1. Living with AutoCAD

2. Considerations
There are elements (AutoCAD entities) that exist in one format and not the other. That means that those will be approximated.
MicroStation can have many design models and many paper models. AutoCAD can only have one design model and many paper. So, if you are using the two file formats, limit your MicroStation to one design model.
MicroStation Shared Cells are closest to AutoCAD Blocks, so use Shared Cells.
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3. Considerations (Cont)
Tags can be attached to any element. AutoCAD attributes can only be attached to blocks. So, limit tags to shared cells.
MicroStation levels can be numbers and/or names. Use names if to mix the formats. Also, layers in AutoCAD can only be displayed globally.
Both AutoCAD and MicroStation support True Type Fonts. Both support SHX fonts. Only MicroStation supports native MicroStation fonts. So, safest bet is to use True Type fonts.
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4. Considerations (Cont)
Units. Very important to keep consistent. AutoCAD has architectural (stored as inches displayed as feet and inches), Engineering (same as architectural) and scientific. Most likely the best setting is: for feet-inch-fraction in MicroStation, use Master units in the Save-As option box. For feet. Decimal feet in MicroStation, use Master units. See MicroStation Help, search DWG then see “alternative Method” Good to experiment with units at beginning of project.
There are options settings in MicroStation in these functions: Open, Save As and Attach Reference. See Help for each box.
Line styles are similar. Generally not a problem. But not all export to AutoCAD. See Help if problems occur
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5. Considerations (Cont)
Multilines existed in AutoCAD since Rel 14.
Line weights are displayed in pixel widths in MicroStation and mm in AutoCAD. Control the relationship with the Line Weight Scale option in Save As
Use entity mapping to direct how line strings are saved. See help.
colors can be mapped
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6. General Rules First general rule:
defaults in Open, Save As and Attach are quite good. Always good to start with Defaults.
Second general rule is:
Before you start work on a large project that requires both AutoCAD and MicroStation: WORK A SAMPLE, SIMPLE TEST CASE. That means, start with what is required by the customer and work it backwards to determine all of the above settings. Then, publish that procedure as a project standard.
Third general rule:
When converting a file from one format to another, always purge (compress) the file and convert only the information that is required.
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7. A Few Variables for Working with AutoCAD
MS_DWGAUTOSAVE
Determines the frequency, in second of the auto-save timer for DWG and DXF format files. For example, If set to 300 (the default), and auto-save will occur approximately 5 minutes after the first change to the design. The minimum value is 30 seconds.
MS_WORKMODE
Work mode activates/disables certain functions in order to produce a more compatible design file at the end. Setting this variable to DWG will disable some creation tools that may result in elements to be incompatible to DWG file format. Similarly setting it to V7 will restrict creation tools for pre-V8 file compatibility. Setting the variable to DGN (default) will gain full functional capacity creating elements. Must restart MicroStation to take effect of a changed value.
MS_DWGSEED
Name of seed file used to create DWG file.
MS_TRANSEED
Default seed file used for DWG, CGM, and IGES translations.
MS_BLOCKLIST
Defines the list of DWG/DXF files to be searched for AutoCAD blocks
MS_DWG_PGPFILE
Used to locate the AutoCAD alias file for workstations that do not have an AutoCAD installation. If AutoCAD is installed, USTN will automatically locate the PGP file in the appropriate AutoCAD sub-folder.
MS_DWGFONTPATH
Defines the path of AutoCAD fonts if AutoCAD is not installed.
MS_NO_DWG_BACKUP
Enables/disables the creation of a backup.
MS_DWG_BACKUP
Specifies the location of the backup file, if it is not set it will go the same folder as current DWG file
MS_DWG_COMMANDPREFIX
This can be set to a character or string of characters that can be used as a shortcut to the AutoCAD key-in commands.
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8. Possible Work Flows
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9. Method 1 One Way Trip
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10. Method 2 Round Trip with Conversion to DGN
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11. Method 3 Round Trip with NO Conversion to DGN
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12. Method 4 DWG to DWG One Way
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13. Which Seed Files are Used and When?
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