MicroStation CONNECT Edition Help

File Tab and Backstage View

The File tab opens the backstage view where you can perform different operations such as managing your document and settings, importing and exporting files, accessing help, and so on.

Opening files

	New Create and open a design file as the active design file.
	Open Open an existing design file or a file of a different type as the active design file.

Saving and closing

	Save Saves design changes to the active DGN file.
	Save As Used to save a copy of the design file with a different name, in a different directory, on a different disk, or in a different file format. If just a different name is chosen, the copy becomes the active design file.
	Save Settings Saves settings in the active design file. This option is enabled only if the "Save Settings on Exit" preference is set to off in the Preferences dialog Operation category. This allows you to save settings at will, as they are not automatically saved when you exit the file.
	Send Mail Used to send the current DGN file in an e-mail as an attachment.
	Close Closes the active design file and opens the File Open dialog.

Tools

	Compress File Reduces the active DGN file size and clears the undo buffer.
	Compress Options Used to purge empty and unused data resources as well as deleted elements from the open DGN file.
	File Associate Used to associate file types with their proper extension.
	Packager Used to replicate (or package up) an environment from a user on one computer for the benefit of another user on another computer — potentially from another company.
	Protect Used to place protection on a file. Files can be protected via certificate or password.
	Digital Rights Used to add, delete, and/or change recipients access to the protected file.
	Applications Used to add or remove certificates that were used to digitally sign secure applications that were certified rights-compliant.
	Unprotect Un-encrypts the file so that it is accessible to all users.
	License Management Used to view the state of the entitlements that you have activated and used, reserve a license for offline use or release a reserved license.
	Batch Converter Used to convert individual files, or entire directories of files, from any of the MicroStation DGN file formats to any other supported format.
	Batch Process Used to create and run a script that can be performed on individual files or entire directories of files. The script is a text file that contains a series of MicroStation key-ins that can run commands, MicroStation VBA macros, or MDL applications.
	HTML Author Used to create HTML files that can be viewed via any Web browser.

User Settings

	AccuDraw Settings Contains controls relevant to the AccuDraw point input tool.
	Button Assignments Used to assign MicroStation key-ins and to add key combinations to logical buttons, thus creating additional button assignments.
	Customize Ribbon Used to customize the ribbon.
	Explorer Settings Used to set different options for the Explorer dialog.
	Function Keys Used to create keyboard function key menus and to modify current function key menus.
	Gesture Assignments Used to assign key-ins to gestures for touch-enabled devices.
	Keyboard Shortcuts Used to assign keyboard shortcuts to open ribbon groups and tools of the ribbon.
	Message Center Settings Allows you to select whether to display the debug messages, as well as the number of messages to display in the Message Center window.
	Preferences Used to set user preferences — settings that control how the product operates.
	Tasks Opens the ribbon in Task Navigation workflow.
	Tool Boxes Used to open toolboxes.

System (PC) settings

Digitizing
Used to start procedures for setting up and testing the digitizing tablet, if one is present.

File settings

	3D and B-splines Dialog Used to control specific attributes of B-splines and 3D elements being placed in the design.
	Color Books Used to create and maintain color books.
	Color Table Used to browse and modify a "copy" of the active color table — the color table that is currently attached to the DGN file or, if none is attached, the default (internal) color table.
	Database Settings Used to control settings related to linkages between elements and database rows.
	Design File Settings Used to change design file-specific settings.
	Line Style Settings Used to browse and activate line styles and set line style modifiers.
	Line Style Editor Used to define and modify line styles.

Configuration Settings

	Configuration Variables Used to edit, define, save, and delete Configuration Variables.
	Customize Used to add and manage custom toolboxes, tools, tasks, and Main tasks; and customize context menus, and icons.
	About Configuration Displays information about the active Configuration and its components, and the active workmode .
	Configuration Migration Used to migrate legacy (V8i) WorkSpace to CONNECT Edition Configuration.

Properties

Properties
Used to review or modify the properties of the DGN and its references, such as file size, date created, author and client.

Print

	Print Used to adjust printing settings and create a print file, a PDF file, or to print directly to a system printer.
	Print Preview Used to preview a drawing prior to printing.
	Print to PDF Used to adjust printing settings and create a print file, a PDF file, or to print directly to a system printer.
	Print Styles Used to create, import, and export print styles for Print Organizer and the Print dialog. Print styles are named sets of print definition properties, such as scale, rotation, and color, that allow you to create print sets in a consistent and automated manner. A single print style can contain DGN/DWG, Raster, PDF, and Common settings, or you can create a separate print style for each data type.
	Print Organizer Used to control the operation of the Print Organizer utility.

