MicroStation Manager dialog box

Used to open DGN files and manage files. Opens when MicroStation is started without a DGN file specification or when Close is chosen from MicroStation 's File menu.

MicroStation Manager dialog box

The File, Directory, (List of) Files, Directories, List Files of Type, Drives, OK, and Help controls are analogous to those in the Open dialog box, which opens when Open is chosen from MicroStation's File menu.

MicroStation stores a thumbnail image in each DGN file that can be seen in MicroStation file open dialogs as well as Windows Explorer (the latter in versions of Windows that support this functionality). The thumbnail image is saved as a bitmap in standard clipboard format.

The configuration variable MS_THUMBNAIL can be used to control the behavior of thumbnail generation. If this variable is not defined, MicroStation looks for a saved view called "Preview", and if found uses that saved view's settings (model, orientation, render mode, etc.) to create the thumbnail. If the variable MS_THUMBNAIL is defined, MicroStation takes whatever the variable is set to and looks for a saved view of the same name. If the specified saved view name cannot be found, then the system will create/update the thumbnail image using the lowest numbered open view (for example, if views 4-8 are open, view 4 is used).

The latter also occurs if MS_THUMBNAIL is not created and if the saved view called "Preview" does not exist in any design or sheet model in the DGN file. If MS_THUMBNAIL is set to “NONE,” then no new thumbnail is generated. If a thumbnail already exists in the DGN file, setting MS_THUMBNAIL to “NONE” does not remove what already exists in the DGN file, it simply does not update what already exists.

For procedures related to using MicroStation Manager, see Using MicroStation Manager.

Cancel

Closes the dialog box, thereby ending the session.

Show File Icons

Displays icons next to MicroStation filenames in the Files list box above.

There are unique icons for the following types of files:

• V8

• V7

• DWG

Glyphs at the corners of icons indicate certain file properties:

Glyph	Corner	File Property
folded corner	upper left	2D (the file contains only 2D models)
ribbon	upper right	digitally signed (applicable to V8 DGN files only)
lock	lower right	protected (applicable to V8 DGN files only)

Read-Only

If on, the file is opened in a read-only state. In MicroStation, the disk icon located in the lower right corner or the application window that normally indicates the need to save your work appears with a large red X indicating the read-only status of the file.

DWG Options

Sets options specific to working with DWG files:

• Units — Architectural/Engineering and Decimal/Scientific/Fractional

• View window background colors for the design model (“model space”) and the sheet model (“paper space”).

• DGN seed file

This button is active only while a DWG or DXF file is selected in the Files list box.

User

Sets the MicroStation environment or configuration that you want the next DGN File session to use.

Choosing New opens a dialog box that enables you specify a workspace name and description. If you specify a name that exists, you will be given the option to overwrite. If you create a new workspace, it becomes your current workspace; if you cancel from this dialog box, your active workspace reverts to what it was.

Project

Sets the location and names of data files associated with a specific project configuration.

Choosing New opens a dialog box that enables you specify a project name and description. If you create a project with a blank name, you will get an error. If you try to create a project using a name that exists, a new project is not created, and the combo box defaults to the existing project of that name. If you create a new project, it will become your current project; if you cancel from this dialog box, your active project will revert to what it was.

Interface

Sets the specific look-and-feel of MicroStation's tools and general on-screen operation.

Choosing New opens a dialog box that enables you specify a user interface name and description. If you create an interface with a blank name, you will get an error. If you specify a name that exists, you will be given the option to overwrite. If you create a new user interface, it will become your current user interface; if you cancel from this dialog box, your active user interface will revert to what it was.

File menu > New…

Opens the New dialog box, which is used to create a DGN file (the effect is the same as choosing New… from the MicroStation's main File menu). Upon creation, the DGN file is automatically selected in the MicroStation Manager dialog box.

File menu > Copy…

Opens the Copy File dialog box, which is used to make a copy of a file. This menu item is dimmed if a file is not selected in the Files list box.

