Automatically Export Cells
From a MicroStation Cell Library to AutoCAD Block
Files
In a past issue of MicroStation
Today (Volume 8 Number 1), we announced the release
of the newest version of Axiom’s advanced cell management
utility — CellManager 7.3. The new version features
the ability to automatically export cells from MicroStation
cell libraries to AutoCAD block files and the ability
to automatically import AutoCAD block files into MicroStation
cell libraries.
When exporting cells to separate
AutoCAD block files, CellManager’s new Export feature
does away with the time-consuming, manual task of
placing each cell that you want to export in a design
file, dropping its complex status and then exporting
it as an AutoCAD drawing file (.dwg). In this “how
to” article, we show you the simple steps involved
in exporting MicroStation cells to AutoCAD block files
using CellManager.
Exporting cells to AutoCAD block
files with CellManager
- Select CellManager from the Axiom
pulldown menu.
- On the main CellManager interface,
click on the <Select> button next to the Cell
Library field to choose the cell library from which
you will export your cells.
- Press the <Tab> key on
your keyboard five times. Doing this will automatically
fill in the correct path for the Work File field.
The Work File is a temporary MicroStation file to
which CellManager attaches the selected cell library
for processing purposes.
- Next, click on the <Manage>
button on the main interface. This will load the
cell library previously selected.
- On the Manage dialog box, click
on the name of a cell that you want to export and
then click on the <Tag> button to select it
for export. Do this with all the cells you wish
to export. You may also select all the cells in
a cell library for export by clicking on the <TagAll>
button. For the purposes of this exercise, we’ve
selected only a few of the cells in the cell library
(the “#” symbol indicates that these cells
are selected for export).
- Next, still on the Manage dialog
box click on the <Export> button. You will
then see the Export dialog box. Select the “AutoCAD
block format” radio button. Click on the <Select>
button to choose a directory in which to copy the
exported cells. Then click on the <Copy to>
button to copy the cells to the selected directory
as AutoCAD block files.
- CellManager exports all the
selected cells to AutoCAD block files using your
last used or default AutoCAD export settings. Click
the <OK> button when the “Process Complete“
box appears. All exported cells now reside in their
assigned directory as AutoCAD block files!
More on CellManager
Besides cell exports to AutoCAD blocks and vice versa,
CellManager boosts your MicroStation productivity
in many other ways. It is capable of copying groups
of cells from one library to another, rescaling some
or all cells in a cell library at the touch of a button,
quickly locating and eliminating duplicate cells in
cell libraries, renaming, deleting and modifying cells
while viewing them graphically and much more.
Click here
to find out more about CellManager.
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