MicroStation®

Quick Reference Guide

DAA020970-1/0001
Trademarks
AccuDraw, Bentley, the “B” Bentley logo, MDL, MicroStation and SmartLine are registered
trademarks; PopSet and Raster Manager are trademarks; Bentley SELECT is a registered service
mark of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or Bentley Software, Inc.

Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun
Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.

Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, the Acrobat logo, Distiller, Exchange, and PostScript are
trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft® Corporation.

Other brands and product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.

United States Patent Nos. 5,815,415, 5,784,068, and 6,199,125.

Copyrights
2001 Bentley Systems, Incorporated.
 MicroStation Quick
Reference Guide

As delivered application window layout

Main Attributes Menu bar Primary Tools Standard

tool frame tool box tool box tool box

View Groups Status bar View control bar View window

window

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 1

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Main tool frame

Main tool frame

Element Selection tool box p. 9 Fence tool box p. 9

Points tool box p. 14 Linear Elements tool box p. 11
Patterns tool box p. 14 Polygons tool box p. 14
Arcs tool box p. 5 Ellipses tool box p. 9
Tags tool box p. 17 Text tool box p. 17
Groups tool box p. 10 Cells tool box p. 6
Measure tool box p. 12 Dimension tool box p. 8
Change Attributes tool box p. 6 Manipulate tool box p. 11
Delete Element Modify tool box p. 12

3D Construct tool box

Extrude Construct Revolution

Extrude Along Path
Shell Solid Thicken To Solid

3D Main tool frame

3D Primitives tool box p. 3 3D Construct tool box p. 2

3D Modify tool box p. 3 3D Utility tool box p. 3

2 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
3D Modify tool box

3D Modify tool box

Modify Solid Remove Faces and Heal

Taper Solid/Surface
Construct Union Construct Intersection
Construct Difference
Cut Solid Fillet Edges
Chamfer Edges Edit 3D Primitive

3D Primitives tool box

Place Slab Place Sphere

Place Cylinder Place Cone
Place Torus Place Wedge

3D Queries tool box

Evaluate Surface Analyze Curvature

3D Utility tool box

Align Faces Change SmartSolid Display

Extract Face or Edge Geometry Intersect Solid/Surface with Curve
Construct Facet

ACS tool box

Define ACS (Aligned with Element) Define ACS (By Points)

Define ACS (Aligned with View) Rotate Active ACS
Move ACS Select ACS

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 3

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Angular Dimensions tool box

Angular Dimensions tool box

Dimension Angle Size Dimension Angle Location

Dimension Angle Between Lines Dimension Angle from X-Axis
Dimension Angle from Y-Axis Dimension Arc Size
Dimension Arc Location Dimension Chamfer

Animation Tools tool frame

Animation Actors tool box p. 4 Animation Cameras tool box p. 4

Animation Settings tool box p. 5 Animation Preview tool box p. 5

Animation Actors tool box

Create Actor Attach Actor

Manipulate Actor Modify Actor
Modify Actor Origin Define Actor Path
Script Actor Drop Actor
Detach Actor

Animation Cameras tool box

Create Animation Camera Modify Animation Camera

Script Camera Camera View
Create Target Script Target

4 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Animation Preview tool box

Animation Preview tool box

Preview First Frame Preview Previous Frame

Rewind Animation Play Animation
Preview Next Frame Preview Last Frame
Preview Frame Record Script
Record Selected Frames Freeze Elements At This Frame

Animation Settings tool box

Animation Producer Dialog Animation KeyFrames Dialog

Animate General Settings Animate Global Lighting Settings
Animate Source Lighting Settings Animate Material Settings

Annotation tool frame Annotate tool box

Annotate tool box page 5 Place Flag

Drafting Tools tool box p. 8 Show/Edit Flag
XYZ Text tool box p. 18 Update Flags

Arcs tool box

Place Arc
Place Half Ellipse Place Quarter Ellipse
Modify Arc Radius Modify Arc Angle
Modify Arc Axis

Attach Element tool box

Construct Attached Line String or Shape Construct Attached Arc

Construct Attached Ellipse or Circle Attach Element to Point
Align Element with Point and Line Attach Pen Element to Point

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 5

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Attributes tool bar

Attributes tool bar

Set Active Level

Set Active Element Color Set Active Line Style
Set Active Line Weight
Symbology Preview

B-spline Curves tool frame

Create Curves tool box p. 7 Modify Curves tool box p. 13

Cells tool box

Place Active Cell Place Active Cell Matrix

Select and Place Cell Define Cell Origin
Identify Cell Place Active Line Terminator
Replace Cells

