There are three steps:

• Creating the template csv file
• using the template to create the colour list csv file
• importing the csv into a dgnlib file.

Create the Colour Book Template

In Excel or other spreadsheet, create a file with the following column headings:

Ensure that Color is spelt the American way! Save as ColourBookTemplate.xls in a suitable location.

Open the template file, save as <meaningful_name>.csv, e.g. Pantone Greys.csv; Project Spaces.csv, or similar. This file name is the one that will appear in the drop down list of Colour Books.

Enter each colour name and RGB values, some examples are shown below.

• The colour name and RGB values are plain text and number.
• Any valid RGB combination can be used.
• The output colour may vary depending on the output process and device.
• Plan the list of names and keep them logical.
• The colour name entered into the spreadsheet will be the name shown in the list of colours

Create an empty 3D dgn file, save as <meaningful_name>.dgnlib, e.g. <project number>ColourBook.dgnlib. Ensure that this file does not contain any levels, shared cells or any other graphic elements.

The location of this file will vary according to the system configuration and version:

CONNECT Edition:
For use by all users it should be located in ...\Organization\Dgnlib\
For use by a project it should be located in the Workset ...\Standards\Dgnlib\

V8i:
For use by all users it should be located in ...\workspace\standards\dgnlibs\
For use by a project it should be located in that project’s dgnlib or resources folder in accordance with local CAD standards. (The project configuration file, if used, may need amendment to apply the new file location.)

The variable MS_COLORBOOK_LIBRARIES defines the paths where Color Books will be found, check that the locations defined include the locations of your custom Color Books.

Go to File > Settings > Color Books... > File > Import > browse to <meaningful_name>.csv.

Each dgnlib can contain one or more colour books. If importing more than one colour book the first file to be imported will be at the head of the list. There is no way to rearrange this list without deleting and re-importing so, if the list order is important, plan it in advance.

It may help management if each dgnlib only contains one colour book, you then know exactly what is in each dgnlib. Prefix each dgnlib name with a number to control the sort order if alphabetical is unsuitable.