MicroStation

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MicroStation is a CAD - software company Bentley Systems . Current versions only run on the Windows operating system , although they used to be available for Macintosh platforms and many Unix-based operating systems.

An image created with MicroStation

description

MicroStation is the base product of architecture and construction software developed by Bentley Systems , Incorporated. Among many other things, 2D / 3D vector objects and elements can be created with this software.

Supported file formats

The file format is the DGN (DesiGN file) format, although MicroStation can also read and write many additional standard CAD formats. This also includes the DWG and DXF . Over the numerous different versions, additional extended functionalities in the area of ​​modeling and rendering have been added. This also includes the use of Boolean basic bodies, ray tracing , particle tracing and keyframe animation. Among other things, there are special working environments for architecture, civil engineering , cartography and plant engineering.

In 2000, the DGN file format was fundamentally changed in the MicroStation V8 version for the first time to enable additional features such as digital rights and signatures, drawing history - a type of revision management - and better support for the AutoDesk DWG format.

Extensions

Numerous extensions are available that can be used with MicroStation to expand its functionality. These are for example:

  • Generate a material list listing every drawing detail
  • Creation of a chronological construction schedule
  • Collision check between different drawing objects
  • Automatic publication of all drawings on a public website
  • Generation of a detailed model of a complete system including its virtual functionality for training and test purposes
  • Autoturn , e.g. B. to simulate drag curves for complex vehicle maneuvers

Additional extensions can be created using:

  • The MicroStation Development Language (MDL). This is a programming language similar to the programming language 'C'.
  • From User Command Macros (UCMs). This type of custom programming was very popular in the past, but has not been supported since MicroStation V8.
  • Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
  • JMDL (Java)

Development history

MicroStation was first as Igds ( I nteractive G raphics D esign S developed ystem) for the PC. At that time the product was still called "Pseudo Station".

In 1987 MicroStation 2.0 was released. This was the first version that could read and write the DGN format.

Almost two years later, MicroStation 3.0 came onto the market, which was specially optimized with regard to the rapidly increasing performance of computers.

MicroStation 4.0 was ready at the end of 1990 and had numerous new functions: cutting and masking reference files, a DWG translator, various fence modes for selecting elements, the ability to name levels (level, layer) and changes to the GUI to to name just a few.

In 1993 MicroStation 5.0 was released and again brought numerous new functions with it: support of binary raster files, user-specific line styles, a setting manager and the so-called dimension drive design, a parametric form for creating drawings.

Windows 95 came on the market in 1995 . Bentley soon followed with a MicroStation version for this operating system, the first foray into the 32-bit world. This was the first version that did not have the version number in the name. It was called MicroStation 95, but internally it was MicroStation v5.5.

The last version that was available for multiple operating systems was MicroStation SE (SE means Special Edition). The internal version number is MicroStation 5.7 and was released in 1997. This version contained colored icons, which - like in Microsoft Office 97 - could be switched to a borderless display. The new functions of this version include mechanisms for working over the Internet. In this version, an enhanced precision and the PowerSelector have also been added.

MicroStation / J (also MicroStation 7.0, or MicroStation V7) was released one year after MicroStation SE. The J in the name stands for Java, as in this version the MDL programming interface was expanded to include Java . This extension was called JMDL. Other improvements are QuickvisionGL and a revised help system. MicroStation / J was the last version to be based on the IGDS file format. This file format - almost unique in the software industry - has been used almost unchanged over a period of 20 years. This file format has since been called the V7 format after the last supporting version.

In 2001 MicroStation V8 was released. The new file format is based on the IEEE-754 standard and is called DGN V8. The new file format allows an almost unlimited number of levels to be defined. With the transition to floating point - arithmetic is now a much larger drawing room. With the optimization for the Windows operating systems, a much larger maximum file size is now possible. Further improvements are AccuSnap, Design History, Models (several drawings in one file), unlimited undo, VBA interface, True Scale, standard definitions for work units (the new format saves internally in meters and converts to other units). The most important extension, however, is the support of the very popular DWG file format from Autodesk's AutoCAD .

MicroStation V8 2004 Edition (V8.5) followed three years later with support for newer DWG formats, multi-snaps, PDF generation and feature modeling.

MicroStation V8 XM (V8.9) was released in 2006. The XM edition contains a completely revised graphics subsystem based on Direct3D . This version can reference PDF files. The user interface has been redesigned and includes task navigation and keyboard mapping.

In MicroStation is V8i (V8.11) the task navigation has been revised and expanded. A module for processing GPS data was also included.

The current version of Microstation is the CONNECT Edition (V10).

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