By Bentley Technical Support Group, Technical Support Engineer, Bentley Corporate Office
09 February 2004
Enhanced Level Control of Nested Attachment
The upcoming MicroStation V8 2004 Edition has an enhanced level control of nested reference file attachments. Users can edit the attributes of nested reference files that contain the same attributes and are attached to the active file in more than one way, and they can edit them from their direct attachment. Setting the configuration in Figure 1A will allow for editing nested attachments.
Variable for Controlling Nest Attachments
When set, the MS_LEVEL_EDIT_NESTED_ATTACHMENT_LEVELS configuration variable lets you edit the attributes of levels in nested reference attachments (set the value equal to "1").
Figure 1B illustrates how a nested file is attached to the active file in three ways. Sample C.dgn is nested under Sample B.dgn twice and under Sample D.dgn once. These three design files are referenced to Sample A.dgn to complete this example. After setting the variable, you will have the ability to edit Sample C.dgn from both Sample B.dgn and Sample D.dgn in three different ways to add unique change to the files attributes.
Figure 1C shows an example of the active file Sample A.dgn. It displays Sample C.dgn, which is nested three times. The following three images illustrate the stages needed to make changes to each nested file from Figure 1D to Figure 1F.
Update levels
With the added ability to edit nested reference file attachments comes the ability to use the preexisting key-in for updating levels. The Update Levels icon or key-in will now update the nested reference file attachment when the file is selected in the list.
Possible reference attachment issue
If the reference file is attached but it is not showing the nested files in the Level Manager correctly, it is possible that the files attached are redundant. The term redundant was introduced with MicroStation V8 with the use of attaching reference files and live nesting; it means duplicated or unnecessary. For example, if a reference file is attached to the master file multiple times coincidentally, it is redundant. To ensure that the same design file is not considered redundant, move the reference file placement in the direct attachment. Keep in mind that when moving a nested reference file, it will affect the reference file in the order it was attached.
Newly introduced V8.5 level configuration variables
MS_NEST_COLORADJUSTMENT:
If not set, the color adjustment for the top-level reference controls the color adjustment for all nested references. When set to any value, nested reference color adjustments at each level are multiplied to get the net adjustment. For example, with C attached to B with a saturation adjustment of 80%, and B attached to A with a saturation adjustment of 70%, C will display in A with a saturation adjustment of 56% if MS_NEST_COLORADJUSTMENT is defined, and with saturation adjustment of 70% if it is not.
MS_LEVEL_LOAD_ATTACHMENT_FILTERS:
If defined, then level-filters of the reference attachment are loaded.
MS_REF_NEWLEVELDISPLAY:
If set, MicroStation displays newly created levels in references.
MS_REF_DONTHILITEFORMANIP:
By default, MicroStation highlights all elements in a reference file when the reference is manipulated (move, rotate, scale, etc.). If MS_REF_DONTHILITEFORMANIP is set to any value, this highlighting is disabled. This can speed up reference manipulations, but it is more difficult to tell which references are getting manipulated.
See Also
MicroStation Desktop TechNotes and FAQs
Comments or Corrections?
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This Client Server article is republished in its entirety from 2004 for reference purposes.