MicroStation - Grouping Part 1 The quick and dirty method of grouping is to select a number of elements and press Ctrl + G:Which is fine until you want to make a change to the group, then the group has to be dropped using Ctrl +U. Once the changes are made select and press Ctrl + G to re-group. This is also fine in a simple example like this but, ifthe group is complex and amongst many other elements re-grouping can be time consuming. In terms of file structure groups created this way are ‘Orphan Cells’ that have many of the attributes of cells but none of the control or management tools. Excessive numbers of ‘Orphan Cells’ can eventually lead to file irregularities. | strongly discourage the use of Ctrl + G as a method of grouping, whilst quick initially, the effects downstream can become very dirty GRAPHIC GROUPS The recommended alternative is to use Graphic Groups. First check that Graphic Group lock is on, hover over the lock icon on the status bar: Active Locks: AS,G6,SN sseciation Graphic Group Snap <4 | i none) Defaut] Es Note that GG/Graphic Group is listed. To turn Graphic Group on/off click on the Locks icon to pop-up a list, click Graphic Group to toggle onioff:Geephic Group Text Node Isometric Arnetation Scale ACS Plane ACS Plane Snap Ifyou find you really like Graphic Groups consider setting unused function key F7 to ‘lock ggroup toggle’ Fancton Keys Ooi Ca Cs ms) Key: F7 ‘Action: [bck ggoup toggle With the elements to be grouped selected as before (but not in an existing Orphan Cell!) pick the Add to Graphic Group tool, number 6 > 5 in the Main Toolbox: Drop Element a Modify. S 2. Creste Complex Chain 3X) 8 Delete tement EMTs crene Compl Shere Sy 2 Measure ae. Pe Tope Maines Toolbox and accept to add the elements to a Graphic Group, as prompted: |Add to Graphic Group > Accept to add selected elerents to group Hover over an element in the new Graphic Group to see that the group has been created and is now numbered GG{1}. This number will automatically increment (counting from the last Graphic Group that was created even if all previous groups have been dropped)