FOUNDATIONS
CONNECT PLANS PRODUCTION PROCESSES USING MICROSTATION CONNECT
TOPICS
• Models: Sheet model seeds - supports creating one-off sketches or plan
sheets.
• Container Files - supports understanding the structure of design deliverables to
project delivery activities.
• Live Nesting of References - supports accessing design data from other
disciplines and efficiently assembling contract plans.
• Design Deliverables - OPNP, XEC_bas, TERR_CF, CORR_CF, GEOM_CF - knowing
how these are created should help you better utilize them in your work.
MSCE or ORD?
• MicroStation CONNECT Drawing • OpenRoads Designer CONNECT
Ribbon Workflow Drawing Ribbon Workflow
The Drawing ribbon workflow in both MicroStation CONNECT and OpenRoads Designer is identical - showing the Home
tab with Attributes and Primary groups.
SEED FILES
• Design Model Seed Files
Software_Seed2D.dgn For Geometry, Corridors, Superelevation, All Container
Files, 2D Drafting
Software_Seed3D.dgn For Terrains and 3D Drafting; NOT for Container Files
• Drawing Model Seed File
• Sheet Model Seed File: Seed2D – Sheet.dgn
Both MicroStation CONNECT and OpenRoads Designer use seed files with the software name. The main one used for
almost everything in OpenRoads is OpenRoads_Seed2D.dgn. Container Files must be made from OpenRoads_Seed2D.dgn
There are six different sheet-type models available for beginning work. Some have boundaries and even titleblocks.
MODEL ANALOGY
SINGLE PAGE IN A NOTEBOOK A MODEL IN A DESIGN FILE (DGN)
A new model is like a blank page in a notebook - a fresh drawing place.
The new model doesn't have to be empty - it can be a template for standard work.
When we need a fresh place to work in a notebook, we turn the page. When working in a DGN file and we need a fresh
place to work, we can create a new model.
CHOICES WHEN MANUALLY CREATING NEW
MODELS
Design From Seed Sheet From Seed
• 2D • Sheet size
• 3D • Graphics
The icons that show the differences between models are also shown in the Models dialog. There are Type icons: Design,
Drawing, and Sheet – and there are 2D/3D icons.
DEMO
MicroStation CONNECT
Create New Sheet Models
CONTAINER FILES – THERE’S MORE INSIDE
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
Pretty sure the term “live nesting” is related to nesting dolls. Each doll nestled inside its parent doll is similar to a reference
attachment (child) inside the master DGN file (parent).
CONTAINER FILES
• MicroStation – CAD technicians have been using container files for referencing and
assembling plan sets for quite some time – a CAD Base File is a type of container file.
The Dependency Viewer in ProjectWise Explorer shows a CAD Base File with four reference attachments. A CAD Base
File is a type of container file.
OPENROADS DESIGNER CONTAINER FILES
OpenRoads Designer uses the container file concept to allow access to civil data through
reference attachments. Container files are created from OpenRoads_Seed2D.dgn.
Examples are R_K#####_CORR_bas_CF_##.dgn, R_K#####_GEOM_bas_CF_##.dgn,
and S_K#####_TERR_e_bas_CF_##.dgn
Typical ORD container files have:
• only one visible model - Default
• Default model is 2D
• Few graphics in the Default model
• One or many reference attachments
• May use nested referencing
ORD container files have specific requirements and the most important is – it is created from a 2D file – use
OpenRoads_Seed2D.dgn for creating all ORD container files.
OPENROADS DESIGNER CONTAINER FILES
The Dependency Viewer in ProjectWise Explorer shows a Geometry Base Container File with four reference attachments
– at different levels. Live nesting will need to be toggled on for the Terrain Container File attachment in order to see the
published terrain graphics nested inside.
LIVE NESTING DEPTHS
Master File OPNP
Direct Reference TERR_e_bas_CF GEOM_bas_CF
Depth = 0
Depth = 1 TERR_e_pub_01 TERR_e_pub_02 GEOM_pub
Depth = 2 CIVL_wrk
Good practice when attaching references with Live Nesting is to begin with Depth = 1. If you don’t see the graphics,
increase the depth by one until the graphics are seen.
ADDING LIVE NESTING
WHILE ATTACHING REFERENCE ON REFERENCE DIALOG
Live Nesting can be toggled on at the time the reference attachment is made and also toggled on later using the References
dialog.
REFERENCE DIALOG SHOWS THE MODEL NAME
When Live Nesting is used to attach a sheet model that was created by ORD, you can see the nested model names
(highlighted yellow). Note that “AttachedLongSection” and “Profile” are dynamic models that cannot be directly attached –
they do not appear in the Models pick list when attaching references.
DEMO
Explore the Structure of a CAD Base
File (top)
and an ORD Container File (bottom)
References dialogs with the hierarchy open and expanded on the left side – the demo will open two different container files
– one created using MicroStation, the other created using OpenRoads Designer.
DESIGN DELIVERABLES – OPNP & XSEC_bas
https://www.oregon.gov/odot/EAST/Pages/MSCE_UserGuide.aspx
Information about Design Deliverables and the Plans Production Process can be found on the EAST website in either
CONNECT User Guide: MicroStation or OpenRoads Designer.
• The dynamic profile and cross section models used by
designers with OpenRoads Designer cannot be
WHY DO WE HAVE TO attached as references!
USE DESIGN
DELIVERABLES? • The dynamic profile and cross section models are not
available for other discipline designers to use in their
Displaying a design in drawing and
design!
sheet models is the only method that
OpenRoads Designer provides for • The dynamic profile and cross section models are not
expressing the horizontal and vertical
available for CAD technicians to use in plans
design with permanent graphics.
production!
This question always comes up…
OPNP & XSEC_BAS DESIGN DELIVERABLES
This swim lane schematic of the ProjectWise folder usage shows the OPNP and XSEC_bas Design Deliverables at the
heart of the plans production process.
DEMO
MicroStation CONNECT
Compare models in an OPNP file to
those available for reference
attachment.
The Directory Tree of the Level Display dialog (top) and the Reference Attachment Properties dialog with the Models pick
list expanded (bottom) illustrates that the dynamic models that ORD creates and manages are not available for direct
reference attachment. This is exactly the reason that the OPNP and XSEC_bas files are required for project delivery.
QUESTIONS?
A LOOK AHEAD
November 2 - Civil Drawing Boundaries and Non-civil Drawing Boundaries
• Differences Between Civil Drawing Boundaries and Non-civil Drawing Boundaries:
Difference between civil plan and "along path"
• How to access and control the drawing boundaries
• Editing Drawing Boundary Names and Descriptions
• What happens when a civil drawing boundary is moved or the shape changed
• Civil Plan and Detail (Full and Notes)
• When to use Civil Plan versus From Drawing Boundary
