MicroStation Training Guide

MICROSTATION
TRAINING GUIDE
Training Material for MicroStation
Table of contents
1 Introduction 2
2 Fundamentals 3
3 Design File Creation and setup 9
4 Precision Input 11
5 Manipulation and Viewing Tools 15
6 Element Placement and Manipulation 21
7 Levels 29
8 Text 31
9 Cells 33
10 Reference Files 39
11 Accudraw 42
12 Microstation 3D 56
1
Introduction
MicroStation/J is a CAD Engine developed by Bentley designed to Edit and create

Vector Drawings; it has features to Display Raster images too.
Minimum System Requirement:

32 bit operating system
256Color monitor
32MB RAM
120MB Disk Space required
Type of Drawing:
Depending on the way in which the drawings are displayed and stored they are
widely categorized as Vector Drawings and Raster Drawings
• Raster Drawing are drawings, which store pixel information of display hence a
line would be formed by joining a series of adjacent color pixels. These are also
known as Raster Images.
• Vector Drawings, In these types of drawings the lines end point would be stored
and respectively be displayed in the space.
The advantage of vector are that they are very precise, can be modified easily
maintain thickness through out. Vector Drawings are suitable for engineering
purposes.
2
FUNDAMENTAL
MicroStation GUI
Menu Bar
Tool Bar Key In
Design
Window
Tool Frame
Tool
Settings
Child
Palette
View
Controls
Status Bar
Mouse Operations:
1 2
Left Click Right Click
Or Or
Data Point Reset Point
Or Or
Accept Button Reject Button
1+2 –Tentative Operation / Snap
3
Quick Exercise:
1. Open Microstation/J.
2. Open one of the supplied design file.
3. Identify various GUI components shown on the previous page.
4. Go to the window Open Close Open all the windows
5. Again from the window menu use the various options e.g. tile, cascade, etc.
View Controls:
1. Below each window notice the view control palette.

2. Use all the available view control tools.
3. Try zooming in and zooming out, and panning.
4. Use the fit View and window area tools.
Elements:
1. Click on the draw line tool, and use the left mouse button, to place the start of the
line, click again somewhere else to complete the line, use the right click to reset
the operation.
All MicroStation entities are known as elements, e.g. Circle, Line, Shape, etc.
All Elements have some attributes.
The element attributes related to display are
• Color – this controls the color of the element
• Line Style – this decides the pattern of line
• Line weight – This controls the line thickness
• Levels – It controls some important features like visibility of the elements
• Class – Again categories elements into classes
For Setting attributes Go to: Elements (Menu) -> Attributes (Also available in the
Primary Tool Bar.)
About MicroStation Design File
A MicroStation document file is called a design file. MicroStation's File menu has items
for creating, opening, and saving design files
You cannot have more than one design file open or active in MicroStation at a time. If
you open a design file when one is already active, MicroStation automatically closes the
first file. However, you can view the contents of other design files by attaching them for
reference to the active design.
When you create a design file, MicroStation copies one of the provided templates or seed
design files. The seed file is copied to a new file name that you specify in the Create
Design File dialog box.
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To create a design file and open it as the active design file
1. From the File menu, choose New.

The Create Design File dialog box opens.
The default filter is “*.dgn.”
2. The file specification for the default seed design file is displayed in the Seed File
section.
3. (Optional) To change the filter, choose the corresponding item in the List Files of
Type drop-down list. The file list is useful for avoiding assigning the new file an
already existing filename.
4. (Optional) To select a different seed design file, click the Select button and use
the Select Seed File dialog box.
5. (Optional) To select a different destination disk drive, choose the desired drive
from the Drives option menu.
6. (Optional) To select a different destination directory, use the Directories list box.
7. In the Files field, key in a name for the new design file.
Although the extension “.dgn” is often used to indicate a MicroStation design file,
any or no extension is acceptable.
8. Click OK.
Preparing to Draw:
Except for user preferences, there are no default settings in MicroStation. The settings
described in the following subsections can be saved in the design file on disk. To
preserve changes to these design file settings between sessions, you must explicitly save
the settings.
Seed files
When you create a design file, you identify a seed file as a template for the design file.
The new design file is actually a copy of the seed file.
Seed files do not (necessarily) contain elements, but, like other design files, they do
contain settings and view configurations. Having a seed file with customized settings
keeps you from having to adjust settings each time you create a design file. If you wish,
you can have a different seed file for each type of drawing you do.
To select a seed file
1. From the File menu, choose New.

The Create Design File dialog box opens.
2. In the Seed File section, click the Select button.
The Select Seed File dialog box opens. The default filter is “*.dgn.”
3. (Optional) To list all files in the Files list box, choose All Files from the List Files
of Type option menu.
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4. (Optional) To select a different source disk drive, choose the desired drive from
the Drives option menu.
5. (Optional) To select a different source directory, use the Directories list box.
6. In the Files list box, select the desired seed file.
Or
In the Files field, key in the name of the desired seed file.
7. Click OK.
Design plane
In 2D drafting, the MicroStation equivalent of a sheet of drafting paper is the design

plane. The design plane is composed of points at which you enter data points when
placing elements in a design. Each point in the design plane has associated x (horizontal)
and y (vertical) positions or coordinates. The design plane, then, is simply a Cartesian
coordinate system upon which your design lies.
Coordinates are expressed in the form (x,y). MicroStation's Default workspace, the point
called the Global Origin (GO) is set to the design plane's exact center and assigned the
coordinates 0,0.
• Any point to the right of the Global Origin has a positive x-value; any point to the
left has a negative x-value.
• Any point above the Global Origin has a positive y-value; any point below has a
negative y-value.
For most purposes the Global Origin in the provided seed files is fine. You may wish to
change the location or coordinates of the Global Origin, though. For example, an
architect may want all coordinates to be positive values. A mapper or surveyor may need
to use a grid system defined by a government agency to reference all locations to a
specific point.
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When you enter a data point, MicroStation saves its coordinates as 32-bit integers.
Accordingly, the design plane has 232 (4,294,967,296) points in each dimension. The
distance between two adjacent points is the smallest distance MicroStation can address.
This distance is one positional unit or unit of resolution (UOR). The 3D Design Cube is
analogous to the 2D design plane.
Working units
Although MicroStation “thinks” in positional units, it lets you draw in “real world” units
like feet and inches, or meters and centimeters. These real world units are called working
units.
• Working units are expressed as master units (the largest units in a design) and
fractional sub-units.
• The number of positional units per sub-unit is called the working resolution.
How working units are expressed
Distances in design files are sometimes expressed in the form of three numbers separated
by colons “MU:SU:PU.” For example, “3:4:100” means three master units (MU), four
sub-units (SU), and 100 positional units (PU). The table has examples of distances
expressed in this form.
Working Units MU:SU:PU Distance

