This topic summarizes the new features and enhancements in MicroStation 2024 and MicroStation 2024.1.

MicroStation 2024.1

Ability to update the selected cell and its instances using the Update Parametric Cell dialog

You can now update the selected cell and its instances in the active DGN using the Update Parametric Cell dialog. This dialog opens when you choose the Refresh Cell option from the reset pop-up (right-click) menu of the selected cell.

Ability to view the Reports tab in the Explorer dialog

The Reports tab is added to the Explorer dialog, you can now create and manage reports and report definitions using the Reports tab provided in the Explorer dialog.

About Technology Preview Features

(Technology Preview) Ability to export and import Sheet Index to XML

You can now Export and Import sheet index to XML using the reset pop-up menu in the Sheet Index tab of the Explorer dialog. You can also open the XML file and change its name or location.

(Technology Preview) Ability to select the type of Arc in the Place SmartLine window

You can now select the type of the arc in the ArcType section under the Place SmartLine window. You can enable this setting by selecting Arcs in the Segment section. It allows you to choose between Start-Center and Start-Mid-End.

Deprecated Features

The following features have been removed:

• Point Cloud Faro formats (FWS, FLS)
• RSS Reader

Features Moved from Technology Preview to Commercial Release

The following features that were available as Technology Preview in previous updates, have been commercially released in 2024.1:

MicroStation 2024

Ability to create, interact with, and edit python scripts using Python Manager

You can now create custom tools and automate workflows using the popular Python programming. You can also create, interact with, and modify Python scripts using the new Python Manager tool added to the Ribbon.

Ability to preview multiple Report Definitions in the reports Preview window

In the Reports dialog, clicking Preview results opens a dialog in which you can preview the results of the report. You can now preview reports for multiple report definitions in a single dialog under separate tabs shown in the image below.

Ability to reassign value to an empty property

In this update, a new configuration variable MS_ALLOWEMPTYPROPASINVALIDSTRING is added that allows you to reassign value to a property with no value. When you reassign value to an empty property in the Text Editor dialog it is evaluated as "####" in the DGN, you can assign value to the empty property in properties pane and the DGN gets update accordingly.

Ability to refresh data in a table placed from Reports and Excel workbook

In the Report, the Refresh Table tool is now renamed Refresh Data. You can now refresh data in a table placed from the Reports and Excel Workbook using the Refresh Data tool available in the Table Tools Layout in the Ribbon.

You can also refresh both data and layout in a table placed from the Excel Workbook using the Refresh Data and Layout tool available in the reset pop-up menu of any cell, row, or column headings of the table.

Ability to select common properties for multiple Item Types using the Common ItemType Properties node

You can now use the Common ItemType Properties node to select the attributes common to the multiple item types and include them in the report columns. The Common ItemType Properties node is provided for reports in the Select Columns to Add dialog.

Ability to use multiple processor cores to print faster

You can now use multiple processor cores of the CPU to print any sheets to PDF faster and more efficiently. To enable this, you need to select the check box, Use multiple process to plot in the Submit section of the Print dialog. This check box is available when Submit as is set to Separate print jobs. This option takes advantage of multiple processor cores of the CPU to expedite print jobs. This enhancement will significantly bring down printing time while printing multiple drawings to PDF. 

Ability to view attached Attributes as Item Types in imported JT files

While importing JT files you can now choose to import attributes attached to elements as Item Types. A new check box is introduced in the JT File Settings dialog to enable this. This check box is Off by default.

Ability to view properties of nested shared cells in the Properties pane

You can now view properties of shared cells nested within a shared cell in the Properties pane along with their attached item types.

Left: Previously only parent shared cell was displayed | Right: Now shared cell and nested shared cells are displayed along with their item types

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Geospatial Feature Enhancements

• Query Features and Clear Tools

  You can access Query Features and Clear Tools from the ribbon under the Home tab in the Feature Services group.