• Current Directory
— Identifies the default directory for the destination file.

• From
— Identifies the source file to be copied — by default, the file selected in the MicroStation Manager dialog box.

• To
— Sets the name of the destination file to be created as a copy of the file identified in the From field. By default, the destination file has the same name as the source file with the suffix “.bak” appended or substituted.

If the suffix “.bak” is used, after the file is copied the original file is still selected for opening in MicroStation Manager's File list box. If another suffix is used, the copy of the original file is selected for opening in MicroStation Manager's File list box.

• OK
— Creates the destination file by copying the source file.

• Cancel
— Closes the dialog box without copying a file.

File menu > Rename…

Opens the Rename File dialog box, which is used to change the name of a file.

This menu item is dimmed if a file is not selected in the Files list box.

• Current Directory
— Identifies the directory in which the file selected in the MicroStation Manager dialog box resides.

• From
— Identifies the file to be renamed — by default, the file selected in the MicroStation Manager dialog box.

• To
— Sets the new name.

• OK
— Renames the file.

• Cancel
— Closes the dialog box without renaming a file.

File menu > Delete…

Deletes the file that is selected in the Files list box.

An alert box opens, asking if you really want to delete the file. To delete the file, click OK.

This menu item is dimmed if a file is not selected in the Files list box.

File menu > Properties

Shows the file's path name (location), file size, and the time and date it was created.

File menu > Merge…

Opens the Merge dialog box. Use the Select button to choose the files you want to merge. Click the Merge button to merge the files.

File menu > Compress…

Compresses the selected DGN file, permanently removing deleted elements from the file.

File menu > Upgrade to V8

Opens the Upgrade Files to V8 Format dialog box for converting pre-V8 design files to V8 DGN files.

File menu > <DGN_file>

If files have been opened previously, lists up to the last ten DGN files that were most recently opened.

The desired DGN file can be chosen from the menu.

File menu > Exit

Closes the dialog box, thereby ending the MicroStation session (the effect is the same as clicking the Cancel button).

Directory menu > New…

Opens the Make Directory dialog box, which is used to create a directory.

• Current Directory
— Identifies the directory in which the new directory is created by default. This directory is the same as the one whose files are listed in the MicroStation Manager dialog box.

• Dir(ectory)
— Sets the new directory name. If a path is not given, the directory is created as a subdirectory of the Current Directory.

• OK
— Creates the directory.

• Cancel
— Closes the dialog box without creating a directory.

Directory menu > Copy…

Opens the Copy Directory dialog box, which is used to copy the files listed in the Files list box from one directory to another.

• Current Directory
— Shows the path (directory and file filter) specification of the source files to be copied.

• Dir(ectory)
— Sets the destination directory. The default is the current directory.

• OK
— Copies the source files to the destination directory.

• Cancel
— Closes the dialog box without copying a directory.

Directory menu > Compress

Compresses all files in the current directory, permanently removing deleted elements from the files.

When this item is chosen, a dialog box opens, asking if you want to compress all of the files in the directory. Click OK to compress the files.

Directory menu > Upgrade to V8

Opens the Upgrade Files dialog box for converting all pre-V8 design files in the current directory to V8 DGN files.

Directory menu > Select Configuration Variable…

Opens the Select Configuration Variable dialog box, which is used to change the file open dialog's current directory to a configuration variable's value.

• List box
— Lists configuration variables for selection.

• OK
— Accepts the selected configuration variable and closes the dialog box. The dialog's current directory changes to the directory specified by the configuration variable's value. The files listed in the Files list box are updated to reflect the directory change.

• Cancel
— Closes the dialog box without changing the directory.

Directory menu > Current Work Directory

Changes the Open dialog box's current directory to the operating system's current directory.

Help menu > Contents

Opens the Help window to display MicroStation's Table of Contents.

Help menu > Product Support

Provides resources where you can find MicroStationsupport.

Help menu > About MicroStation

Opens a window in which information about MicroStation is displayed.