DWG Open Options Dialog, Advanced

Setting	Description
Open PDF As Vector Geometry	If on, imports vector data available in the DWG file as design elements (eg: Lines, Line Strings, Curves, Polygons, etc.). Note: You must first set MS_IMPORT_USINGADOBEPDF to 0 to use this functionality. (Restart your MicroStation session after setting the configuration variable value, for the changes to take effect).
Use Seed File Global Origin	If on, uses the global origin from the DGN seed file (specified under the Basic DWG Open Options). Use this option if the DWG file originated from a DGN file, and you plan to save the file as a DGN file.
Set Axis Lock if OrthoMode=1	If on, turns on Axis Lock if the AutoCAD ORTHOMODE system variable is set to 1 in the DWG file. In AutoCAD, the ORTHOMODE system variable constrains the cursor to move only horizontally and vertically. It is analogous to the Axis Lock setting in MicroStation. Note: If you would rather work with AccuDraw instead of using Axis Lock, turn off this setting.
Map Logical Names to XRef Block Names	If on, the XRef block names are used for reference logical names in MicroStation. In AutoCAD, each XRef is assigned a block name. This name is typically, but not necessarily, the name of the XRef file.
Discard Invalid Entities	If on, then entities with invalid (abnormally large) coordinates are automatically removed when the file is saved. Almost always, these entities are a result of some sort of corruption or application error. Note: When this setting is on, it will not have any effect unless the file is subsequently saved. In other words, if the file is opened and then closed without saving (or Save Settings on Exit is not on), invalid entities will not be discarded.
Block Attributes as Tags	If on, DWG block attributes are converted as MicroStation tags. If off (the default), DWG block attributes are converted as item types. A special item type library "DWG Attribute Definitions" is created and used exclusively for DWG attribute definitions. Additionally, you will observe the following behavior when the setting is off: Multi-line attributes will be dropped as text nodes. While their value will be shown in the Properties dialog, changes to these properties will not be reflected in the text nodes, neither will they be saved back to DWG. If there are no changes made, the text nodes will be round-tripped back to DWG as multi-line attributes. When a text field linked to a valid item type property is edited, for example, by adding an additional line of text after the field, and when you save the file as DWG, the whole text node will be saved as an mtext entity, and not an attribute entity. Attributes in a block definition will be dropped as text elements in the shared cell definition and will not be text fields.
Graphic Group Block Attributes	If on, the Graphic Group lock is turned on, so that if one element in a graphic group is manipulated, all elements in the graphic group are manipulated. The default is off.
Default Line Weight	Sets the default line weight to be either from the AutoCAD settings, or as a set dimension. Click on the value to open an option menu that has options of "From AutoCAD Registry" or a physical size.
Custom/Proxy Objects > Proxy Objects Display Mode	A proxy object is a block of data that is created with an AutoCAD ObjectARX application. This setting controls how these objects are displayed in MicroStation. From AutoCAD Registry — If AutoCAD is installed on the machine, then the current AutoCAD setting will be used. Do Not Show Proxy — Proxy objects are not displayed Show Proxy Image — Proxy objects are displayed. Show Proxy Box — Proxy objects are displayed as boxes.
Custom/Proxy Objects > Custom Objects Display View	In AutoCAD applications can display different geometry based on the view orientation. Currently, MicroStation does not support this and, therefore, a DWG proxy is displayed with a single representation independent of the view orientation. This setting controls the selection of this presentation. Active View Direction — (The default) If selected, all loaded object enablers may use the active viewport’s view direction to draw the objects in DWG. A view direction, known as a view point or VPOINT in AutoCAD, represents a vector in model space from the view's target to the view's camera. Many object enablers use this information to draw their objects. If the view direction in a DWG file is {0,0,1}, which represents the top view, object enablers may display their objects only on an XY-plane. You can create other view representations by selecting one of the other views. Isometric — If selected, the object typically is represented as 3D geometry. Top — If selected, the object typically is represented in the XY plane. Left — If selected, the object typically is represented in the ZX plane. Front — If selected, the object typically is represented in the YZ plane.
Custom/Proxy Objects > Custom Objects Display Mode	This setting is used to make object enablers generate their custom objects for the desired display outcome. It has following options: Active Display Mode — Checks DWG's active viewport for render mode. If the view is rendered, it passes the option "Rendered" to the object enablers. Else it passes "Standard" to the object enablers. Standard — The object enablers create objects in standard form. Usually Wireframe objects are created. If you have a large file and you want to improve its file open performance, select this option. Rendered — The object enablers display elements (usually solids, surface or mesh) that can be rendered. It is like executing the RENDER command AutoCAD. If your DWG file is a 3D and you wand to render it, select this option. Hidden or Shaded — The object enablers display elements (usually mesh, solids, and shapes) that are intended for visible edges display or shading purposes. It is like executing the HIDE or SHADE command in AutoCAD. As Proxy Graphics — The object enablers create primitive elements as if they created proxy graphics. Note: With the same option selected, different object enablers may give different results. Also, some object enablers may not support any or all of these features.
Display Units Alert	Identifies when the DWG/DXF Units alert box is displayed. To determine the true size of geometry within a file, MicroStation must know the linear units used in the file. Unlike DGN files, DWG and DXF files often do not have explicitly specified units. When you open a DWG file without specified units, MicroStation displays an alert box that asks you to select the file units. This alert box can be enabled or disabled for each of the following scenarios. You can also disable it by turning on Do Not Display Again.
Display Units Alert > Unspecified Design Center Units	If on, the units alert box is displayed if Design Center Units are selected in the Basic DWG Open Options, but the file being opened has Design Center Units set to Unspecified.
Display Units Alert > Decimal, Fractional, or Scientific Units	If on, the units alert box is displayed if the file being opened has Decimal, Fractional, or Scientific units. These unit settings do not imply any particular units, although meters are typically assumed.
Display Units Alert > Mismatched Engineering or Architectural Units	If on, the units alert box is displayed if the file being opened has Engineering or Architectural units, but the unit setting is not set to Inches. Since these file types strongly imply that inches are used, any other setting is likely to be an error.
Rendering	Controls how materials and light sources are used when converting to DWG.
Rendering > Materials	If on, the materials in a DWG file are read from the DWG file and used when the file is rendered. The default is On.
Rendering > Light Sources	If on, the light sources in a DWG file are read from the DWG file and used when the file is rendered. The default is On.

