Autodesk is ramping back up to speed after two weeks of rest...let me just say it is wonderful when the entire company is taking the same vacation time off! You don't return to work faced with tons of emails and phone calls to return. And the holidays are the perfect time to do just such a thing as so many people have other things on their minds anyway (Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's Eve). Now we are all refreshed and ready to jump into a brand new year at Autodesk!
As for me - I am thrilled to be back on the AutoCAD bandwagon and am ready with your second hip tip of 2009!
An AutoCAD Hip Tip on Working with Microstation (DGN) Files:
Let's face it - many of us work with other CAD systems (such as Microstation). Working with both DGN and DWG files can become very daunting and often frustrating (to say the least!). To those of you who know and work with both AutoCAD and Microstation - I tip my hat (you are amazing!).
Over the years, Autodesk hasn't really played nicely with Microstation, but for the past few releases Autodesk has changed direction and really rolled out the DGN red carpet! Nothing could make me happier as this should make life easier for so many of you. In the past two releases you can now import and export to DGN (V7 and V8 files)...and a low profile command called DGNMAPPING has been added to make the conversion process even easier! I say "low profile" because it seems as though so few people know about this very cool command. Let's take a look:
You can use DGNMAPPING to help you with importing DGN files into AutoCAD or for exporting the files out of AutoCAD into Microstation. The figure below shows you how you will name the file (so you can use it again!) and how you will indicate you want this mapping to be used for importing or exporting.
You will then be able to set up a mapping file for layers (levels), linetypes, lineweights and colors. You can even import the properties from an existing DWG or DGN file to work from (highly recommended!).
Sure there will be some upfront time needed to create these mapping files - but after you set them up you will be translating from DGN to DWG in no time!
I have to share a picture from one of my readers of his daughter's adorable new Christmas puppy (don't we all just love puppies?) Robert Duffy sent me a picture of his new mini schnauzer Murphy (the children are adorable as well!) Thank you for sharing Robert and pet that cute little Murphy for me please!
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