BE Newsletter: Issue #83

Archives

May 12, 2008

BE Newsletter
Technical Issue

Read the latest issue of BE Magazine

BE Conference 2008 Updates

ProjectWise Sessions at BE Conference 2008
There are 23 best-practice sessions covering a variety of areas, plant to transportation to imaging and beyond, and nine sessions on ProjectWise as a product at BE Conference 2008. Be sure not to miss the sessions most valuable to you.

>> more 

MicroStation tips from BE Conference 2007: Google Warehouse
MicroStation can now directly link with Google Warehouse, allowing you to download and use 3D objects from the warehouse as cells within your own design files.
This tip was presented at BE Conference 2007 by Stephen Holmes, head of Consultancy Services at Cadventure. [www.cadventure.co.uk]

>> more

This year’s sponsors are:

Hewlett Packard, Leica, McGraw Hill, Microsoft

Our exhibitors include:

Archway, Altiva, Axiom, Cadsmart,  CASEnergy Coalistion, CE News, Daratech, Engineers Without Borders, Future Cities, GeoConnexxions, Geoinformatics, Geospatial Information and Technology Association (GITA), GeoWorld, GIS Development, Hewlett Packard, Hope Worldwide, IT and Factory, Leica, Mathcad, McGraw Hill, Microsoft, Simtra, Smooth Solutions, Structural Engineering, Transoft, and ZCorp.

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Discussion group threads

New Home for Bentley Discussion Groups

For some time, we have been hinting about some big changes in the works for the Bentley discussion groups – the time is here to tell you more.
 
Bentley discussion groups are moving to a new system that offers many capabilities beyond the current system. This is all a part of the BE Communities project to improve and expand communications for those who design, build, and operate the world’s infrastructure. You will hear much more about BE Communities at BE Conference 2008 and beyond.
 
To provide advance notice to those who contribute to and read the Bentley discussion groups, here is an overview of some important changes:

• In addition to Solutions forums, there will be forums in BE Communities to post inquiries on any Bentley product. However, to make it easier to find where to post questions and get answers, we are reorganizing the discussion groups. This means not all existing discussion.bentley.com groups will have an exact match in BE Communities.
• For each existing discussion.bentley.com group, we will post articles to help you identify where in the BE Communities you should go to post and read articles.
• Each discussion group on discussion.bentley.com will be made read-only. We plan to transition 10 to 15 groups at a time to read-only. The groups with most activity will be the last to transition. Although there will be a brief period of overlap between the two systems, the intent is to transition entirely to the new BE Communities forums.

Existing discussion.bentley.com content will not be moved to the BE Communities forums because it uses a different storage technique and much of the information would not translate accurately. However, the discussion.bentley.com repository will remain online, read-only, and will be searchable, so it will always be possible to find answers to the questions posted there. When we start to move Bentley discussion groups to its new home, we anticipate the transition will take about a week. Please note that although there might be some unforeseen issues during the transition, we will do our best to keep those to a minimum so the highly valuable information exchanges can continue with as little interruption as possible.

We very much appreciate your understanding and patience during the transition to this great new system. Should you have any questions regarding the move, please post them in bentley.general. In their new home, the Bentley discussion groups will be an even better place to learn new tips and tricks with Bentley products and to hear the frank views of other users.

To search the current 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:

When placing or editing dimensions in a V8 DGN file, what might cause them to be dropped to simple elements?
 
 
How can you determine the angle between two lines using MicroStation VBA?
 

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    

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

Free Report: How to Reduce Errors in Your Engineering Calculations
This free report shows you the pitfalls of using spreadsheets to create your engineering calculations. 
Learn the right tools and techniques to reduce errors – calculation tools that use real math notation, capture engineering logic for easy auditing, and integrate with MicroStation.  Download this FREE White Paper: Moving Beyond the Limitations of Spreadsheets. 

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.

