CR - Custom Line Styles Editor

see this thread: http://communities.bentley.com/Communities/Other_Communities/MicroStation_V8i__SELECTseries_1__Early_Access_Program/f/63797/t/34430.aspx

danien:

1/ Custom line styles - this interface is unintuitive and a nightmare to use.It hasnt been updadted in years and you can only load rsc files to edit the linestyles. Even though the linestyles are now (or should be) stored in dgnlib's.

Even though the linestyles are now (or should be) stored in dgnlibs. I would like the ability to DRAW a custom LineStyle within a dgnlib similar to the way a Linear Pattern can be created by DRAWING the cell to be applied as a Linear Pattern. This currently works but does not provide all the functionality as Custom LineStyles.

Filed CR

Service Ticket number 8000611923
Change Request number 240515

TIA - Roy

p.s. Users please follow John's recommendations when starting a thread which is a CR

John Frampton:
I propose;

  1. Start a post in the appropriate forum
    1. Title it with "CR - (subject)", (this makes it searchable and easily identified)
    2. one topic per post
  2. The community iterates on the idea
  3. Orginal poster forumlates the idea after a time period
  4. A CR is filed with Bentley
  5. CR # and description is added to the thread by the orginal poster
    1. Others may then contact Bentley support to be added to the CR#

 

  • Roy,

    My guess is RSC files are going to go away all together.  They were created to accommodate data that couldn't be stored in the old IGDS DGN format.   That restriction is now lifted and the current trend seems to be storing the RSC data inside DGN container

    I agree the current dialog needs a LOT of work.  It would also be nice if symbols could be edited.  Thence the cells/models approach.  I don't think you can drop a symbol to edit and recreate it.  You have to delete it and build if from scratch.  Perhaps some sort of "hidden" model type for patterns (and shared cells) to allow editing once they are stored in the DGNLIB.  Maybe the cell model is only accessable from the LS Editor.

    My biggest fear when you said

    "I would like the ability to DRAW a custom Line Style within a dgnlib similar to the way a Linear Pattern can be created by DRAWING the cell to be applied as a Linear Pattern."

    is some sort of nightmarish DDDCell procedure to replace the current method.

    In the mean time associative linear patterning would allow you to "draw" your style and modify lines after they are patterned.

    DavidG

  • The compitition, 8/11/2009 - Autodsys Announces AutoLINE 2010 , has some good ideas for extending features (although this thread should be dedicated to enhancing current functionality). Does anyone have any insight into how other products accomplish creation and management of Custom LineStyles? I think exploring the strengths and weeknesses of the competition a "better" solution may evolve.

  • David,

    I agree the GUI needs to respect the current data structure in that it may store the LineStyle "Library" in an rsc or dgnlib. I do not necessarily think they should be treated as models, cells, or references, unless this can be limited as a front-end editor yet still maintain the current rsc and dgnlib format. Actually In a V9 version it would be great for MS to directly open a rsc file (like a dgn, cel, dgnlib, etc.) and allow appropriate editng of the LineStyles as though they were models within a dgn. Not to get off subject I think this should be true with fonts as well. Of course this would require special controls to allow for the full compatability of the current LineStyle Editor. I think what I am looking for is a hybrid which would make the process of creating a LineStyle with it's stroke components, point components, & compound components seem more wysiwyg, drag-drop, & object oriented.

    The current dialog is very confusing and assembly of the LineStyle is too much like scripting. I think the editor should be organized such when editing a LineStyle one only sees the relevant/applied components in the Components area (the >> just doesn't cut it). Maybe a replace component & add new component from a library of components (components used in other LineStyles within the same rsc).

    Roy

  • Roy,

    Short term it think something that works within the confines of the current data structure would be useful to keep things moving.  On the CELL approach my thinking is associative patterning for linear elements if it is possible in current frame work. I have a CR in on that now.

    That would, for all practical purposes, be a cell based line style. For that I would like to see adding associative pattern to the linear patterning dialog.  Also provide accessibility to the Pattern Cell for editing via a model from within the DGN.


    Long term (V9?) linear patterning gets incorporate into Line Styles as a "simple" line style.

    Other enhancements would include replace the current symbol method with a cell and of course an overhaul of the whole interface.

    DavidG

  • David,

    I agrre that the thread needs to remain focused on recommendations pertaining to development of a new Custom LineStyles Editor and how it may be organized to provide a more GUI interface. Also it would be appropriate to discuss method of deployment and managment within dgnlibs.

    I will start off the discussion. I feel the editor needs to feel more like the process of creating linear patterns in that the pattern may be drawn like a cell. I am including these quotes from the previously reference thread , which I think explains very well a good approach.

    Thanks - Roy

    danien:
     
    The main problem at present is that you can store the linestyles you create in a dgnlib and therefore have them available in your linestyle list, however to edit them you need to go back to a RSC file and load that into your linestyle editor.

    A step further would be to deal with them in a similar manner to cells, ie one linestyle per model, easily editable at any time.

    comments/ support please

    D.

    danien:

    I agree with eeyanc that it is not straight forward to apply the 'cell' style interface to linestyle.  Where a cell is a single instance of a model placed at a data point, a linestyle has all sorts of other attributes.

    However I think that it is feasible (from a lay perspective, dont ask me whether it can be coded or not) to have specific cells in the linestyle model which are placed to indicate start of line, corner instance, end of line etc. to indicate to microstation where the points are.  these cells are not drawn as part of the line, but are there as an indicator to the program.  A bit like the 'origin' tool/ marker for a cell in times gone by.

    I would think there would need to be a 'start' indicator, a 'repeat' indicator. and an 'end' indicator, plus a few more im sure.

    Or instead of indicator cells maybe it is handled by different models with similar names i.e. styleone-start, styleone-repeat, styleone-end etc. a bit like the annotation cels are handled.

    Is this workable from a programming point of view?  no idea.

    D.

    cadzu:
    If Bentley goes toward a line style dgnlib I hope they still reacte the same as a rsc file. As far as I know, embeded Linestyles won't allow you to shift them.