Import > Common File Types

	DWG (*.dwg) Used to import a DWG file.
	DGN (*.dgn) Used to import a DGN file.
	Cell Library (*.cel) Used to import a MicroStation cell library.
	DGNLIB (*.dgnlib) Used to import a DGN library.
	Redline (*.rdl) Used to import a redline file.
	Sheet (*.s) Used to import a sheet file.
	DgnDB (*.idgndb) Used to import a DgnDB file.
	Imodel (*.imodel) Used to import a .imodel file.
	Shapefile (*.shp) Used to import a shapefile.
	Text (*.txt) Used to import a text file and place text in the DGN file.
	Image Used to import a raster file and place the image in the design file as a raster element.
	MIF/MID (*.mif) Used to import a MapInfo interchange file.
	TAB (*.tab) Used to import a MapInfo tab (native format) file.
	TriForma (*.d) Used to import a triforma file.

Import > Exchange File Types

	DXF (*.dxf) Used to import a DXF file.
	CGM (*.cgm) Used to adjust the import settings for the CGM file selected in the Open Computer Graphics Metafile dialog whose controls are analogous to those in the Open dialog.
	FBX (*.fbx) Used to import an FBX file.
	JT Format (*.jt) Used to import an JT file.
	IGES (*.igs) Used to import an IGES file.
	RFA (*.rfa) Used to import an RFA file.
	IFC (*.ifc) Used to import an IFC file.
	STEP (.stp) Used to change a log filename or directory, and also to change import settings when importing .stp files.
	LandXML (*.xml) (3D only) Used to import LandXML files.

Import > 3D Modeling File Types

	ACIS (*.sat) Used to import an ACIS SAT file.
	3DS (*.3ds) Used to import a 3DS file.
	SketchUp (*.skp) Used to import a SketchUp file.
	3DM (*.3dm) Used to import a 3DM file.
	Stereolithography (*.stl) Used to read stereolithography (STL) files into MicroStation.
	Parasolids (*.x_t) Used to import a Parasolid file. Parasolid XMT files are used to exchange data with Parasolid-based solid modelers.
	OBJ (*.obj) Used to import an OBJ file. OBJ is an open geometry definition file format that is available in various software applications.

Export > Common File Types

	3D (2D only) Used to save the active 2D DGN file or active cell library (if any) as a 3D file.
	2D (3D only) Used to save the active 3D DGN file or attached 3D cell library (if any) as a 2D DGN file.
	DWG (*.dwg) Used to export as a DWG file.
	Design Library (*.dgnlib) Used to export as a DGN library file.
	Redline (*.rdl) Used to export as a Redline file.
	V8 Format Design (*.dgn) Used to export as a V8 DGN file.
	V7 Format Design (*.dgn) Used to export as a V7 DGN file.
	Visible Edges (*.hln) Used to perform hidden edge removal, either to export a view's visible edges to a visible edges design file (recommended in most cases) or to the active design file.

Export > Exchange File Types

	PDF (*.pdf) Used to adjust printing settings and create a print file, a PDF file, or to print directly to a system printer.
	CGM (*.cgm) Used to Export as a CGM file
	Collada (*.dae) Used to export as a Collada file.
	DXF (*.dxf) Used to export as a DXF file.
	FBX (*.fbx) Used to export as an FBX file.
	IGES (*.igs) Used to export as an IGES file.
	JT Format (*.jt) Used to export as a JT file.
	STEP (*.stp) Used to export as a STEP AP203/AP214 file.

Export > 3D Modeling File Types

	ACIS (*.sat) Used to export an element in a 3D model to an ACIS SAT file.
	OBJ (*.obj) Used to export as an OBJ file.
	Parasolids (*x_t) Used to export as a Parasolid file.
	SketchUp (*.skp) Used to export as a SketchUp file.
	Stereolithography (*.stl) Used to write stereolithography (STL) files from MicroStation surface and solid geometry.

Export > Visualization File Types

	Google Earth (*.kml) Used to export design geometry to Google Earth.
	Luxology (*.lxo) Used to export as a luxology file. Opens the Create Luxology File dialog, which is used to export the .lxo file, compatible with Luxology's Modo. The controls in the Create Luxology File dialog are analogous to those in the Save As dialog.
	SVG (*.svg) Used to export as an SVG file.
	U3D (*.u3d) Used to export as a U3D file.
	VRML (*.vrml) Used to translate MicroStation geometry to VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language).
	Vue (*.vob) Used to export a model to Vue (.vob) file.

Publish i-model

Publish i-model
Used to convert a design file into an .i.dgn file. All design files that can be opened in MicroStation can be converted into an iModel.

Help

	Help Contents Opens the Web help in your default Web browser.
	Bentley Institute Manages professional training programs to ensure consistent, high quality user training for a variety of Bentley products and varying levels of application experience.
	MicroStation Community You can find answers to your technical questions about MicroStation, as well as gain insight into current and emerging best practices in your industry, by actively engaging with your peers in the global infrastructure community at the Bentley Communities website.
	Product Support Opens your Web browser to a URL from which you can access the Product Support page.
	Check Product Updates Opens the Bentley Updates window and checks for product updates.
	RSS Reader Opens the RSS Reader.
	Readme Opens the product Readme.
	About MicroStation Used to show information about the product.

Exiting

Exit
Exits the product.