Distributing Drawings and Maps to Users Without Software
By: Hal Reid
Senior Technical Editor, Directions Magazine
| (Feb 18, 2005) |
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In the world of CAD, there are people who
may need to review drawings, but don't need a copy of MicroStation or
AutoCAD. They just want to see the file and make a comment on it via
the phone or email they don't need to mark it up or change it. This
is also true to some degree for maps and imagery. The file distribution
may be a one time thing and not justify an investment in software
compatible with the original file format.
A typical approach to distributing files for almost everyone has been via Adobe Acrobat and the Adobe Readers. It is a rare computer user who doesn't have some version of Adobe.
Bentley has included the ability to write PDF files from MicroStation, and added the ability to move both animation and the ability to fly through buildings and over geography within the PDF file. Try several examples but be sure you have the latest version of Adobe Reader, 7.0.
While there are some limitations relative to layer control and selecting what you can see, there is a tool bar that lets you select or hide areas, and even choose from a list of pre-defined views.
Click image for larger view.
From left to right, the icons represent: Rotate, Walk (as in Walk through), Pan, Zoom, Pause Animation, Enable Extra Lighting, Background Color, Select, Show, Hide and Isolate.
There is also a list of more expansive options that you can activate with a right click on the drawing.
Just remember this is a viewing tool and it is not designed for mark-up or redlining. It fills a niche between a simple screen shot and tools like AutoVue Professional, Volo Viewer or DWF composer. At the same time, it is fairly robust as a viewing tool, as it allows you to view and traverse a 3D drawing and see animation. There is no cost to the user, and virtually no training. Note that the PDF file, when created, will support comments and attachments.
This is a different approach to providing files that can be seen in a universal viewer. As Bentley and Adobe extend the functionality, this medium will become a standard in distributing files that are no longer static, but are both dynamic and interactive.
A typical approach to distributing files for almost everyone has been via Adobe Acrobat and the Adobe Readers. It is a rare computer user who doesn't have some version of Adobe.
Bentley has included the ability to write PDF files from MicroStation, and added the ability to move both animation and the ability to fly through buildings and over geography within the PDF file. Try several examples but be sure you have the latest version of Adobe Reader, 7.0.
While there are some limitations relative to layer control and selecting what you can see, there is a tool bar that lets you select or hide areas, and even choose from a list of pre-defined views.
Click image for larger view.
From left to right, the icons represent: Rotate, Walk (as in Walk through), Pan, Zoom, Pause Animation, Enable Extra Lighting, Background Color, Select, Show, Hide and Isolate.
There is also a list of more expansive options that you can activate with a right click on the drawing.
Just remember this is a viewing tool and it is not designed for mark-up or redlining. It fills a niche between a simple screen shot and tools like AutoVue Professional, Volo Viewer or DWF composer. At the same time, it is fairly robust as a viewing tool, as it allows you to view and traverse a 3D drawing and see animation. There is no cost to the user, and virtually no training. Note that the PDF file, when created, will support comments and attachments.
This is a different approach to providing files that can be seen in a universal viewer. As Bentley and Adobe extend the functionality, this medium will become a standard in distributing files that are no longer static, but are both dynamic and interactive.
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| If looking at the source DGN and/or DWG files is necessary, you can use Bentley View, which is a free download from our Web site. It supports V8 DGN digital rights file protection, turning on and off levels, printing, measuring, and more versions of DWG files than Adesk's own products support. Phil Chouinard Bentley Systems, Incorporated http://www.bentley.com/products/bentleyview/ |
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| Is there a way to convert Microstation files to Autocad files? |
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| Jim, Bentley View is only a view and print program it can "NOT" convert MicroStation files to AutoCad files. That being said, whoever supplied the MicroStation files "CAN" convert and supply you with any version of AutoCad file that you require. Hope this helps. |
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