Jump to content

MicroStation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 67.52.57.226 (talk) at 16:33, 10 August 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

MicroStation is the platform architectural and engineering software package developed by Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Among a number of things, it generates 2D/3D vector graphic objects and elements.

Its native format is the DGN (DesiGN file) format, though it can also read and write a variety of standard CAD formats including AutoCAD's DWG and DXF as gs; however, it has evolved through its various versions to include advanced modeling and rendering features, including boolean solids, raytracing, and keyframe animation. It can provide specialized environments for architecture, civil engineering, mapping, or plant design, among others.

Various MicroStation extensions enhance the usefulness of the 3D model beyond mere drawing generation and 3D presentation. They can provide accurate materials lists for every item included in the design, a sequenced schedule for construction, check for interferences between objects, publish all drawings automatically on a public website, or provide a client/owner a detailed model of their entire plant including its virtual operation for training and testing.

MicroStation was originally developed by Bentley Systems in the 1980s. In 2000, Bentley made revisions to the DGN file format in V8 that made it a superset of Autodesk's DWG format (including various things that DWG can not support, like Digital Rights and Design History - a revision control ability that allows to reinstate previous revisions either globally or by selection).

[The following is clearly editorial and lacks the correct writing form for Wiki.] It was very much the poor relation in the CAD world until AutoCAD 13 was released, too early, many said. AutoCAD13, and it's LT version AutoCAD LT95, were two of the worst CAD packages ever, and it forced a lot of users to switch over to Microstation. Needless to say, there has always been friction between AutoCAD and Microstation users, with both considering the other to be a duff product. Knowing both packages well is an advantage in the CAD technician salary stakes though.

MicroStation users are currently beta testing MicroStation V8 XM, the latest iteration that builds upon the changes made by V8. They're also testing Triforma and Bentley Structural.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MicroStation&oldid=68840878"