Utilities Tab

Utilities

Image

Macros

Design History

Security

Geographic

Drawing Scale

Note: Select a link to “jump” to the desired Utilities group.

Utilities

	Insert Object Opens the Insert Object dialog, which is used to link or embed an object in the active DGN file from an application that is not currently open.
	Update Links Updates embedded or linked objects in a DGN file.
	Edit Links Used to update, break, or change the source of a linked object.
	DDE Links Lists the DDE string for each DDE link and lets you maintain links.
	Named Expressions Used to define and manage named expressions .
	MDL Applications Used to load, unload, and monitor the sizes and memory use of MicroStation Development Libraries (MDL) applications.
	Close Tool Boxes Used to close the toolboxes.
	Connect to Browser... Used to connect OpenPlant PID to or disconnect it from your default Web browser.

Image

	Display Used to display a bitmapped (raster) image in a window.
	Convert Used to make batch conversions of raster image files.
	Capture Used to take “screen shots” ? to capture an image of the screen or a portion of the screen in a variety of graphical formats.
	Save Panorama Used to save an image as a panorama.
	Save Multiple Used to build an image script file that defines the names of the design files, views, output files, rendering options, and image formats of the image files being saved.
	Save Image Used to save the contents of a rendered or wireframe view to a file.

Macros

	Play Used to run the selected macro.
	Record Used to record actions such as selecting tools, placing elements, opening and closing dialogs, and so on.
	Stop Used to stop recording a macro.
	Macros Displays a list of macros available in the currently loaded BMR and VBA projects.
	Edit macro Opens the Editor in which you can edit the selected macro.
	VBA Manager Serves as OpenPlant PID 's integrated development environment (IDE) for VBA, allowing you to manage VBA projects. VBA macros are not embedded in DGN files, they are stored separately in .mvba files.
	Python Manager Opens the Python Manager dialog in which you can create, interact with, and edit Python scripts.
	Open Macros

Design History

	Commit Commits changes to the design history. Increases the design history's revision number by one.
	Initialize Used to initialize design history for a DGN file.
	Set Revision Number Used to set the revision number to be used for the next commit.
	Tags Used to assign symbolic names to revisions in the design history.
	Audit Trail Used to display a record of history management actions, such as creation, combine, retire, or change in revision number.
	Restore Used to undo all changes to a collection of elements since a specific revision, thus restoring their state as of that revision.
	Combine (Available when combine=1 is set in the MS_DESIGN_HISTORY configuration variable) Used to delete a range of revisions, replacing them with a single, net revision.
	Retire (Available when retire=1 is set in the MS_DESIGN_HISTORY configuration variable) Used to delete all revisions from the start of history for a selected revision.
	Delete (Available when delete=1 is set in the MS_DESIGN_HISTORY configuration variable) Used to remove design history from a design file.
	Design History Used to track and view the incremental changes made to all models in a file, as well as changes to attached references.

Security

	Signature Used to create, delete and revalidate digital signatures.
	Signature cell Used to create a digital signature with model scope. A signature with model scope (?model signature?) captures the state of the model when the signature is placed.

Geographic

	Coordinate System Opens the Geographic Coordinate System dialog, which is used to select a geographic coordinate system (GCS) from a library of predefined geographic coordinate systems.
	Global Positioning System (GPS) Opens the Global Positioning System dialog, which is used to interface with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices.
	Export Google Earth (KML) File Used to export design geometry to Google Earth.
	Define Placemark Monument Used to associate a geographical location to a Monument point in a model.
	Google Earth Settings Used to control the settings and operation of the Google Earth tools.
	Open Location in Google Maps Used to open Google Maps with the selected location in the center of the map.
	Bing Maps Used to select the background map type.

Drawing Scale

	Master Unit Sets the Master Units component of working units.
	Sub Unit Sets the Sub Units component of working units.
	Annotation Scale Lock When on, the annotation scale is applied to any text elements, dimensions, text nodes, notes, detailing symbols, annotation cells, hatches, patterns, tags, and line styles placed in the model.
	Annotation Scale Sets the annotation scale factor.
	ACS Plane Lock Sets the Auxiliary Coordinate System (ACS) Lock, which locks AccuDraw's compass to the selected ACS.
	Auxiliary Coordinate System Sets the Auxiliary Coordinate System to be used.
	Auxiliary Coordinate System Scale Sets the Auxiliary Coordinate System scale factor. When active, elements are placed with the scale factor applied.