MicroStation is a powerful CAD software that supports 3D modeling and 2D design and drafting created by Bentley Systems. Its capabilities, tools, and features allow infrastructure experts in various sectors such as construction, architecture & planning, oil & energy, transportation, civil engineering, and transportation to deliver and work on projects.
You must have used several CAD programs as a design or construction expert. As you might have noticed, their user interface and functionality differ.
So, taking time to familiarize yourself with a software’s interface is important. It assists you in enhancing your workflow.
Interface
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Table of Contents
Tabs and ribbons
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MicroStation CAD features graphical icons tiered in tabs and hosted menus that you can toggle off or on. The interface is simple as it features tabs that include home, file, attach, annotate, curves, utilities, constraints, content, drawing aids, help, and collaboration.
The tabs are tools categorized into ribbons. For example, the home tab has primary, attributes, placement, selection, modify, groups, and selection.
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Toolbars, panels, and windows
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The interface features customizable quick access to the toolbar that houses used functions like save, redo, save view settings, and more. It has a workflow menu that lets you choose various workflows and a search bar.
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Popup Menu
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On the MicroStation, clicking on the space bar will display a popup menu. The menu features three rows, the first and third, that contain icons that open the secondary dialog that lets you select extra tools. The 2nd row contains discrete tools like copy, element selection, and move.
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Themes
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This MicroStation allows you to pick between a light or dark-themed interface. If you want to change the settings to your preference, click on the file tab, select settings, go to user settings, and then preferences. A window display will pop up. On the look and feel bar, click on the apply dark-themed UI box and press OK.
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Drawing tools
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Most drawing tools on this software are housed in the placement ribbon group within the home tab. The program uses place instead of draw. Tap on the place line function to make a line. Other essential tools include place circles, arc tools, place Smartline, place blocks, and ellipse tools.
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Customization
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The software allows you to personalize different settings by tapping on file settings and preferences. This will display a popup window that allows you to make the changes.
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Units
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If you use a specific unit for all drawings, you can set your preferred default units and save them. Tap on the file-settings-file-design file settings and then working units to do this. With Bentley MicroStation, you can choose the subunits or masters. For instance, if you opt for the imperial system, you can use the subunit as inches and the master unit as feet.
Capabilities of Microstation
The software supports solid 3D modeling, 2D drafting, editing, rendering, annotation, visualization, documentation, collaboration, file importation, assembly sequencing, and exportation. The program can also produce 2D designs from 3D models and even generate property-driven documentation.These basics of MicroStation CAD offer you the necessary resources, such as a MicroStation tutorial, to learn about the program. Nevertheless, go further if you want to become a MicroStation CAD professio
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