ORD DWG Export Workflows

Hi guys,

I'm trying to set up some standard ORD DWG export processes for my organization and have only found a few methods to get the outputs I require without issues that require extensive post-processing to be good enough for delivery. Plan exports are a bit convoluted to get past the issue of elements exporting with no symbology after splitting strings with gaps during export, but it gets us close to what we want -  unfortunately many issues regarding annotation values changing on export. Ideally i'd love us to be using Microstation to take advantage of the native dynamics, but unfortunately our market is primarily AutoCAD for drafting.

Here's what i've come up with so far using ORD 2018 R3;

*UPDATE* - A few improvements in ORD 2018 R4 meaning less custom processes

*UPDATE* - More improvements in ORD 2021 R1 and R2

2D Alignment Plan export with Annotation - process required to export chainage annotation:

Steps:

1. Open new DGN using 2D seed

2. Reference in Default model with no nesting

3. Turn off display of unnecessary levels

4. Create Fence around data

5. Deactivate Auto Field Update using "EXPAND SET MS_AUTO_UPDATE_FIELDS = NEVER" keyin

6. Use Fence to File command to copy contents to new DGN

7. Open New DGN

8. Select all Annotation Cells (named "DrawTextAnnotation") and drop

9. Select all Text Nodes and drop (this seems to allow correct export of field values)

10. Export to DWG

11. Reactivate Auto Field Update using "EXPAND SET MS_AUTO_UPDATE_FIELDS = ALWAYS" keyin

Note: You can start the process from your live DGN Default (2D) model and skip points 1 and 2 if you don't mind changing many level display settings in your live file. We keep a DGN saved for export levels already preset.

3D DWG Plan export - process required when model includes string gaps and clipping, etc.: Normal DWG export is now resolved, although this process gives a cleaner result (WYSIWYG)

Steps:

1. Open new DGN using 3D seed (or 2D for flattened DWG)

2. Reference in Default-3D model with no nesting

3. Turn off display of unnecessary levels

4. Create Fence around data

5. Use Fence to File command to copy contents to new DGN

6. Open New DGN

4. Select all Complex Chains and drop (required to avoid dropped chains being put on layer 0 by default)

5. Export to DWG

Note: If you want a 3d DWG and don't mind changing many level display settings in your live file, you can start the process from your live DGN Default-3D model and skip points 1 and 2. We keep a DGN saved for export levels already preset.

Cross section DWG export :

*Required DWG Export options:

• References > External Attachments: Merge or Merge to Cell (required to get sheet borders to export) - RESULTS IN AN EXPORT ERROR IF 2D/3D models included in dwg export model filter
• References > Non-Default Models Attachments: Merge or Merge to Cell (required to get sheets to export with cross section drawing attachments)
• References > Merge Visible Edges of 3D Attachments: ENABLED (required to avoid error exporting cross section drawings)
  
• References > Merge Viewport Attachments: ENABLED (to avoid an export error if 2D/3D models included in dwg export model filter)

Note: MS_REF_VISEDGE_ATTACH_STATE  = CachedAutomatic config variable doesn't seem to be required anymore - correct me if im wrong?

Issues:

• First cross section model exported has missing design elements - does this happen to anyone else?
• Any Linear Annotation point name annotation is exported as "NONE"
• Point name annotation is exported as "NONE" for all points when you choose to export cross sections to external/new DGNs from the Create Drawings dialog
  
• Can take a long time to export for large models (specifically the "Merging Reference file to Model" process) Resolved in 2021 R2 (much faster model merge speed)

Profile DWG export:

*Required DWG Export options:

• References > External Attachments: Merge or Merge to Cell (required to get sheet borders to export) - RESULTS IN AN EXPORT ERROR IF 2D/3D models included in dwg export model filter
• References > Self-Attachments: Merge (to get profile and profile annotation to export)
• References > Non-Default Models Attachments: Merge or Merge to Cell (required to get sheets to export with profile drawing attachments)

Issues:

• 3D Cut elements are not exported - 3D Cut reference requires Merge to Master in Profile view to export (becomes static CAD lines)
• Profile Geometry Annotation lose values in export, eg. grade and K-value change to 0.00 in Drawing Models only (okay for Sheet Models)
• Lines are exported between Profile IPs on Layer 0

Regards,

Mark