How do I change a reference file to greyscale if referenced multiple times before it's cut into a sheet

I'm cutting sheets and have created a master design file referencing a TOPO file, which I have made greyscale. Before cutting sheets, I reference that MDF file into a container file where I then cut into sheets. The problem I have is keeping the TOPO file Greyscale for the sheets because the Greyscale of the TOPO file in the MDF file disappears once in the container. To reiterate, I want the TOPO file Greyscale it's second reference (container file), but I don't see it in the references.

Below is what my references look like in the container and the TOPO is in the highlighted file:

  • This worked! I also had a senior mention to me to turn on Level Overrides in References\Presentation.

    As an intern who has been learning the software all summer, I appreciate the help on not only this but many other posts that you have guided me in my training!

  • I posted about this several years ago in the MicroStation forum. As I understand it, the "Adjusted Colors" in the reference dialog are simply display settings for the file active file. They are not file data, in that they are not available when your active file gets referenced into something else.

    Since you are referencing your Topo file into your MDF, then attaching that MDF to the other files, you can alter the Bylevel color of your Topo reference without affecting the original topo file itself. You can do that in your MDF file by opening Level manager, navigating the tree on the left to pick your topo reference attachment, and making the necessary changes to your level colors. This kind of color change WILL get carried through as a nested reference (although there are some settings that could interfere). Give that a try, and if you have more issues, let us know and we can help troubleshoot.

    MaryB

    Power GeoPak 08.11.09.918
    Power InRoads 08.11.09.918
    OpenRoads Designer 2021 R2

        

    Answer Verified By: Alberto Puente 

  • In References\Properties\Adjust Colors I chose to make the value 50 and saturation 0, which changed everything to grey since color overrides in level manager was unresponsive. I did this in the first instance that my target file was referenced. However, this did not update into the following files (without "Copy Attachments") where it was referenced. 

    Would you mind sharing how you would go about this without changing the colors of the original file and having the colors grey in the sheets?

  • Part of the issue may have been how or where you chose to "make" the file greyscale. There are several ways to do that at different points in your nested referencing. There are also configuration variables that may be set which would automatically synch your altered reference back to the library settings.

    There may be a better way than "Copy Attachments" but it rather depends on what you are doing and your environment.

    MaryB

    Power GeoPak 08.11.09.918
    Power InRoads 08.11.09.918
    OpenRoads Designer 2021 R2

        

  • I figured it out, if I wanted to keep my changes to the TOPO file in the MDF, then I had to change the Nested Attachments from "Live Nesting" to "Copy Attachments". I did this in the container then the actual sheets. Regardless, if there is a better way, let me know.