When using Bentley OpenUtilities Designer, two different types of edit tools can be used to manipulate feature graphics: MicroStation edit tools and dedicated geometry editing tools designed for Bentley OpenUtilities, such as Smart Move, Smart Modify, Split Features and Join Features.

MicroStation based geometry editing tools are found in MicroStation menus and toolbars. Many of the tools are also found in the Task Navigator.

The fundamental difference between MicroStation-based editing and editing with dedicated tools is that the latter tool group is "sensitive" to the network relationships of the utility network, whereas the MicroStation tools are not. MicroStation tools do not break the network topology, and can be used to manipulate feature geometry regardless of the relations a feature has to other network features. Dedicated tools manipulate feature geometry constrained by relations a feature has to other network features.