Feet / inches / thousandths 120:10: (or 120:10) 120 feet, 10 inches
Miles / feet / inches 350::6 350 miles, 6 inches
Millimeters / thousandths :500: (or :500) One half millimeter
Yards / feet / inches :12:8 12 feet, 8 inches
Yards / feet / inches ::11 11 inches
Working resolution
Determines the precision with which elements are drawn and the working area of the
design plane. The working area is the size, in working units, of the design plane; the size
of the design cannot exceed the working area. Because the design plane is square, there is
an inverse relationship between precision and working area.
Working units settings
Consist of working units and working resolution and are specific to a design file. The
working unit settings in the discipline-specific seed files provided with MicroStation are
commonly used in the respective disciplines. Some of the provided seed files have
English working unit settings and others have metric settings. To easily convert back and
forth between metric and English units, use working unit settings groups.
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1. After you create a design file but before you begin to draw, you should confirm
that the working unit settings provide adequate precision for your design task and
a working area that exceeds the projected size of the design. Both requirements
can usually be met with
Saving design file settings once you have done the settings
To preserve changes to design file settings — such as working units and coordinate
readout, between sessions, you must explicitly save the settings.
To save the current settings to the active design file on disk
1. From the File menu, choose Save Settings (or press <CTRL-F>).
8
Design File Creation and Setup
The purpose of this lab is to allow you to create a design file, accomplish design file
setup in preparation for working in it, and practice with some of the basic element
placement tools.
Invoke MicroStation and create a new MicroStation Design File.
1. From the File pull-down menu on Menu Bar, select the New item. Create a new
design file with “lab1” as the file name (“.dgn” will be the default extension)
Make sure that you select seed2d.dgn as your seed file (hint look for the Select
Button). (Be sure you create the file in the training directory)
2. Select the OK button on the Create Design File dialog box. MicroStation will
open the design file.
3. From the Settings pull-down menu on the menu bar select the Design File item,
then choose Working Units.
While the Working Units dialog box is displayed no other actions can be
performed in MicroStation. You’ll have to dismiss this dialog box to continue, but
before that.
• Key in FT for Master Units.

• Key in IN for Sub Units.
• Key in 12 for IN Per FT.
• Key in 1000 for Pos Units Per IN.
4. Again from the Settings pull down menu on the Menu Bar, select Design File and
then select Grid item. Set the Grid Reference to 12 so that it coincides with the
new working units. Select the OK button (or press the Enter key). A dialog box
will display informing you that the size of existing elements will change. Select the
OK button.
5. IMPORTANT: From the File pull-down menu on the Menu Bar, select the Save
Settings item to save your design session parameters. See the Message at Status
bar ‘settings saved.
6. Draw Illustration 1. Use any combination of the Place Block Tool, the Place Line
Tool, and The Place Circle by Center Tool. (Look into the Main Palette).
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Illustration 1
This completes the Design File Creation and Setup lab. You are now ready to continue
with the next lesson: Precision Input.
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Precision Input
To enter a data point at specific coordinates in the design plane
1. In the Data Point Key-in dialog box, key in POINT ABSOLUTE x,y or XY=x,y
x and y are the x- and y-coordinates, respectively.
Absolute. “GO” denotes the Global Origin; xd and yd denote the design file x-
and y-axes.
To enter a data point at a distance from the last tentative point or data point and
angle relative to the view x-axis
1. In the Data Point Key-in dialog box, key in POINT DISTANCE d,q or DI=d,q
d is the distance from the most recently entered tentative point or data point and q
is the angle relative to the view x-axis.
Relative. “P” denotes the last data or tentative point, xv the view x-axis, and q
the angle.
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To enter a data point at distances along the design plane axes from the last tentative
point or data point.
1. In the Data Point Key-in dialog box, key in POINT DELTA x,y or DL= x,y
x and y are the distances along the design plane x- and y-axes, respectively.
Distance. “P” denotes the last data or tentative point; xd and yd the design
file x- and y-axes.
To enter a data point at distances along the view axes from the last tentative point or
data point.
1. In the Data Point Key-in dialog box, key in POINT VDELTA x,y or DX=x,y
x and y are the distances along the view x-axis and y-axis, respectively.
Distance. “P” denotes the last data or tentative point; xv and yv the view x- and
y-axes.
The purpose of this lab is to allow you to gain more practice using some of the basic
element placement tools, and to introduce the use of precision input.
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The dimensions are shown on the Illustrations only to aid in precision input. Do not
replicate them in this exercise.
1. Create a new file named lab2 in the student directory. Set your working units:
• Key in FT for Master Units
• Key in IN for Sub Unites
• Key in 12 for IN Per FT
• Key in 1000 for Pos Units Per In
• Select the OK button (or press the Return Key). A dialog box will display
informing you that the size of existing elements will change. Select OK
button.
2. From the Settings pull-down menu on The Menu Bar, select Design file and then
Grid item. Set the Grid Reference ton 12 so that it coincides with the new working
units.
3. From the File pull-down menu select the Save Settings item to save your design
session parameters.
4. Select The Place Line Tool and Key–in xy=0,0 in Key–in browser (Utilities
->Keyin). This will be the lower left corner of Illustration 1 (see next page).
5. Do not press the reset button until the last data point is accepted.
Using Precision Input, key-in the following entries to place the rest of the data
points:
• dx = 0,2 <Enter>
• dx = 1.25,0 <Enter>
• di = 1.75,315 <Enter>
• di = 0.5, 60 <Enter>
• di = 2,0 <Enter>
• di = 1:2:347,-90 <Enter>
• xy = 0,0 <Enter>
Illustration1
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Next
1. Draw the diagram in Illustration 2. Use the Place Shape, Place Line and Place
Circle by Diameter tools. See the Polygons Sub-palette, The Lines Sub-palette,
and The Circles and Ellipses Sub-palette for reference. Use precision input to
assure accurate placement.
2. Select the Fit View tool and identify view 1. This will cause all elements in view 1
to display.
3. Arrange your views anyway, you like.
4. Save your settings.
Illustration 2
Note: Dimensions are not to be placed during this exercise
This completes the Precision Input lab. You are now ready to continue with the next
lesson.
14
Manipulation and Viewing Tools
The purpose of this Lab is to give you practice working with the manipulation tools,
views and multiple elements. You will work in the same file you created in Lab1.
1. Open the lab1 design file by using the Open File (See illustration 1)
Illustration 1
Be sure to save the file as lab2.dgn (Select Save As from the File pull-down menu.)
2. Once the file is open, use the Fit Active Design tool to fit all the elements in view. See
the View Control Palette.
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3. Use The Change Element Attributes Tool to change the boxes to the following:
color – 7
weight – 4
linestyle – 4
4. Use The Change Element Attributes Tool to change the circles to the following:
color – 7
weight – 4
linestyle – 5
5. Use The Change Element Attributes Tool to change the circles to the following:
color – 4
weight – 4
linestyle – 5
6. Use The Element Selection Tool to select the lines and blocks in the middle section of
the chart. Use The Copy Element Tool to copy these elements to below the lower left
circle of chart. (See Illustration 2).
Illustration 2
7. Use the view Attributes dialog box to turn off the display of line weight in view 1.
8. Open views 3 and 4. By window Open/close tool. Arrange all the views.
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9. Use the Fit Active Design tool to fit all the elements in view 4. See The View Control
Palette. Scale the drawings to be twice as large using scale tool as well as using
fence.
10. Use the Window Area tool to zoom around the top box of the chart. See The View
Control Palette.
11. Save the view as ‘CEO’ using Saved Views.
12. Recall the saved view CEO and display it in view 3.
13. Save Setting of the file.
This completes the manipulation and Viewing Tools lab. You now ready to continue with
the next lesson: Element Placement and Manipulation
Selecting an element
When precision is not important, the easiest way to perform element manipulations and
modifications is to use the Element Selection Tool in the Element Selection tool box (in
the Main tool frame, Element Selection is the default “representative” of the Element
Selection tool box). Most basic manipulations and modifications can be done with the
Element Selection tool, including:
• Moving and copying

