Be Newsletter: Issue #79

Agenda and tracks posted for Be Conference 2008      

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MicroStation tips from Be Conference 2007:
Array along path in 3D      

This tip was presented at Be Conference 2007 by Stephen Holmes, Head of Consultancy Services at Cadventure. [www.cadventure.co.uk]
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Discussion group threads      

The Bentley discussion groups are a great place to learn new tips and tricks with Bentley products and to hear the frank views of other users.

If you have a question, it might have already been the subject of a discussion. To search the discussion groups for answers to your particular questions, use our customized Google search.
>> more 

Here are a few of the interesting conversations going on now in the discussion groups:

How do you merge cell libraries with MicroStation V8?
 

Is there a way to create a MicroStation configuration variable and have that variable printed in the print attributes border comment?
 

How can you remove Z-values from elements?
 

Can you export to Google Earth with MicroStation PowerDraft?
 

Answers to commonly asked questions can be found here.

All the discussion groups are listed here.

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Sponsors

FIATECH is an industry consortium that provides global leadership in identifying and accelerating the development, demonstration, and deployment of fully integrated and automated technologies to deliver the highest business value throughout the lifecycle of all types of capital projects.

HP delivers workstation technologies that help you work efficiently and reduce costs.

The HP workstation line includes mobile, desktop, and blade workstations. HP offers a choice of processors including Intel dual-core processors or quad-core processors or AMD processors. In addition, HP offers highly secure Blade Workstations, which provide the capability of remote engineering from centralized server-based workstations with powerful 3D performance.
>> Learn more about HP and great deals on HP workstations 
>> Learn more about HP and Bentley

Need to train multiple users?
ModernTech can bring the training class to you! Account-specific, on-site training is a cost-effective way to train multiple users and eliminate travel expenses. Upgrading to MicroStation V8 XM Edition? An on-site class is a great way to get everyone up to speed at the same time. Mobile computer labs are available. Request more information or call +1 877 531 6090.

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Bentley tips      

MicroStation tip: Changing the orientation of the in-line leader for Place Note tool

The Place Note tool places lines of text with a leader line and arrow as a dimension element. The optional in-line leader is an extra segment of the leader aligned with the text.

The inline leader can orientated above, below, in line, and either left or right of the note.

 
Click to enlarge.

The orientation of the in-line leader can be adjusted with the settings in the Dimension Styles Text tab, in the Notes section.

Click to enlarge.

Submitted by: Dan Eng, Platform Support Analyst

GEOPAK tip: Importing points and chains without storing them in the GPK file
To import your survey data for visualization and review without adding the information to a GPK file, you can do the following:

1. Before processing your data as you normally would, go to Survey project preferences. From the Survey Menu bar it is Project > Preferences.
2. In the preferences dialog, select the Dataset Tab.
3. Under the Dataset Tab, choose the Configuration settings in the left pane.
4. In the second column of options, toggle off Store Elements into GPK file and click OK.

You can process your data as usual, but when mapping occurs, the data will not be stored in the GPK file. It will only be visualized in the DGN.

Submitted by: Fernando Abad P.E. Senior Engineering Consultant, Bentley Civil

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Client Server articles 
     

Enhancements and changes to MicroStation XM printing in versions 08.09.03.xx and 08.09.04.xx
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RAM CADstudio Column Schedules
RAM CADstudio is very flexible when it comes to setting up the appearance of the column schedule. Its options let you control both the table layout and the content.
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InterPlot products are now part of the ProjectWise family: What does this mean to today’s InterPlot user?

InterPlot Client and Digital InterPlot are now part of the ProjectWise family of products and have been renamed. InterPlot Client is now named ProjectWise.
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Using VBA to Programmatically Import a VBA Project’s Components and References

This article is a continuation of the Dec. 2, 2004, Client Server article entitled “Using VBA to Programmatically Export a VBA Project."
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Recovering Corrupt DGN and DWG Files

Have you ever said, "My deadline is tomorrow and my file won’t open!" when you were working on a design that was critical to your project?
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Enhanced Selection Set Features from WaterCAD and WaterGEMS

Bentley developers have enhanced the original Selection Set feature from WaterCAD and WaterGEMS to create a trio of powerful modeling tools for the V8 release.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bentley Building Electrical Systems

In a new file, none of the BBES commands are working. Why? How can I access projects on our network using the Project Navigator tool? More . . .
 >> more 

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Be User Group Events   
  

Nebraska User Group Spring Conference 2008
March 18-19, Cornhusker Marriott Hotel, Lincoln, Neb.

TMC CFB/Flanders
April 10, Brussels, Belgium

BE User Group Officers meeting
May 28-30, Baltimore, Md.
Be Conference 2008 will host the Be User Group Officers meeting.

