It is a well known fact that most users of software applications use only a small amount of the commands and tools available to them. CDOT has created a Tips and Tricks web page (available only to CDOT users) and Workflow documents for the purpose of sharing commands, tools procedures, and information in order to make designing easier and more efficient. For Consultants who wish to see a list of InRoads Tips&Tricks or a list of Microstation Tips&Tricks can click the links below.
Many of the following workflows can be accessed from the Start Menu under _CDOT_CADD_Information. Note: this is only applicable for CDOT employees unless consultants set up a similar start menu procedure.
This document guides you through the process of displaying the location of alignments such as Right-of-Way locations in cross section or profile views.
This document demonstrates the procedure for displaying annotation for horizontal and vertical alignments. It further presents the workflow for annotating horizontal alignments that contain spiral components.
This document guides you through three methods to calculate volume: Grid, Triangle, and End Area.
This document guides you through the customization of the CDOT Pay-Items.mdb file using the InRoads Pay Item Manager. When figuring quantities, it is possible that two or more features will use the same pay item but require different values for some formula variables. For example, the same paving material may be used for both the roadway and driveways but the thickness of that material can vary.
This document explains the procedures for creating an exterior boundary, merging surfaces, and copying features from one surface to another.
This document is a guide for displaying features in both cross sections and profiles. There are two types of cells being placed. One type is based on true scale meaning that the feature has a measurable size. For example a 24” pipe. The other type of cell is the pictorial location of a crossing feature for example overhead electric line. In order to compensate for the two types each needs to be scaled differently. Feature Filters have been developed to display them at their appropriate scale.
This document guides you through saving survey fieldbook information to separate MicroStation files for ease of referencing and level control.
This document guides you through the use of InRoads feature filters.
This document guides you through using the InRoads place note command which places annotation based on a combination of manual input and information extracted from InRoads geometry, surfaces, profiles, or cross sections. A major benefit of using this command is generation of annotation based on the engineering model and the ability to automate updating the annotation if the engineering information changes.
This document guides you through using the Plan and Profile Generator command in InRoads.
This document guides you through updating Digital Terrain Model (DTM) feature styles and Transition Control names within InRoads. These changes are necessary because new feature styles have been added and previous ones have been deleted. This is a complimentary guide to Chapter 2, Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and Chapter 5, Typical Sections from the Roadway Design Using InRoads Manual.
This document guides you through using the Batch Process tool in MicroStation. Additional Batch Process files can be substituted into this workflow. This example uses a specific batch process file that changes the level of the North Arrow cell and the Match Lines. In 2.04 and prior versions of the configuration, Plan and Profile Generator placed the North Arrow cell and the Match Lines on the incorrect level . This process will correct this error in multiple sheets at the same time.
This document guides you through translating AutoCAD files into MicroStation using a .CSV remapping file. Steps 1-4 listed below should be followed when saving an AutoCAD file to MicroStation manually, without the use of a remapping file. The manual method should only be used on small files where a limited number of levels will need to be changed. In this case, use the change symbology tools in MicroStation as outlined in the Roadway Drafting Using MicroStation training manual. Once the levels have been changed manually, follow the steps listed under “Other Drawing Elements”, beginning on page 9, for updating text, cells, patterning, dimensioning, and models. For plotting AutoCAD files only, see the workflow, CDOT Printing AutoCAD Files in MicroStation.
The CDOT workflow of projects requires that graphic and design data be created into multiple design files during the course of project development. These design files need standard, informative, and unique file names.
This document guides you through editing text along an element.
This document guides you through placing Greek characters within the MicroStation text editor. The characters can be placed within the typed text string with this procedure.
This document guides you through updating the MicroStation levels that were changed, deleted, and renamed from the Configuration Releases V03.01 and prior to V03.02. All drawing files created under the V03.01 and prior Configuration Releases will need to be updated to the current CDOT standard levels. See CDOT Configuration Readme.pdf file located in the level library section.
This document guides you through linking Microsoft Office Documents within MicroStation.
This document guides you through measuring distances using the Measure XY Distance Tool.
This document guides you through using MicroStation PDF Composer to create PDF renditions of MicroStation files. PDF Composer runs outside of MicroStation so it is not necessary to have MicroStation open to run this utility.
This document explains how the Project Configuration File (PCF) is created, where it is saved, and how to update it. The PCF file defines a specific directory that MicroStation defaults to when opening up a DGN file or referencing model files. PCF files are extremely useful when multiple users are accessing the same project directory across the network, or when DGN files are moved from one directory to another.