• Scaling
• Moving vertices
• Modifying axes
When precision is important, the PowerSelector tool is useful for distinguishing the
elements on which to perform manipulations and modifications.
The PowerSelector tool is used to select and deselect multiple elements in a variety of
ways.
The Attribute List field in the PowerSelector settings window allows unique methods for
selecting elements. The active set is denoted by a list of values that ends with a semi-
colon. You can edit these values before the semi-colon to build a subset. Only the
elements that match the existing values are kept, the others are removed from the set.
Pressing <Return> or <Tab> applies the subset. Switching attributes allows you to
continue the process of elimination.
If values are entered after the semi-colon, PowerSelector performs a scan on the active
file and all locatable reference files. A selection scan supports add, subtract and inverse
selection modes. If a semi-colon is not used: PowerSelector assumes a subset if elements
are selected, and a scan if nothing is selected.
The attributes Level, Color, Style, Weight, and Class will locate simple elements within a
complex element and act upon the entire complex element.
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The Types attribute supports exact matches only.
Tool
Effect
Setting
Sets the selection method:
• Individual — selection is performed on a per element basis, as with

the regular Element Selection tool. If you enter a data point but miss
an element, the Block Method activates.
• Block Inside — all elements inside the defined block are selected.
Method • Block Overlap — all elements inside and overlapping the defined
block are selected.
• Shape Inside — all elements inside the defined shape are selected.
• Shape Overlap — all elements inside and overlapping the defined
shape are selected.
• Line — elements are selected by drawing a line that intersects them.
Sets the objective of using the tool:
• Add — selects elements.

• Subtract — deselects elements.
Mode • Invert — toggles the selection status of an element (selects deselected
elements and deselects selected elements).
• Clear/Select All — deselects all selected elements, or selects all
elements if no elements are currently selected.
Clicking the Show More Information arrow expands the Tool Settings
window to reveal the Attribute combo box and the Attribute List field.
• Level — ranges between 1 and 63.

• Color — ranges between 0 and 254.
• Style — Standard line styles range between 0 and 7.
Attribute
• Weight — Line weight ranges between 0 and 31.
• Type — Element type numbers as defined in the on-line Reference
Guide.
• Class — Element class values as defined in the on-line Reference
Guide.
To select elements inside or overlapping a rectangular area
1. Select the PowerSelector tool.

2. In the Tool Settings window, select the following icons: Method - Block and
Mode - Add (+)
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If Block is set to Inside — the block has a solid border and no dashed line running
through it.
3. If Block is set to Overlap — the block has a dashed border and a dashed line
running through it.
4. (Optional) To change between Inside and Overlap, select the icon again using
either the keyboard shortcut or the pointer.
5. Enter a data point to define the first corner of the block.
6. Move the pointer until the dynamically displayed block contains or overlaps the
elements you want to select.
7. Enter a second data point to close the block.
To select elements contained in or overlapping a polygonal area

2. In the Tool Settings window, select the following icons: Method - Shape and
Mode - Add (+)
4. Enter a data point to define the first vertex of the polygonal shape.
5. Continue entering data points until the polygonal shape contains or overlaps the
elements you want to select.
6. Enter a final data point to close the polygonal shape.
To select elements that intersect a line

2. In the Tool Settings window, select the following icons: Method - Line and Mode
- Add (+)
3. Enter a data point to begin the line.
4. Enter a data point to end the line.
All elements touched by the line are selected.
To select elements based on their attributes

2. In the Tool Settings window, select the following icon: Mode - Add (+)
3. In the Tool Settings window, click the Show More Information icon.
4. From the Attribute combo box, choose an element attribute or property as the
selection criterion.
5. In the Attribute List field, key in the values applicable to elements you want to
select.
All of the selected elements with the specified values are selected. The Attributes
List field updates to display all found values and ends with a semi-colon.
To select additional elements or deselect some selected elements based on their

attributes.
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2. In the Tool Settings window, select the following icons: Method - Block and
Mode - Add (+) or Subtract (-)
4. Enter a data point to define the first corner of the block.
5. Move the pointer until the dynamically displayed block contains or overlaps the
elements you want to select or deselect.
6. Enter a second data point to close the block.
7. In the Tool Settings window, click the Show More Information icon.
8. From the Attribute combo box, choose an element attribute or property as the
selection criterion.
The attribute or property values applicable to the selected elements display in the
Attribute List field.
9. In the Attribute List field after the semi-colon, key in the values applicable to
elements you want to select or deselect.
All of the selected elements with the values specified after the semi-colon are
selected or deselected.
10. Try using it on the circles and lines leaving out the boxes….
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Element Placement and Manipulation
Good now we go to our next exercise
The purpose of this exercise is to familiarize you with more complex element and
manipulation tools. You will gain additional experience using precision input and the
fence operations.
This lab will be the start of a project that you will work on for the remainder of
this tutorial.
1. Create a new file named lab4. This file will be used for all the future labs.
2. Setup and save your working units, reference grid, etc., just like the initial steps
performed in the earlier labs.
3. Save your design file settings.
4. Use the Place Line Tool to draw a 330 ft horizontal line beginning at the global
origin. (Global origin is located at 0,0. Use xy=0,0 for a starting point).
5. Zoom Out or Fit your view until you see the entire line.
6. Use the Rotate Copy tool to rotate a copy of the horizontal line 90 degrees about
its midpoint. (See Illustration 1) Look for the Rotate Tool.
• Select the tool, set The Active Angle, and select the Make Copy check
button/box.
• Identify the horizontal line by snapping to its center. To do this, position
the cursor near the center of the line and place a tentative point.
• Reset to complete the operation.
Illustration 1
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7. Use the Copy Parallel by key-in tool to place one copy on each side of the original
lines, to form the street curbs. See the Move Parallel Tool. To make width of the
streets 22 feet, the distance should be 11 feet (See Illustration 2).
Illustration 2
8. Use the Window Area tool to zoom in on the intersection of the streets. Use the
Delete Part of Element Tool to clip a portion out of the curb lines as shown in
Illustration 3.
Illustration 3
9. Also check out the IntelliTrim, the one with the bulb.
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10. Place arcs at each corner of the streets by using The Construct Circular Fillet
Tool. Use a 30ft radius. (See Illustration 4).
Illustration 4
11. Change the element attribute of the centerlines.

Set Color to yellow
Set Linestyle to 4
Set Weight to 0
Use the Change Element Attributes Tool to change the display of the lines.
Make sure that you change only the above attributes.
12. Reset the elements attributes (Color, Linestyle, Weight) back to 0.
13. Use The Extend line Tool to shorten the vertical lines at each end of the
North/south streets by exactly 30 feet (See Illustration 5)
Illustration 5
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14. Create the adjacent streets as shown in Illustration 6:

• Place a fence around the intersection you have drawn.
• Select the Mirror Fence Copy Horizontal tool. See The Mirror Tool Select
these options:
Mirror About Horizontal
Make Copy
Use fence
• You will see a dynamic copy of the fence. Identify the end of one of the
vertical lines. Reset to end the copy operation.
• Place a new fence to include the newly mirrored elements. Use the Mirror
Fence Copy Vertical tool to mirror these streets. Identify one of the
horizontal streets.
Illustration 6
15. Place fence around the streets in the upper right corner of the street grid. Use the
Rotate Copy tool to copy the streets at 150 degrees. See the Rotate Tool. The
centerlines of the streets should be connected. (See Illustration 7)
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Illustration 7
16. Use the Extend Two Element to Intersection Tool to finish the street lines as
shown in Illustration 8.
Illustration 8
17. Use the Construct Circular Fillet Tool to fillet the connections of the streets. Use
75 feet as your fillet radius. Remember to match the element attributes of the lines
being modified.
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18. Draw a pond in the middle block of the streets using The Place Point or Stream
Curve Tool. (See Illustration 9) Change the element attributes of the pond.
Illustration 9
19. Use the Copy Parallel tool to copy the outside street lines back to make the rear
properly lines. See The Move Parallel Tool. Use a distance of 124 ft. (See
Illustration 10)
Illustration 10
20. Use the different types of Extend tools to extend property lines to meet each other
and the street edges. Use the Copy Parallel Tool to make lots 50 feet wide. They
will not all fit evenly.
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21. Use the Extend Tools to make your lots look similar to Illustration 11. See The
Modify Element Sub-palette.
Illustration 11
22. Change the element attributes of the lot lines.

