Vectorize toolbox

The Vectorize toolbox includes a set of enhanced editing tools that support extraction of feature information from images.

Used to	Select in the Vectorize toolbox
Place an element	Place Element
Continue an element.	Continue Element
Insert an element	Insert Element
Convert lines	Convert Lines
Convert area	Convert Area
Convert all the connected lines.	Convert All Connected Lines
Convert contour lines	Convert Contour Lines
Convert circles	Convert Circle
Generalize vectors	Generalize Vector
Place nodes	Place Nodes
Move nodes	Move Node
Delete nodes	Delete Nodes

All elements digitized with the Vectorize tools are added to the active design file as complex chains, which consist of one or more line string elements, as well as arcs. The toolbox comprises several vectorizing or line conversion tools and one extra button for settings. The first three tools, Place Element, Continue Element and Insert Element, are for placing a new element or continuing or editing an existing one. They are manual and directly controlled by the operator when raster data is not present or not used. They are more or less automatic when raster data is present and used.

The next tools are for controlling automatic line conversion from raster to vector. These functions cannot work without raster data. They are organized in such a manner that any number of raster lines or circles can be automatically converted in a row.

Additionally, a set of special functions or parameters supplements the Vectorize tools. They can be accessed through user-defined function keys, or they can be set on the appropriate Tool Settings windows when the context permits. The remainder are set in the Vectorize Settings dialog box, which is accessed from the last button of the Vectorize toolbox.

The Vectorize tools or functions can be used with the following MicroStation element types:

Use	With element types
Continue Element	Line, Line String, Complex Chain, Arc
Insert Element	Line, Line String, Complex Chain
Snap/Insert Vector	Line, Line String, Complex Chain
Snap/Break Vector	Line, Line String, Complex Chain
Auto Snap Vector (Insert)	Line, Line String, Complex Chain
Auto Snap Vector (Break)	Line, Line String, Complex Chain

Note: Most of the Vectorize tools use the MicroStation locate tolerance to begin, especially when Raster Snap is on (Raster Snap is automatically on with the Convert Lines, Convert All Connected Lines, Convert Contour Lines and Convert Circle tools).

Place Element tool

Continue Element tool

Insert Element tool

Convert Lines tool

Convert Area tool

Convert All Connected Lines tool

Convert Contour Lines tool

Convert Circle tool

Generalize Vector tool

Place Nodes tool

Move Nodes tool

Delete Nodes tool

Parent topic: Vectorizing