Change Attributes tool box

Change Element Attributes Change Element to Active Area

Change Element to Active Fill Type Modify Line Style Attributes
Change Multi-line to Active Definition Match Element Attributes
Match All Element Settings

6 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Create Curves tool box

Create Curves tool box

Place B-spline Curve Create Curve by Tangents

Place Composite Curve Construct Interpolation by Arcs
Place Conic
Place Spiral Place Helix
Offset Curve Extract Iso-parametric lines
Curve Calculator

Create Surfaces tool box

Construct Surface by Section or Network Construct Surface by Edges

Place Free-form Surface Construct Skin Solid/Surface
Sweep Along Two Traces Construct Helical Surface
Offset Surface

DD Design tool frame

Profile tool box page 14 Parameter Constraints tool box p. 14

Attach Element tool box p. 5 Geometric Constraints tool box p. 10
Evaluate Constraints tool box page 9 Modify Constraint tool box p. 12

Database tool box

Attach Active Entity to Element

Display Linkage Mode Display Active Entity
Define Active Entity Graphically Review Database Attributes of Element
Detach Database Linkage Attach Displayable Attributes
Load Displayable Attributes
Generate Report Table

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 7

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Design History tool box

Design History tool box

Commit Changes Restore Elements

Design History Initialize History For This File

Dimensioning tool frame

Linear Dimensions tool box p. 11 Angular Dimensions tool box p. 4

Radial Dimensions tool box p. 15 Misc(ellaneous) Dimensions tool box p. 12

Dimension tool box

Dimension Element Dimension Size with Arrow

Dimension Size with Stroke
Dimension Ordinates
Dimension Angle Size Dimension Angle Location
Dimension Angle Between Lines
Dimension Radial
Change Dimension to Active Settings Match Dimension Attributes

Drafting Tools tool box

Place Callout Leader Place Leader

Place Callout Bubble Place Section Marker
Place Title Text Place Arrow Marker
Place Detail Marker Drafting Tools Properties

8 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Drop tool box

Drop tool box

Drop Element Drop Complex Status

Drop Line String/Shape Status Drop Text
Drop Association Drop from Graphic Group
Drop Line Style Drop Associative Pattern
Drop Multi-line Drop Dimension Element

Element Selection tool box Ellipses tool box

Element Selection Place Circle

PowerSelector Place Ellipse

Engineering Links tool box

Show/Hide Engineering Links Attach Engineering Link

Edit Engineering Tags Follow Engineering Link
Connect to Browser Load RefAgent
Delete Engineering Link

Evaluate Constraints tool box Fence tool box

Re-solve Constraints Place Fence

Modify and Re-solve Constraints Modify Fence

Describe Selected Construction or Manipulate Fence Contents

Constraint Delete Fence Contents
Drop Complex Status of Fence
Contents

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 9

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Fillet Surfaces tool box Fillets tool box

Fillet Surfaces tool box Fillets tool box

Fillet Surfaces Construct Circular Fillet

Blend Surfaces Construct Parabolic Fillet
Blend Surface Between Rail Curves Construct Chamfer

Geometric Constraints tool box

Constrain Elements
Make Construction or Parameter Invariant Constrain Point on Construction
Constrain Point at Intersection Constrain Two Points to Be Coincident
Fix Point at Location Equate Parameters or Constructions

Groups tool box

Drop Element Create Complex Chain

Create Complex Shape Create Region
Add to Graphic Group Drop from Graphic Group
Group Holes

Isometric tool box

Place Isometric Block Place Isometric Circle

10 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Linear Dimensions tool box

Linear Dimensions tool box

Dimension Element Dimension Size with Arrow

Dimension Size with Stroke Dimension Location
Dimension Location (Stacked) Dimension Size (Custom)
Dimension Size Perpendicular to Points Dimension Size Perpendicular to Line
Dimension Symmetric Dimension Half
Dimension Chamfer

Linear Elements tool box

Place SmartLine Place Line

Place Multi-line Place Stream Line String
Place Point or Stream Curve
Construct Angle Bisector Construct Minimum Dist Line
Construct Line at Active Angle

Manipulate tool box

Copy Element Move Element

Move Parallel Scale
Rotate Mirror
Align Edges Construct Array

Match tool box

Match All Element Settings Match Element Attributes

Match Text Attributes Match Multi-line Definition
Match Dimension Settings Match Pattern Attributes
Match Curve Settings Match Surface Settings

