MicroStation lets you build your own application that associates non-graphical data to graphical elements, including text and cells, using standard interfaces that are part of the product. This association can be accomplished using either of two features:

• Element tags, where associated data is stored in the DGN file with the graphical elements. Tags are appropriate if your needs for associating non-graphical data to elements in the DGN file are relatively simple or you must maintain compatibility with other CAD packages that store data inside their drawing files. The associated tag data may be copied from the tag, loaded into a database and linked back to the tag.
• Database interface, where associated data is stored in a separate relational database that is linked to elements in the DGN file.