I have a situation where my design file (2D layouts) has symbols that need to be the size to their actual dimensions for other disciplines to reference my design file and allow them to design knowing the footprint of my objects are actual to the symbol footprint. For example, my ground box symbol (a rectangle with an "X" in it) will have the actual boundary dimensions of the ground box placed in the field. But for many of my symbols they are too small to be clearly distinguishable when printing from 40 scale. So I would need to scale my symbols up when printing from about 1.5x to 2x their original size so they are clearly and visibly distinguishable from other symbols in my drawing. (Another example: cabinet controller foundations,)
After doing much research, using Annotation Scale for Annotation Cells appeared to be the best solution. I created a cell library with annotation cells. I placed those cells into my design file with the correct model setting ("Can be placed as a cell", "Can be placed as an annotation cell", and annotation turned on). I referenced my design file into my container file. Then referenced my container file into my sheet file and toggled on "Use Active Annotation Scale". In the sheet model space, the Annotation Cells do indeed scale, but only according to the sheet model space annotation scale which needs to be set to 40 scale for my sheet boundary to be correct for printing. This makes my ground box symbols 40x the size, rather large. With "Use Active Annotation Scale" turned off, the symbols go back to the actual original size created (no scaling).
I found several statements in the MicroStation Forums that claim that a separate annotation scale can be used for each reference within a sheet model but have not found how to do this. I tried changing the reference's model space annotation scale, but this does not change the scale of the symbol within the sheet model space. I'm beginning to wonder if this is even possible. Please advise and thank you for your time!