Export DGN

Equipment

Equipment : Import/Export DGN : Export DGN

Use the Export-DGN tool to extract 3D geometric models from the DESIGN databases and output them in a binary file (called a dgn file) compatible with MicroStation according to the Intergraph Standard File Format Specification. The resulting file can then be used to import 3D graphics models into MicroStation or into other systems that can read dgn format files.

Export-DGN can be used to transfer information from AVEVA AVEVA E3D™ and also includes the capability to create a highly configurable text file, linked to the dgn file, containing the AVEVA E3D™ attribute values.

Note:

Export-DGN only converts models into dgn Version 7 format. The format can be read by more recent versions of MicroStation (which use a different native file format).

Choose the Model Elements to export using the Element List options.

Choose the seed file to be used as a header for the generated DGN file (containing settings such as the units)

Choose a configuration file to control attribute data if required. (The contents of the Configuration file are described in Export-DGN Configuration File.)

Choose an output file-name

Click OK to export the chosen Elements.

Command Window

Export-DGN can also be run from the MODEL command window by the export command.

Choose Seed File

Export-DGN needs a “seed file” which is a .dgn used as a header for all the generated dgn files, and contains settings such as the units to be used in the dgn file.

Supply Export-DGN with a seedfile for use from the command window, in any one of three ways:

•

Use the export option 'seedfile' '<filename>' command in MODEL to set the path of the seed file (note that the path of the file is needed, not the path of the folder, as in the case of the environment variable). For example

export option 'seedfile' 'C:\seedfiles\seed1.dgn'

If different seed files are used for different exports, this is particularly useful.

•

If the export option 'seedfile' is not set, then ExPLANT-I looks for a file named seed3d.dgn in a folder or search-path set in the environment variable SEED3D_DIR.

•

If neither of the above is set, then ExPLANT-I looks for a file named seed3d.dgn in a folder or search-path set in the environment variable AVEVA_DESIGN_EXE. Such a seed-file is installed there with the product.

The latter two options are particularly useful if the user always wants to use the same seed-file. In that case the user can place the file in a location in their AVEVA_DESIGN_EXE search path, or set SEED3D_DIR in their .bat file.

Create a Configuration File

To export attribute data a configuration file needs to be created. The file defines the format of the attribute file and specifies which MODEL elements and particular attributes are to be output.

Note:

To use a configuration file, either the environment variable EXPLANT_CONFIGURATION must be set to the path of the configuration file; or the AVEVA E3D™ command export option 'configuration' '<filename>' must be called to set up a temporary path to the configuration file.

Colours

When selecting geometry for output from MODEL, the user can choose a colour that is associated with each element or group of elements. Provided that the MODEL colour number is in the range 1-63, then that number is used as the level number in the dgn file. If the AVEVA E3D™ colour is outside that range, then a default dgn level number of 1 is used.

Graphic Group

When exporting equipment and structural elements, Export-DGN uses a different dgn graphic group number for each piece of equipment or structural element. It should be noted that because some hierarchy information is not available to Export-DGN, then there are some circumstances where the graphic group is not always correctly set.

Set the Units

The exported data units are set from the working units in the seed file in use. The standard seed file supplied with Export-DGN has mm as the working units but metres, feet and inches can also be recognised if a different seed file is used.

In a DGN file the working units are described in terms of:

Master units, these can be named

Sub-units, these can be named

Resolution units (these are not named)

Number of sub-units per master unit

Number of resolution units per sub-unit

Firstly, AVEVA ExPLANT-I checks the master units name for millimetres (MM or mm), metres (M or m), feet (FT, ft or ‘) or inches (IN, in or “) for a positive match and if it finds one, sets the scaling accordingly.

If there is no positive match, it then checks the sub-unit name against the same unit names and if it finds a match sets the scaling from the sub-unit and the number of sub-units per master unit.

Note:

If the units in the seed file are not recognised, the default is to assume MM.

Set the Representation

The Export command was designed as a what-the user-see-is-what-the user-get system, where the visibility and representation settings in MODEL control what is exported. Select certain elements of the database for export, and choose an appropriate level of detail for their needs. If operating in a graphical mode, and working with relatively small volume of data this is ideal.

When exporting large models the close integration with the graphical display can result in slow performance.

In this case the export can be significantly sped up by running MODEL without graphics. It is then very important to make sure that the visual representation is set to what the user requires.

Note:

MODELs’ default settings are different when running without graphics.

Run Export-DGN

To translate a model file into a MicroStation input file the MODEL module must be open.

If the model to export is large, then it is a lot quicker to output the file if the device tty mode is used rather than the graphics mode of MODEL and then switch tracing off (trace off) and set the representation as required. The MODEL EXPORT commands can be stored in a AVEVA E3D™ macro file.

For example:


repre level 6	Set drawing representation level
repre level pipe 6	Set drawing representation level for pipes
repre level nozz 6	Set drawing representation level for nozzles
repre level stru 6	Set drawing representation level for structures
export system /explant	Load the Export-DGN export driver
Export option 'seedfile' 'c:\seedfiles\seed1.dgn'	Select a non-default seedfile to use
export file /equip over	Specify name of the output file
export holes on	Process holes in components
export /EQUIP colour 3 export /PIPES colour 4	Select names of AVEVA E3D™ elements that are to be exported.
export finish	Create export data

Refer to Element Representation for further information of powerful colour selection and element selection techniques.

Log File

Whenever AVEVA ExPLANT-I is run, it writes a log file. The log file has the same name as the dgn file, but with a .log extension rather than .dgn. If a message or warning is printed by MODEL, further details are usually in the log file. The log file is plain text, and may be viewed with any text editor such as notepad.