This document guides you through MicroStation Raster Management including Attaching Rasters, Clipping Rasters, Masking Rasters, and setting Raster Transparency. For additional settings on raster images including text clarity see CDOT Printing Raster Images.pdf under CDOT Workspace/CDOT Notes.
This document guides you through placing a note with two lines of text with the leader line located between the text.
This document guides you through the use of the pedestrian curb ramp cells. These are dynamic cells that can be modified “on the fly” using predefined parameter sets and user input.
This document guides you through the Raster Manager settings in MicroStation for accurate placement of georeferenced image files. Setting the default Raster Manager preferences (steps 1-9) only needs to be done once. If your Raster Manager preferences have been previously set correctly you may proceed directly to step 10.
This document guides you through the basic functions of MicroStation printing. It is used for printing single sheets, on a sheet by sheet basis. See CDOT Batch Printing for printing multiple sheets at one time.
Batch Printing is used to print multiple files at one time. This tool can assist you in organizing Plot Sets for milestone submittals. A .job file can be saved and called back for future printing. It can also be used for plotting to PDF.
The default Print Driver for MicroStation has been set up for 11x17 printing and should not have to be edited. However, printers can vary in the naming convention for 11x17 inch sized paper. If the default paper size does not set automatically, you should try making the following adjustments. The CDOT default printer driver is located under: C:\Program Files\Workspace-CDOT\Standards-Global\MicroStation\Plotter Driver\.
This document guides you through printing AutoCAD files in MicroStation.
This document guides you through the display settings for raster images and modifying text for better clarity.
This document guides you through the set-up and printing process for shaded color and grayscale Sheet Files. This workflow may be used any time the user wants to highlight specific areas for things such as phasing plans, public meetings, ROW exhibits, etc. Please note that the use of raster images (jpg, bmp, tif, ets.) will dramatically increase the processing time during printing.
This document guides you through manually assembling multiple plan sheets using MicroStation. First, you will create a layout of how you want all your sheets printed out. Second, you will create the individual sheet files using those layouts. The major benefit of this workflow is the limits and orientations of plan sheets are determined early in the process. These sheet limits can be used to identify proper position, size, and rotation of text and tables.
This document describes the process used to assemble a Right of Way Monumentation Sheet. An InRoads XML report is used to display the required data from the geometry project. This data is copied and pasted into the JPC#Monumentation.xls Excel file and then linked to the MicroStation JPC#ROWMonumentationSheet##.dgn file.
This document guides you through the creation of CDOT Notes sheets. This includes general notes for each of the specialty groups, SWMP notes for Landscape and Environmental, as well as any other sheets with notes. The Design general notes will be illustrated in this workflow, but the process is the same for each type of notes sheet.
This document guides you through the use of the Excel spreadsheet JPC#ROW_Property_Tab_Sheet.xls with the JPC#ROWPropertiesTabSheet##.dgn to create a finished “Tabulation Of Properties” sheet file.
This document guides you through opening the Summary of Approximate Quantities Sheet created within your project folder and attaching the DXF files created from the Sumgraph software, through the use of MicroStation Reference file tools. Upon completion of the following procedures, the Sumgraph sheets can be plotted with the CDOT Batch Printing Process.
This document defines the procedure for inserting a Vicinity Map into the Project Title Sheet.
This document is designed to serve as a guide for utilizing the CDOT Redlines command. The CDOT Redlines command is used to attach multiple Redline files simultaneously to the same file. The redline files are referenced from the project’s Redline folder. For MicroStation design files the redline files will have the same filename but have different extensions, typically the username of the person who created the redline file. For AutoCAD .dwg files the rules are slightly different. The redline filenames will all carry the .dwg extension but have a _suffix appended to the file name. Like the design files, this suffix will typically be the username of the person who created the redline file.
This document is designed to serve as a guide for importing data from gINT project files (.gpj files) into MicroStation. The gINT Translator/Import tool is designed to place the selected bore hole points in a MicroStation design file, plot the hole profiles along with a corresponding grid, and place the sheet border with legend items. Using the Automatic fit option the drawing and graph (bore hole profile and grid) scales, view rotation, and sheet legend position will be calculated based on the range of the points selected. These settings can be overridden by using the Manual fit option. No matter what fit options are used the point locations are plotted in their true geographic position. The gINT software is not required to run this utility.
This document guides you through using the Place Breaks command. This is an update to the previous Breakline Load and Breakline Unload commands found in the CDOT Menu Add On’s. There is now only a single Breakline entry on the CDOT Menu that provides a menu interface for selecting breakline and pipe break options.