Open PDF As Vector Geometry

If on, imports vector data available in the DWG file as design elements (eg: Lines, Line Strings, Curves, Polygons, etc.).

Note: You must first set MS_IMPORT_USINGADOBEPDF to 0 to use this functionality. (Restart your MicroStation session after setting the configuration variable value, for the changes to take effect).

Use Seed File Global Origin

If on, uses the global origin from the DGN seed file (specified under the Basic DWG Open Options). Use this option if the DWG file originated from a DGN file, and you plan to save the file as a DGN file.

Set Axis Lock if OrthoMode=1

If on, turns on Axis Lock if the AutoCAD ORTHOMODE system variable is set to 1 in the DWG file.

In AutoCAD, the ORTHOMODE system variable constrains the cursor to move only horizontally and vertically. It is analogous to the Axis Lock setting in MicroStation.

Note: If you would rather work with AccuDraw instead of using Axis Lock, turn off this setting.

Map Logical Names to XRef Block Names

If on, the XRef block names are used for reference logical names in MicroStation.

In AutoCAD, each XRef is assigned a block name. This name is typically, but not necessarily, the name of the XRef file.

Discard Invalid Entities

If on, then entities with invalid (abnormally large) coordinates are automatically removed when the file is saved. Almost always, these entities are a result of some sort of corruption or application error.

Note: When this setting is on, it will not have any effect unless the file is subsequently saved. In other words, if the file is opened and then closed without saving (or Save Settings on Exit is not on), invalid entities will not be discarded.

Block Attributes as Tags

If on, DWG block attributes are converted as MicroStation tags. If off (the default), DWG block attributes are converted as item types. A special item type library "DWG Attribute Definitions" is created and used exclusively for DWG attribute definitions. Additionally, you will observe the following behavior when the setting is off:

Multi-line attributes will be dropped as text nodes. While their value will be shown in the Properties dialog, changes to these properties will not be reflected in the text nodes, neither will they be saved back to DWG. If there are no changes made, the text nodes will be round-tripped back to DWG as multi-line attributes.
When a text field linked to a valid item type property is edited, for example, by adding an additional line of text after the field, and when you save the file as DWG, the whole text node will be saved as an mtext entity, and not an attribute entity.
Attributes in a block definition will be dropped as text elements in the shared cell definition and will not be text fields.

