Developers who want to embed or extend functionality in MicroStation and Bentley products can easily do so with available APIs and SDKs.
MicroStation includes the MicroStation Development Language (MDL), which is a state-machine, event-driven programming environment that allows for seamless integration of professional quality applications with MicroStation and Bentley products. It is the recommended way to access MicroStation V8 DGN files with full fidelity. MDL facilitates development of applications by providing consistent functionality and capabilities across the products on which they run. MDL can be used to develop simple utilities, customized commands or sophisticated commercial applications for vertical markets.
All application dialog boxes, tool boxes and menus developed with MDL automatically conform to MicroStation's GUI. MDL is used by Bentley's developers as the tool to incorporate modular functionality into the product and includes compilers, linkers, a debugger and various libraries, which are all delivered with MicroStation. MicroStation V8 can also host and interface with a variety of programs and applications written in C, C++, C#, and Visual Basic.
MicroStation VBA, the MicroStation V8 implementation of the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications engine, one of the most popular programming environments in the world, provides MicroStation users (as well as developers) with a large number of capabilities -- from easy customization to tight integration with other Windows applications.
The MicroStationDGN object library is a powerful development platform to build upon, access, and integrate within your solutions.
More information on MDL and MicroStation VBA can be obtained from the product documentation and is available from SELECTservices Online.
Other sources of technical information for developers include:
Additional resources and options are available for commercial and in-house development.