This document guides you through placing Sign graphics created by SignCAD software into MicroStation drawings.
This document guides you through using the Roughen command. This is an update to the previous Roughen Load and Roughen Unload commands found in the CDOT Menu Add On’s. There is now only a single Roughen entry on the CDOT Menu that provides a menu interface for entering the roughen parameters. The Roughen command will also modify arcs, ellipses, and complex elements in addition to simple linestring elements.
This document is designed to serve as a guide for placing steel structure components in MicroStation. The CDOT Steel utility is an update to the previous Steel program.
This document explains the basic functions of the CDOT Typical Section Program. This program writes graphical data to the typical section file at a scale of 1:10. All of the graphical properties such as the levels, patterns, text, and cells are set by default to the standard CDOT configuration.
This document guides you through the use of the AutoTrack software. AutoTrack is used to determine the space required to maneuver vehicles.
CDOT Tips and Tricks found on the CADD and Engineering Innovation website, which can be accessed from inside MicroStation on the CDOT Group menu under CDOT Help. This website is presently only available to CDOT personnel.
Acccudraw Angles
Accudraw Bearing and Distance
Accudaw Compass
Accudraw Compass Size
Accudraw Coordinate Readout
Accudraw Feet and Inches
Adding and Subtracting from Selection Set
Additional MicroStation Training Books
Aligning Element Edge
Angular Dimension Tool
Available Training Manuals
Bar Scales
Boresite Lock
CADD Library Details
Change Direction of Line
Change Scale of Cell
Change Scale of Linestyle
Change Scale of Text
Changing Coordinate System
Changing Elements
Changing Elements ByLevel
Clipboard Selection Set Origin
Configuration Version Number
Converting Complex Chain
Create Region
Curved Leader Display
Decimal feet to Inches
Dimension Angle Setting
Dimension Association
Dismissing Accudraw
Dividing in Input Fields
Dropping and Dragging Reference files
Dropping Dimension Elements
Dynamic Panning
Editing Cell Text
Extracting Column Information
Fence Selection
File Fence Command
Filled Text Styles
Level Display and Level Manager
Level Manager Plot No Plot
Linestyle display Tip and Trick
Measure Length Tool
Measuring with AccuDraw
Modify Auto Dimension
Modifying Element Attributes
More Accudraw Angles
Opening an Editable File
Panning Cursor
Printing a dialog box
Printing PDF Files to Scale
Problem Placing Fractions
Resizing Accudraw Compass
Resizing-Docking CDOT Group Menu
Resizing Keyin Dialog
Scaling About Element Center
Shared Cells and Text Editing
Stacked Fractions within Text Editor
Stretching Cells
Text along element
Text Placed Centered Between Points
Thumbnail Display
Toggle Dimension Extension Lines
Updating annotation scale
Using Measured Data
V202 Survey Tabulation Sheet
Viewing Attributes
What’s a Transient Element
Why use MicroStation Dimensioning
Workaround Single to Multi Text
Added Features to Cross Sections
Adding and Subtracting in InRoads
Adding points to the end of a feature
Calculating End Area Volumes
Cross Section Feature Editing
Cross Section Surface Symbology
Cross Section to Surface
Cross Section use Features Only
Decision Table Decisions
Default Active Surface
Defining Slopes along template segment
Design Surface Options
Dithered Features
Drape Surface Command
Editing Feature Points
Empty Design Surface
Feature and Graphic Lock Toggle
Feature Tag Information
General Transition Control Names
Global Scale Factors
Help on a Command
Input Files
Interesting Alignments
Label Contours Enhancement
LandXML Suggestion
Locate Buttons
Locating Features in Design File
Locks Dialog Box
Menu Location
Merging Surface Models
More Options on Surface Command
Multiple InRoads Products
North Arrow P&P Generation
P&P Generator
Point densification
Point Snap
Points to End of Feature
Populating InRoads Explorer
Profile Shift in P&P Generator
Resetting Toolbars
Report Generation Naming Convention
Right of Way Definition
Roadway Modeler Densify Curves
Roadway Superelevation
Set Slope Along
Setting Alignment Points based on other Alignment
ShortCut List
Slope Surface and Longitudinal Features
Special Character keyin
Survey Duplicate Shot Numbers
Template naming convention
Text Import Wizard
Update Cross Section Command
Updating V3.0 Surfaces
What size pipe am I
Wildcards
Workflow Progression
Workflow toolbars
Write template points to model