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Attach a DGN file as an underlay and import the DGN file, and understand the differences between these options.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
6 min.
Transcript
00:04
Autocad can externally reference more file types than just DWG files,
00:09
various file formats such as JPEG
00:13
and Tiff
00:14
can be X reffed into Autocad,
00:17
DWFDGN,
00:20
PDF files,
00:22
point cloud files
00:24
and rit coordinations model files can also be externally XREF
00:30
in this session,
00:31
I'll focus primarily on DGN files as these are
00:35
files that many C ad designers have issues using
00:39
DGN files come from micro station
00:42
design firms use this software largely when they're involved in roadway projects,
00:47
but firms will use it on a variety of project types.
00:51
Occasionally, these files may be provided to you from a consultant
00:56
and you may need to bring them into your drawings.
00:58
Much like PDF files.
01:00
DGN files can be brought in as underlays or imported into a drawing file.
01:07
DGN underlay is a good option if the
01:10
DGN file is coming from outside of your organization
01:14
and you only need to show it as background information in your drawing file.
01:19
This can prevent file corruption in your drawings.
01:23
Let's see how this works.
01:24
As we bring in a survey drawing that was created in DGN format,
01:30
I'll start off creating a new drawing
01:33
from the civil DWT file that's in our data set
01:38
to get started with the D GN underlay,
01:41
I'll type in the X ref
01:43
command
01:44
and in the external references pallet, I'll go to the upper left hand corner,
01:48
click on the drop down
01:50
and choose attach DG
01:52
N
01:54
in the select reference file dialog box. I'll grab the survey DG N
01:59
click the open button
02:02
and in the attached D
02:03
GN underlay dialogue box, I'll accept
02:07
all the default settings
02:09
but I want to point out path type
02:12
just as with other reference file types.
02:16
You have a choice of no path, relative path
02:19
or full path.
02:22
For this example, I'm going to keep it as relative path
02:26
and then click the OK button.
02:28
Depending on the complexity of the DGN file, you're referencing
02:33
the import process may take a little while.
02:36
But once you see that if the status is loaded,
02:40
you can close out of the external references, pallet
02:44
do a zoom extents
02:46
in your D GN underlay
02:48
will be available for viewing
02:50
after the D GN underlay is placed in the drawing,
02:54
click on one of the elements
02:57
and notice that everything is selected kind of like a block.
03:01
Also notice it has a frame.
03:04
Special tools and commands are available on the contextual ribbon.
03:09
These tools include
03:11
a clipping boundary
03:14
and D GN enable snap
03:17
DG
03:18
N
03:18
import will import the line work from the DG
03:21
N file into a drawing file
03:24
before using this option directly in your design.
03:27
It's highly recommended to import the DGN file into a
03:31
clean empty drawing first to ensure that there's no corruption.
03:36
The geometry can be inserted as a block and exploded.
03:40
After bringing it into your design file,
03:42
these extra steps could help keep issues from coming into your project
03:48
to get started.
03:49
I'll delete the reference
03:51
for the DGN underlay.
03:54
Then
03:55
we'll go to the insert tab
03:57
over to the import panel.
03:60
We'll click on the drop down for PDF import
04:03
and we'll click on DGN import.
04:08
We'll grab the same survey drawing,
04:11
click open
04:14
and in the import D
04:16
GN settings dialogue box,
04:19
ensure that the import into current drawing is checked on.
04:24
Also notice
04:26
we have the option to prefix dependent definitions
04:30
or ignore, duplicate names,
04:33
select a design model from the DGN file.
04:36
We have options to
04:38
translate references to blocks,
04:41
ignore all references
04:43
or attach them as ad GN underlay.
04:48
We also have mapping preview standards as well.
04:51
This can be handy if you continuously have to get DGN files from consultants
04:58
and bring them into your projects.
05:00
Now click on the OK button to start the import process.
05:05
Once again, depending on the complexity of the DGN file,
05:09
it may take a little time for this to happen.
05:12
But once it's done
05:14
to a zoom extents
05:16
in your DGN file has been brought in this time. However,
05:21
you can click on objects
05:24
and see that there are individual objects
05:27
in your drawing, such as line mark blocks,
05:30
etcetera
05:32
with individual objects in your drawing.
05:35
These items could also be incorporated in your design without modification.
05:40
An example of this would be using the roadway line work such as the center line
05:47
creating stationing along that station line
05:50
and then using it
05:52
to reference a roadway alignment.
05:55
There are many different file types that can be X
05:58
reffed in autocad.
05:59
This provides a designer options if the files you want to reference are in a format,
06:05
other than DWG,
06:07
like PDFs,
06:09
DG
06:09
N can either be used as a background or converted to AUTOCAD line work geometry.
