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Original Article Date: Feb 13, 2001
MicroStation is delivered with 8 pre-defined line styles and although they are adequate for most drafting requirements, we often have the need to represent our data with something entirely different. Enter Custom Line Styles!
Authors note: This article also appears in the November 2000 issue of the MicroStation Manager Magazine and is part 1 of 2. Go to Give your files some style with Custom Line Styles - Part 2. MicroStation is delivered with 8 pre-defined line styles and although they are adequate for most drafting requirements, we often have the need to represent our data with something entirely different. Enter Custom Line Styles or User Defined Line Styles.I'm using linear patterns now, so why should I use custom line styles?
How do I work with a Custom Line Style?It's really no different than what you're used to. You select the style, make it active and draw your element using the normal drawing tools. Let's take a look at the Line Style dialog box and some of the adjustable settings it offers:
From the Primary Tool Bar, select Line Style > Custom > Show Details. This opens the Lines Styles dialog box which is used to browse the contents of the library, activate a selected styles and adjust the graphical appearance of the style.
The two options are:Origin: If the dash strokes were created with width, this setting will define the starting width of those strokes. The values are expressed in master units.End: Similar to Origin except that it defines the end width of the dash stroke. If this switch is enabled in conjunction with the Origin switch, the element will be tapered according to the values used.
Fraction - the element will be drawn as normal with the exception of the first and last stroke segments which will be drawn a fractional length of the defined length. This option is only valid for line styles whose segment lengths are defined as ‘variable' and if the Shift key-in fields are set to a value less than 1 in the definition.
I’ve placed a few elements but don’t like their appearance...now what?Once an element has been placed in your file, you have the option of making a variety of changes by using the following tools:
I’ve received design files from a vendor and they say that there are elements drawn using custom line styles….only one problem…I don’t see them. What’s wrong?When you open a file which contains custom line styles, MicroStation searches for and automatically opens the line style libraries as specified by the MS_SYMBRSRC configuration variable setting. If MS_SYMBRSRC is not defined or the specified file(s) are not found, MicroStation automatically opens the default lstyle.rsc in the directory specified in the MS_RSRCPATH setting. The files are opened in the order they appear in the directory list as seen in Workspace > Configuration > Symbology with the last one having the highest priority.You’ll need to have the vendor send the line style library they were using along with the design files. Place the line style library in .../wsmod/default/symb/ for MicroStation SE and .../workspace/system/symb/ for MicroStation J. Finally update MS_SYMBRSRC to find the vendors resource file.Check out Part 2, where I’ll walk you through the process of building your own Custom Line Style!For more information:
AskInga Article #48