Converting MicroStation Data Interactively

You can import MicroStation data interactively and convert them to tessellated or exact data.

Before you begin:

Converter for MicroStation

  • Is available only on Windows OS.
  • Converter for MicroStation supports MicroStation versions from V7, V8.
  • Does not support
    • Pure wireframe data
    • Mesh
    • Raster
    • Texts and annotations
    • Layers
    • 2D entities
    • i-models
    • PName /PID attributes
    • User Defined Attributes
    • Materials and textures
    • Proxy elements
    • Encrypted files
    • Reading of CRS information present inside the input file.

  1. Select the required import option in Preferences.

    See External Native 3D Formats for more information.

  2. Import the MicroStation file as explained in Import.

    Available extension is MicroStation (*.dgn)

  3. Optional: Select the Run in Separate Process check box.
    The conversion is performed in the background.
  4. If the geometry of a file is defined “far away from the origin”, under Referential, either select
    1. Local: The part in which the import is done is not geolocated.
    2. Or select the Coordinates Reference System (coordinate types) in which source data are expressed, from the list of the CRS saved in the database.

    For more information, see About Far Away Geometry.

    A warning is displayed if the referential does not match with the file. Try importing the CRS first.
    Note: If the file is “far away from the origin” and if the file also contains geolocation (degree, minutes, seconds), this geolocation information is overloaded with the value of the translation. In fact, the translation is considered as the new valid geolocation information.

  • The data are converted, then saved in the database.
  • If the save operation fails, a failure message is displayed and the import stops.
  • The quality of imported data is checked, and a geometry quality enhancement is performed according to the corresponding option.
  • Click Cancel to interrupt the transfer at any time. The conversion is then interrupted (after the processing of the current independent entity) and the partial conversion already performed is displayed in the session.
  • In Tessellated mode, the data open in a root product that contains a 3D Shape representation.
  • In Exact mode, the data open in a 3D Part.