Video transcript
00:04
Autocad can externally reference more file types than just DWG files,
00:09
various file formats such as JPEG
00:13
and Tiff
00:14
can be X reffed into Autocad,
00:17
DWFDGN,
00:20
PDF files,
00:22
point cloud files
00:24
and rit coordinations model files can also be externally XREF
00:30
in this session,
00:31
I'll focus primarily on DGN files as these are
00:35
files that many C ad designers have issues using
00:39
DGN files come from micro station
00:42
design firms use this software largely when they're involved in roadway projects,
00:47
but firms will use it on a variety of project types.
00:51
Occasionally, these files may be provided to you from a consultant
00:56
and you may need to bring them into your drawings.
00:58
Much like PDF files.
01:00
DGN files can be brought in as underlays or imported into a drawing file.
01:07
DGN underlay is a good option if the
01:10
DGN file is coming from outside of your organization
01:14
and you only need to show it as background information in your drawing file.
01:19
This can prevent file corruption in your drawings.
01:23
Let's see how this works.
01:24
As we bring in a survey drawing that was created in DGN format,
01:30
I'll start off creating a new drawing
01:33
from the civil DWT file that's in our data set
01:38
to get started with the D GN underlay,
01:41
I'll type in the X ref
01:43
command
01:44
and in the external references pallet, I'll go to the upper left hand corner,
01:48
click on the drop down
01:50
and choose attach DG
01:52
N
01:54
in the select reference file dialog box. I'll grab the survey DG N
01:59
click the open button
02:02
and in the attached D
02:03
GN underlay dialogue box, I'll accept
02:07
all the default settings
02:09
but I want to point out path type
02:12
just as with other reference file types.
02:16
You have a choice of no path, relative path
02:19
or full path.
02:22
For this example, I'm going to keep it as relative path
02:26
and then click the OK button.
02:28
Depending on the complexity of the DGN file, you're referencing
02:33
the import process may take a little while.
02:36
But once you see that if the status is loaded,
02:40
you can close out of the external references, pallet
02:44
do a zoom extents
02:46
in your D GN underlay
02:48
will be available for viewing
02:50
after the D GN underlay is placed in the drawing,
02:54
click on one of the elements
02:57
and notice that everything is selected kind of like a block.
03:01
Also notice it has a frame.
03:04
Special tools and commands are available on the contextual ribbon.
03:09
These tools include
03:11
a clipping boundary
03:14
and D GN enable snap
03:17
DG
03:18
N
03:18
import will import the line work from the DG
03:21
N file into a drawing file
03:24
before using this option directly in your design.
03:27
It's highly recommended to import the DGN file into a
03:31
clean empty drawing first to ensure that there's no corruption.
03:36
The geometry can be inserted as a block and exploded.
03:40
After bringing it into your design file,
03:42
these extra steps could help keep issues from coming into your project
03:48
to get started.
03:49
I'll delete the reference
03:51
for the DGN underlay.
03:54
Then
03:55
we'll go to the insert tab
03:57
over to the import panel.
03:60
We'll click on the drop down for PDF import
04:03
and we'll click on DGN import.
04:08
We'll grab the same survey drawing,
04:11
click open
04:14
and in the import D
04:16
GN settings dialogue box,
04:19
ensure that the import into current drawing is checked on.
04:24
Also notice
04:26
we have the option to prefix dependent definitions
04:30
or ignore, duplicate names,
04:33
select a design model from the DGN file.
04:36
We have options to
04:38
translate references to blocks,
04:41
ignore all references
04:43
or attach them as ad GN underlay.
04:48
We also have mapping preview standards as well.
04:51
This can be handy if you continuously have to get DGN files from consultants
04:58
and bring them into your projects.
05:00
Now click on the OK button to start the import process.
05:05
Once again, depending on the complexity of the DGN file,
05:09
it may take a little time for this to happen.
05:12
But once it's done
05:14
to a zoom extents
05:16
in your DGN file has been brought in this time. However,
05:21
you can click on objects
05:24
and see that there are individual objects
05:27
in your drawing, such as line mark blocks,
05:30
etcetera
05:32
with individual objects in your drawing.
05:35
These items could also be incorporated in your design without modification.
05:40
An example of this would be using the roadway line work such as the center line
05:47
creating stationing along that station line
05:50
and then using it
05:52
to reference a roadway alignment.
05:55
There are many different file types that can be X
05:58
reffed in autocad.
05:59
This provides a designer options if the files you want to reference are in a format,
06:05
other than DWG,
06:07
like PDFs,
06:09
DG
06:09
N can either be used as a background or converted to AUTOCAD line work geometry.
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