Unable to Edit or delete elements in a Model: "Tool not allowed. File is Read-Only"

	Product:	MicroStation
	Version:	V8, XM, V8i, CONNECT
	Environment:	N\A
	Area:	Models
	Subarea:	N\A

Problem

Unable to Edit or delete elements in a Model. Receives the error message: "Tool not allowed. File is Read-Only"

Solution

Reason:

The model is locked and possibly a Triforma Cell library.

How a Triforma Compound Cells are designed and stored:

Editing a TriForma compound cell in the cell library is dangerous and in most cases will corrupt the compound cell knowledge. If you just move elements you should be okay but as soon as you add or delete elements you will invalidate it as a compound cell. The TriForma compound cell has 3 distinct parts along with the origin. When you build a compound cell you define the 3D graphic s, the 2D graphics, and the Perforator.

Each of the three parts is uniquely identified through user data and there is no interface which allows you to add, or remove data while in the compound cell model, hence the locking of the model. Also, TriForma warns the user against modifying the compound cell model when they make it the active model.

Solution:

Key-in: MODEL UNLOCK <(><<)>modelName>

If model name is not specified, it's the active model.

Caution:

In most cases this will corrupt the compound cell knowledge, if the model is truly a container of a Triforma compound Cell.