Merging Reference Files and Retaining all Level Symbology

Discussion in 'Microstation' started by Liz Swadley, Jul 2, 2003.

  1. Liz Swadley

    Liz Swadley Guest

    Hello Gang!!
    I recently had a client that wanted me to merge all of my reference
    files into one file and send them. I had used level symbology on the
    reference files and the plot file. Can someone tell me if there is a
    way to retain your level symbology setting upon merging reference
    files in Mstn J? I would appreciate any suggestions or clairification
    of whether this is even possible. Common sense tells me "no"...but
    thought I should consult the wiz kids of this group to be sure.

    Thanks in advance!

    Liz Swadley
    Thomas-Hutton Engineering Co.
    Savannah, Georgia
     
    Liz Swadley, Jul 2, 2003
    #1
  2. Liz Swadley

    Simon Guest

    Hi Liz,
    Geesh, the first step is to educate the client (part of our jobs):
    merging reference files creates one un-Godly mess, mostly uneditable by
    the recipient in the future. They're only good for plotting, and if
    that's the goal, PDFs and even HPGL/2 plot files are a FAR better
    choice. My choice would be PDFs, as these are nearly guaranteed portable
    to any recipient.

    If security is the issue, I would argue that PDFs would work fine for
    this too (they can be password protected for viewing and/or printing).

    If you still run into a brick wall (I suspect you will), there's a tool
    from Axiom that promises to do exactly this, but expect to pay mucho
    $$$. There may be other ways, such as moving all the reference files a
    fixed distance, merging them, then adjusting the element's
    color/style/weight, then moving them inside a fence back to the correct
    position. Good project for a macro, if you're so inclined.

    HTH,
    Simon
     
    Simon, Jul 3, 2003
    #2
  3. Liz Swadley

    Darren D Guest

    Hi Liz,

    We do quite a lot of work that requires us to merge reference files
    and maintain the level symbology that is set in the reference. Axiom
    have a product that will do this - RefMerge, but Corporate Montage
    here in Australia have also developed one which use - DGNmerge. Very
    quick and quite easy to use....Also honours any clips/masks


    www.corporatemontage.com.au....

    should be a link to contact page there

    regards

    Darren D
     
    Darren D, Jul 3, 2003
    #3
  4. Liz
    try keying in "mdl load refmerge" and click in a view with your wanted
    looks.
    It will produce a file name.rcd.

    Don't remember, but I think it used the levelsymbology. Very unfortunately
    it is dropped in v8.

    If your references are cliped+rotated+scaled and you use cells+linestyles
    you might loose some cell that is clipped.
     
    Thomas Voghera, Jul 3, 2003
    #4
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