Reference Guide
Reference Guide
Reference Guide
Reference Guide
Reference Guide
Reference Guide
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The Alias Manager application (aliasmgr.ma) assists you in making the transition from other software packages to MicroStation by aliasing one command set to another. For general information about customizing MicroStation's user interface, see Customizing the User Interface.
Once you understand how to set up Alias Manager to alias one command set to another, you can type in a command and activate the “equivalent” tool in MicroStation.
You can load the Alias Manager MDL application from MicroStation's Utilities menu, or you can key in MDL LOAD ALIASMGR <filename>.
Once loaded, the following dialog box displays:
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Open Alias Manager File dialog box | |
You can activate the tracking mechanism in online help to help you understand the settings and operation of the tools that are activated.
Alias Manager references an ASCII text file that contains two records for each alias. The first record is the command that the user is familiar with in the software package that they are coming from. The second record (or the aliased input), is the equivalent MicroStation tool. For example, the supplied file ACAD.ALM contains the following information:
LINE..dialog palette 50line ; place line constrained..The first record, “LINE” is a familiar command for AutoCAD users. The second record, “dialog palette 50line;place line constrained”, if typed in at the MicroStation Key-in window, will activate the 50line subpalette and then start the Place Line Constrained tool. Note that if you simply go to the line icon in the Main palette and “tear” it off, the same operation is accomplished. In addition, if the Main palette is open, the appropriate icon is activated. New MicroStation users can take advantage of this ability to familiarize themselves with the locations of the icons in the various palettes.
Since MicroStation operation emphasizes, but is not limited to, tool activation via palette icons and menus in the user interface, most of the key-ins used as aliased input may seem lengthy. As a result, please recognize that this application is intended solely as a transition aid and not a recommended alternative to normal MicroStation operation.
Alias Manager uses files that contain clean ASCII text, so they can be created or edited using a wide variety of editors. The files must be created and modified using the Edit tools available in the Alias Manager's bar menu.
Alias Manager uses any unparsed data on the key-in window as a filename. If a filename is not supplied, the configuration variable ALIASMGR_DATA is then searched for. If it is set (to a specific filename), ALIASMGR automatically attempts to open the file. If this configuration variable is not set, then the user is prompted to select an appropriate file from an Open File dialog box. The file selected can be automatically saved for future reference via the ALIASMGR_DATA configuration variable. The application attempts to open the selected data file and then read its contents into memory. The status bar informs you how many aliased commands are read.
All aliases found in the ACAD.ALM file might not be assigned, either because the shortened command might already be in the command list, or because the full command name may not be found in the existing alias list.
You can then use aliased commands that are more commonly used.
 | The aliases that are added through this process only exist for the current session of MicroStation, or until you open another Alias Manager data file. |
| You must execute a File > Save (or File > Save As…) for the additions to become permanent. |
Command |
Key-in |
Result |
|---|---|---|
line<Enter> |
Line |
Place line constrained |
z<space>w<space> |
Zoom window |
Window area extended |
Opens when the Alias Manager MDL application is loaded.
 | |
Alias Manager dialog box | |
Clears out the current list of aliased commands (if any exist). This allows you to start building a new Alias Manager data file using the tools provided in the application. You are prompted to save any changes before the list of commands is cleared.
Prompts you to enter the name of a file to open and use in the application. You are then prompted to save the selection in the ALIASMGR_DATA configuration variable.
Once a file is selected, Alias Manager displays information on how many records were read and are currently available.
The Alias Manager data file that was last read is overwritten with the current commands and their equivalencies.
All Commands are in upper case and all Aliased Input is in lower case. The commands are sorted in ascending order. Commands that had been commented out, those statements starting with `#' characters, appear towards the beginning of the file.
Any additional aliases that were imported from an ACAD.ALM file are also output to the file. Any general comments, those statements starting with `;' characters, will not be written to the new file. However, the Alias Manager does place a filename and time and date stamp at the beginning of the file. In addition, the status of the AutoQueue flag is output to the file. See Options > Auto Queue for more information.
Similar to the previous option, but allows you to create a new file or overwrite an existing file via a dialog box.
Opens a modal dialog box that contains the current data filename and the number of commands that are currently aliased.
Lists the entire contents of the currently open Alias Manager (ALM) data file in a window that has controls for scrolling. This allows you to view the list of commands that are available to the user as well as the respective aliased input for each of the commands. This list does not include any deletions, modifications, or insertions that have made to the existing commands until the file is saved.
Exits the application and unloads it from memory.
Deletes the command and the aliased input that is currently displayed in the Alias Manager dialog box. You are prompted to verify the deletion. You must have an entry in both the Command and the Aliased Input text fields.
Changes the aliased input that is currently displayed in the Alias Manager dialog box. You are prompted to verify the modification. You must have an entry in both the Command and the Aliased Input text fields, and the Command must already exist in the list of available commands.
Inserts the Command and the Aliased Input that is currently displayed in the Alias Manager dialog box into the list of available entries. You are prompted to verify the insertion. You must have an entry in both the Command and the Aliased Input text fields, and the Command must already exist in the list of available commands.
If enabled, commands are automatically submitted after they are entered completely. A <space> or <Enter> is not required to start the input that is aliased with the command. When an Alias Manager data file is saved (using File > Save or File > Save As…), the status of this toggle is output to the data file. The result will be +autoqueue if it is enabled and -autoqueue if it is not.
This option, when enabled, speeds up the creation of Alias Manager data files by appending key-ins associated with user selected palette and subpalette icons as well as menu items to any existing text that currently exists in the Aliased Input text item. A semicolon is automatically added to separate multiple key-ins. The input queue is not affected by this option being enabled or disabled, which must be done manually. The Aliased Input text item is not altered if this option is disabled. The user is notified that this option is enabled when <<extracting key-ins>> is appended to the title of the Alias Manager dialog box.
Selection of this menu item activates MicroStation's online help utility. The user is presented with the same information that is contained in this document.