OpenDGN represents an unprecedented commitment to maximizing your return on investment in AEC content by encouraging and facilitating its re-use. It is the strongest statement of openness in the history of AEC and contributes to the interoperability of the digital information upon which architects, engineers, contractors, and owner-operators rely.
OpenDGN enables managed environments for AEC projects and operations—where tools leverage a unifying platform; where AEC information is securely shared and synchronized; and where people, regardless of location or discipline, have the right information to make the best decision for their task.
OpenDGN's scope furthers your managed environment and ensures that the intellectual property you create belongs to you. Our interest in providing you with an open exchange of information and choices is extensive and includes:
Questions? Comments? Please let us know.
Bentley View
Bentley View extends the accessibility of AEC data for MicroStation, AutoCAD, or hybrid projects. It is absolutely free for anyone to download and use. Designed for casual users, Bentley View enables the native viewing of both DGN and DWG drawings and models. It combines easy-to-use viewing, measuring, and printing tools with the ability to review design history for DGN files.
Bentley Redline
Subscribers to Bentley SELECT, Bentley's premier service and technology subscription program—and their external project participants—have unlimited, free access to Bentley Redline. Bentley Redline is a multi-function viewing, redlining and print-to-scale solution that extends the reach of design and engineering data. It delivers comprehensive design review, annotation and printing tools for both DGN and DWG content and was designed for project participants who need to integrate with the managed environment and contribute to the design process.. Mark-ups are easily managed and integrated into designs, enhancing project collaboration and communication and allowing for an efficient transition from mark-ups to design changes. Bentley Redline supports Microsoft's Visual Basic for Applications environment for customization.
MDL and Product APIs
The integration of one of the most popular programming environments in the world into MicroStation V8 provides MicroStation users (as well as developers) with a large number of capabilities—from easy customization to tight integration with other Windows applications. Developers who want to embed or extend functionality in MicroStation and Bentley products can easily do so with available APIs and SDKs.
MicroStation includes MDL, which provides libraries that allow 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.
Information on MicroStation VBA is included with the documentation that is delivered with the product—see SELECTservices Online. Documentation for programming with MDL is included with the MicroStation SDK.
V8 DGN Libraries from the Open Design Alliance
The Open Design Alliance is a consortium that develops software libraries for members of that alliance to use to read and write V8 DGN files. Bentley is a supporting member in the Alliance—the first, in fact, of this membership category—and provides full documentation and technical support to the Alliance for its implementation, delivery, and maintenance of software libraries to read and write Bentley's format, V8 DGN.
Bentley does not contribute software code nor do we distribute those libraries. Support for those libraries is exclusively through the Open Design Alliance.
V8 DGN Specification
We have created a document that describes the native DGN file format used by the V8 generation of products. This file format is sometimes referred to as the "V8 DGN" format. The contents of the V8 DGN Specification document are sufficient to allow a skilled programmer to interpret the data within the V8 DGN file that MicroStation creates and processes.
To access the V8 DGN specification document, certain conditions must be met:
- Download the MicroStation V8 File Format Reference request form. If upon reading it, you agree to its terms, print it and fill in the information requested.
- Mail or fax the completed form to the Bentley OpenDGN Coordinator:
Bentley OpenDGN Coordinator
Bentley Systems, Incorporated
685 Stockton Drive
Exton, PA
19341-0678 USA
opendgn@bentley.comFAX: +1 610 458-1060
- Information regarding how to obtain the MicroStation V8 File Format Reference document will be sent to you.