MS CE 10.16: dynamic block as with autocad

Laurent Marseille said:

that is to say that this cell could stick to a line which becomes its reference

This should be possible with Mstn using Constraints. Mstn's Constraints have more options compared with what is available with ACAD Dynamic Blocks, which are 2d only.

OBD U8/ Mstn 15.2. The problems start when the user saves the contrained geometry as a Cell (Parametric) so that you can re-use the constrained Cell elsewhere without having to re-apply the Constraints. Once the Cell is placed, you will find it difficult to grab and modify the LIne which is nested in the Cell. Modifiying nested elements seems to be possible in Parametric Solids saved as Parametric Cells, but not when regular geometry is constrained and saved as Parametric Cells. Hopefully something that will be fixed in future.

The other bummer is that when the Cell is dropped, the Constraints are lost. Apparently this WAD, which I can't see being very helpful. If the user saves the constrained geometry AND inserts the Cells as Parametric Cell then you would expect the parametrics to be available. It might be helpful to help save space by stripping the constraints info but this can be easily accommodated by providing the option to place Parametric Cells as dumb Graphic Cells in the Place Cell tool.

These obvious gaps have been pointed out years ago now. Hopefully to be resolved soon.

Mstn constraints: so much power yet so unusable.

Constraints Cell to Line.dgn

Laurent Marseille said:

that is to say that this cell could stick to a line which becomes its reference

This should be possible with Mstn using Constraints. Mstn's Constraints have more options compared with what is available with ACAD Dynamic Blocks, which are 2d only.

OBD U8/ Mstn 15.2. The problems start when the user saves the contrained geometry as a Cell (Parametric) so that you can re-use the constrained Cell elsewhere without having to re-apply the Constraints. Once the Cell is placed, you will find it difficult to grab and modify the LIne which is nested in the Cell. Modifiying nested elements seems to be possible in Parametric Solids saved as Parametric Cells, but not when regular geometry is constrained and saved as Parametric Cells. Hopefully something that will be fixed in future.

The other bummer is that when the Cell is dropped, the Constraints are lost. Apparently this WAD, which I can't see being very helpful. If the user saves the constrained geometry AND inserts the Cells as Parametric Cell then you would expect the parametrics to be available. It might be helpful to help save space by stripping the constraints info but this can be easily accommodated by providing the option to place Parametric Cells as dumb Graphic Cells in the Place Cell tool.

These obvious gaps have been pointed out years ago now. Hopefully to be resolved soon.

Mstn constraints: so much power yet so unusable.

Constraints Cell to Line.dgn

Hopefully voting here will speed this up:

Microstation should support DWG Dynamic | MicroStation Ideas Portal (aha.io)

I'm personally waiting/hoping for the Visibility states part of Dynamic Blocks - this would be very powerful in Microstation:

Add support for DWG Block Visibility | MicroStation Ideas Portal (aha.io)