• Linestyle 6
• Color green
• Weight 1
23. Draw a golf course at the end of subdivision using The Place Point or Stream
Curve Tool. Place two lakes on the course as shown in Illustration 12. Use the
following attributes for the golf course:
• Linestyle 0
• Weight 2
• Color 6
• Level 60
When drawing the lakes use color blue, linestyle 0 and weight 1.
Illustration 12
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This completes the Element Placement and Manipulation lab. You are now ready to
continue with next lesson: Levels
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Levels
The purpose of this lab is to give you more practice with element placement and
manipulation. Level manipulation will also be covered.
1. Open the design file you created in Lab 4 (lab4.dgn). Or you can open the file
lab4s.dgn and save it as lab.dgn.
2. Set the highlight color to some color other than red. See Setting Element Highlight
Color.
3. Zoom into an unused portion of the file. Using the Place Shape Tool draw the
following house roof outlines. See the Polygon Sub–palette. Use weight of 2,
linestyle of 0 and color red. Draw the roof on level 5. ( see illustration 1 )
Illustration 1
4.
Move the centerlines of the subdivision to level 3.
• Select the Change Element Attributes Tool. Change your active level to 3.
This is the destination for the move. Make sure that you change only the
level attribute.
• Identify only the yellow dashed centerlines; once accepted they are moved
to the active level. Hint: This operation is easier if you open an additional
view, make 3 the active level in that view and turn the display of all other
levels off. See the View Levels Settings Box.
5. Change your level to 1.
6. Turn off level 3 so that you are no longer looking at the centerlines.
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7. Use the Place Point or Stream Curves Tool to draw a stream as shown in
Illustration 2. Draw the stream in blue on level 19.
Illustration 2
8. Draw a green curve in the center of the subdivision on level 57 (See Illustration2).
9. Draw a line string at the right of your drawing that will be used as a True North
Indicator. Draw it on level 1 and use color 0. (See Illustration)
This completes the Levels lab. You are now ready to continue with the next lesson: Text
30
Text
The purpose of this lab is to give you practice placing text. This exercise uses many of
the text placement tools discussed earlier.
1. Open your subdivision drawing or open the file lab5s.dgn and use the Save As
item to save the file with a new name. Set your active level to 12, color to 0 and
weight to 0.
2. Use the Place above element tool to place names on the streets as shown in
Illustration 1. See the Place Text Tool. Use a text size of 12, font 3, and set line
spacing to 5 feet.
3. Use the Place Text Along Element Tool to place text along the curve representing
the creek. See the Place Text tool. Use a text size of 15 feet, line spacing of 5 feet
and inter character spacing of 5 feet. (See Illustration 1)
4. Set inter-character spacing to 0.
5. Use the Place Text tool to label the park, the pond, and the curve string (this will
be a wooded area) as shown in Illustration 1. See the Place Text Tool. Use font
23, and a text size of 15 feet.
6. Label the North-Arrow using font 0 with a text size of 12 feet. (See justification)
7. Label the subdivision as shown in Illustration 1, using font 42 and a size of 30

