Home

Figure 1. Home ribbon interface


Attributes

Figure 2. Attributes group


Setting

Description

Element Template Association

Used to lock the active element template when placing an element. When on, the icon is displayed with highlighting.

Element Template

Opens the Element Templates drop-down to set the active element template, and to manage element templates using the Elements Templates dialog.

Level

Opens the Level drop-down to set the Active Level and the Active Level Filter, to manage levels and filters, to set the display of levels and apply filters, and to recall existing level filters.

Color

Opens the Active Color drop-down to set the active color, and change the colors of selected elements.

Line Style

Opens the line style drop-down to set the active line style to the line style that is chosen.

Line Weight

Opens the line weight drop-down to set the active line weight and change the line weights of selected elements.



Transparency

Opens the transparency drop-down to set the active element transparency.



Priority

Opens the priority drop-down to sets the active element priority (2D models only), which determines how an element is displayed relative to other elements.



Element Class

Opens the element class drop-down to set the active class of element on placement.

Primary

Figure 3. Primary group


Setting Description


Explorer

Manage project data using the Explorer dialog.



Attach Tools
  • References - Manage reference attachments using the References dialog.
  • Raster Manager - Manage raster reference attachments using the Raster Manager dialog.
  • Point Clouds - Import, control, visualize and manipulate point cloud images using the Point Clouds dialog.
  • Reality Mesh - Attach and manipulate reality meshes using the Reality Mesh Attachments dialog.


Models
Displays the Models dialog, which allows you to create a new model, copy a model, edit model properties, delete and import models, create a sheet boundary, and list any filters.


Level Manager
Turn levels on and off using the Level Manager dialog.


Level Display
Turn levels on and off using the Level Display dialog.


Properties
Review or modify information about an element(s), such as its type, attributes, and geometry.


More
  • Key-In - Open the Key-in window.
  • Toggle AccuDraw - Allows you to enable or disable AccuDraw inputs.
  • Auxiliary Coordinates -
  • Saved Views - Manage saved views using the Saved Views dialog.
  • Cells - Create and manage cells in a Cell Library.
  • Markups - Review markups and comments made in the design through the Markups dialog.
  • Details -
  • Windowed List - Display information related to what is selected in any of the tabs of the Explorer dialog.



Popset
A feature that prevents the display of the selected tool's settings window when you are finished adjusting its controls. PopSet allows you to reclaim valuable screen real estate and reduce pointer movement.

Selection

Figure 4. Selection group


The Selection group is used to select and deselect elements for modification or manipulation.

Setting Description


Element Selection

Select and deselect elements on a per element basis, by defining an area, or by drawing a line that intersects them.



Select All
Select all elements in the design.


Select None
Deselect all elements in the design.


Lock
Locks selected elements. The attributes and location of a locked element cannot be changed.


Unlock
Unlocks selected locked elements.


Bring to Front
Brings the selected elements to the front of the view display.


Fence Tools
  • Place Fence - Used to place a fence.
  • Modify Fence - Used to move a fence or modify one of its vertices.
  • Manipulate Fence Contents - Used to move, copy, rotate, mirror, scale, or stretch fence contents, which are defined by a fence and (except for stretching) the Fence (Selection) Mode.
  • Delete Fence Contents - Used to delete the fence contents.
  • Drop Fence Contents - Used to break up the contents in a fence into their components.
  • Save Fence to File - Used to copy or move the contents of the active fence to a new DGN or DWG file.
  • Named Boundary - Manage named boundaries and boundary groups using the Named Boundary dialog.


Cut
Used to cut selected elements to the clipboard.


Copy
Used to copy selected elements to the clipboard.


Paste
Used to paste elements from the clipboard.

Placement

Figure 5. Placement group


Setting Description


Place Smartline
Place a line, line string, shape, arc, or circle or a combination thereof as a complex element.


Place Line
Place or construct a line.


Arc Tools
Place or construct a line.
  • Place Arc - Place a circular arc.
  • Place Half Ellipse - Place an elliptical arc with a sweep angle of 180?.
  • Place Quarter Ellipse - Place an elliptical arc with a sweep angle of 90?.
  • Modify Arc Radius - Modify a circular arc's radius, sweep angle, and center.
  • Modify Arc Angle - Extend or shorten an arc's length (sweep angle).
  • Modify Arc Axis - Lengthen or shorten an axis of an arc.


Ellipse Tools
Ellipse Tools are used to place ellipses and circles.
  • Place Circle - Place a circle.
  • Place Ellipse - Place an ellipse, precisely positioning the center and one end of the primary axis.


Polygon Tools
Polygon Tools are used to place planar polygonal shapes.
  • Place Block - Place a rectangular shape.
  • Place Shape - Place a polygonal shape.
  • Place Othogonal Shape - Place a shape with each segment either perpendicular or parallel to all other segments in the shape.
  • Place Regular Polygon - Place a regular polygon (one with all sides and angles the same).


Create Curves
  • B-spline by Points - Place a B-spline curve.
  • B-spline by Tangents - Create a B-spline curve that passes through a set of points while maintaining user-defined tangent directions at those points.
  • Composite Curve - Place a composite curve, which can have line strings , arcs , or B?zier curves as components.
  • Interpolation by Arcs - Place or construct a complex chain of arcs that passes through a given set of points.
  • Conic Curve - Place a parabola, hyperbola, or partial ellipse.
  • Spiral Curve - Place a clothoid or Archimedes or logarithmic spiral.
  • Curve by Formula - Place a helix in a 3D design.


