Microstation plugin

Overview

This plugin supports data formats used by Bentley's software package Microstation.

Supported File Types

The file types that are supported by this plugin are described in the table below.

FILE TYPE	EXTENSION	DATA TYPE
ISFF Design File	".dgn"	String data

Method

The following paragraphs describe the method used for reading and saving files using the Microstation plugin.

Reading

All data in a Microstation design file is read in as String data. Each simple entity (e.g. lines, arcs and shapes) in the file is displayed as a one segment string. Each complex entity is displayed as a string where each component corresponds to a separate segment. All string IDs are assigned based on the order in which entities occur in the file.

Line objects are displayed as a segment containing two points. Shapes and Line Strings are displayed as segments containing multiple points. Ellipses, Curves and Arcs are displayed as segments containing multiple points fitting the curve. Text entities are created as single points in a segment with a text style applied.

Saving

All String data is saved to Microstation's design files.

If a segment corresponds to an appropriate Ellipse, Curve or Arc then it is output to the file as an Ellipse, Curve or Arc type respectively. If a segment only contains two points then it is output as a Line. If a segment contains more than two points and is closed it is output as a Shape. A segment with more than two points but is not closed is output as a Line String.

Configuration

There is no specific configuration for the Microstation plugin.

The Microstation plugin has an associated default styles file named "microstation.ssi/mst", which resides in SSI_STYLES. This file can be reconfigured using Surpac's style editing tools.

Messages

No messages are output specifically by the Microstation plugin.

Limitations

Some fonts may not match. Spline curves are not currently supported.