feet.
8. Use the Change Text to Active Attributes Tool to change the North Arrow text
font to 7, and size 20 feet.
9. Use the Edit Text Tool to change the name assigned to the pond.
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Illustration 1
This completes the Text lab. You are ready to continue with the next lesson: Cells
32
Cells
The purpose of this lab is to give you practice working with cells and cell libraries. In this
lab, you will create a cell library, and several cells.
The dimensions shown in the Illustrations are for aiding you with your cell creations. Do
not replicate them in this lab.
1. Open your subdivision design file (or open lab6s.dgn and Save As with a new
name).
2. Create a new cell library with the name xx.cel (where xx represents your initials)
in the student directory. See Cell Library Creation.
3. Create three cells from the three roof outlines you drew in the Levels lab. Define
each cell origin by snapping to the lower left corner of the roof. Name the cells
house1, house2, house3. See Cell Creation.
4. Set your active level to5, weight to1, and color to anything you like.
5. Create a cell representing a tree using The Place Point or Stream Curve Tool. Use
the dimensions shown in Illustration 1 as a guide.
Illustration 1
+ Defines origin point for each of the cells in this lab.
6. Create an arrowhead point cell. This will be used as a line terminator for the True
North Indicator. Select the Place Line Tool. Each section of the X is 5 feet. Use
the dimension shown in Illustration 3 as a guide.
• DI=24.5,30 <ENTER>
• DI=24.5,150 <ENTER>
• DI=14,300 <ENTER>
• Snap back to the starting point, accept it, and then reset.
Illustration 2
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7. Create a cell representing a chain link fence using The Place Line Tool. Each
section of the X is 5 feet. Use the dimension shown in Illustration 3 as a guide.
Illustration 3
8. Create the following two cells. The first one will represent a manhole and the
second a telephone pole. Use the Place Circle by Center Tool to create these cells,
use 6 feet as the diameter. For the manhole place lines at each of the circle as it is
shown in Illustration 4.
Define the cell origin point to be the center of the manhole and telephone.
Illustration 4
Manhole Telephone Pole
9. Place cells of the roof outlines on some lots. Use all three buildings. Utilize your
Active Angle when placing buildings on angled lots. (Note: Illustration 5 shows
houses placed on some of the lot, You are not required to duplicate this. You only
have to place houses on some of the lots).
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10. Make the tree your active cell and place trees randomly on the drawing. Do not
place any trees near the curve string in the park.(See Illustration 5)
11. Turn of level 12.
12. Use The Place Active Cell Matrix Tool to place the first 10 manholes as shown in
Illustration 6. There will be 2 rows, 5 columns, 270 feet between the rows, and
165 feet between the columns. Set the active Scale to 1. To define the matrix
origin, snap on the end of the street marked with an X in Illustration 6. Do not
enter a data point here; instead key in DI=11,90 and press <Return>. Place
additional manholes randomly along the streets.
Illustration 5
This completes the Cells lab. You are now ready to continue with the next lesson:
Patterning
35
Patterning
The purpose of this lab is to give you practice using the patterning tools in Microstation.
You will also create a new cell that will be placed in the cell library you created in the
Cells lab.
1. Open the subdivision file.
2. Ensure that the cell library you created in the lab Cells is attached. Or attach the cell
library class.cel in the student directory.
3. Extend the center line of one of the vertical streets 20 feet (turn on level 3 if it is not
visible).
4. Select the Place Arc by center tool and key-in radius of 23 feet. Place the first and the
third data points at the ends of the street curbs. Place the second data point at the end
of the extended center line. Remember to use tentative points for accuracy. The arc
draws counterclockwise from data point 1 to 3.
5. Shorten the line you extended by 20 feet.
6. Make a cell out of the Cul-de sac. Put the origin at the center line you just shortened.
7. Place this cell at the ends of the other vertical streets.
8. Use the Drop Complex Status tool to drop the complex status on the Cap cells, before
using the Construct Fillet tool to place arcs that merge them into curbs (30 feet
radius). You will also need to fillet the original arc from which the cap was created (it
can not be dropped since it was never a cell, only a template used to create the cell).
9. Use the Trim Element tool to trim the back property lines so that they do not overlap
the Caps.
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Illustration 1
10. Draw a yellow linestring on level 16 above the stream. This will represent a fence
line.
11. Use the Construct Active Points Between Data Points tool to place 3 telephone poles
at a time along the streets. See choosing the Active Cell for information on making a
cell the active point.
12. Place 10 trees along the green curve string in the park using the Construct Points
Along Element tool.
13. Delete the line string behind the trees.
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14. Place an arrow at the end of the true north indicator using the Place active Line
Terminator tool. Scale the arrow 1.5 times larger.
15. Use the Linear Pattern tool to pattern the linestring representing the fence line with
the fence cell.
16. Use the Hatch Area Tool to pattern the houses along one street. Set your spacing to
10 feet and the angle to 45degrees. Do the hatching on level 16.Remember to use The
Drop Complex Status Tool on each house before hatching. (See illustration 2)
Illustration 2
This completes the Pattering Lab. You are now ready to continue with the next lesson:
Reference Files
38
Reference Files
This lab is designed to give you practice working with reference files. You will attach
and manipulate reference files.
1. Create a new 2-D design file. From the File pull-down on The Command Window
select the New item (or use the shortcut Ctrl-N). To name the file, use xxbor.dgn
inserting your initials in the position of the X’s.
2. Once in the design file, select the Settings pull-down. Select the Working Units item.
• Key in FT for Master Units
• Key in IN for Sub Units
• Key-in 12 for SU per FT
• Key-in 1000 for Pos Units per IN
• Click OK. A dialog box will display informing you that the size of existing
elements will change. Click OK.
3. Save your settings. (From File menu click on to save settings.)
4. Draw a border. Select the PLACE LINE TOOL. Place a data point at the global origin,
to locate the lower left corner of the border. Use dimensions as shown in Illustration 1
Illustration 1
5. Exit the design file containing the border and open your subdivision design file.
6. Attach the second file containing the border as reference file to your subdivision
drawing. From Tools pull down menu, click on to Reference file tools and from this
toolbox select ATTACH REFERENCE FILE TOOL.
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7. Select your border.dgn file as the file to be attached. (You may have to change
directories.) Click OK. Another dialog box will appear. This dialog box asks you to
specify a logical name and description if desired. Click OK upon completion.
8. The border may not line up around your drawing. If it is not visible, use FIT ALL
TOOL.
9. If the needs to be moved use the MOVE REFERENCE FILE TOOL. It will take at
least two data points to move the reference file in response to the prompts. Refer to
the Illustration 2 for the suggested position of the border.
10. Complete the title block for your drawing. Place your name, date and your company
title as shown in the Illustration 2. Use your choice of font, text size, and line spacing.
Place your text on level 12.
11. Zoom in around one of the roof s that was patterned and make a saved view out of it.
(From UTILITY pull down menu, select SAVED VIEWS.)
12. Turn on level 12
13. Attach your design file containing the house saved view as a reference file (i.e. attach
the file that you are currently in to itself). Select the saved view name you created in
step 11, and scale it up to 8 times. Place it to the right of your screen as an enlarged
detail as shown in Illustration 3.
Illustration3
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14. The attached reference files are not displayed, execute the Attachment settings box
and display your reference files.
15. If you are satisfied with the appearance of your design up to this point, do the
following:
• Compress the design
• Save your settings
• Make a backup copy
41
AccuDraw
Working with a mechanical engineering design, you will use MicroStation’s most
powerful drafting aid, AccuDraw, in conjunction with its most flexible drawing tool,
Place SmartLine.
You will draw a simple wrench for use on a bicycle. The wrench will have an
open and a closed end, each designed for 1inch nuts or bolts. Here is what the
final drawing will look like:
The tutorial is structured as a series of exercises that are meant to be performed

consecutively. You will learn about:
• Drawing the profile

• Completing the wrench
• Modifying the wrench
In each exercise, it is assumed that you have just completed the preceding exercise.
If you have trouble

If you have trouble when going through the lesson, doing one of the following usually
helps:
• Reset, by pressing the Reset button. This is most useful when you have trouble using
a tool.
• Undo, by choosing Undo from the Edit menu, or by clicking the Undo icon in the
Standard tool bar below the main menu bar. This is most helpful after you finish
using a tool and realize that you have made a mistake. Remember, MicroStation lets
you undo more than just the last operation.
• “Undo” a change made with a view control by choosing the View Previous view
control, located on the view control bar in the bottom border of each view window.
This is helpful if you use a view control to zoom out or window an area and lose your
bearings.
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• Remember DO NOT RESET OR ENTER A DATA POINT UNTIL TOLD TO DO

SO.
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Exercise: Drawing the profile
You will employ a construction element as a reference center line. This construction
line will be used as a drawing aid only — it will not be plotted.
Open the design file, “wrench.dgn”:
1. From the File menu, choose Open. The Open Design File dialog box opens.
2. In MicroStation’s “dgn/learning” directory, select “wrench.dgn.”
3. Click the OK button.
Following are a few notes about “wrench.dgn”:

The grid is displayed.
• Master units are inches. The distance between each grid reference cross is 1 inch.
The grid points are 1/10th of an inch apart.
• The coordinate readout is set to Master units and uses 4 decimal places. A distance
of one and one-half inches is displayed in the status bar as “1.5000”.
• Snap Lock is turned on and “Snap Divisor” is set to 2. Line segments have three
snap points — one at either end and one at the midpoint. To enable snapping:
From the Settings menu’s Locks sub-menu, choose Dialog. In the Locks settings
box, turn on Snap Lock.
Place a line as a construction element:
1. From the Element menu, choose Attributes. The Element Attributes settings box
opens.
2. Set the Active Color to Red (3) by pressing on the small square to the right of the
Color field, and dragging the pointer to the red tile in the first row of the drop-down
color palette, and then releasing the Data button.
3. Set the Active Line Style to Dashed (2) by pressing on the option menu to the right of
the Style field, dragging the pointer to the menu’s dashed entry, and then releasing the
Data button.
4. Confirm that the Active Line Weight is set to zero (0) by checking the value in the
Weight field. If the Active Line Weight is not set to zero, choose 0 from the Weight
option menu.
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5. Set the Active Class to Construction by choosing Construction from the Class option
menu. The Element Attributes settings box now displays the settings used for the
reference centerline.
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6. In the Primary tool bar, select the Start AccuDraw tool. The AccuDraw window
opens. If the window’s fields are labeled Distance and Angle, press <space bar> to
change them to x and y.
7. From the Settings menu’s Locks sub-menu, choose Grid. A checkmark to the left of
the Grid menu item indicates that Grid Lock is turned on. Grid Lock works in
combination with the grid. Data points placed between grid points are moved and
locked to the nearest grid point.
8. In the Linear Elements tool box, select the Place Line tool.
9. On a large grid reference point, on the far left side of view window, enter a data point.
AccuDraw’s compass appears as a dashed square at the location where you placed the
data point. As you move the pointer to the right, both fields in the AccuDraw window
update to show the distance in the X and Y planes from the compass to the current
pointer location.
10. Move the pointer horizontally to the right of the first data point until the line
highlights. This indicates the line currently under construction is now indexed to the
X axis from the current compass location. AccuDraw’s Y field will display a 0 value
and AccuDraw’s input focus (the place where any keyboard entry will be directed)
will be on the X field.
11. Key-in 5.
Because the input focus was on the X field you do not have to choose the field to
enter a value. AccuDraw anticipates your next input by placing the input focus in the
appropriate place.
The line is tentatively constrained at a length of 5 inches.
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12. With X showing 5, and Y showing 0, enter a data point (i.e., click the mouse) to
accept AccuDraw’s values.
13. Reset.
Start drawing the profile of the wrench:
The wrench’s profile includes the open end and the shank. When the profile is drawn,
it looks like this:
1. In the Element Attributes settings box, set the Active Color to Blue (1).
2. Set the Active Line Style to Solid (0).
3. Set the Active Line Weight to 1.
4. Set the Active Class option to Primary.
5. In the Linear Elements tool box, select the Place SmartLine tool.
6. Snap a tentative point to the left end of the reference centerline, and enter a data point
to begin the Profile.
If the current tentative point snap mode is not set to endpoint (icon on status bar
should be the one with the dot on the end of the line) then set it by clicking on the
snap mode icon and choosing the correct snap mode.
7. Move the pointer up vertically from the AccuDraw’s compass. The line should index
to the vertical axis.
If the dynamic line does not appear indexed (i.e., a fat, highlighted appearance) move
the pointer until it is indexed. Constrained line of 5 inches. The input focus will
automatically be on the Y data field of the AccuDraw window.
8. Key-in 0.5.The dynamic vertical line segment will lock to half an inch.
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9. Enter a data point to place the segment.
Continue drawing the wrench’s jaw:
1. With the dynamic smartline still preset go to the Tool Settings window and set the
Vertex Type to Rounded.
2. In the Rounding Radius field, key-in 0.1 and hit a return.
3. Click on the AccuDraw window to return input focus to AccuDraw.
4. Returning to the view window, move the pointer to the left of the AccuDraw
compass. Keep the line indexed to the compass’ X axis.
5. Key-in 1.0
Note how AccuDraw locks the horizontal element to 1 unit of length. The rounded
arc vertex automatically displays.
6. Enter a data point to place the line segment.
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Constructing the wrench’s head:
1. Returning to the Tool Settings window, set Segment Type to Arcs and Vertex Type to
Sharp.
The AccuDraw drawing plane automatically switches to Polar coordinates.
2. Move the pointer to the right of the compass keeping the arc’s radius line indexed to
the horizontal axis.
AccuDraw displays both the indexed radius indicator line and a dynamic arc.
3. Key-in 0.9 which will appear in the Distance field of the AccuDraw window.
4. Enter a data point to define the center point of the arc. As you move the pointer to the
right a semi-circular arc is dynamically displayed.
5. Key-in a Tab to switch input focus to the Angle field. Key-in 180.
If a “circle” appears instead of the expected arc, move the pointer to the right of the
AccuDraw compass. This will result in the correct element display.
6. Enter a data point to place the arc segment.
Drawing the shank:
1. Switch the drawing plane coordinate system back to Rectangular (press <spacebar>).
2. In the Tool Settings window, set Segment Type to Lines.
3. Move the pointer to the right of the compass until the dynamic line is indexed to the
horizontal access.
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4. Key-in 3.3.
5. Enter a final data point to place the line segment.
6. Reset to complete the construction of the profile.
Modify the “open-end” arc radius:
The arc used to describe the outside edge of the wrench was drawn larger than
necessary. The Modify Element tool is used to reduce the radius of the arc.
1. In the Modify tool box, select the Modify Element tool.
2. Enter a data point on the wrench’s outside arc profile.
3. From the Modify Element Tool Settings window, change Method to Radius, preserve
ends.
4. With AccuDraw’s input focus on the distance field (the default) enter 0.7000.
5. Enter a data point to make the change.
6. Reset.
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Exercise: Completing the wrench

The first portion of the wrench is now complete. To create the other half of the
wrench, a mirrored copy is made from the first half of the wrench.
Mirror the wrench profile about the reference centerline:
1. In the Manipulate tool box, select the Mirror tool.
2. In the Tool Settings window, set (or confirm) Mirror About: Horizontal.
3. Set Make Copy option to on (has an X in its check box).Modifying the wrench’s arc.
4. Enter a data point on the wrench profile ( the blue element created in previous
exercise).
As you move the pointer, the mirror image of the wrench profile is dynamically
displayed. The location of the pointer defines the axis that the image is mirrored
around.
5. Snap a tentative point to the reference centerline (the red dashed line).
6. Enter a data point to accept the mirrored copy of the wrench profile.
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7. Reset.
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Draw the closed end of the wrench:
To complete the profile of the wrench, an arc is added at the closed end.
1. In the Linear Elements tool bar, select the Place SmartLine tool.
2. In the Tool Settings window set Segment Type to Arcs and Vertex Type to Sharp.
3. Snap a tentative point to the right end of the upper wrench profile (the horizontal line
segment).
4. Accept the tentative point to begin the arc placement.
5. To establish the center point of the arc, snap a tentative point to the right end of the
reference centerline (the red dashed line).
6. Accept the center location.
If the arc does not appear as shown in the illustration just move the pointer in a
clockwise rotation about the arc’s centerpoint. This will “unwind” the arc in the right
direction.
7. Snap a tentative point to the right end of the lower wrench profile.
8. Accept the arc endpoint.

Note how the AccuDraw compass appears as the endpoint of the new arc. This
indicates the readiness to continue the smartline construction. However, we are done
with this portion of the design so the next step is to complete the construction.
9. Reset to complete the arc.
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10. Close the AccuDraw Window. The wrench profile is complete.
54
Create a hexagonal “closed-end” for the wrench:
1. In the Polygons tool box, select the Place Regular Polygon tool. The Place Regular
Polygon Tool Settings window opens.
2. In the Tool Settings window, set Method to Circumscribed; Edges to 6; Radius to 0.5;
Area to Solid; and Fill Type to None.
3. Snap a tentative point to the right end of the reference centerline. Wrench arc points
and finished arc. A hexagon is dynamically displayed at the location of the pointer.
4. Accept the tentative point to place the hexagon.
5. Reset. The closed end of the wrench is complete.
The wrench profile is complete and the reference centerline is no longer needed.
Turn off the display of the construction element:
1. From the Settings menu, choose View Attributes. The View Attributes settings box
opens.
2. Turn off Constructions.
3. Click the All button. The reference centerline is no longer visible.
4. Close the View Attributes window. Finished arc.
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Exercise: Modifying the wrench

