Links

If link sets exist in the open DGN file or in the configured DGN libraries, a link set appears in the Links tab of the Explorer dialog. The link set's name appears next to the Link Set icon in the drop-down list box.

The links appear in the Links tab in the Explorer dialog. Links may be organized in folders. Links can also be created for folders in which everything in the folder is linked. To follow a link, double-click it or right-click the link and choose Open from the pop-up menu.

Once a link set is created you can open it, browse through its links, open links, add links to elements, add links to detailing symbols, and view the properties of links and folders.

A link set can contain links to DGN and DWG files; design, drawing, and sheet models; folders, references, saved views, drawing boundaries, and supporting documentation created in other file formats. Each link set is an independent object stored as non-graphical data in a DGN file or in a DGN library (DGNLib). If you move a DGN file with link sets stored in it, the link sets move with the DGN file and retain their links to the target files.

Link sets cannot be stored in DWG files.

In the Explorer dialog's Links tab you can view the information in the link set , including browsing through the link set, opening links, adding links to elements, adding links to detailing symbols, and viewing a link's properties. The Explorer dialog's Links tab is used for organizing your links. You can organize links by creating folders and placing the links in them.

In addition to creating links to DGN and DWG files; design, drawing, and sheet models; references, and saved views, you can link to:

Microsoft Word documents, including headings and bookmarks within the documents
Microsoft Excel workbooks, including specific worksheets within the workbooks
Adobe PDFs, including bookmarks within the file
Websites, key-ins, and e-mail addresses
Folders, link sets and configuration variables
Any other file type

You can add links to elements either on-the-fly without creating a link set or by using Explorer to create a link set.