Florida Local Users Group (FLUG) Spring Conference
May 28-30, Radisson Resort at the Port in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Bentley Plant Users Group
Sept. 17-19, Biloxi, Miss.

Watch for more upcoming Be User Group events.
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Bentley Seminars       

SCI and Bentley Highlighting Floor Frequency Design with Upcoming Seminars
Dr. Tom Murray, founder of Structural Engineers Inc. and one of the world’s leading experts on floor vibration, developed a new design routine that allows engineers to determine the vibration response of steel floors. The routine, which was recently released in the SCI publication “P354 Design of Floors for Vibration: A New Approach,” has quickly become a fundamental design guide for structural engineers designing steel structures in the U.K. and Ireland.

Currently, Bentley – with the RAM Structural System – is the only company in the U.K. to have fully implemented this new design routine. It’s done so by providing a link from its system for designing steel buildings to Dr. Murray’s FloorvibeUK program.

To highlight the work of SCI and FloorvibeUK, the SCI and Bentley will be running free seminars throughout the U.K. and Ireland in May and June of this year.

>> more

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Bentley eSeminars      

Find the most recent and most popular MicroStation/ProjectWise, Building, Civil, Geospatial, and Plant eSeminars from Bentley, with links to Bentley resources in each vertical.
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InRoads Cross Sections: Features and Drainage System, XM Edition
March 20
Richard Morrow, Bentley Civil Application Engineer, addresses techniques for using features and drainage structures in cross sections and profiles.
>> more 

Connected by ProjectWise
You can improve project team collaboration without changing the way your team works. See how ProjectWise Explorer is as easy and intuitive as Windows Explorer, only better. Effectively manage reference files, find files quickly and collaborate with others across all projects when your project team is Connected by ProjectWise.
>> more

Video spotlights Barge Waggoner’s ProjectWise success
See how Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon is using ProjectWise to connect people and information across project teams – no matter where they are located – to improve quality, reduce rework, and meet deadlines. The firm has created a solution that integrates ProjectWise with Microsoft SharePoint to enable work sharing among 12 offices across three states.
 
“People not being utilized 100 percent of the time is a cost and an inefficiency for us,” said David Davidson, president and COO of Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon. “Through organization-wide adoption of ProjectWise and SharePoint, we have been able to increase utilization and raise the revenue per head by approximately 25 percent.”

Independent ROI reports verify that all engineers in an organization can save up to 15 percent of their annual cost when sharing work with ProjectWise.

“The quality of our projects has really been enhanced through the ProjectWise and SharePoint portals because we can disseminate information so quickly and because we can tie everyone together through one standard,” Davidson said.

Watch the video now!

Bentley Map XM Edition - the new desktop GIS for mapping and engineering the world’s infrastructure
This one-hour eSeminar demonstrates how Bentley Map, a full desktop GIS, addresses the specific needs of organizations that map, plan, design, build, and operate the world’s infrastructure. The core desktop product in the Bentley geospatial architecture, it integrates seamlessly with the Bentley Geospatial Server and Bentley’s mobile, Web-publishing and industry-specific applications. It is also the preferred platform for customized geospatial workflows delivered by third parties. Bentley Map is one way that Bentley is advancing GIS for infrastructure.
>> more

Information Program for PDS Users
See our video and links to a new utility for ProjectWise and PDS users that enables ProjectWise to automatically manage PDS deliverables.
>> more (video, white paper, and contact point for the free utility) 

Bentley LEARN
This OnDemand eSeminar was created by recording a live, instructor-led distance learning session delivered by the Bentley Institute. You will experience how this learning environment delivers real-time instruction and collaboration right to your desktop. You’ll see how live, instructor-led distance learning

• Delivers live instruction to any desktop
• Provides real-time interaction with the instructor
• Offers an excellent learning environment
• Is effective for individuals and groups
• Provides a virtual classroom for simultaneously training users from multiple offices
• Reduces time away from the office
• Requires no travel

>> more 

eSeminars available from Integrated Structural Solutions Seminar
Bentley’s Structural Engineering Group held a seminar on integrated structural solutions for plant applications in Houston. One of the attendees, James Yong, PE, SE with TechnipUSA, said, “I was very impressed with the seminar. In fact, I am requesting that my company purchase RAM Connection and STAAD.foundation licenses after viewing the capabilities of the programs.”
 
The seminar highlighted the new version of STAAD.Pro, as well as the integration with RAM Connection and STAAD.foundation. The seminar demonstrated an integrated workflow for industrial structures utilizing STAAD.Pro 2007, STAAD.foundation and RAM Connection.

