Document Information

Document Type: TechNote  

Product(s):  MicroStation

Version(s):  V8

Original Author: Bentley Technical Support Group

Legacy Document Number:  8224

Overview

MicroStation has undergone some significant changes to the Reference system. This TechNote will discuss those changes, and how they affect the product as a whole.

Reference Dialog

The Reference Dialog has been revised for MicroStation V8. The new dialog includes: a list box that lists the reference file tree for the active model, tools included as tool buttons on the dialog (previously located in the reference files tool box in previous versions), the addition of a presentation tool, choices for how, and if, a reference will be highlighted, and a change to how the reference information is displayed for each slot.

New Reference Tools

1. Reference List Box

   The reference list box shows, in a hierarchical order, the references attached to a model. The references that are indented indicate live nested attachments. The check under Display, Snap and Locate indicate that these attributes have been toggled on.

    

    

2. Reference Presentation

   Reference presentation allows for any reference attachment made directly to the model to have 8 presentation options. Live nested reference files cannot be set to any presentation mode, other than that used when attached to the main reference file.

    

    

3. Hilite Mode.

   Hilite mode allows for 4 modes by which a reference will be delineated from the active model elements. Boundaries will display the reference file boundary, regardless if the boundary display view attribute is toggled on. Hilite will highlight the reference. Both will display the boundary and highlight the reference. The color of the highlight is determined by the Element Highlight Color. From the Settings menu, choose Design File. Choose the color category.

    

Changes to existing Reference Tools

1. Attaching a Reference

   When attaching a reference, a model must be selected. This is due to the fact that design elements are stored in models, not in the DGN..

    

2. Reference Clip Boundary

   A reference can be clip bounded using both a fence and an element. When an element is used, and the element is modified, the clipped area dynamically changes with the shape of the element. If an element is used, however, any clip mask placed inside the boundary will invalidate the clip boundary. That is, the clip boundary will disappear. For situations where a clip mask needs to be placed inside a clip boundary, use a fence to define the clip boundary.

    

3. Set Reference Clipping Planes, Move and Copy Attachments

   Clipping planes can be set by using either the slots selected in the Reference Dialog, the fence criteria, or both. The move and copy tools are afforded the same options, and these tools can also be executed without having to reload the tool after each iteration.

    

4. Scale Reference

   Two methods have been added to this tool. Including the Absolute Ratio method, which was the default for previous versions, there are Scale Factor and By Points. Scale Factor accepts input of a scale factor by which to scale the reference. By Points allow for scaling based upon three points. The first point is the origin point. The second point is the reference point, and the third point is used to define the amount of scaling. A dynamic white box will appear that will indicate the resulting size of the reference file before the third point is placed. Scaling can also be done using the dialog list, the fence, or both. Lastly, you can re-scale a reference without having to reload the tool.

    

5. Mirror Reference

   The mirror reference tool has been compacted, allow for mirroring about a horizontal and vertical line from within the same dialog. Also, mirroring can be done using the dialog list, the fence, or both. Lastly, you can continue to mirror without having to reload the tool.

Attachment Settings Dialog

The attachment settings dialog has gone under some significant changes. In addition to the information carried over from the previous versions, the scale information is included, as well as how nested reference files are treated, with the nest depth. 10 check boxes were also added. Much of this was drawn from other dialog boxes in previous versions, however there is new functionality. The new functionality begins with True Scale. When True Scale is on, the units in the active model align one to one with units in the reference. Display Raster References allows for control of the display of raster attachments to the reference file. As with reference presentation, this is only for direct attachments to the master model. Ignore attachments when live nesting controls how a file that contains nested reference files is treated when attached using live nesting. For example, if refB.dgn has a live nested attachment (refC.dgn) and refB.dgn is attached to refA.dgn with the Ignore attachment when live nesting toggled on, when refA.dgn is attached using live nesting, refA.dgn will be the only attachment.

Other Changes

• No limit to the path of a reference file attachment.
• No limit to the number of reference file attachments.
• Raster attachments are no longer handled by this dialog, but by Raster Manager.
• Associative dimensions and area fills are supported. That is, when using live nesting and dimensioning reference file elements in the active models, if the element is modified in the reference model, the dimension will change in the active model. Area fills will update in the active model when the element is modified in the reference model.
• Live Nesting support allows for changes to nested attachments to be reflected in the active model.
• Can reference a DWG to a DGN.
• Can reference a 3D to a 2D. Top View will be used as the referenced view.
• Clip Boundary no longer needed to have a clip mask respected when rendering.
• Reference clipping is no longer view independent.
• Syntax for keyin reference levels on/off is now: reference levels on/off levelname logical name;selview (view #)
• Front and Back clipping planes are respected when merging reference files.
• Syntax to attach reference attachment has changed. The new syntax for V8 is:

  reference attach filename,modelname,logicalname,description,viewname,scale,nesting
  or
  rf=filename,modelname,logicalname,description,viewname,scale,nesting

• Clip Boundary placed using Method Element is dropped when placing a clip mask inside of the boundary.
• Clip Masks are deleted when placing a Clip Boundary using Method Element.
• Starting with 08.01.00.07 a Fence Clip Boundary is required to be able to place a Clip Mask. This only effects V7Workmode and was implemented to create a more fully functional V7 Clip Mask.
• If a DWG or V7 DGN is attached to a V8 DGN as a reference model, changes to the reference model will not display until the reference model is saved. If a V8 DGN is attached to a V8 DGN as a reference model, changes to the reference model will be immediately displayed, given that Immediately Save Design Changes be in effect for the session that is editing the reference model.
• Starting with MicroStation V8 v08.1.2.15, you can use reference model elements as the clipping elements.

See Also

Product TechNotes and FAQs

MicroStation Desktop TechNotes and FAQs

External Links

Bentley LEARN Server

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