Link the elements into a single complex shape:
Next you will convert the two mirrored wrench halves into a single closed shape.
Link the elements into a single complex element:
1. In the Groups tool box, select the Create Complex Shape tool.
2. In the Tool Settings window set Method to Automatic; Max Gap to 0.0004; Area to
Solid; and Fill Type to None.
3. Identify the wrench’s upper shank. Enter subsequent data points to accept each new
link in the chain in order to makes up the entire wrench chain.
4. When the last data point has been entered, the entire outline of the wrench is
highlighted.
5. Accept.
Place hatching into the wrench:
Next you will place hatching into the wrench using the Association option. Any
modifications made to the shape will automatically cause the hatching to be
regenerated.
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The outside profile of the wrench is a single complex shape created in previous
exercise.
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1. In the Patterns tool bar, select the Hatch Area tool. (At start-up, Hatch Area is in the
Main tool box.)
2. In the Tool Settings window, set hatching options to: Spacing to 0.125; Angle to 45;
Tolerance to 0.0; Associative Pattern to On; and Method to Difference.
Difference mode hatching patterns the area between two or more closed shapes, each
identified by data points. Creating a single complex element from a chain.
3. To set the hatch pattern symbology, In the Primary tool bar, set Active Color to Red
(2); Active Line Style to Solid (0); and Active Line Weight to 0.
4. Identify the wrench profile.
5. Identify the hexagon at the wrench’s closed end. This data point also accepts the
profile.
6. Accept the hexagon. Both the profile and the hexagon are highlighted.
7. Reset. The solid part of the wrench is hatched.
The line on which one of the hatch lines is placed passes through the data point you
entered to accept the profile.
Next you will lengthen the span between the two ends is lengthened using the
Manipulate Fence Contents tool.
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Use a fence to “stretch” the wrench:
1. In the element Selection tool box, select the Place Fence tool.
2. In the Tool Settings window, set Fence Mode to Inside.
3. Enter a data point slightly beneath the right end of the wrench.
As you move the pointer, the fence is dynamically displayed.
4. Drag the fence block up and to the left to confine the closed end of the wrench.
5. In the Primary tool bar, select the Start AccuDraw tool. The AccuDraw window
opens.
6. In the Fence tool box, select the Manipulate Fence Contents tool.
7. In the Tool Settings window, set Operation to Stretch.
8. Enter a data point to be used as the starting location. The AccuDraw compass appears
at the data point location.
9. Move the pointer to the right of the compass indexed to the X axis.
10. Key-in 2.0.AccuDraw’s input focus will take care of putting it in the correct field.
11. Enter another data point to initiate the stretching operation. The wrench is “stretched”
2 inches to the right. The hatching is automatically regenerated.
12. Select the Place Fence tool to remove the fence.
Removing the fence when you have finished prevents accidental fence operations.
59
Working with AccuDraw

AccuDraw is controlled from a variety of sources. You can influence it through the use of
one- and two-key sequences called keyboard shortcuts. Drawing tools, themselves, can
influence AccuDraw's operation. Finally, AccuDraw itself maintains a number of user
selectable options via the AccuDraw Settings dialog box.
AccuDraw supports a large number of options. However, all of these options can be
placed into one of three major AccuDraw functions:
• Previewing and constraining data points

• Locating the AccuDraw compass
• Orienting AccuDraw's drawing plane
AccuDraw and the Popup Calculator

With the popup calculator, you can perform mathematical operations on the values
displayed in some MicroStation text fields, and the values adjust accordingly.
This feature is documented here as it works with AccuDraw, its use is extendable to other
controls. Active Scale and Active Angle fields currently support it.
The popup calculator is supported as follows:
Dialog Box Fields

AccuDraw window X / Y / Z
(various) Active Angle
(various) Active Scale
To use the popup calculator
1. With the input focus in a field that supports popup calculation, type any of the
following:
+, -, *, /, =
Type a value or expression to complete the calculation.

Press <Return>, enter a data point, or click outside the popup calculator to
60
accept the calculated value. Press <Esc> if you want to reject the value.
MicroStation 3D
61
Basic 3D Concepts
This section introduces the basic concepts related to working with 3D designs.
Design cube
The design cube represents a 3D design file's total volume. Points in 3D design files are
defined with x-, y-, and z-values, or coordinates. 3D design files consist of a design cube
in which you work. Points can be placed anywhere within the design cube, and are not
restricted to a single plane.
The design cube and 2D design plane
Design cube coordinates are expressed in the form (x,y,z).
A 3D design file contains 4,294,967,296 positional units (UORs) in the x, y, and z-

directions, analogous to the 2D Design Plane.
62
The global origin in the 3D seed files provided with MicroStation is located at the exact
center of the design cube and assigned the coordinates (0,0,0). Any point in front of the
global origin has a positive z-value and any point behind it has a negative z-value.
View volume
The view volume (sometimes called the display volume) is the volume displayed in a 3D
view. In most cases, only a part of the design cube is displayed in a view.
Any elements, or parts of elements, not contained in the view volume are not displayed in
the view. The window area, and its Display Depth bound the view volume.
Display Depth
The distance from the front to the back of a 3D view is its Display Depth, which is
bounded by clipping planes.
• The front clipping plane is the one nearest the viewer.

• The back clipping plane is farthest from the viewer.
Elements in front of the front clipping plane or behind the back clipping plane are not
displayed in the view, even if they are within its viewing area, regardless of how far the
view is zoomed out.
Active Depth
The Active Depth is the plane, parallel to the screen in a view, on which data points are
entered by default. The Active Depth is perpendicular to, and is measured along, the
view's z-axis. This is why it is sometimes referred to as the “active z-depth.” The grid
lies on this plane as well.
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B-Back Clipping Plane, AZ-Active Depth, F-Front Clipping Plane
The AccuDraw window in 3D
In 3D, when using Rectangular coordinates, the AccuDraw window has an additional
field for the z-axis. For Polar coordinates in 3D, the AccuDraw window has the same two
fields as in 2D.
Orienting the drawing plane in 3D
Learning to orient AccuDraw's drawing plane is essential to mastering 3D drawing. For

example, it is easy with AccuDraw to place a non-planar complex chain or complex
shape in an isometric view in any direction without reverting once to an orthogonal view.
By simply rotating the drawing plane axes, you can “strike off” at a right angle to the
current segment.
This is most apparent during the creation of a true 3D drawing normally portrayed as an
isometric drawing — for example, a plumbing riser diagram. By starting a pipe run along
one view axis and shifting it using the <F>, <S>, and <T> keyboard shortcuts, you can
twist and turn the pipe through 3D space.
64
A simple plumbing riser diagram under construction showing the compass at

each corner and annotation pointing out the drawing plane orientation at each
vertex
This ability to adhere to the standard view axes while manipulating your drawing in a
pictorial view is so important that AccuDraw maintains the current orientation from tool
to tool. You can still return to the view orientation by using the <V> keyboard shortcut.
The following table summarizes the AccuDraw keyboard shortcuts available for fine
tuning the drawing plane orientation so the axes point where you want them to go:
Key Effect
Rotates the drawing plane to align with the view axes. Pressing this key a
<V>
second time restores context-sensitive rotation.
Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Front view.
<F>
Pressing this key a second time restores context-sensitive rotation.
Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Right view.
<S>
Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Top view.
<T>
<R>,<Q> Used to quickly and temporarily rotate the drawing plane by a single point.
Used to permanently rotate the drawing plane by three points. Because it
rotates the active ACS, this rotation will still be active after the tool in use is
exited. If on, the tool setting Use Current Origin causes the drawing plane
<R>,<A>
origin to be used as the x-axis origin, thereby eliminating the need to enter an
extra data point. Of course, in many cases it is desirable to be able to define the
x-axis origin at a different location than the drawing plane origin.
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<R>,<X> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its x-axis.