 
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Bentley tip

SELECTservice Online Web Downloads/MySELECT CD enhanced
The MySELECT CD feature of Bentley’s SELECTservices Online Web Downloads page has been updated to make it easier to search for and download Bentley products. One significant update is the removal of the Operating System pick list. The operating system on which each product or download is certified for use is displayed after the results are returned.

Submitted by: Mike Masucci, SELECTservices Online Project Manager

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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

>> more 

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.

>> more 

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.

>> more

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."

>> more

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?
>> more 

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.

>> more 

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

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.

>> more

 
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Bentley Seminars

Water leakage detection using WaterGEMS or WaterCAD V8 XM

Learn about water leakage detection in a water distribution system and how to use the Darwin Calibrator module in the latest versions of WaterGEMS and WaterCAD V8 XM Edition.
What you can learn:

• Easily import observed flows for graphical comparison with computed ones
• Flexibly set up and perform leakage detection runs using Darwin Calibrator
• Automatically conduct multiple optimization runs without human interactions
• Effectively create a leakage map to pinpoint problem for the detection crew for quick field investigation
• Evaluate the improvement of the model accuracy after leakage detection

>> more 

RAM Structural System: True interoperability with the Revit Structure Link
Bidirectional integration between the RAM Structural System (RSS) and Revit Structure enables you to analyze and design buildings within the RSS environment and subsequently use Revit Structure for multidisciplinary collaboration as well as documentation!

You can benefit from the integrated environment if:

• In the creation of construction documents, the redline and review process is time-consuming and eats into your profits.
• By not using a BIM solution that provides integration with your design and documentation, errors are more likely.
• Not having a collaborating design team decreases quality and productivity in the project.
  
  The integrated environment will:
  
• Improve internal processes by linking engineering and CAD departments to eliminate tedious and costly redlining and review processes
• Enable effective communication with the rest of the design team - collaboration
• Streamline processes - higher profit margins and fewer errors
  
  Benefits for Structural Engineers:
  
• Start in RAM Structural System or Revit Structure
• Import or Export from Revit Structure
  o Make changes in either application
  o Update and synchronize models
  
  Kevin Billings, CAD Production Manager with Hart Gaugler & Associates had this to say regarding the link: “I like that the software provides back and forth updates. This saves us a tremendous amount of time.  The two way communication is key for us to efficiently implement architectural changes quickly.  We can update the RAM and Revit portion at the same time, it works very well for us.” 

To find out more and to download the RAM Structural System-Revit link visit  http://www.bentley.com/en-US/Promo/Structural+Team/RSS+Revit.htm. You can view a recording of our live eSeminar as well as see answers to frequently asked questions regarding the RAM Structural System-Revit Link.

To learn more about Bentley’s comprehensive structural solutions, visit www.Bentley.com/Structural

SCI and Bentley Highlighting Floor Frequency Design in 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, 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.

>> 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) 

Live Distance Learning
This OnDemand eSeminar was created by recording a live, instructor-led, 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 in Houston on integrated structural solutions for plant applications. 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.

>> more 

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?

>> more 

Visual Collaboration with ProjectWise Navigator
Joe Croser, global marketing director, platform products and subscriptions, 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 homogeneous 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 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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Bentley Institute training calendar

Find the Bentley Institute training that best fits your needs.

>> more 

 
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MicroStation tips from askinga.com

(Free registration required)

Key-in to lock the active element template
In MicroStation XM you can either set or lock the active element template.

>> more  

Open Windows Explorer at location of workspace files
Looking for the location of your UPF file? Or how about the workspace root folder? If so, then use these handy dandy key-ins as shared by Jon Summers on the discussion groups.

>> more  
 

Convert MDF files to DGNLIB
With thanks to Fred Skrobot for submitting this tip.

>> more 

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Bentley, the “B” Bentley logo, BE, Bentley Institute, Bentley Map, Bentley SELECT, AutoPLANT, Digital InterPlot, DigitalPlant, InterPlot, MicroStation, MicroStation PowerDraft, ProjectWise, ProjectWise Passport, ProjectWise StartPoint, RAM, RAM CADstudio, 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.