Graphic Group Block Attributes

If on, the Graphic Group lock is turned on, so that if one element in a graphic group is manipulated, all elements in the graphic group are manipulated. The default is off.

Default Line Weight

Sets the default line weight to be either from the AutoCAD settings, or as a set dimension. Click on the value to open an option menu that has options of "From AutoCAD Registry" or a physical size.

Custom/Proxy Objects > Proxy Objects Display Mode

A proxy object is a block of data that is created with an AutoCAD ObjectARX application. This setting controls how these objects are displayed in MicroStation.

From AutoCAD Registry — If AutoCAD is installed on the machine, then the current AutoCAD setting will be used.
Do Not Show Proxy — Proxy objects are not displayed
Show Proxy Image — Proxy objects are displayed.
Show Proxy Box — Proxy objects are displayed as boxes.

Custom/Proxy Objects > Custom Objects Display View

In AutoCAD applications can display different geometry based on the view orientation. Currently, MicroStation does not support this and, therefore, a DWG proxy is displayed with a single representation independent of the view orientation. This setting controls the selection of this presentation.

Active View Direction — (The default) If selected, all loaded object enablers may use the active viewport’s view direction to draw the objects in DWG. A view direction, known as a view point or VPOINT in AutoCAD, represents a vector in model space from the view's target to the view's camera. Many object enablers use this information to draw their objects. If the view direction in a DWG file is {0,0,1}, which represents the top view, object enablers may display their objects only on an XY-plane. You can create other view representations by selecting one of the other views.
Isometric — If selected, the object typically is represented as 3D geometry.
Top — If selected, the object typically is represented in the XY plane.
Left — If selected, the object typically is represented in the ZX plane.
Front — If selected, the object typically is represented in the YZ plane.

Custom/Proxy Objects > Custom Objects Display Mode

This setting is used to make object enablers generate their custom objects for the desired display outcome. It has following options:

Active Display Mode — Checks DWG's active viewport for render mode. If the view is rendered, it passes the option "Rendered" to the object enablers. Else it passes "Standard" to the object enablers.
Standard — The object enablers create objects in standard form. Usually Wireframe objects are created. If you have a large file and you want to improve its file open performance, select this option.
Rendered — The object enablers display elements (usually solids, surface or mesh) that can be rendered. It is like executing the RENDER command AutoCAD. If your DWG file is a 3D and you wand to render it, select this option.
Hidden or Shaded — The object enablers display elements (usually mesh, solids, and shapes) that are intended for visible edges display or shading purposes. It is like executing the HIDE or SHADE command in AutoCAD.
As Proxy Graphics — The object enablers create primitive elements as if they created proxy graphics.

Note: With the same option selected, different object enablers may give different results. Also, some object enablers may not support any or all of these features.

Display Units Alert

Identifies when the DWG/DXF Units alert box is displayed.

To determine the true size of geometry within a file, MicroStation must know the linear units used in the file. Unlike DGN files, DWG and DXF files often do not have explicitly specified units. When you open a DWG file without specified units, MicroStation displays an alert box that asks you to select the file units. This alert box can be enabled or disabled for each of the following scenarios. You can also disable it by turning on Do Not Display Again.

Display Units Alert > Unspecified Design Center Units

If on, the units alert box is displayed if Design Center Units are selected in the Basic DWG Open Options, but the file being opened has Design Center Units set to Unspecified.

Display Units Alert > Decimal, Fractional, or Scientific Units

If on, the units alert box is displayed if the file being opened has Decimal, Fractional, or Scientific units. These unit settings do not imply any particular units, although meters are typically assumed.

Display Units Alert > Mismatched Engineering or Architectural Units

If on, the units alert box is displayed if the file being opened has Engineering or Architectural units, but the unit setting is not set to Inches. Since these file types strongly imply that inches are used, any other setting is likely to be an error.

Rendering

Controls how materials and light sources are used when converting to DWG.

Rendering > Materials

If on, the materials in a DWG file are read from the DWG file and used when the file is rendered. The default is On.

Rendering > Light Sources

If on, the light sources in a DWG file are read from the DWG file and used when the file is rendered. The default is On.