Export to MicroStation

Use this option export information from design strings and triangulations to a MicroStation (.dgn) file. You can export Design Strings (dgn v8) in MicroStation version 8 format or Design Strings/Triangulations (dgn v7) in MicroStation version 7 format.

Before you use this option, we recommend that you ensure that the generic MicroStation 3D design file (seed3d.dgn) is available in your resources area (pointed to be the $ENVIS_RESO environment variable). If you cannot locate this file, then you will need to copy the default seed3d.dgn file from the $VULCAN/etc/resources area and paste it into your resources area.

Instructions

Exporting Design Strings (dgn v8)

Exporting Design Strings and Triangulations (dgn v7)

Exporting Design Strings (dgn v8)

On the File menu, click Export to display the Export panel.

Click Microstation in the File Format column on the left.

Select Design Strings dgn v8 from the File Type field on the right side of the panel.

Before you start, you should verify that the correct coordinate system and units of measurement are being used.

Splines are exported as a polyline of all the points that Vulcan uses to actually draw the spline (not just the control points). Therefore, if a spline were exported from Vulcan and imported back into Vulcan, it would be imported as an ordinary polyline.

Click OK to display the Export to DGN panel.

Select or create the MicroStation file (*.dgn) that you want to export to using one of the following three methods:

Select an existing file from the Name of new dgn file drop-down menu.
Click Browse to select a file from a location other than your working directory.
Enter a new file name to create a new export file.

Select the Automatically overwrite existing AutoCAD files Select this check box to overwrite any existing files without prompting.

Select the Export each layer into separate AutoCAD file Select this check box to export layers into individual files.

If you select this option, select the folder in which to create the files from the Output folder drop-down list, or click Browse to select a location other than your working directory.

Select a layer option from the Options section.

Select Transfer all data to one layer in DGN to transfer all data into one layer.

If you select this option, enter a name for the layer in the DGN layer name box.

Select Prompt for DGN layer names if you want to save the data in separate layers and enter new names for the layers. If you select this option, you will be prompted for a name for each layer.

Select DGN layer names from DGD unchanged to save the data in separate layers with the same names as the original data.

Select the Ignore the units defined in the DG1 file check box to ignore the unit settings stored in the chosen files. We recommend that you use this option to prevent coordinates from being converted because of mismatching unit settings.

Select the Export colours of multicoloured objects Select this check box if you want to export each line segment and maintain the segment colours.

If this check box is selected, then the line segment colour will be used to split the chosen object into separate objects.

If this check box is not selected, the chosen object will be exported as a single object and each line segment would be assigned the same default object colour.

If an object consisting of three line segments is coloured red for segments 1 and 3, and segment 2 is coloured blue, then the DWG export routine will split the object into three separate objects. Object 1 will be created using line segment 1, object 2 will be created using line segment 2, and object 3 will be created using line segment 3. If the original object contained a fourth segment that was also coloured red, then object 3 would be a combination of line segments 3 and 4.

Select the Maintain exact positioning for multiline text check box to maintain the exact location of all lines when exporting a multiline text object. The exported text object will be separated into single line objects that will preserve the positioning based on the line spacing in the corresponding data file. If this check box is not selected, the lines of the multiline object will be exported as a single object. In this case, only the first line is ensured to be at the right location whereas the position for subsequent lines of text will be based on the line spacing and font size.

Click OK. The file is exported and a confirmation message displays.

Converting files between dgn and AutoCAD files may result in errors in text positioning, spacing and fonts. and certain attributes. - .

Exporting Design Strings and Triangulations (dgn v7)

On the File menu, click Export to display the Export panel.

Click Microstation in the File Format column on the left.

Select Design Strings dgn b8 from the File Type field on the right side of the panel.

Click OK to display the Export MicroStation Selection panel.

Select or create the MicroStation design file that you want to export to using one of the following three methods:

Select an existing file from the File name drop-down menu.
Click Browse to select a file from a location other than your working directory.
Enter a new file name to create a new export file.

Select the Enter an environment variable check box to specify the location where the file will be exported to, and enter the environment variable name in the MicroStation Environment box.

Click OK. The Export MicroStation Options panel displays.

Enter the MicroStation level to which the Vulcan data will be transferred in the MicroStation levels box. A MicroStation design file can contain up to 63 design levels. Individual levels can be specified by separating them with a ',' (comma) while ranges can be specified by a '-' (dash). For example:

Levels	Result
1,4,6	Transfers levels 1, 4 and 6.
1,4-6	Transfers levels 1, 4, 5 and 6.
1-63	Transfers all levels.

Select the Do not modify the global origin for new design files check box to use the global origin that is stored in the MicroStation design file when creating a new design file. If this check box is not selected, the lower left coordinates of the Vulcan window will be used instead.

Select the data type that you want to transfer in the Data Type section. You may choose to transfer string data, triangulation data, or both. If you select string Data or String and Triangulation Data, you can select the elements directly from the screen.

Select how you want to transfer the data in the Selection type section. You can transfer the data by selecting it directly on the screen or you can select data from a list. Wildcards (* multi-character and % single character) can be used to limit the list.

Click OK.

The Select By menu displays.

Select the method by which you want to select the objects and select the object(s) to be exported.

Click Confirm.

If you chose to export both string and triangulation data, once all desired string(s) are selected, cancel out of the multiple selection. You will then be prompted to select the triangulation(s) to export. When you are finished selecting triangulations.

Click Cancel to exit the Select By menu. The data is exported to the DGN file and a confirmation message displays.

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