Applies To | |||
Product(s): | MicroStation TriForma | ||
Version(s): | All | ||
Environment: | N/A | ||
Area: | N/A | ||
Subarea: | N/A | ||
Original Author: | Bentley Technical Support Group | ||
MicroStation TriForma is an easy-to-use high-performance 3D architectural modeling and documentation application that offers an advanced, integrated approach to building design and drawing production.
For Versions 5.5 and earlier: Choose Applications > TriForma > Configuration and select the variable TFDIR. Assuming you're using a default installation, edit the value \TRIFORMA\ by appending either \TUTORIAL\ENGLISH\ or \TUTORIAL\METRIC\. For Example: C:\TRIFORMA\TUTORIAL\ENGLISH\. Click OK when done.
For Versions 5.7+: From the MicroStation Manager, chose either Tutor_e (English units tutorial) or Tutor_m (metric units tutorial).
The .TFB file is automatically created when you open a new MicroStation TriForma file. It is a file used to cache MicroStation TriForma parasolid information so that MicroStation TriForma does not need to recalculate parasolid information each time a solid is manipulated; it can reuse the information already stored in the *.TFB file. You can delete these files after you close your design files; it will not affect the file. However, a new file will be created every time you open your design file. If you move your files to another directory you do NOT have to move the .TFB files.
If you delete these files, MicroStation TriForma will need to recalculate the parasolid information the next time you manipulate each solid.
You can't prevent MicroStation TriForma from creating these files, but you can stop it from writing to them (the file will still be created). To do this, define the variable TF_NOFILLCACHE=1. Choose Workspace > Configuration and click the New Button. In the New Variable field type TF_NOFILLCACHE and in the New Value field enter 1.
The *.HST file is created after you process a section in a model. This file stores information concerning any changes you make to your design file so that MicroStation TriForma can process the partial updates to your design file. If you delete this file the only thing you lose is the ability to process a partial update to your section. Once deleted, another file will not be created until you process a new section. If you want to clean out these files and maintain your ability for a partial update, there is a key-in that will clear out the *.HST file contents (TFPURGE HISTORY), but will not delete it.
Choose Applications > TriForma > Preferences. Adjust Auto Dimensions font size and click OK. When you regenerate your section file, the dimensions will respect the new setting.
Use the MicroStation Create Chain tool and identify the B-spline curve. This converts the B-spline curve to a complex chain. Next, use the TriForma Extrude Linear Element To Form tool to extrude the complex chain to a form.
Because you have the option of assigning different views in the group file to different portions of the Section Document (Section, Forward View, Reflected View) you can have different levels processed for each. So you would follow steps 5 and 6 for each view. Or you can set them all to the same view to process the same levels for each of the 2D document portions.
So basically you are using a group file to set up a visual display of the levels that you wish to have processed when you create your Section.
This message indicates that MicroStation TriForma cannot find something that a variable is pointing to. This would happen if one of the TriForma subdirectories had been moved or deleted, for example. Unless you remember changing something about TriForma (use the Edit Configuration dialog box that is automatically displayed to change it back), your best option is to contact Support to help you reset your variables to the appropriate locations.
In MicroStation TriForma for MicroStation/J, you may recieve this message if you have not used the TriForma icon to start the program. This icon calls a specific configuration file that sets variables necessary for TriForma to run. If you have not used the icon, the variables are not processed and this message will appear. Close the application, and restart TriForma using the icon that was created when you installed TriForma.
Brackets must enclose the value. For example, [3:6] would represent the value 3 feet 6 inches.
To edit a frame, Use the TriForma Info tool and select the frame. Highlight the Features category and click the Edit Frame button. This will call up the Parametric Frame Builder and load the commands used to construct the selected frame. Make the changes you wish and then use the Apply button to update the frame placed in the design file. If you have placed the Frame as a Shared Cell, you will have the option to update all instances of the cell, or just the particular one you selected.
There are several settings within the Parametric Frame Builder that need to be set. Under the Category Set Thickness set the following values to 0.
MicroStation TriForma will extrude the linear forms in the Z direction for the active rotation of AccuDraw. Before extruding, be sure to rotate AccuDraw so that the +Z axis is in the direction that you wish the forms to extrude. Or set the User Direction in the Offset Direction dialog box. This will define the direction of extrusion for the forms being created. To set the user direction, choose Application > TriForma > Offset/Direction. The "Z" value must be set to something other than zero.
Be sure to turn on Constructions by choosing Settings > View Attributes before using the Element Selection tool. If Constructions is not toggled on, the doors/windows will not be part of the selection set and therefore will not move, etc. with the walls.
This may be because the perforators which cut the form when the frame is placed are rendering. Choose Settings > View Attributes > Constructions. This should be Off. If you want Constructions on, be sure when creating your Parametric Frame that you send the perforators to a level that will be turned off when rendering. Choose Parametric Frame Builder > Set Symbology > Select Interior and Exterior Perforators and set the level.
You should use the same methods normally used to export a DGN file with the addition of creating a frozen layer called CONSTRUCTION_CLASS. The information that is considered construction class in MicroStation TriForma is placed on this layer.
In addition, be sure to choose the proper source view number on export as AutoCAD has no level symbology per view. If you use default (none) all levels will be translated.
To successfully export TriForma files to DXF do the following (be sure you are in a copy of the design file):
The same methods used to normally import a DGN file are used. Be sure Frozen Layers is turned on when importing and check that the level called Frozen Layers is turned on in the MicroStation file.
The variable TFDIR_XLS needs to point to the directory that contains the TriForma spreadsheet template (triforma.xls). By default this file is stored in the ...Bentley/Workspace/TriForma/Seed/ directory.
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