OpenPlant PID Help

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. Opens when Utilities > Batch Converter is chosen.

SettingDescription
Process Selection Only If on, only selected files or directories in the Conversion Tasks list will be processed in the batch conversion. If off, all files in the list will be processed.
Default Output Format Sets the default file format for the output of the conversion.
Default Destination Identifies the path to the destination directory for the converted files.
Apply to Selection Applies the Default Output Format and Default Destination settings to the files selected in the Conversion Tasks list.
Conversion Tasks

Lists the files that will be processed during batch conversion. This list also includes the output format and destination selected for each file. You can modify the Conversion Tasks list in the following ways:

  • The order in which the tasks will be processed is indicated by the sequence number column (which has the heading #"). The task list can be sorted by any of the columns, but the Edit menu items that modify the order are enabled only when sorting by the #" column in ascending order.
  • In the File column, you can add the wildcard string "*\" to the end of a directory to indicate that subdirectories will be included.
  • In the File column, you can designate that specific file types in the subdirectories will be included. For example, to process all files with the extension ".dgn" from directory "c:\projects\" and its subdirectories, you would edit the entry to read "c:\projects\*\*.dgn".
  • To modify the Output Format setting for a task, click on and modify the setting in the Conversion Tasks list.
  • To modify the Destination setting for a task, click on and modify the setting in the Conversion Tasks list

File Menu Options

SettingDescription
New Batch Convert Job

Available from the toolbar icon or from the File menu.

Opens the Save Batch Convert Job File dialog, which lets you create a new batch convert job file. Before you can create the job, you must choose the files that will be converted (use Add Files or Directories to Convert, or drag files from Windows Explorer).

Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT NEW

Note: The controls are analogous to those in the Open dialog.
Open Batch Convert Job

Available from the toolbar icon or from the File menu.

Opens the Open Batch Convert Job File dialog, which lets you open an existing job file to use for the batch conversion.

Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT OPEN

Note: The controls are analogous to those in the Open dialog.
Save Batch Convert Job

Available from the toolbar icon or from the File menu.

Saves the selected items in the Conversion Tasks list to a batch convert job file. If you have not created this file, the Save Batch Convert Job File dialog opens to let you create it.

Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT SAVE

Save As

Opens the Save Batch Convert Job File dialog, which lets you save the current batch convert job file with a new name.

Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT SAVEAS

Process Batch Process Job

Available from the toolbar icon or from the File menu.

Opens the Files to Convert dialog, which lists all files to be converted.

Click Convert to start the conversion process.

The Convert button label automatically changes to Pause, and the Status column identifies the file being converted. Click Pause to pause processing after the current file. Processing never stops in the middle of converting a file. Click Continue to restart processing.

When processing is complete, the Pause button label changes to Done.

Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT PROCESS

Exit

Closes the Batch Convert dialog. You may be prompted to save the conversion tasks to a batch convert job file.

Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT EXIT

Edit Menu Options

SettingDescription
Add Files

Available from the toolbar icon or from the File menu.

Opens the Select Files and Directories to Convert dialog.

Select the directories or files to be converted, then click Add. The specifications for the selected directories or files are listed in the Selected Files list box.

If you change your mind about a previously selected directory or file, select it in this list box, and click Remove.

Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT ADDDGN

Note: You can use the drag-and-drop functionality to add files from Windows Explorer to the Conversion Tasks list box in the Batch Convert dialog. Files that are dragged into the list box are inserted in the list between the rows in which you drop them.
Add Active Files

Adds the active DGN or DWG file to the list of files and directories to convert.

Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT ADDACTIVEDGN

Remove Files

Available from the toolbar or from the Edit menu.

Removes selected files from the Conversion Tasks list.

Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT DGNREMOVE

DWG Open Options Opens the DWG/DXF Open Options dialog. When you select a DWG file for batch processing, these settings will be applied.
DWG Save Options Opens the Save As DWG/DXF Options dialog. When you set the Default Output Format to DWG or DXF, these settings will be applied.
V8 Save Options Opens the Save As V8 Options dialog. When you set the Default Output Format to V8, these settings will be applied.
V7 Save Options Opens the Save As V7 Options dialog. When you set the Default Output Format to V7, these settings will be applied.
Log File Options Opens the Log Files dialog, which sets options for the log file generated during batch processing.
Move Files to Top Moves selected files in the Conversions Tasks list to the top of the list.
Move Files Up Moves selected files in the Conversion Tasks list up one position in the list.
Note: When files are sorted in ascending order on the # column, you can drag one or more files in the list box to the required location.
Move Files Down Moves selected files in the Conversion Tasks list down one position in the list.
Note: When files are sorted in ascending order on the # column, you can drag one or more files in the list box to the required location.
Move Files to Bottom Moves selected files in the Conversion Tasks list to the bottom of the list.

Key-in Options

Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT NEW
Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT OPEN
Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT SAVE
Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT SAVEAS
Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT PROCESS
Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT EXIT
Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT ADDDGN
Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT ADDACTIVEDGN
Key-in: MDL SILENTLOAD BATCHCONVERT DGNREMOVE