I understand cells are kept in a cell library and shared cells are kept in the dgn.
How do the cells react when opened by another user without the cell library?
What scenarios should I be using cells?
When should I be placing cells as shared cells?
Microstation Connect 10.16.03.11
All cells are stored in the DGN. Biggest difference is shared cells use one definition, each subsequent cell is an instance. Normal cells put the cell elements in the file each time they are placed.
So shared cells, in theory, can save space, but I don't use them because they often act unexpected. If I needed to place the same graphic say hundreds of times, I would use shared cells.
As far as when to use cells, it's pretty much up to you. Use them as is convenient. If you're going to place some graphics that are always the same, good strategy to use cells.
Connect r17 10.17.2.61 self-employed-Unpaid Beta tester for Bentley
Thanks, that clears up my confusion.
Here is the section of the Help file that explains the differences. https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation%20Help-v23/en/GUID-6B18AF53-C01E-2D58-971C-C2AD1B7BE502.html
Personally, I do not like shared cells and any time I come across a file that uses them I use the keyin <Delete SCDefs All>. That wat each cell is its own entity rather than grouped to the first instance of a particular cell. Way too many issues experienced with shared cells.
Microstation CONNECT - 10.17.2.61
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I end up with dgn files converted from autocad with shared cells. Can these be edited or is it best just to drop them and create a new cell?
This is the way. I got burned by shared cells way back in MicroStation/J and haven't touched them since, but do have to deal with problems others have with them so I still avoid them. These days I don't see the space savings as worth the potential problems.