<R>,<Y> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its y-axis.
<R>,<Z> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its z-axis.
Arbitrary rotations
By default, AccuDraw orients the drawing plane to the view axes. This is in keeping with
the way it works in 2D. You can return AccuDraw to this orientation at any time using
the <V> keyboard shortcut.
EXERCISE 1
1. Select the place line tool to draw the line AB = 27 MU.
2. Choose the PLACE ARC (CENTRE) tool and key-in radius = 19MU
3. Give tentative to point B and key-in dx =38. This will give us point D. Key-in dx= -
19 to get point C, the center of the arc. Finally tentative point B and accept it to draw
the arc.
4. Draw dx = 31 MU
5. Now choose the COPY PARALLEL TOOL and key-in 11MU for the distance. Select
the three elements.
6. Edit the drawing using the EXTEND TWO ELEMENTS TO INTERSECTION and
place two vertical lines at the either ends.
7. Using the CREATE COMPLEX SHAPE TOOL close the above elements.
8. Project the above shape into a solid using CREATE SURFACE / SOLID OF
PROJECTION TOOL to a distance of 48 MU.
9. Now in the left view select point A as the reference point and draw the shape as you
see in the LEFT VIEW of the drawing. For corner F, draw two straight lines FA and
FG. Then fillet them with radius = 10 MU using the CIRCULAR FILLET TOOL.
10. Use the CREATE COMPLEX SHAPE to close it.
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11. Project the shape by using CONSTRUCT SOLID / SURFACE BY PROJECTION

TOOL with the distance of 11MU.
67
EXERCISE 2
NOTE: Please check your WORKING UNITS otherwise make them as you wish.
1. Select the PLACE SMART LINE TOOL and in the left view draw a horizontal
line AB = 203.0 MU.
2. Next draw a vertical line BC = 24 MU and a horizontal line CD = 175 MU. And
a vertical line DE = 26 MU and EF = 13 MU. Reset.
3. Draw AG = 23 MU and join points GF using tentative. Fillet corner C using

CONSTRUCT CIRCULAR FILLET command with a radius of 5MU. Make
sure the TRUNCATE option is set to BOTH. To fillet select EF and FD.
4. Using CREATE COMPLEX SHAPE CREATE SHAPE ABCDEFG.
5. You are now ready to create a solid of this shape. Select the CONSTRUCT
SURFACE /SOLID OF PROJECTION tool and key-in the distance of
projection as 70MU and identify the shape you have created in the left view.
Click in the TOP VIEW.
6. We will now create two holes in horizontal block using BOOLEAN

OPERATIONS. But first set your active depth in the TOP VIEW to the upper
surface of the horizontal block.
7. Choose the PLCE BLOCK TOOL and tentative to D in the TOP VIEW. Make
sure that you do not select any point other than D. key-in dx = 10,-10. For the
opposite corner key-in dx = 50,-75.
8. To fillet the block use the CONSTRUCT CIRCULAR FILET (with truncate
BOTH) tool and key-in radius = 15 MU. To fillet a corner of the block, select
the appropriate segments of the block. Fillet all Four Corners.
9. Repeat step 7 and 8 to create the second block with appropriate dimensions
and offsets using point C as your reference point. You will also need to
change the fillet radius when filleting the second block.
10. Use the CREATE COMPLEX SHAPE tool on the filleted blocks to make them
each into single entity.
11. Move these shapes vertically above the surface use the MOVE ELEMENT
tool with the axis lock on.
68
12. Now create solid of the two shapes using the CONSTRUCT SOLID /
SURFACE BY PROJECTION tool making sure that the two solids intersects
the horizontal block through and through.
13. We are now ready to use 3D Modify. Select the Cut Solid tool from the 3D
palette and select the horizontal block first and then one of the two blocks.
Click the data button to start operation and another click if the result is
acceptable.
14. Repeat above step for other block.
69
EXERCISE 3
1. Use the PLACE SLAB command and place a slab of following dimensions
Length = 10;
Width = 5;
Height =5;
2. You can indicate the length and width in the TOP VIEW and length in the
FRONT VIEW.
3. Set the active depth in TOP VIEW to upper surface of the slab.
4. Place the following profile ABCDEFGH on the surface. Draw line CD by

keying in the angle = -45 with a length of 2 MU. Similarly create EF with
length = 2MU and angle=45
5. Make the above profile into a single entity using CREATE COMPLEX CHAIN
TOOL.
6. Rotate the above profile about the axis AH. For this select the CREATE
SOLID/SURFACE OF REVOLUTION with an angle of 360. Select the profile
and select the points A and H in the TOP VIEW as axis of rotation. Make sure
that the mode of axis selection has been set to points.
7. Accept the solid of rotation
8. Now for the 3D Modify select the Cut Solid tool. Select the solid slab first and
then the solid of revolution. Accept the result.
70
Spell Checker Tool
MicroStation now provides assistance for cleaning up those pesky spelling errors in
design files. Using the Spell Checker tool, located in the Text toolbox, you can check the
spelling of individual or multiple text elements. The Spelling button on the Text Editor
window also provides access to Spell Checker, enabling you to review text before placing
it in the design.
71

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MICROSTATION

3 Design File Creation and setup 9

5 Manipulation and Viewing Tools 15

6 Element Placement and Manipulation 21

MicroStation/J is a CAD Engine developed by Bentley designed to Edit and create

Minimum System Requirement:

1+2 –Tentative Operation / Snap

1. Below each window notice the view control palette.

About MicroStation Design File

To create a design file and open it as the active design file

1. From the File menu, choose New.

To select a seed file

1. From the File menu, choose New.

In 2D drafting, the MicroStation equivalent of a sheet of drafting paper is the design

How working units are expressed

Working Units MU:SU:PU Distance

Working units settings

To save the current settings to the active design file on disk

Design File Creation and Setup

• Key in FT for Master Units.

To enter a data point at specific coordinates in the design plane

Manipulation and Viewing Tools

• Moving and copying

The Types attribute supports exact matches only.

• Individual — selection is performed on a per element basis, as with

Sets the objective of using the tool:

• Add — selects elements.

• Level — ranges between 1 and 63.

To select elements inside or overlapping a rectangular area

1. Select the PowerSelector tool.

To select elements contained in or overlapping a polygonal area

1. Select the PowerSelector tool.

To select elements that intersect a line

1. Select the PowerSelector tool.

To select elements based on their attributes

1. Select the PowerSelector tool.

To select additional elements or deselect some selected elements based on their

1. Select the PowerSelector tool.

Element Placement and Manipulation

Good now we go to our next exercise

11. Change the element attribute of the centerlines.

12. Reset the elements attributes (Color, Linestyle, Weight) back to 0.

14. Create the adjacent streets as shown in Illustration 6:

22. Change the element attributes of the lot lines.

4. Set inter-character spacing to 0.

7. Label the subdivision as shown in Illustration 1, using font 42 and a size of 30

+ Defines origin point for each of the cells in this lab.

Manhole Telephone Pole

11. Turn of level 12.

1. Open the subdivision file.

5. Shorten the line you extended by 20 feet.

7. Place this cell at the ends of the other vertical streets.

13. Delete the line string behind the trees.

3. Save your settings. (From File menu click on to save settings.)

12. Turn on level 12

The tutorial is structured as a series of exercises that are meant to be performed

• Drawing the profile

If you have trouble

• Remember DO NOT RESET OR ENTER A DATA POINT UNTIL TOLD TO DO

Exercise: Drawing the profile

Open the design file, “wrench.dgn”:

2. In MicroStation’s “dgn/learning” directory, select “wrench.dgn.”

3. Click the OK button.