,

    a short update: I am able to confirm that used workspaces have the mentioned variables set in the same way as is standard in MicroStation (0 for DESIGN, 1 for DRAWING and SHEET). So everything should be right.

    I will try to repeat the process how I created the test case, because I did not change the update sequence and it was wrong, so something is missed (maybe used seed file?). It will require some time, I will keep you informed.

    With regards,

      Jan

  • Hi Chris,

    one more note: Even when the discussion about configuration variables are valuable, I'd like to highlight that the original bug still remain and cannot be solved as "it's WAD": The attached test case, which I created using standard tools in MicroStation, is displayed differently in V8i and CE. And I hope you agree that it's migration blocking issue.

    Maybe, with the setting used in the file, even in V8i it should be displayed "incorrectly", but it's not the point. The crucial is the difference, which can easily lead to huge problems.

    Regards,

      Jan

  • Hi Jan,

    Yes , different display in V8i and CE is a big problem. I think the help document should add more explanation about how the Update sequenece works together with the plane set (background/foreground/design). Here the logic is a little confusing when considering reference model ,if you reproduce the issue again , please tell the steps , I will have a further investigation.

    Best Regards
    Chris

Reply
  • Hi Jan,

    Yes , different display in V8i and CE is a big problem. I think the help document should add more explanation about how the Update sequenece works together with the plane set (background/foreground/design). Here the logic is a little confusing when considering reference model ,if you reproduce the issue again , please tell the steps , I will have a further investigation.

    Best Regards
    Chris

Children
  • Hi Jan. This is marked as WAD (works as designed) however, you are correct in that we have not made it clear how the update Sequences work and which one wins. We will continue to investigate and will write a blog on the topic.

    Samir

  • Will you also add the clarification to the Help file? That's the first place plenty of users will look to see how the software works. They may not know to look for a blog.

    MaryB

    Power GeoPak 08.11.09.918
    Power InRoads 08.11.09.918
    OpenRoads Designer 2021 R2

        

  • Hi Samir

    If you are going to write a blog on the topic, I would like to suggest that you include the following: Raster Reference plane, Update sequence, Priority (2D drawing) and in the View Display Styles the setting “Use File Order”. All of these settings, and there could be more, control the display order of elements in a drawing. We need to understand the order of priority to be able to control how the drawing should display. Thanks

  • We need to understand

    I agree. It's long term problem with MicroStation documentation: Even when CE documentation is much better than was in the past in my opinion, it's primarily "how to" oriented (which is fine). But technical reference with deep detail information is mostly missing (wiki does not represent systematic approach to this topic).

    To don't be negative only, there are exceptions: e.g. Configuration Concepts chapter is the nice example of "technical reference" approach, included into "how-to" doc ;-)

    E.g. Divio documentation framework explain nicely the difference and documentation types and tries to standardize the approach (even when still some types of documents are not covered ;-).

    I would like to suggest that you include the following

    There should be much more variants covered, e.g how these concepts (priority + planes + update sequence) work together when 3D is referenced to 2D, vice versa 2D to 3D, and also combination of formats (because of difference features are supported in 2D DGN, 3D DGN and DWG). It leads to many (tens?) variants, but probably based on just a few rules, unfortunately not clear from outside.

    I often see outputs, composed from complicated mixture of 2D and 3D files and different formats, when especially deeply nested settings cannot be changed easily. And it's not simple to find the right solution without knowing the rules at background.

    With regards,

      Jan

  • Hi Samir,

    This is marked as WAD

    well, probably yes, but until the rules are clear, it's hard to understand what WAD is ;-)

    In my opinion the discussion has split into three independent topics now:

    • How MicroStation works (obviously I am not the only one who do not understand fully the rules and cooperation of priorities, planes and update sequence). I agree, this is WAD.
    • Why test case is displayed differently in V8i and CE. This is, without any doubts, Bug. Maybe it will lead to Defect in MicroStation, maybe design file is corrupted somehow (I do not expect it's the case, but still it's possible), but I expect somebody from technical support or dev team will analyze it and explain it.
    • How the behavior can be reproduced. It's what I promised to Chirs. I will try to find a spare time to work on more detail analysis, because even when original data was created by the customer (so I do not know details about exact workflow), the test case was created by me, so I hope I will be able to reproduce it (unfortunately I do not remember all details what I did ;-). It will take probably few days.

    With regards,

      Jan