The following features have been added to the printing system in MicroStation SS3:
3D PDF Property Publishing
You can now publish non-graphical business items to a 3D PDF document. These business items appear as objects in Adobe Reader's Model Tree. For more information, see 3D Property Publishing.
3D Content in PDF Files
Users can now embed interactive 3D designs directly into PDF documents. Using Adobe Reader 7.0 or later, you can view, navigate, and interact with the 3D content. Where 3D content is included, it will contain any visualization data and settings that already exist within the design file, such as lights, materials, texture maps, and animation or camera movement (flythroughs). Additionally, non-graphical business items contained in the 3D design file can be included in PDF documents. Any 3D content within a PDF document is stored in “Universal 3D” (U3D) format. This format was introduced by the 3D Industry Forum as a means for transferring three-dimensional data from CAD systems to mainstream applications such as marketing, training, sales, technical support and customer service. There are two methods for embedding interactive 3D designs into PDF documents. You can print 3D design geometry to a PDF file, or you can export 3D geometry directly to a U3D file.
Variable Print Definitions
Print Organizer now supports Variable print definitions. Unlike the traditional Fixed print definitions, Variable print definitions improve flexibility and performance in some workflows by deferring discovery of models and print shapes to print time. This allows Print Organizer to create Variable print definitions faster than Fixed print definitions and ensures that any newly added models will print automatically without altering the print set.
InterPlot Design Script Support
ProjectWise InterPlot Design Scripts are now supported in Print Organizer and the Print dialog. Design Scripts enable you to alter the appearance of a design file when it is plotted or published to a PDF document.
Level and Reference Overrides for Printing
You can now control the level and reference output intent at print time. Using level and reference override entries in the Properties and Modify Properties dialogs, you can turn on and turn off levels and references by specifying level override entries. You can also include Level and reference override entries in a print style to modify existing print definitions or to create new print definitions.
Import and Export Print Styles
You can now export and import print styles from one project to another. The File menu on the Print Styles dialog contains items for exporting and importing print styles from one DGN library or DGN file to another.
Direct Print Style Editing
The Print Styles dialog can now be opened directly from MicroStation (Settings > Print Styles). However, you can still open the Print Styles dialog from Print Organizer.
Add Active File to Set
Adds the active design file to the print set. Print Organizer contains a File > Add Active File To Set menu item to add the active design file to the open print set.