Hello,
Could anyone help me with associating CAD files/models with MX?. While I am opening display/drawing file from 3D DGN file (file with survey) and setting the active group from MX to Model (from DGN), an Application focus in MX turns red (background) and an comment appears: "Current CAD model is not associated with MX". How can I associated it with MX?
Thank anyone for help
MX works in a defined Microstation Model - by default 'MX'. This can be changed using the config variable 'MX_ACTIVE_MODEL' if required. So when you open a 3rd party dwg or dgn the active model in the drawing will invariably not be 'MX' so you typically end up with a empty display and start playing the 'game of hunt the graphics'.
For a DGN when opening the active MX drawing is opened as this is required for MX display, however this will be empty if the model name is different from the one MX is expecting.
For a DWG the situation is slightly harder as MX does not support DWG workmode. When the DWG is opened a corresponding dpw is created, this initiates the creation of the required dgn and both these are empty. As Scott mentioned opening the dwg again can leave the drawing open but you've tricked it into DWG workmode and are heading for a realm of pain that is un-necessary.
When you are not in the MX active model the MX / CAD toggle on the MX Contols toolbar will highlight red to indicate the incompatible state with MX. Trying to convert elements from a non active model to MX can be done but it is not recommended and some of the config options need to be changed - like display on convert (off) as this tries to open the MX model to display the new entity.
Solution For both the above situations I always recommend referencing in the dwg or dgn into a MX drawing. If you want to then import the data merge the reference into the current drawing, this way the original drawing is retained as a backup.
For the forth coming SELECTseries1 we have added the ability to add reference files in a MX session using the MX script Manager and via input files.
I hope this helps Ian
PS I'm not going to post a pic of my dog, you'd laugh but you kids would love it....
It is never so easy... Standard MX conversion is a good solution but only when it is concerning several elements and I have got a several thousand of them :) Otherwise, in my version of MX (MX V8i Build 08.11.05.40) this operation is unable to proceed at any time. While executing it my MX fails and I have got to restart it (sometimes I need to restart PC).
MX conversion of thousands of Point features from DGN is rather hard to proceed for me :)
And problem of Associating models is still open ;)
Best regards
Thanks for the tips, Ian. I'm off back to Blighty tomorrow but I'll have a look at it over the coming weeks. Have a good Christmas.
S
Converting CAD drawings to MX models requires some planning / knowledge of what you have and need. Where a drawing might look good it may not be good to model on, so watch out for lots of 2 point lines instead of smartlines / strings, or 2 2 point lines as a cross represting a spot level
Often the drawing contains information not required in the model - text is one example, and should really be left in the drawing. So this can be turned off and referenced in.
The remaining 3D data you want to convert can then be tackled either in a manual / positive selection for each feature type - the Power Selector tool is a big help here. Or alternatively using the CAD import option, which will create a approximate styleset for the levels and element types so you can get a surface model, then reference in the original to maintain drawing fidelity.
Tips for converting large amounts of data manually.
Ian
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