Microstation Tips and Tricks: Microstation Design Libraries (DGNLIBs)

Microstation DGN Library files, introduced with Microstation V8, are a great option for improving compliance with project CAD standards. They are nothing more than standard design files saved with the extension .dgnlib which, whilst not containing any graphic information, have one or more the following setup to an approved standard:

• Text Styles
• Levels
• Dimension Styles
• Multi-Line Styles

Once these have been setup correctly, the files need to be saved into a networked directory with the extension for the design file changed to .dgnlib rather than .dgn

Our guide to Microstation workspaces covers the options for configuring Microstation for multi-discipline or multi-project environments. A Microstation workspace has a user component called a user configuration file (.ucf) and a project component called a project configuration file (.pcf). These files contain Microstation variables which can be configured to values or paths by the CAD administrator.

If the .dgnlib files contains the correct settings for just one project, the variable should be defined in a project configuration file. If the dgnlib file contains the correct settings for all drawings being produced in an office, the variable should probably be defined in the user configuration file.

The variable MS_DGNLIBLIST can be configured to point to the .dgnlib files which contain the correct settings for text styles, dimension styles etc. The following lines can be added to the ucf or pcf files to specify the correct dgnlibs to be used:

MS_DGNLIBLIST = Path to Networked dgnlib files/dimensions.dgnlib
MS_DGNLIBLIST > Path to Networked dgnlib files/text.dgnlib
MS_DGNLIBLIST > Path to Networked dgnlib files/levels.dgnlib

When Microstation is launched and the correct workspace components are selected, any drawings created will inherit the correct settings from the dgnlib files. Therefore the user does not have to setup the level structure or the correct text and dimension styles. They will already be configured in the drawing. In addition, levels defined by the dgnlib file cannot be deleted.