Get Translations Between DGN and DWG Done Right the First Time!

Translation Manager  ™

If you've ever had messy translations and wanted a better, faster, easier way to get them done right the first time, then call 727-442-7774 extension 2650 or fill out the form below to request a free trial version.

Translations Done Right the First Time

Translating files using MicroStation's or AutoCAD's built-in translator alone often creates messy files requiring someone to spend hours fixing each file after the translation. In some cases, it's faster to recreate CAD files from scratch, rather than trying to correct translated design or drawing files. Some of the more common types of problems with translated files include fonts that don't map correctly, problems with element or entity symbology (such as incorrect style, weight or color), incorrect units (DWG units or MicroStation working units), symbols (such as degree symbols) that come out wrong, lost levels (when translating from MicroStation) and lost layers (when translating from AutoCAD).

Translation Manager, a highly-anticipated software program for both MicroStation and AutoCAD users who do translations between DWG and DGN files, helps make translations considerably easier and results in translations that are right the first time, saving companies hundreds or even thousands of man-hours correcting translated files. Translation Manager handles the complex translation problems that MicroStation's translator cannot handle by itself. Plus it does all this on up to thousands of files at a time.

Translation Manager Ensures Correct Translation of All
the Following for All Your DGN and DWG Files, in Batch:

• Mapping levels to layers
• Mapping layers to levels
• Colors
• Line styles
• Linetypes
• Weights
• Fonts
• Cells
• Shared cells
• Blocks
• Block attributes
• Text nodes
• Multiline text
• Text with only spaces
• Empty text
• Dimensions
• Tags
• Reference file level display
• Special characters such as stacked fractions or degree symbols

Additionally, Translation Manager backs up all your source files, displays an output log file showing the results of the translation and allows you to save the project file so that you can reuse it at a later time.

A Simple Process Makes CAD Translations Easier

Translation Manager makes the translation process considerably easier and can save companies hundreds or even thousands of man-hours correcting translated files. Translation Manager uses a three-step process — data gathering and translation configuration — and an optional post-processing step.

In the first step, data gathering, the user simply selects all the files to be translated and Translation Manager then records vital information such as the levels, line styles, colors and fonts that are used in the files to be translated. Next, an easy-to-use translation wizard is provided to walk the user step by step through correctly configuring the translation and translating the files so the translated files come out as expected. Translation Manager uses the information in the first step of the process (data gathering) to provide recommendations during the translation step (via the wizard) to help ensure that the translated files adhere to the CAD standards required.

Once the configuration settings are determined, all the files previously selected are then translated in batch with a single button click. After the files are translated, a final, optional step (post-processing), provides tools that allow users to make additional changes — in batch — to the newly translated files. Until MicroStation and AutoCAD are the same product, there will frequently be issues that can only be addressed after the translation such as special characters (like degree symbols and fractions) that don't display correctly. That's why Translation Manager includes this optional, third step. In this step, Translation Manager, using the information recorded earlier, provides users the ability to make additional changes on all of the translated files — in batch — in order to ensure, for example, that reference file level display is correctly set and special characters display correctly in all files.

Using the wizard to correctly configure the translation, in conjunction with the data-gathering and optional post-processing steps, helps make the translation process easier and helps ensure that required CAD standards are met. Once established, all of the translation settings can be saved, allowing them to be easily used over and over.

For the Geek in You: More on How Translation Manager
Helps with CAD Standards

During the data-gathering phase, Translation Manager automatically scans every file selected by the user to be translated and records:

• All level or layer names used in any of the source files.
• All the line styles and line style scales used in any of the source files.
• All the colors and weights used in any of the source files.
• Every font used in any of the source files.

Once the data has been gathered from all of the files, Translation Manager's wizard:

• Provides guidance and useful recommendations on how to get the best results.
• Allows the user to save all the configuration settings for reuse at any future time.

Once the configuration settings have been saved, a single click of a button translates all of the files previously selected, based on the configuration settings.

Some issues, such as "Extents" and "Fit" issues, have to be addressed after the translation. That's why Translation Manager has that optional third step that allows the user to do any or all of the following tasks on a single file or any number of the translated files — in bulk:

• Correct "Extents" or "Fit" issues.
• Remove unused shared cell definitions or block definitions that can create numerous problems and clutter files.
• Drop shared cells and blocks to component geometry or, in MicroStation files, to normal (non-shared) cells.
• Make sure reference file level display matches the original source files.
• Find and correct text problems that are the result of remapped fonts.

Software Requirements

Translation Manager uses MicroStation to do the translation between MicroStation and AutoCAD. In order to translate and process files (MicroStation to AutoCAD or AutoCAD to MicroStation), a copy of MicroStation is required. The version of MicroStation used will determine which version of AutoCAD files can be translated:

• MicroStation V8 2004 Edition can be used to translate between MicroStation and AutoCAD Release 11 through AutoCAD 2005.
• MicroStation V8 XM Edition can be used to translate between MicroStation and AutoCAD Release 11 through AutoCAD 2008.
• MicroStation V8i can be used to translate between MicroStation and AutoCAD Release 14 through AutoCAD 2010.

For more information or a free trial version, fill out the form above or call 727-442-7774 extension 2650 in the U.S.