HI ,Navigator CE update edition 10 seems not having reference functionality, if anyone have any idea please share,
I checked in Bentley View CE Update 11, it does have this functionality which is vital for us. I couln't locate same in Navigator CE update 10.
Regards,
Vivek
Hi Vivek,
I do not use Navigator too often, but I think Navigator, because it's different product from Bentley View (based on different technology, file format and targeting different users), there are no references available in the same way as in View, but similar functionality exists.
Navigator is based on interpreting imodel format (I assume other formats are converted to imodel internally), so references in a form of "link to external files" do not exist here. But when references are published to imodel (e.g. in MicroStation), the structure is maintained, despite of everything is merged into one file. I think every references is represented as a separate item in "Models" dialog, where hierarchy is displayed using @ in its description.
With regards,
Jan
Bentley Accredited Developer: iTwin Platform - AssociateLabyrinth Technology | dev.notes() | cad.point
HI Jan,
I am really missing something in terms of functionality that how Navigator Connect is evolved. Navigator V8i does have external reference functionality. For some reason it is striped in connect edition, which really hurting our workflow. So point I would to raise is if Bentley View Connect can have reference function, Navigator Connect should have as well.
In our workplace we are dealing with iModel of size around ~1 GB, which internally have many files as reference inside it. Now for example if a pump is moved 100 mm somewhere in plant, we shouldn't be required to process that ~1GB of data, to create single .imodel file.
This problem is easily addressed in Navigator V8i where a single file need to update and not the whole model.
Other limitation with single .imodel file is that, we need to cache that full model to remote sites, I doubt delta file transfer works with single .imodel files.
We couldn't use Bentley view CE as it is not having "create saved view" and "create clip volume" functions. We are looking for a solution for it, there must be something useful in developers mind by taking away reference dialogue box from Navigator CE.
Navisworks too have reference control, So we are really struggling to find Navigator Connect edition as real replacement of Navigator V8i.
Vivek Baraiya said:I am really missing something in terms of functionality that how Navigator Connect is evolved.
Maybe it's vice versa, Bentley missed something what users need in real workflows (and not in theory discussed during managers' meetings ;-).
Vivek Baraiya said:Navigator V8i does have external reference functionality.
Technically V8i and CE are completely different products, there no continuation exists: Navigator V8i was based on MicroStation platform, whereas CONNECT Edition shares nothing with MicroStation. And when developed, CE version lost plenty of functionality.
Vivek Baraiya said:So point I would to raise is if Bentley View Connect can have reference function, Navigator Connect should have as well.
It's only my personal opinion, but I think such request (in this formulation) will not have any impact. There is generally no reason why one product should offers the same functionality as another one.
Vivek Baraiya said:So we are really struggling to find Navigator Connect edition as real replacement of Navigator V8i.
That's the real problem, not the discussion whether some functionality exists in Bentley View.
In my opinion somebody responsible for Navigator development (I have no idea who is personally responsible for features design) should explain what are best practices and recommended tools to solve the situations you described.
Thanks Jan,
My SR for this issue also pending with product support from around 2 years [and counting...], hopefully we should be getting a solution soon or atleast an alternate workflow atleast,
Regards,Vivek
Hi
You can not reference multiple files inside Bentley view. I wish that was possible, but it is not. But you can only open a master file with references that was created in for example Microstation. As far as I understand there will be a clip volume tool available in Bentley view connect at some point, earliest in update 14 I have read in another post.
If you look outside Bentley Navisworks might be an alternative.