Points
  • Place Active Point - Place the Active Point.
  • Point(s) Between - Construct equally spaced Active Points between two data points.
  • Point on Element - Place the Active Point on an element at the point closest to the data point.
  • Point at Intersection - Construct a point at an intersection.
  • Point(s) Along Element - Construct a specified number of Active Points along an element between two data points.
  • Point at Distance Along - Construct the Active Point on an element at a keyed in distance.


More
  • Place Multi-Line - Place a planar-multi-line.
  • Place Stream Line String.
  • Place Point or Stream Curve
  • Construct Angle Bisector
  • Construct Minimum Distance Line
  • Construct Line at Active Angle


Text
  • Place Text - Used to place a text element(s).
  • Place Text Along - Used to place text relative to line segment (line element or segment of a line string, shape, or multi-line).
  • Place Note - Used to place lines of text with a leader line and arrow, or a callout without a leader.


Cells
  • Place Active Cell - Place the active cell.
  • Replace Cells - Replace a cell(s) (or all instances of a shared cell) in the design with another of the same name from an attached library.
  • Place Active Cell Matrix - Place a matrix (rows and columns) of the active cell.
  • Define Cell Origin - Define the cell origin (the point about which the cell is placed) when creating the cell.
  • Select and Place Cell - Identify a cell and place an additional instance(s).
  • Identify Cell - Display the name and level of a cell that is in the DGN file.
  • Place Active Line Terminator - Add a terminator to a line segment.
  • Place Cell Index - Create and place a cell index.

Manipulate

Figure 6. Manipulate Group


Setting Description

Move

Move an element(s).

Copy

Copy an element(s).

Rotate

Rotate an element(s).

Scale

Resize an element(s) by the active scale factors.

Mirror

Mirror an element(s).

Move Parallel

Move or copy an element with the sides of the copy parallel to the original.

Array

Copy an element(s) many times to create a rectangular or a polar (circular) array.

Stretch

Stretch an element(s).

More

  • Align Elements By Edge - Align an element(s) to an edge of another element.
  • Move To Contact - Move an element(s) in a defined direction until it contacts an existing element in the model.

Modify

Figure 7. Modify Group


Setting Description

Modify Element

Move a vertex of a linear element.

or

Modify rounded segments of complex chains and complex shapes.

or

Change rounded segments of complex chains and complex shapes to vertices and vice-versa.

or

Scale a circular arc while maintaining its sweep angle.

or

Move dimension text.orChange dimension extension line length.

or

Scale a block about the opposite vertex.

or

Change a circle's radius or the length of one axis of an ellipse.

Break Element

Break a linear element at a defined point.

Trim Multiple

Trim, extend, or trim and extend elements one at a time, or multiple elements simultaneously, to their intersection with one or more other elements.

Trim To Intersection

Extend or shorten two open elements to their intersection.

Trim To Element

Extend or shorten an open element, or multiple open elements simultaneously, to their intersection with another element.

Fillets

  • Construct Circular Fillet - Construct a circular fillet between two elements.
  • Construct Parabolic Fillet - Construct a parabolic fillet between two elements.
  • Construct Chamfer - Construct a chamfer between two lines or adjacent segments of a line string or shape.

More

  • Insert Vertex - Insert a vertex in a linear element.
  • Delete Vertex - Delete a vertex from a linear element.
  • Extend Line - Extend or shorten a line.

Change Attributes

  • Change Element Attributes - Change an element(s) level, color, line style, line weight, or class.
  • Smartmatch - Change all active element attribute settings, including those specific to particular element types, so they match the attributes of an element in the design.
  • Match Element Attributes - Set the active element attributes so they match those of an existing element.
  • Change to Active Area - Change a closed element(s) to the active area (Solid or Hole).
  • Change Element Fill Types - Change a closed element(s) to the Active Fill Type.
  • Modify Line Style Attributes - Interactively modify the line style attributes of an element with a custom line style.

Delete Element

Deletes an element.

Groups

Figure 8. Groups Group


Setting Description

Create Region

Create a complex shape from the union, intersection, or difference between closed elements or by "flood fill."

Create Complex Chain

Create a complex chain (open complex element).

Create Complex Shape

Create a complex shape (closed complex element) from individual open elements.

Group Hole

Select a solid element and the hole or holes to be associated with the solid.

Group

Select a number of elements and group them so that you can manipulate them as a single element. A group is a complex element

whose component elements need not be connected.

Graphic Groups

  • Add to Graphic Group - Create a graphic group, add elements to an existing graphic group, or combine two or more graphic groups into one graphic group.
  • Drop from Graphic Group - Remove (drop) an element(s) from a graphic group, or break up a graphic group into individual elements.

Drop

  • Drop Element - Break up a complex element(s) or an element(s) of a special type into simpler components.
  • Drop Complex Status - Break up a complex element into its components.
  • Drop Line String/Shape Status - Convert a line string or shape to a series of individual line elements.
  • Drop Association - Discontinue an association between a shared cell, dimension witness line, or multi-line and another element.
  • Drop Line Style - Convert an element with a custom line style to an identically appearing group of primitive elements with standard line styles.