View the seminar:

Integrated Structural Design for Industrial Structures (STAAD.Pro - Part 1)
 

Integrated Structural Design for Industrial Structures (STAAD.Pro - Part 2)
 

Integrated Structural Design for Industrial Structures (RAM Connection)
 

Integrated Structural Design for Industrial Structures (STAAD.foundation)
 

ProjectWise Navigator
Learn more about ProjectWise Navigator and find out what this visual collaboration tool can do for you. You’ll learn how to assemble 2D/3D content, how to check-in/check-out transactions, how to review project designs, and more.
>> more 

Bentley Data Manager/Bentley Datasheets eSeminar
Learn about Bentley Data Manager and Bentley Datasheets, including how to create views in the database, what datasheets are, datasheet synchronization, and more.
>> more 

AutoPLANT P&ID
Learn more about AutoPLANT P&ID, including how to use the symbol manager, what P&ID is, how to use the assembly manager, and more.
>> more 

AutoPLANT Equipment
Learn what AutoPLANT Equipment can do for you, including how to model parametric equipment, how to place and orient nozzles, how to create custom equipment, and more.
>> more 

AutoPLANT Piping
Learn more about AutoPLANT Piping, including how to route and place piping components in a 3D environment, how to automatically generate bills of materials, and more.
>> more 

Create PDF with MicroStation V8 XM Edition
Watch this eSeminar to learn about the immutable PDF file-publishing capabilities of MicroStation. See how easy it is to add comments to PDF files using Adobe Acrobat. Learn how to attach PDF files as references in a DGN, and learn how to create interactive 3D PDF files that contain rendered models with switchable level or layer structures and pre-defined animations for playback and review.
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ProjectWise Passport
Did you know that every MicroStation license covered by a current Bentley SELECT agreement is eligible for a ProjectWise Passport at no additional charge? And did you know that each ProjectWise Passport licenses its holder to use a number of Bentley products, including ProjectWise StartPoint, ProjectWise Navigator, and ProjectWise InterPlot Organizer?
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Visual Collaboration with ProjectWise Navigator
Joe Croser, global marketing director, Bentley Platform and SELECT, highlights the challenges associated with assembling a variety of project content in one place for design review and analysis. You can learn to:

• Assemble 2D/3D content from hundreds of applications and file stores
• Review designs and models in an immersive and homogenous environment
• Enrich content by adding comments, project links, and materials for visualization
• Analyze and simulate construction schedules and assess buildability
• Produce portable and intelligent work packages for downstream activities

>>more

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Bentley Institute training calendar     

Find the Bentley Institute training that best fits your needs.
>> more 

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Bentley white papers      

Making PDS Interoperable
In a recent user survey taken by Bentley, 90 percent said the transition from PDS is important to them. However, only 28 percent said they had enough information to make a decision on which route to take.

This paper is intended to fill that information gap. It sets out options for PDS users to continue gaining value from their PDS systems, and to take an evolutionary approach toward a transition using the components of Bentley’s DigitalPlant solution. It also provides information about future developments that will help users work out the timing of investments.
>>more 

Managing PDS Documents Effectively
Failing to manage and track all the work-in-progress design files for the complete project makes the synchronization between distributed design teams virtually impossible, and can have disastrous consequences for the project. This white paper investigates the processes involved in managing PDS projects and makes recommendations for process improvements.
>>more 

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MicroStation tips from askinga.com      

(Free registration required)

Reorder the tasks list in MicroStation
To place your custom tasks below the delivered tasks, set MS_GUIDGNLIBLIST to:
$(MSDIR)ustation.dgnlib;PathToYourDGNLIB
When MicroStation is started it will process the files found by this variable in the order listed.
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Unlock angle preservation when modifying fence vertices
When using the <>Modify Fence tool with the modify mode set to Vertex, you can unlock the angle preservation by tapping the ALT key after selecting the vertex to modify. (With thanks to Dinesh Shetti for sharing this on the discussion groups!)
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Open only a single instance of MicroStation from Windows Explorer
With thanks to Phil Chouinard for this gem:
If you normally double-click your files in Windows Explorer to open them, it’s more than possible to have multiple copies of MicroStation open and running. To prevent this from happening, add the  SingleInstance qualifier to the Open command as outlined below.
>> more

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© 2008 Bentley Systems, Incorporated. 685 Stockton Drive, Exton, PA USA 19341.

Bentley, the “B” Bentley logo, Be, Bentley Building Electrical Systems, Bentley Geospatial Server, Bentley Institute, Bentley LEARN, Bentley Map, Bentley Structural, Bentley SELECT, AutoPLANT, AutoPLANT P&ID, AutoPLANT Equipment, AutoPLANT Piping, Digital InterPlot, DigitalPlant, GEOPAK, InRoads, InterPlot, MicroStation, MicroStation PowerDraft, ProjectWise, ProjectWise Explorer, ProjectWise Navigator, ProjectWise Passport, ProjectWise StartPoint, RAM, RAM Connection, RAM Structural System, SELECT, STAAD, STAAD.foundation, STAAD.Pro, WaterCAD, and WaterGEMS are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated, or one of its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.