Settings	Description
Refresh	Reloads the contents of all the link sets. If the link is invalid, Explorer displays only the link and not the contents within it. PROJECTTREEREFRESH
Link Set	Used to create, copy, import or delete link set. The selected link set's links are displayed in the list box below. You can also view the information in the link set.
New Link Set	Opens the Create New Link set dialog from which you can create a link set. PROJECTTREECREATE [ <link_set_name> ] [ <file_name> ] Note: You can append the key-in parameters <seed_link_set_name> and <seed_file_name> to add links from the seed link set.
Copy Link Set	Creates a copy of the selected link set. PROJECTTREECOPY [ <new_link_set_name> ] [ <copied_link_set_name> ]
Import Link Sets	Opens the Select Link Set File dialog, which is used to import a file that contains link sets. The controls in this dialog are analogous to those in theOpen dialog (File > Open). If the imported file does not contain any link sets an error message appears in the message center. If one or more link sets in the selected file have the same name as existing link sets in the open DGN file, then an alert box gives you the option of overwriting the existing link sets, or renaming them automatically as they are imported. PROJECTTREEIMPORT [ <path\link_set_name> ]
Delete Link Set	Deletes the selected link set. PROJECTTREEDELETE [ <link_set_name> ]
Create Link	Used to create a link in the open link set. Lists a drop-down with items to select to link.
Link From File	Used to create links to files. Opens the Create Links dialog to select the files to which you want to create links, after which the Link Target dialog opens. PROJECTCREATELINKFILE LINKSADD ELEMENT [ \folder_name\file_name ] [ , model_name ] Note: A backslash must precede each folder name and file name. If the folder, file, or model name contains a space, or if there is a space between any of the names, put quotation marks around the entire path and link name. Note: To add to an element a model link or other type of file link, follow the syntax of the link as shown in the key-in above. For example, to add the Handles model in the references.dgn file in the MyLinks folder, you would key in LINKS ADD ELEMENT "\MyLinks\references.dgn, Handles" (with the quotation marks).
Folder Link	Used to create links to Folders. Opens the Select Folder dialog to select the folder to which you want to create link. PROJECTCREATELINKFOLDER
Key-in Link	Used to create links to key-ins. Opens the Create Link dialog to type the key-in to which you want to create link. PROJECTCREATELINKKEYIN
URL Link	Used to create links to websites and e-mail addresses. Opens the Create Link dialog to type the website address or e-mail address to which you want to create link. PROJECTCREATELINKURL
Configuration Variable Link	Used to create links to Configuration Variables. Opens the Configuration Variable Link dialog and allows you to add link to a configuration variable. PROJECTCREATELINKCONFIGVAR
LinkSet Link	Used to create links to Link sets. Opens the Create Link dialog to select the link set to which you want to create link. PROJECTCREATELINKLINKSET
Create Folder	Creates a new folder in the open link set. PROJECTCREATELINKFOLDER [ folder_name ] Note: The new folder will be placed in the location that is selected in the Explorer dialog.
Delete Folder or Link	Deletes the selected active file link set, folder, or link. If the folder contains links or other folders, they are deleted as well. PROJECTDELETE
Links (List Box)	Lists the links sets and links and folders in the open link set. The link sets come from the following sources: Active Directory - Harvests and lists design models, drawing models, sheet models, and saved views in the active directory. You will not be able to create or delete folders or links in the Active Directory link set. Configured Libraries - Displays all of the links sets in all of the files specified by the MS_DGNLIBLIST_LINKS configuration variable. If Configured Libraries is the source of your link set, you will be unable to modify the link set at this point. You will not be able to create or delete folders or links. To modify a link set from the Configured Libraries, you must open the file containing the link set. WorkSet - When you create a new WorkSet, a link set for the WorkSet is created and stored in the DGNWS file of that WorkSet. The name of the WorkSet is the name of the link set. By default, this link set is in read-only mode. To add links to this link set you need to open it in editing mode. To open the WorkSet link set in editing more, right-click on it and select Edit Link Set from the pop-up menu. Active File - Displays the link sets stored in the open DGN file. If this is the source of your link set, you will be able to modify the link set, but you will be unable to use the Undo button to reverse any changes you make.
Pop-up Menu for Folders	Right-clicking a folder opens a pop-up menu with the following choices: Validate - Verifies that all targets in the selected folder still exist in the locations to which the links point. If any targets do not exist, the folder name and the missing targets' names turn red. They remain red until you revalidate and confirm that all targets in the folder exist in the specified locations. Cut - Cuts the selected folder and can be pasted to other location in the link set. Copy - Copies the selected folder and can be pasted to other location in the link set. Paste - Pastes the folder above the selected link in the link set. Available only when you cut or copy a folder or a link in the link set. Delete - The effect is the same as clicking the Delete Folder or Link icon. Rename - Allows you to key in a new name for the selected folder. Properties - Allows you to view the properties of the selected folder. PROJECTVALIDATE PROJECTRENUMBER PROJECTRENAME
Pop-up Menu for Links	Right-clicking a link opens a pop-up menu with the following choices: Open - Opens the target to which the selected link points. Add Link to Element - Adds the link to the selected element in the open DGN file. Validate - Verifies that the target to which the selected link points still exists in the location to which the link points. If the target does not exist, the target name and its folder name turn red. They remain red until you re-validate and confirm that the target exists in the specified location. Cut - Cuts the selected link and can be pasted to other location in the link set. Copy - Copies the selected link and can be pasted to other location in the link set. Paste - Pastes the link above the selected link in the link set. Available only when you cut or copy a folder or a link in the link set. Rename - Allows you to change the name of the link. Renaming the link only changes the name that is displayed in the Explorer dialog and not the link target. Delete - The effect is the same as clicking the Delete Folder or Link icon Properties - Allows you to view the properties of the selected link and also the target properties of the link. Opens the Properties dialog.
Pop-up Menu for Links to Saved Views	Right-clicking a saved view opens a pop-up menu with the following choices: Open - Opens the saved view to which the selected link points. Add Link to Element - Adds the link to the selected element in the open DGN file. Validate - Verifies that the sheet model to which the selected link points still exists in the location to which the link points. If the sheet model does not exist, the sheet model name and its folder name turn red. They remain red until you revalidate and confirm that the sheet model exists in the specified location. Find uses - Opens the Saved View Usage dialog to display the list of models in which the saved view is used. Cut - Cuts the selected link and can be pasted to other location in the link set. Copy - Copies the selected link and can be pasted to other location in the link set. Paste - Pastes the link above the selected link in the link set. Available only when you cut or copy the folder or a link in the link set. Delete - The effect is the same as clicking the Delete Folder or Link icon. Rename - Allows you to change the name of the link to the sheet model. Renaming the link only changes the name that is displayed in the Explorer dialog and not the link target. Properties - Allows you to view the properties of the selected link and also the target properties of the link. Opens the Properties dialog.