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User Guide for MicroStation

The Engineering Applications Support Team provides documentation about the configuration of MicroStation in the topic lists below. The software is configured to produce graphics that adhere to ODOT standard symbologies. The topics below will give you information about choices that you have when using the software to produce ODOT deliverables.

​The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) configures and customizes Bentley products and other CAD software for agency use. Therefore, the applications may perform differently than the typical “out of the box” set up.  This User Guide provides guidance on how ODOT configures the software for its use.​

​The configuration for ODOT is provided in a WorkSpace named OregonDOT. To access ODOT standards, you must use either the local WorkSet named ODOT or the 9_WorkSet folder in a CONNECT Design Platform ProjectWise project.

The workspaceroot and worksetsroot are both accessed from a location on an ODOT computer in C:\ODOT.  This location is refreshed with every ODOT user logon to a computer that has MicroStation or OpenX software installed.

Seed Files, Cache Files, Cell Libraries and Level Names

A group of files (.dgnlib, .dgn, and .cel) provides the foundation for work created using Bentley products. Locations to these ODOT standard files are set using configuration variables so that the files are accessible to you when using the software with the OregonDOT Workspace.

​The following resources further explain the ODOT configuration.

​The ODOT discipline ribbon workflows are the location of the ODOT standard symbologies used in plans production with MicroStation or OpenX software. The ODOT standard symbologies are delivered via element templates, which set attributes such as level, color and line style for any item that is selected.

ODOT Standard Symbologies

​Printing can be one-off single-sheet printing set up using the Print dialog, or you can use the Print Organizer tool to set up print definitions for entire print sets. Printing is used to create PDFs, JPGs, and TIFFs, in addition to making hard copies.

Because there are many selectable attributes for printing, customized Print Styles have been created for you to use. Using a Print Style automatically sets print attributes (including printer driver configuration and pen tables) to match an ODOT standard.

Any time that your desired print output must match an ODOT standard, using a Print Style greatly streamlines the print setup process.

The Place Named Boundary tool allows you to select Drawing Boundary Seeds, that will quickly create a sheet that is the correct size and scale, and also has a border and title block.

​What is a "Seed" file?

​Every application has to have a starting point - a blank page, if you will. Microsoft Word uses a file named Normal.dot and calls it a template. Bentley ProjectWise also uses the word "template" for creating new documents. But, Bentley CAD programs use the word "seed" to describe the initial starting point. Just like a plant that grows in your garden, design files begin with a seed.

New seed files have been created and configured for ODOT use with MicroStation, OpenRoads Designer, OpenSite Designer, and OpenBridge Modeler.

Are you required to remember where the seed files are located? No, the software is configured to allow you to quickly [Browse…] to the seed files when you create new DGN files using the File>New… command.

If you are creating new DGN files inside a CONNECT Design Platform project in ProjectWise, use the ProjectWise command Document>New>Advanced Wizard…. Navigate to the Documents\CAD_Resources\Seed folder in the datasource; open the folder with the name of the software you will be using to edit the DGN file; and select a template and use the ODOT Naming Tool that is part of the Advanced Wizard.

​The OpenX and CAD Standards Committees have been working on efficient methods for using both MicroStation and the Bentley civil CAD software to produce contract plans. The following documents explain methods to create the files that display the design using OpenRoads/OpenSite Designer and methods of assembling that data into sheets using MicroStation.

Steps to Create an OPNP or XSEC_bas Design Deliverable

     OPNP File Creation

     XSEC_bas File Creatio​n​

3D Design Deliverables

The documents below explain methods to create 3D Design Deliverables for eBids and construction handoff packages using OpenRoads Designer.

​The question, is often asked, "into which model do I place my text?". These are the recommendations:

Orthogonal Text – Sheet model
Non-Orthogonal Text – Any model
Text that might need to appear in more than one sheet or different sheet cuts, and not orthogonal – Design-type or Drawing-type models.
Non-civil Text that is required to be orthogonal to the plan sheet – put this text in the sheet.  You can control the orientation of orthogonal text in the sheet with only two active angles: 0° or 90°. Examples are descriptive text, note text and legends, and ODOT bubble notes.
Plan text that is placed to be read “ahead on line and along a curved alignment” – it might be easier to put this text in either the drawing-type model or the design-type model; that way the text will appear in different sheet cuts. Civil plan annotations like stationing can be placed into a Civil Annotation Published File (ANNO_pub) and referenced into a Civil Annotation Base Container File (ANNO_bas_CF). The container file may be attached as a reference to an OPNP in the design-type model (Default) - that way the stationing will be displayed in cut, 11x17 drawing-type and sheet-type models created from the OPNP named boundaries​.
Profile text - put civil annotations in the drawing-type model; place non-civil annotations in either the drawing-type or the sheet-type model.
ODOT Bubble Notes – If the text within the bubble shape should be orthogonal to the sheet – the bubbles must be placed in the sheet model. This is a limitation of the current version of the ODOT Bubble tool.

CAD Base File - CAD technicians may populate a base model with civil annotations copied from civil design data in order to shift the location of annotation that would otherwise mask important design line work. This model is attached as a reference and the level of the civil annotations coming from a GEOM or ANNO file would be toggled off.
Warning! The CAD Base File should only be edited with MicroStation. If the CAD Base File is edited with a civil product like OpenRoads or OpenSite Designer, the copied civil annotations will be automatically updated to display the civil text field instead of the values.

ODOT CAD Preferences record the history of files that you open and settings about which tools are open. They are constantly updated and have a high possibility of corruption. If your software does not function as expected, you may benefit from resetting your CAD preferences.

Engineering Tips Webinar 06/01/2022 MicroStation: Errors and Messages; What To Do?​  ►42:24​