File Open Dialog and Open Dialog

Used to open an existing DGN file or a file of a different type as the active DGN file.

You can access this dialog from the following:

Work page: Browse
Ribbon: File > Open > Browse

Controls on these two dialogs are analogous but only the File Open dialog allows you to select or change the WorkSpace or WorkSet.

If you prefer to use the MicroStation Manager-type File Open dialog, from the Preferences dialog File > Settings > User > Preferences Look and Feel category, turn off Use Windows file open.

A thumbnail image is stored in each DGN file that can be seen in the File Open dialogs as well as Windows Explorer (the latter in versions of Windows that support this functionality). After you have opened the file in a design session and selected File > Save Settings once, the thumbnail image is saved as a bitmap in standard clipboard format.

The MS_THUMBNAIL configuration variable can be used to control the behavior of thumbnail generation.

Key-in: DIALOG OPENFILE

Key-in: EXCHANGEFILE <file_name>

Note: By default, File Protection encrypts a file's thumbnail image and summary properties. These are the items displayed in Windows File Explorer, File Open, and File Properties dialogs. To remove encryption, you must set the MS_PROTECTION_NOENCRYPT_THUMBNAIL and/or MS_PROTECTION_NOENCRYPT_PROPERTIES configuration variables.

Note: Using the NEWFILE (RD=) key-in can be faster than using the Open dialog to open a design file. The syntax is RD=<design_file> or NEWFILE <design_file>.

Note: You can open a DGN file with the view configuration of the active design file by keying in EXCHANGEFILE <filename>.

Setting	Description
File	A drop-down list which consists of recently opened files and the following option: Compress File - Reduces the size of the open DGN file by purging empty and unused data resources. Note: If Use Windows file open is off, this control is accessed from File > Compress Design.
Directory	A drop-down list which consists of recently accessed directories and following directory option: Select Configuration Variable - Opens the Select Configuration Variable dialog. Use this dialog to change the directory of files listed in the list box by selecting a configuration variable whose definition points to a different directory. List box — Lists path and directory configuration variables for selection. Text box — When a configuration variable is selected, the directory in its definition appears here. OK — Accepts the selected configuration variable and closes the dialog. The directory whose files are listed in the Files list box in the File Open dialog changes to the directory specified in the configuration variable definition. Note: If Use Windows file open is off, this control is accessed from Directory > Select Configuration Variable.
WorkSpace	(Available only in the File Open dialog) Selects the WorkSpace within which you want to select the WorkSet.
WorkSet	(Available only in the File Open dialog) Sets the location and names of data files associated with a specific WorkSet.
File name	Shows the name of the file that is selected in the list box, or you can key in a filename. The list box lists the name of the existing files in the directory. Tip: To bypass the Look in option menu, you can key in a complete path specification for a file in the File name field. Tip: Filter strings such as *.XYZ may also be keyed into the name field to limit the files displayed in the Files list box. Note: If the preference Use Windows file open is off, this control is labeled "Files."
Files of type	Sets the type of file to open. CAD (.dgn, .dwg, .dxf) - displays DGN files, AutoCAD Drawing Files [.dwg] and AutoCAD ASCII DXF Files [.dxf] in list box MicroStation (.dgn) - displays MicroStation Design Files [.dgn] in list box MicroStation Cell Libraries (.cel) - display Cell Files [.cel] in list box DGN Library (dgnlib) - displays DGN Library Files [.dgnlib] in list box Sheet (.s) - displays Sheet Files [.s] in list box Hidden Line (.h) - displays Hidden Line Files [.h] in list box DWG (.dwg) - displays AutoCAD Drawing Files [.dwg] in list box DXF (dxf) - displays AutoCAD ASCII DXF Files [.dxf] is list box Redline (.rdl) - displays Redline Files [.rdl] in list box TriForma Document (.d) - displays TriForma Document Files [.d] in list box 3D Studio (.3ds) - displays 3D Studio Files in list box Shapefiles (.shp) - displays Shapefiles (.shp) in list box MIF/MID Files (.mif) - displays MIF/MID Files (.mif) in list box TAB Files (.tab) - displays TAB Files (.tab) in list box i-model 1.5 files (.dgndb, .idgndb, .imodel,.markupdb) - displays the version 1.5 .imodel files in list box i-model 1.6 files (.dgndb, .idgndb, .imodel) - displays the version 1.6 .imodel files in list box FBX Files (.fbx) - displays Autodesk FBX Files (.fbx) in list box IFC Files (.ifc) - displays IFC Files (.ifc) in list box Common Raster Formats (.tif, .tiff, .iTIFF, .bmp, .jpg, .jpeg, .jpe, .sid, .pdf, .png) - displays Common Raster Formats [.tif, .tiff, .iTIFF, .bmp, .jpg, .jpeg, .jpe, .sid, .pdf, .png] in list box Common Geo Raster Formats (.tif, .tiff, .hmr, .iTIFF, .iTIFF64, .cit, .tg4, .ecw, .jp2, .j2k, .doq, .img) - displays Common Geo Ref Raster Formats [.tif, .tiff, .hmr, .iTIFF, .iTIFF64, .cit, .tg4, .ecw, .jp2, .j2k, .doq, .img] in list box JT File (.jt) - displays JT Files (.jt) in list box Obj File (.obj) - displays OBJ geometry definition files [.obj] in list box RFA Files (.rfa) - displays RFA files in list box OpenNurbs (Rhino) File (.3dm) - displays OpenNurbs 3D file [.3dm] in list box SketchUp (.skp) - displays SketchUp files (.skp) in list box Reality Mesh (.3mx,.3sm) - displays Acute3D files (.3mx) or Scalable Mesh (.3sm) in list box All Files (.) - displays all files, regardless of format (.), in list box Note: If the preference Use Windows file open is off, this control is labeled "List Files of Type."
Options	Opens an options dialog related to the file type selected in the Files of type option menu. For example, if Files of type is set to AutoCAD Drawing Files (*.dwg), highlighting a .dwg file and clicking the Options button opens the DWG Open Options dialog . Note: If the preference Use Windows file open is off, this control is labeled "DWG Options."
Open	Opens the selected DGN file. If the filename in the Name field is the same as the name of an existing file, an alert box asks if you want to overwrite the existing file. If a DGN file is already active, it is closed before the newly selected DGN file is opened. Note: If the preference Use Windows file open is off, this control is labeled "OK."
Open as read-only	If on, the file is opened in a read-only state. The disk icon located in the lower right corner of the application window that normally indicates the need to save your work appears with a large red X indicating the read-only status of the file. Note: If the preference Use Windows file open is off, this control is labeled "Read-Only."
Cancel	Closes the dialog without opening a DGN file.

Note: Following Key-ins open the Import dialog with the respective file type already selected in the Files of type menu. The dialog serve the same purpose of opening the respective file type:

IMPORT 3DMFILE
IMPORT 3DSFILE
IMPORT CADFILE
IMPORT CELFILE
IMPORT DGNDBFILE
IMPORT DGNFILE
IMPORT DGNLIBFILE
IMPORT DWGFILE
IMPORT DXFFILE
IMPORT FBXFILE
IMPORT HDLFILE
IMPORT IFCFILE
IMPORT IMODELFILE
IMPORT JTFILE
IMPORT MIFFILE
IMPORT OBJFILE
IMPORT RDLFILE
IMPORT RFAFILE
IMPORT SHEETFILE
IMPORT SHPFILE
IMPORT SKPFILE
IMPORT TABFILE
IMPORT TRIFORMADOCFILE