Microstation: print layout

Doing this with AutoCAD has another logic, and perhaps that is why some when trying to do it with Microstation have difficulties. On the one hand, because there is not much help on how to do it and then the way to do it is not just like AutoCAD does.

For this, we are going to do an exercise, although I suggest that some basic principles of Microstation be deepened in case they have never been used.

The model map and the sheet

The model is the workspace, which is 1: 1, where it is drawn. The example I'm showing is a cadastral map and the view you're zooming in is a close-up of a thematic indicator, all built on top of the model.

The sheet (sheet) is what in AutoCAD is called Layout, and it is equivalent to a box that is associated with the size of paper we expect to print on. This is the one with the scale, since the model will always be 1: 1

The intention is to create an exit map, which has an outer box, the background map, the indicator on the far right, and a left approach in a quarter circle, as shown in this example:

In the old fashion, those who do not know how to use this functionality make blocks (cells), copy, scale, cut, and do things to create everything from the model. The disadvantage is that if a modification is to be made to the original map, nothing that was done is useful.

How to build the Layout

To build this, you use the functionality known as models dialog, or model box, which is next to the command references. If it is not visible, right-click and activate, just like the Raster manager.

In this picture, it is very similar to the one of references, because the logic that has it is just that, to call maps, the same or other external ones, to define it scale, to create a figure of court and to place them in a frame of impression.

The first thing is to create the sheet, this is done with the new button and aspects such as: Sheet type, if it is in 2 or 3 dimensions, model name, annotations scale, line style scale, are configured,

How to build the arrangement

Here the tools work as if you were working on the model, rectangles, lines, shapes, texts. Everything is the same, in versions from 8.9 known as Microstation XM transparency is supported.

The construction is simple: One bottom rectangle, one quarter circumference, two small rectangles. Then with the tool to create regions the holes are made by difference.

You can also give background color to objects, play with transparency and priority to see which ones go in front or behind.

Similar, this can create canopies for project information, scale, sheet number, coordinate grid, logos, etc.

Embed maps on objects

Maps are loaded as references in the model box, as many times as expected to be called on the objects. Each of them has a logical name and a scale that is a function of the press sheet. This allows you to call 2 / 3D zooms in different scales within the same sheet, and below it provides some style and scale features of texts, visibility of raster or 3D properties for PDF.

This map falls somewhere, so we make a copy of the figure that we hope to cut out and place it right on the map. In case the size does not seem to us, we right-click it and adjust properties by changing the scale. Then to make the cut we use the scissors icon and touch the figure.

Then the trimmed object with everything and figure can be moved to the map, it is as shown in the following image.

The rest is just trying, trying, making mistakes and keep practicing until you find your way. Call reference, define scale, choose clipping object, clip, place on the map. The following result shows the example layout already assembled.

In the case of a cadastral map grid, it would not be necessary to be splitting the final maps for printing, but rather custom modules would be built on sheets with the respective name and with quadrants containing the area of ​​interest in the background. In case of particular numbers for that map like the neighbor block number, they could be drawn in the layout to keep the topology on the model.