Annotation Scale with MicroStation V8i

Arizona Bentley BASH Sept 13th 2013

Presenter: Sam Hendrick (sam.hendrick@bentley.com)

Annotation Scale

This presentation will focus on the key concepts of the Annotation Scale feature delivered in MicroStation V8i.

• Key concepts covered:

− What is Annotation Scale? − Benefits of using Annotation Scale − What does Annotation Scale work with? − Your existing standards − Changes to your workflows

What is Annotation Scale?

• Annotation Scale is, essentially, a "print scale" that is applied to certain types of elements that need to be sized to match the desired output scale of the drawing.

• A model property unique to each model (design, drawing, or sheet) in a drawing file

• The setting is dynamic

• May be used to "size up" or "size down“

• You define what data it is associated with during the placement of elements using the Annotation Scale Lock property (other than custom line styles which are global)

What Annotation Scale is Not

• What does Annotation Scale not do?

• Not meant to remain static (i.e. Settings Manager)

• Change one setting changes all "influenced" elements

• No manipulating working units for different "scales"

• Does not work with pattern or cloud tools

• Cannot be set independently on line styles (all or nothing as a model property)

• Vertical applications may not use it directly

• Remember, it resizes elements relative to a "print scale”

What Does Annotation Scale Work With?

• Annotation scale may be associated with the following types of elements:

• Text, text fields and notes

• Dimensions

• Cells

• Detailing symbol styles

• Custom line styles

• Reference file elements

• Sheet model boundaries

The Annotation Scale Setting

• Annotation Scale is a model property.

• A Scale value set in Model Properties

• Default scale is determined by the seed file or seed model a model is based upon

• Available for any type of model:

• Design

• Drawing

• Sheet

• Works with Undo

• Model Properties is also where Line Style Scale is set.

Annotation Scale is a model property

Annotation Example

Check current Annotation Scale in Model Properties... What is scalable and what is not? Hard to tell by just looking!

The Drawing Scale Tool Box

About the Drawing Scale Tool Box • The Drawing Scale window may be used to change the Annotation

Scale setting on the fly. It is available by selecting Settings > Drawing Scale to open the window.

• Quickly change Annotation Scale

• Dockable

• Resizable (3 preset sizes)

• Provides access to Units and ACS

• Customizable (right-click)

Resizable

Dockable

The Annotation Scale Lock Toggle • The Annotation Scale Lock toggle may be found on the tool settings

dialog for any tool that supports this feature (other than custom line styles)

• Place Text

• Place Note

• Dimensioning tools

• Place Active Cell

• Detailing Symbol Styles

• Reference files

• Model Properties

* Also found in the Lock Toggles

Scales

• The list of available Annotation Scales is delivered through the configured scales.def file.

• The configuration variable that sets the search path for the Scales.def:

• MS_CUSTOMSCALEDEF

• Default location in Windows 7

• C:\ProgramData\Bentley\MicroStation V8i (SELECTseries)\WorkSpace\System\data

• Default location in Windows XP:

• C:\ProgramData\Bentley\MicroStation V8i (SELECTseries)\WorkSpace\System\data\

Placing Elements

Let’s try placing: - Text: Street Label (13th Street) - Cells: North Arrow - Draw with a custom line style

Consider Your Existing Workflow

• When approaching Annotation Scale it is important to consider your existing standards and workflows and how they will be affected by Annotation Scale.

• Is your existing data formatted to a common base scale? For many, it is, but it may not be at a true 1:1 currently. Many organizations have exaggerated the sizes to place at a scale of 1 where the exaggeration for plot scale has already been incorporated.

• If this is the case, consider reformatting.

The "Physical" setting for line styles will prevent a line style from rescaling. This will keep it measurable!

Custom Line Style

Cells and Cell Libraries

• Cells and cell libraries, as applicable, are easy to migrate to the Annotation Scale workflow.

• The procedure to follow:

• Identify the cells that you want to work with annotation scale.

• Size the graphics (linework) of the cell to match the base scale (1:1). If your normal print scale was 1:100, and you place the cell at 1:1, it would need to be scaled down by a factor of 100 to work with the annotation scale "influence".

• Set the cell as an annotation cell

Note: It may be possible to use this procedure in bulk with the "Annotation Scale" Models dialog heading and Batch Process...

Text and Dimension Styles

• A similar concept would need to be applied to text and dimension styles as well.

• Text Height Units (line spacing, etc.)

• Format the sizes based upon what you want to see on the printed output (actual size).

• Standardize using a "configured DGNLIB" to deliver the created and configured styles to the users.

Sheet Boundary

References (Sheet)

References (Model)

Multiple Scale Details

Propagate vs. Not Propagate

• Propagate vs. Not Propagate...that is the question!

• MicroStation V8i SS2 provides a variable which determines whether your changes to annotation scale propagate automatically.

• MS_ANNOTATIONSCALEPROPAGATION = NEVER

• The key-in ANNOTATIONSCALE CHANGE will force the model to update all annotation elements to reflect the current active annotation scale.

Multiple Annotation Scales

Some Helpful Key-in Commands

• The following are some key-ins that you may find helpful when working with Annotation Scale in your workflows:

• ANNOTATIONSCALE ADD

• ANNOTATIONSCALE REMOVE

• ANNOTATIONSCALE CHANGE

• And

• ANNOTATIONSCALE SELECT ELEMENT

Used to create a selection set from elements that have annotation scale

Hint: Right-click and "isolate" elements (this will create a displayset)

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

• The Good − Annotatable items are designed to work at different scales.

• The Bad − Changing scales is not a magic solution. You may need to manually

adjust the placement of some elements as you change scales.

• The Ugly − Retrofitting existing drawings to work with Annotation scale can

sometimes be a bit challenging and might not be worth the effort to change them. Maybe consider using it with new drawings, not existing.

Things to Consider

• Working Scale − Work at 1:1. Stop exaggerating the scale based upon your intended plot scale

and start letting MicroStation handle the task of scaling for you.

• Text and cells − Text justification and cell origin points are more important than ever when

considering using Annotation Scale. Scaling is based upon the elements origin. Set them wisely!

• Education − Educate the MicroStation users at your organization on the planned

implementation of Annotation Scale.

Thanks for coming!

This PowerPoint will be available on WWW.SCBUG.COM

As soon as I can next week