Per Axiom, CadExplorer is new technology that lets users ignore the boundaries between CAD files (both MicroStation and AutoCAD) and interactively find, display, analyze, explore, report on, investigate and edit CAD file data in ways never before possible. In addition, Axiom reports that there is no easier way to select, preview and modify text across multiple MicroStation and/or AutoCAD files in batch than with CadExplorer. With CadExplorer, users can modify found text strings in any imaginable way — even using wildcard and regular expression substitution — and can preview proposed text changes before committing them to all their selected CAD files.

CadExplorer shows users virtually all the data contained in one, ten, hundreds or even thousands of design and/or drawing files in an easy-to-use and intuitive grid. Need to see all the cells or blocks that are being used in any project on the network and get a count of each one? A few mouse-clicks is all it takes.

What are the chances of catching an oddball mistake before submitting the project to a client, like a misspelled level or layer name or some text that happens to be on the wrong level (or layer)? Without CadExplorer, locating these can be virtually impossible and requires someone to laboriously go through each CAD file ? one file at a time. Spotting errors like layer name misspellings or a cell or block that was only used once (usually a CAD-standards violation) becomes much easier and faster when using CadExplorer.

Other features include:

• Quick Search — just type in any string and CadExplorer instantly locates occurrences of that string across all project files. For MicroStation, CadExplorer supports search of text elements, filenames, cell names, cell descriptions, model names, model descriptions, reference filenames, logical names and descriptions, tag names and tag values. For AutoCAD, CadExplorer supports search of text objects, filenames, block names, block descriptions, model names, model descriptions, external reference filenames, logical names and descriptions, attribute names and attribute values.
• File thumbnails in carousel view.
• File previews.
• Dramatically enhanced user interface experience. Looks like iTunes for CAD.
• Support for Windows Vista 64-Bit operating systems.
• Support for Windows 7 64-Bit operating systems.

How to Contact Axiom

For more information on CadExplorer or to see a free, online demonstration, call Axiom at 727-442-7774 extension 1638 or e-mail 1638@AxiomInt.com or visit Axiom on the Web at http://www.AxiomInt.com/autocad/cad-explorer/ to find out more about the main features of CadExplorer as they relate to AutoCAD.

About Axiom
Axiom is the world’s most experienced developer of time-saving MicroStation (and now AutoCAD) software solutions and the largest third-party provider of general-purpose add-ons and e-learning for MicroStation. Axiom focuses on making CAD work easier by creating time-saving and productivity-boosting tools based on real-world problems CAD users encounter. Based in Clearwater, Florida, Axiom has been developing software for over 25 years.

MicroStation is produced by Bentley Systems, Incorporated of Exton, Pennsylvania. AutoCAD is produced by Autodesk, Incorporated, of San Rafael, California.

CadExplorer, and Axiom are trademarks of Axiom. MicroStation is a registered trademark of Bentley Systems, Incorporated. AutoCAD is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Incorporated.

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For Immediate Release

Press Contact:
Kris Nickerson
Press@AxiomInt.com
727-442-7774

Axiom
1805 Drew Street
Clearwater, Florida 33765

This course, the first in the series that explores the different drawing tools, discusses the Linear, Polygon and Circle Tasks as found inside V8i. Upon completion, students can:

• Locate all of the available Task Frames inside V8i.
• Understand how to use Lines, Points and B-Splines during the design process.
• Create closed Shapes and Polygons.
• Work productively with Circles and Arcs.

To speak directly with an Axiom MicroStation consultant about Axiom’s line of MicroStation training solutions (including on-line and in-house, customized training), call 727-442-7774 extension 1854 or visit Axiom’s MicroStation training page on the Web.

In this course, a student learns about the different parts of a View, how to control what is displayed inside any View Window and use the different types of View tools. This course has 30 pages filled with technical illustrations and additional data inside every Information Page. Upon completion, students will be able to:

• Work with Multiple View Windows.
• Adjust the location of the View tools, as well as control what functions to enable.
• Define the View preferences to maximize production.
• Use the common View tools through out the design process.
• Understand how the Clip functions work.

To speak directly with an Axiom MicroStation consultant about Axiom’s line of MicroStation training solutions (including on-line and in-house, customized training), call 727-442-7774 extension 1854 or visit our MicroStation training page.

This course is an introduction to AccuDraw, a design and drafting aid that assists in the drawing process. It starts by introducing the Cartesian Coordinate System and how MicroStation uses precise key-ins to place geometry. Then it continues to show how AccuDraw can be used during the design process. Upon completion, students will be able to:

• Start, stop and suspend AccuDraw and AccuSnap, as required.
• Toggle between the Rectangular and Polar Modes.
• Use important AccuDraw Shortcuts when placing geometry.
• Design productively using AccuDraw.

To speak directly with an Axiom MicroStation consultant about Axiom’s line of MicroStation training solutions (including on-line and in-house, customized training), call 727-442-7774 extension 1854 or visit Axiom on the Web.

Download a PDF version of this issue.

To read the pages above, download Adobe^®‘s free Acrobat Reader^®, if not already installed in your computer.

For instance, you can now instantly:

• ­Find all text elements in all design files containing the string “gas fumes” within 8 inches of a cell named “flame”.
• ­Find all instances of text string “Cliff” (in all design files) that don’t have a nearby “Warning Sign” cell on level “Signage”.
• ­Find all design files that contain two or more cells named “Border”.

You can restrict the search to elements of a certain color, weight, style, font, level, model name, file name and other characteristics.

You can instantly find matches even if each element of the pair reside in different models or even in different design files (such as when you have multiple design files representing overlapping geographic areas)!

This new technology allows you to catch — instantly and in large quantities — quality control errors that could never before be easily detected.

