Import MicroStation

(This functionality is available with the Input / Output module)

Imports data from a MicroStation DGN V7 or V8 file.

Refer also to the Import dialog box topic.

MicroStation cell names are treated as feature codes. Therefore the symbol associated with a feature code in the code table will be used if that feature code is matched to a cell name either directly or via a lookup table. When importing files that contain shared cells, these cells can be exploded. .

Note that if the "Alternate Coding" check box is not selected, the MicroStation level will be treated as the group name.

If the "Alternate Coding" check box is selected, the code of an element will be extracted from the MicroStation Design file as a reflection of the elements level, colour, line weight, and line style. Each of these MicroStation numeric element attributes are zero filled in the resulting feature code. For example, in a MicroStation Design file, an element has a level of 2, a colour of 4, a line weight of 6, and a line style of 7. The resulting feature code will be generated as 02004067 and this code will be used in the code/lookup table to associate attributes with the element.

The following table describes what MicroStation entities are imported into LISCAD, and what LISCAD entity they then become...

MicroStation Entity LISCAD Entity
Cell Header Point with symbol
Line String Line
Curve Line
Shape Line
Line Line
Arc Arc
Circle Circle
Text Text
Text Node Text
Complex Shape Exploded its constituent entities and imported
Complex String Exploded its constituent entities and imported
Shared Cell Reference Symbol

Note: If files you are importing contain Shared Cell References and you wish to have these exploded upon import, you will need to create a new registry entry. To do this...

  • Select the 'Run' command from the 'Start' menu, type regedit and then press 'OK'.
  • Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\LISTECH\LISCAD\9.x\SEE\Data Conversions.
  • Right click on this key and select New\String Value. Call this DGNExplodeSharedCell.
  • Set this value to 1. This will explode Shared Cell References found in the imported DGN file.
  • The MicroStation Shared Cell Reference will look the same in SEE as it does in the DGN file.