I have been trying to convert old DGN files to DWG files to develop consistency through the P&IDs, but I have run into a myriad of issues while doing so.
1) I have a very old version of Microstation, which is older than I am and is not used often I imagine. This leads to issues as I cannot find any information on it.
2) When I go to export the DGN to a DWG in Microstation and reopen it in AutoCAD, there are formatting issues as shown in the image below. It seems as if the text and lines have remained unchanged for the most part, but the reducers and valves and shapes like them have been moved away from their original position.
3) There are many options when exporting, and I do not know which option is pertinent to my issue. The options are shown below in the pop out box.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Is this the only version of MicroStation you have access to?
Adoption of RealDWG was implemented after MS/J so the export is not perfect as there are somethings supported in a DGN that arent in DWG.
Hi Kane,
Kane Smith said:but I have run into a myriad of issues while doing so.
it's expected, because as David Trejo-Rodriguez wrote, MicroStation/J is really old version. DWG support in current generation is a result of extra 25 years of development.
Kane Smith said:This leads to issues as I cannot find any information on it.
MicroStation/J was released in 1998, so no discussion forums exist (newsgroups systems was in place at this era) and discussions/information are typically lost.
Kane Smith said:When I go to export the DGN to a DWG in Microstation and reopen it in AutoCAD, there are formatting issues as shown in the image below.
No surprise. If I remember correctly, DWG support at this time was realized by own Bentley hack of DWG closed format, plus we talk about AutoCAD Release 13. So both the conversion is maybe not perfect, and opened in today AutoCAD, new issues from using old DWG format can be potentially discovered.
Maybe another issue can be that the content is created by some application, not by users? Old versions allowed low level access to data and do plenty of "dirty things", so even when fine / acceptable for MicroStation itself, converted DGN can cause problem for conversion tool.
Kane Smith said:There are many options when exporting, and I do not know which option is pertinent to my issue.
I guess the settings are described in MicroStation/J documentation (was delivered both as help and PDF).
But often analysis is required and to compare source data and result, e.g. how text in MicroStation (without style at this time) was converted to what AutoCAD style, using what parameters.
Kane Smith said:Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I agree with David Trejo-Rodriguez the first step should be to try to convert file(s) in some newer version, based on RealDWG libraries.
Regards,
Jan
Bentley Accredited Developer: iTwin Platform - AssociateLabyrinth Technology | dev.notes() | cad.point
You could have the current $10,000 software and pay the yearly $2000 service and you would still have issues doing this.
Look for an option to explode or drop cells, or maybe drop them in microstation first. You could also try exporting to ACAD version10. Also try opening the dgn direct from Autocrap. Try anything else you can think of.
Connect r17 10.17.2.61 self-employed-Unpaid Beta tester for Bentley