  
  
  
  • You can now limit spatial area for Query Features and Clear Features to

    • The extent of the active view
    • A fence (always treated as overlap)
    • A selected Named Boundary
    • No extent (All)
  • You can query or clear only the feature instances of the selected connection.
  • A Clear All Features tool is now introduced under Clear Tools. You can clear all feature instances in the selected spatial extent using the Clear All Features tool.

• Ability to import and export Esri Shapefiles from the Geospatial File Types tab

  The Geospatial File Types tab is now introduced in the File Tab and Backstage menu within the Import and Export tabs. You can import and export Esri Shapefiles using this tab.

  
  
  
  • Import Shapefile Enhancements
    • You can now reproject feature instances when imported.
    • You can now map each feature class to the element template to control the DGN element creation.
    • You can import multiple files in a single operation.
    • You can select files from ProjectWise.

  • New Export Shapefile Tool

    • You can define feature classes by selection set, item type, or element template.
    • You can export files to ProjectWise.

• Fit View by Coordinate System Extent
  You can now fit the view using the extent of the coordinate system associated to the active model. The fit uses the extent as defined in the coordinate system.

  
  
  

Place Active Cell dialog enhancement

In the Place Active Cell dialog, now True Scale setting will be ON as default. It is now moved from the expanded settings area to the main settings area in the dialog.

RealDWG 2025 Support

MicroStation 2024 is now updated to support RealDWG 2025, the latest RealDWG engine for best compatibility. Custom objects and object enablers are also supported.

Text Editor Window Enhancements

Large texts will now display faster while entering and will also edit quicker in the Text Editor Window

Visualisation Enhancements

In the Record Script Dialog while using Smooth render mode for rendering, the Render Geometry Outside View setting is now inherited from the "Untitled" option in the Render Setup Manager dialog.

About Technology Preview Features

(Technology Preview) Ability to apply Constraints on centroids of the element

You can now apply a constraint to the centroid of a 2D profile by hovering the cursor over the profile, pressing the shift key, and clicking on the highlighted centroid.

(Technology Preview) Ability to clip or mask the reality mesh

The new 3SM Clip Tool is added to the Reality Mesh Attachments dialog which allows you to clip or mask a part of the reality mesh in the reality mesh file.

(Technology Preview) Ability to Synchronize changes to the local WIP iModel

You can now collaborate in near real-time using the iTwin collaboration workflows. The delivered ProjectWise Drive configuration enables the new collaboration tools in the Collaborate ribbon which makes synchronizing and viewing changes to local iModels seamless and quick. You can save changes to local iModels and preview them before pushing to the iTwin project on Bentley Infrastructure cloud. You can preview and compare changes made by your team members working on the same project, making collaboration quick and simple. You can also attach local iModels as references in your design.

While using the ProjectWise Drive configuration you will see these tools enabled in the Collaborate ribbon tab:

(Technology Preview) Ability to update Parametric Cells using Refresh Cell option

The Refresh Cell option added to the parametric cell's reset pop-up menu, allows you to update the cell for any changes made in the cell definition file. This option is available in the menu when there is a change in the cell definition.

(Technology Preview) Ability to use Sheet Index from different WorkSets in the same WorkSpace

You can now use multiple sheet indexes in different WorkSets in the same WorkSpace. Hence, it allows you to create the master Sheet Index with various child indexes from other WorkSets.

Also, the new workflow tools in the Sheet Index allow you to convert a folder into a new DGNSI to provide you with an extra layer of granularity and help you to organize it. Separating the sheet indexes allows you to work on it independently without having the file locked and preventing anyone else from working on it.

(Technology Preview) Ability to view history of recently used cell libraries

In the Cell Library dialog, you can now see the list of upto ten recently used cell libraries in the file menu. You can choose to use any of these in your design.

You can view the file path where these recently used cell libraries are saved.

Features Moved from Technology Preview to Commercial Release

The following features that were available as Technology Preview in previous updates, have been commercially released in this update: