Generate a dgn document using Connect SDK and C# without actually opening Microstation Connect program

Hello, Diego,
you can remotely control MicroStation to a certain extent, but you cannot really create and edit DGN files without opening MicroStation itself. Many necessary configurations (e.g. available layers / colors) can only be used conclusively this way.

Also you cannot "create" a DGN file, you copy an existing DGN file under the new suitable name. empty DGN files can usually be found in the "seed" directory.

Simple external manipulations are possible with the help of the "open design alliance"

thanks for the quick reply

Diego Guidi said:

I'm exploring Microstation Connect capabilities using Connect SDK, and I haven't found in the examples folder any sample that creates a dgn document from an indipendent executable

You need an editor for MicroStation DGN files.  A suitable editor is MicroStation.exe.  There are alternative editors as Volker Hüfner suggests: search the web.

Diego Guidi said:

Is there a way to do this without actually opening a MS Connect instance?

No, but what you probably mean is: "Can I do this without showing MicroStation to the user?" 

• If you write C++ you can create a MicroStation MS_INITAPPS application.  Your app decides whether or not to show MicroStation graphics.
• If you control MicroStation using COM, there is an Application.Visible property.

"Can I do this without showing MicroStation to the user?"

+1 for the "visible" tip, but actually what I wanted to do is the ability to initialize drawings without loading and "manage" the entire MS runtime.

What do you mean "initialize"?

Graphical specifications such as sheet frames or logo can be easily controlled by seed files, and when texts need to be updated (e.g. project number) this can be easily controlled by a VBA that replaces the "File New" command in the menu.

> What do you mean "initialize"?

I have some data that reside in external "files" and/or databases (like GIS data) so basically what I want to achieve is to create dgn files with part of this data already "drawn".

This is something that I can achieve (actually, I already)  using COM and/or an addin that runs "inside" Microstation connect; I'm just curious to know if it's possible to achieve the same results using microstation dlls but without actually involve microstation runtime.

To be more clear (I hope), think about excel files: it's possible to generate an excel file with data and other stuff using microsoft dlls but without actually start "excel.exe" program.

Anyway, from your response seems to be impossible to do this: no big deal.

Thanks for all responses.

I think in this case it is easier to do this from inside the MicroStation. MicroStation is much more complex than Excel, which "only" processes a worksheet with a few sheets.

Actually in other platforms like ESRI ArcGIS, code is exactly the same from an addin and from an external program. Both shares the same API and the same dll's.

same SDK / API ist not really the problem, it is the complex environment. And from my experiences, working with an addin gives you less headache :-)

Diego Guidi said:

it's possible to generate an excel file with data and other stuff using microsoft dlls

There are a few third-party libraries that help to create an Excel file.  The XML format is in the public domain, so you can write your own XML generator if you want.

Volker Hüfner said:

MicroStation is much more complex than Excel

Undoubtedly true.  When you open a DGN file using MicroStation, it populates that file's DGN models with data.  It also loads the numerous resource files, usually stored in DGN libraries.  It also loads all references.  All those data are specific to a particular workspace or workset. 

If you open 'just' a DGN file, your app will not see all the necessary other data. 

Diego Guidi said:

in other platforms like ESRI ArcGIS

That is irrelevant, unless you want to persuade Bentley Systems to change their approach to software development.  We can help you with the actuality of MicroStation development.  We can't help you with fantasy software development.