Adding Custom Annotation Scale in ProStructures CONNECT Edition


 Product(s):ProStructures CONNECT Edition
 Version(s):CONNECT Edition (10.xx.00.xx)
 Environment:N/A
 Area:Scale
 Subarea:Annotation Scale
 Original Author:Sandip Kar, Bentley Product Advantage Group

Background

The Annotation Scales available in the interface are being read from the active Scale Definition file as pointed to by the variable MS_CUSTOMSCALEDEF. By default the variable points to "C:\Program Files\Bentley\ProStructures CONNECT Edition\ProStructures\Default\Data\scales.def"

Thus in order to add/remove scales, the definition file will need to be edited. This task should be left to your Site Administrator and it is not recommended to modify the delivered file, but instead add a new one to the organizations configuration at the appropriate level ( Workspace / Workset ... ).

The scales.def file used in previous V8i version is now changed in CONNECT Edition. In previous versions all available drawing scales were defined in scales.def file irrespective of any unit system. This behavior has now changed in MicroStation CONNECT Edition. The displayed selection of available Annotation Scales is dependent on the active model’s Master Unit setting.  This document will explain how to create custom scale.

Method

The Annotation Scale drop-down list allows you to change the active Annotation Scale. In previous versions of ProSructures, all available drawing scales defined in your scales.def file were displayed. This behavior has changed in ProStructures CONNECT Edition. The displayed selection of available Annotation Scales is dependent on the active model’s Master Unit setting.

1. For English master units the list will only display the english annotation scales.

2. For Metric master units the list will only display the metric annotation scales.

In V8i, when opened  Scales Definition file *.def as pointed to by the variable MS_CUSTOMSCALEDEF file from location “C:\ProgramData\Bentley\ProStructures V8i S8\WorkSpace\System\data”, you will see there are  two layers, one is Name to display the Scale factor in the user interface, and another is Scale factor.

But in CONNECT Edition when you open the Scale Definition file as pointed to by variable MS_CUSTOMSCALEDEF “C:\Program Files\Bentley\ProStructures CONNECT Edition\ProStructures\Default\Data”, You will see there are three layers

  1. Name: Used for display of the scale factor in the user interface.  By default special value "_[SYSTEM]_" is used to indicate that the program should use the standard built-in name. if needed custom scale then one need to write in place of "_SYSTEM_"
  2. PreScale, PostScale: Defines the scale factor as the ratio of PreScale divided by PostScale.
  3. UnitSystems: Used to filter the list of scales.  The user interface will typically use the active model's master units to control the visible scales.  Only scales that specify a system that matches the system of the active model will be displayed.  Multiple systems can be specified.  If  1,2,3 is specified then the scale will not be filtered based on the system.


Valid values for System are:

#   1 English (based on International Foot)

#   2 Metric

#   3 English (based on US Survey Foot)

So if you are using metric unit your unit should be used as 2.

So to customize the file follow the below steps.

1. Add additional line to represent the new required scals for example to add a 1:1250 scale



2. Save the Scales Definition file *.def

3. Open ProStructures and check the availability of the new 1:1250 scale.

So in this way you can customize the scale.def file to add custom scale.

See Also

communities.bentley.com/.../how-to-add-a-new-annotation-scale-to-the-interface