Level libraries in csv or xls instead of dgnlib

I don't like dgnlibs because it is not obvious what is stored in which dgnlib.

Now we have level libraries in dgnlibs. Which is  the active file looks in another file for the data.

So why can't we have the active file look in something more transparent and readable than a dgn? Like a csv, or a xls, which can be viewed parallel to the active dgn in ustn.

It would also be much easier to edit than through LM in ustn. 

Parents
  • Why can't there just be a really simple way to view in (optional, configurable level of) detail the contents of things like dgnlibs, seeds, even datasets? Doesn't have to be put into xml, csv or xls, just a configurable viewing tool, which can stay open as a window to refer to (or print out). Bit like ConfigExplorer. Incl what ways the seed (and dgnlib?) has been over-ruled in the current (or any selectable) dgn. Incl a bit of history, per item, of updating in either direction.

  • Hi Tom,

    Unknown said:

    Why can't there just be a really simple way to view in (optional, configurable level of) detail the contents of things like dgnlibs, seeds, even datasets? Doesn't have to be put into xml, csv or xls, just a configurable viewing tool, which can stay open as a window to refer to (or print out). Bit like ConfigExplorer. Incl what ways the seed (and dgnlib?) has been over-ruled in the current (or any selectable) dgn. Incl a bit of history, per item, of updating in either direction.

    but there is export yours standard dgnlib file (... being stand means it should not change  without you knowing about it...) to CSV  and open with excel or print to a book  for desk reference..

    or else just open the dgn lib itself read only with ustn ..

    Lorys 

    PS 

    Have a look at Keith Little's book "survivors  guide  " see section  on levels and DGN libs thats how I learnt about dgnlibs...

    Lorys

    Started msnt work 1990 - Retired  Nov 2022 ( oh boy am I old )

    But was long time user V8iss10 (8.11.09.919) dabbler CE  update 16 (10.16.00.80) 

    MicroStation user since 1990 Melbourne Australia.
    click link to PM me 

  • Try this and let me know if it helps make things clearer (althought it will prompt other questions I'm sure!): 101 - DGNLIB (Design File Libraries)

    Regards

    Marc

  • I somewhat agree with Thomas that basically dgnlib files is the wrong direction. I don't agree with simple csv files though. Personally all the things stored in dgn files would be better suited to be stored in a file meant for storage of information and shareable. That would be a database file.

  • Budlite

    Sure, anything that reveals what's inside and is easily available.

    regards / Thomas Voghera

  • Unknown said:
    The things stored in dgn files would be better suited to be stored in a file meant for storage of information and shareable

    But that's the purpose of a DGNLib: it stores information and it is shareable. 

    The problems with DGNLibs, voiced here and elsewhere, are that they are opaque and consequently hard to manage.

    Unknown said:
    That would be a database

    Relational databases provide the Structured Query Language (SQL) so you can interrogate them.  XML provides XQuery and XPath.  CSV has nothing except the human eyeball.  There is no query language for a DGNLib, which is why it is opaque: even if you know the question, there's no way to ask.

     
    Regards, Jon Summers
    LA Solutions

  • I'll re-phrase....shareable is referring to the data. Many programs can read and extract data from databases. And yes the process is a query. Few programs can read a dgnlib. Those that can are probably a CADD program also. The real push in the future will be to share more and more data. A dgnlib does not easily lend itself to that. A CSV file is nothing more than output as a delimited text file. It can be read by many programs but it is an intermediate step that could be bypassed. Bentley should be moving more towards sharing of data.

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  • I'll re-phrase....shareable is referring to the data. Many programs can read and extract data from databases. And yes the process is a query. Few programs can read a dgnlib. Those that can are probably a CADD program also. The real push in the future will be to share more and more data. A dgnlib does not easily lend itself to that. A CSV file is nothing more than output as a delimited text file. It can be read by many programs but it is an intermediate step that could be bypassed. Bentley should be moving more towards sharing of data.

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