Skyrocket CAD Productivity with Import DGN & Attach DGN Command

Convert DGN to DWG

ARES Commander 2016 offers two ways to maintain an optimal workflow with DGN files and the many users of Bentley Microstation; “Import DGN” And “Attach DGN” Command.

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ARES Commander 2016 can work with DGN files from Microstation.

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We can go to the INSERT tab, where we find the command IMPORTDGN.

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The dialog box is similar to the one for block insertion.

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We browse for the file that we want to import, click open, and define the insertion point.

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We can write the coordinate or specify it
directly in the drawing.

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We also determine the scale and rotation.

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If required, we can even choose the view we want to insert.

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In this case, we only have one to choose from.

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Note that the file is inserted as a block.

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Press OK, and perform a click to insert the drawing.

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Now we can work with the drawing directly in Ares Commander,

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or save it as a DWG file.

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This way we convert a DGN file into a DWG
file with the same geometry.

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The drawing is inserted as a block.

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When selected, we can see that it behaves as expected for a block.

Using the EXPLODE command to separate editable entities

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However, thanks to the EXPLODE command,

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you can convert the block into separate editable entities

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Layers and blocks of the original file and
blocks with attributes are recognized.

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Just like texts.

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We can edit all of them directly
in Ares Commander 2016.

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As a result, ARES Commander is now offering two different ways to work with DGN files.

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In previous versions, we could already insert a DGN file as an external reference.

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Now, in the 2016 version, we can alternatively import it directly into our drawing.

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The main advantage is that, after exploding the block, we may edit the entities directly in Ares Commander 2016.

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However, if we want to insert the DGN file
without change, and even keep the association with the original file,

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it is recommended to insert it as a xref.

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If you do so, the DGN file may be edited in
Microstation,

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and the drawing in Ares Commander will be updated automatically.

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Let’s have a look.

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We go to the Insert tab,

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click on Reference Manager

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and in the drop-down menu, we select the option ATTACH DGN.

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Now we select the file we want as a reference.

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Click OPEN.

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This box appears, where we will be able to choose insertion point, scale, and rotation.

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Among other options, we can even determine how we want to define the reference path,

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for example relative to the master file or the full path.

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Press OK.

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Now the DGN drawing is inserted as an underlay
in our DWG file.

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This is different than when we used IMPORTDGN,

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because, with IMPORTDGN, the geometry of the DGN drawing

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is imported and converted into entities that can be modified and saved in the DWG file.

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Alternatively, we used here ATTACHDGN.

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As a result, the DGN is an external reference.

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We may add DWG entities on top but any change made to the DGN file

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will be updated in our DWG file.

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Let’s try it.

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In Microstation, we will make some changes in the drawing.

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We remove some lines,

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stretch others,
and even change the position of a door.

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Then, after the modifications,

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we save the changes to the file “OFFICE DEMO.DGN”.

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We return to the drawing in Ares Commander 2016 where we inserted the DGN file as an external reference.

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In the REFERENCES, palette we select the DGN file and perform a right click to select RELOAD.

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And as you can see, the drawing is updated with the changes we made in Microstation.

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With the “Import DGN” command and “Attach DGN” command

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Ares Commander 2016 offers, therefore two complimentary ways

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to maintain an optimal workflow with DGN files and the many users of Bentley Microstation.

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Feel free to visit the HELP section if you want to learn more about these two commands.

 To learn more about ARES Commander, visit our Youtube Channel: GraebertTV