Unfortunately, this new release came too late for us to put a full article in this issue of MicroStation Today. The amazingness and power of the new technology is difficult to fully describe in just a few words.

This course explores the different V8i interfaces — from toolboxes to Task Navigation and on to the design space layout. Upon completion, students can:

• Select the desired V8i interface.
• Identify and use the different parts of the MicroStation window during the design process.
• Master the Task Navigation toolbox.
• Control the Tool Settings box.

To speak directly with an Axiom MicroStation consultant about Axiom’s line of MicroStation training solutions (including on-line and in-house, customized training), call 727-442-7774 extension 1854 or visit Axiom on the Web at http://www.AxiomInt.com/products/learningbay.htm.

Rejected! You know the feeling. It’s the one that washes away any feeling of satisfaction you might have had when you completed and submitted that last project. In looking over the reason the project was rejected, you find out that certain elements were put on the wrong level. In fact, all of the elements on “Electric-Main” shouldn’t be there and need to be moved to “Electric-Prime”. If it was just one design file, it wouldn’t be a problem, but this project has over 500 design files! So much for dinner with the family. While the changes aren’t hard, the correction will easily eat up days. This is certainly not the most efficient use of your time — or your skills.

Lucky for MicroStation users like you, there’s a solution — Global File Changer™. Global File Changer has a built-in custom command that allows you to move — in batch — all of the elements from one level (or even multiple levels) to another level in any number of design files.

Here’s how:

1. Load Global File Changer from your Axiom pull-down menu.
2. Select “Custom | Move elements to different levels…”. This will open the “Move Elements to Different Levels” dialog box.



Figure 1. Global File Changer lets you make unlimited changes to multiple design files quickly and easily. The “Custom” menu contains a growing number of built-in commands (such as moving elements to different levels) that just cannot be done using MicroStation key-in commands.

3. Press the <Add> button to load the “Level Mapping Rule” dialog box.



Figure 2. The “Move Elements to Different Levels” dialog box lets you easily set up rules for moving elements from one level to another level — in batch — in just a few or in hundreds or thousands of design files.

4. Press the <Levels…> button next to the top field labeled “Move elements from which levels?”
   This will open a dialog box that lists of all of the available levels in your active file.



Figure 3. You can choose which level or levels you want to quickly move elements from — in batch — with this super-simple interface.

5. In this example, we’re moving all of the elements from “Electric-Main” to another level. So, you would select “Electric-Main” and press <OK>.
6. Next, press <Level…> (Figure 2) which is next to the field labeled “To level:”. This will open the same “Select Levels” dialog box as in Step 4, only this time we are selecting the level that your elements are to be moved to.
7. For this example, you would select “Electric-Prime”, and press <OK>.
8. Press <OK> again on the “Level Mapping Rule” dialog box.
9. Now, at the “Move Elements to Different Levels” dialog box, you can see the “Source” and “Target” levels that you have selected. You can make further selections if you choose, but for this example, we’re finished.


Figure 4. Never get stuck again manually moving elements from one level to another. The “Move Elements to Different Levels” dialog box , shown here, displays the rules that you have set up for moving elements — in batch — from one level (or levels) to another level.

10. Press <OK> on the “Move Elements to Different Levels” dialog box.
11. You will be prompted to choose a location and file name for saving the instructions you just created for Global File Changer to use while processing. Do so and press <OK> to return to the main Global File Changer dialog box.
12. From the main Global File Changer dialog box, press <Select…>, which is next to the “Design Files:” field. This will open the “Choose Files to Process” dialog box.


Figure 5. The button makes it easy to select any number of design files that contain the elements you want to move from one level (or levels) to another level. Whether you select a few or a few hundred files, Global File Changer will process them all in batch, quickly moving your elements to the level you selected.

Here, you can browse for all of the files you need to process. There is more than one way to select your files for processing. From talking to customers, I’ve found that most users just press the “Browse for files” button. This will allow you to navigate to and select each file that should be processed. Once your files are selected, press <OK> .

Finally, press <Start> on the main Global File Changer dialog box to process your files.

After a matter of minutes the job will be complete! Your client won’t believe that you made the necessary changes in that amount of time. Now you can go back to the feeling of satisfaction of finally having the project complete.

Send us your MicroStation tips!

We will give you full credit for the tip and your peers will look at you with the reverence a MicroStation guru rightly deserves! Send your favorite MicroStation tip to MsTips@AxiomInt.com.

These V8i tool enhancements are organized into five chapters – Models, Advanced Explorer, Reference, Raster Reference and Other Tools. Each page reviews key function changes, complete with illustrations. Upon completion, students can:

• Create Design and Sheet models.
• Navigate between models using the View Groups box.
• Build effective Project Explorer Link Sets.
• Productively use the enhancements made to the References dialog.
• Better understand how to work with Raster Images.

To speak directly with an Axiom MicroStation consultant about Axiom’s line of MicroStation training solutions (including on-line and in-house customized training), call 727-442-7774 extension 1854 or visit Axiom on the Web at http://www.AxiomInt.com/products/learningbay.htm.

Axiom’s self-paced MicroStation e-learning courses allow users to learn from MicroStation gurus without having to travel around the country or sit in a course room. In fact, any user can learn new skills or brush up on existing knowledge without leaving his or her desk!

In this course, students are updated on tool enhancements in the areas of AccuDraw, annotation, cells and color. The course covers each of these areas and reviews what is new and details how to use each feature. Upon completion, students will be able to productively use these tools.

To speak directly with an Axiom MicroStation consultant about Axiom’s line of MicroStation training solutions, call 727-442-7774 extension 1854 or visit Axiom on the Web at http://www.AxiomInt.com/products/learningbay.htm.