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DGN - DWG Terminology

  Product: MicroStation
  Version: V8 2004, XM, V8i, CONNECT
  Environment: N\A
  Area: DWG
  Subarea: General

Document Information

Document Type: TechNote  

Legacy Document Number:  8324

MicroStation Term Corresponding AutoCAD Term Notes
AccuSnap Osnap

Drafting tool for automatic snaps.
ACS UCS Coordinate system acronyms. ACS = Auxiliary Coordinate System; UCS = User Coordinate System.
Active Depth Elevation
ACTIVE LINESTYLESCALE LTSCALE Configuration/system variable used to define the scale of line scale/linetype patterns.
Block Rectangle N/A
ByLevel setting BYLAYER setting Setting that controls whether color, line weight, and line style are set for each level (layer).
Callout bubble Balloon N/A
Cell libraries N/A No analogous AutoCAD term.
Cells: shared and normal Blocks In AutoCAD, all blocks behave like shared cells. There is no analogy to a normal cell.
Configuration variables System variables N/A
Design model Model space DWG workmode and AutoCAD allow only one model. MicroStation DGN workmode allows multiple models.
DGN file DWG file Native file format for each program.
Drop Element Explode Command used to demote element/object types to lower level. For example, cells/blocks can be demoted to geometry.
Element Attributes Properties Title for current symbology of elements/objects.
Elements Objects N/A
Fit View Zoom extents Command for zooming in on all elements currently in the drawing.

-"Zoom Extents" area will include layers that have display turned off
- MicroStation "Fit" tool will fit only visible geometry.
Fence Window
Global Freeze/Viewport Freeze (DWG workmode only) Freeze layers In MicroStation, pay attention to the Mode setting in the Level Display dialog box.
Handles Grips Vertices on geometry that can be selected and manipulated.
Key-in Command line Place for entering commands/variables manually.
Levels Layers Both programs have a "Manager" style dialog box for controlling level/layer symbology. MicroStation also has the Level Display dialog box for quick on/off settings.
Line styles Linetypes MicroStation standard line codes are not available in DWG workmode.
Merge into Master Bind XREF Inserting an external reference into the current drawing.
Message Center Text window Place for viewing text messages of program feedback.
Nested references Nested references MicroStation lets you control levels of nesting; AutoCAD does not.
Parasolid ACIS Native 3D modeling kernel for each program.
Patterning Hatching AutoCAD hatching relies on predefined patterns.
Pen tables Plot styles AutoCAD CTB and STB files can be imported into MicroStation.
Print Plot N/A
References References: attachments and overlays AutoCAD references are also known as XREFs (for "eXternal REFerences").
Seed files Template drawing files These files are used as a starting point for newly-created files. They store standard settings.
Shape Region N/A
Sheet model Drawing layout (paper space) Unlimited sheet models (drawing layouts) allowed in both programs.
Smart Line Polyline Polylines can have variable width, as opposed to constant line weight.
Tags Attributes In AutoCAD, attributes must be part of a block.
Update Redraw
View Viewports MicroStation views are more flexible in terms of display attributes and number.
View Attributes (Drafting Settings) In AutoCAD, there is no analogy to View Attributes. Some settings are found in the taskbar/drafting settings area.
Working units Drawing units MicroStation has a setting on the DWG Open dialog box for Design Center Units. This corresponds to AutoCAD's setting for "Drawing units for DesignCenter blocks".

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  Original Author: Bentley Technical Support Group
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  • Last revision by Bentley Colleague
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  • Revisions: 4
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