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, like Smart Move, Smart Modify, Split Features and Join Features.

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 will not break the network topology, and can be used to manipulate feature geometry regardless of the relations a feature might have to other network features. Dedicated tools will manipulate feature geometry constraint by relations a feature might have to other network features.

Meter feature being manipulated using MicroStation's Move command (left), using Smart Move (right)