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 11

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Measure tool box

Measure tool box

Measure Distance Measure Radius

Measure Angle Between Lines Measure Length
Measure Area Measure Volume

Misc(ellaneous) Dimensions tool box

Dimension Ordinates Label Line

Insert Vertex Delete Vertex
Modify Dimension Location Reassociate Dimension
Change Dimension to Active Settings Match Dimension Settings
Geometric Tolerance

Modify tool box

Modify Element Delete Part of Element

Extend Line Extend 2 Elements to Intersection
Extend Element to Intersection Trim Element
IntelliTrim Insert Vertex
Delete Vertex Construct Circular Fillet
Construct Chamfer

Modify Constraint tool box

Break Constrained Geometry Trim Constrained Geometry

Fillet Constrained Geometry Chamfer Constrained Geometry
Modify Value of Dimension or Variable

12 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Modify Curves tool box

Modify Curves tool box

Change to Active Curve Settings Rebuild Curve

Extend Curve Change Element Direction
Convert Element to B-spline
Blend Curves Drop B-spline Curve
Flatten Curve Deform Curve
Evaluate Curve

Modify Surfaces tool box

Construct Trim Project Trim

Convert 3D Construct Stitch
Change Normal Direction
Untrim Surface Change to Active Surface Settings
Split Surface Extend Surface
Rebuild Surface

Multi-line Joints tool box

Construct Closed Cross Joint Construct Open Cross Joint

Construct Merged Cross Joint Cut Single Component Line
Cut All Component Lines Construct Closed Tee Joint
Construct Open Tee Joint Construct Merged Tee Joint
Construct Corner Joint Uncut Component Lines
Multi-line Partial Delete Move Multi-line Profile
Edit Multi-line Cap

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 13

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Parameter Constraints tool box

Parameter Constraints tool box

Convert Dimension to Constraint

Assign Equation
Assign Variable to Dimensional Constraint

Patterns tool box

Hatch Area Crosshatch Area

Pattern Area Linear Pattern
Show Pattern Attributes Match Pattern Attributes
Delete Pattern

Points tool box

Place Active Point Construct Pnts Between Data Points

Project Active Point Onto Element Construct Active Point at Intersection
Construct Pnts Along Element Construct Active Pnt @Dist Along
Element

Polygons tool box Profile tool box

Place Block Sketch Profile

Place Shape Convert Element to Profile
Place Orthogonal Shape
Place Regular Polygon

Primary Tools tool box

References Level Manager

Level Display Element Information
Toggle AccuDraw PopSet Enable

14 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Radial Dimensions tool box

Radial Dimensions tool box

Dimension Radial Dimension Diameter

Dimension Diameter (Extended Leader) Dimension Diameter Perpendicular
Dimension Diameter Parallel Dimension Radius
Dimension Radius (Extended Leader) Place Center Mark
Dimension Radius Note Dimension Arc Distance

Raster Control tool box

Raster Manager Attach Raster Reference

Raster Selection Modify
Mirror Warp
Clip Modify
Unclip

Raster Display tool box

Bring to Front Send to Back

Fit to View Actual Resolution (1:1)
Contrast/Brightness

Raster Main tool frame

Raster Display tool box p. 15 Raster Control tool box p. 15

Redline tool box

Attach Redline File Detach Redline File

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 15

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
References tool box

References tool box

Attach Reference Set Reference Clip Boundary

Set Reference Clip Mask Delete Reference Clip
Set Reference Back Clip Plane Set Reference Front Clip Plane
Reload Reference Move Reference
Copy Reference Attachment Scale Reference
Rotate Reference Mirror Reference
Set Reference Presentation Detach Reference

Rendering Tools tool box

Define Light Define Camera

Apply Material Render
Query Illumination Facet Smoothing
Photomatch View Size

Snap Mode tool box

Toggle AccuSnap
Near Snap Point Key Point Snap
Mid Point Snap Center Snap
Origin Snap Bisector Snap
Intersect Snap Tangent Snap
Perpendicular Snap

16 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Standard tool box

Standard tool box

New Open
Save
Print
Cut Copy
Paste
Undo Redo
On the Web
Help

Surface Modeling tool frame

Create Surfaces tool box p. 7 Modify Surfaces tool box p. 13

Fillet Surfaces tool box page 10 3D Queries tool box p. 3

Tags tool box

Attach Tags Edit Tags

Review Tags Change Tags
Delete Tags

Text tool box

Place Text Place Note

Edit Text Spell Checker
Display Text Attributes Match Text Attributes
Change Text Attributes Place Text Node
Copy and Increment Text Copy Enter_Data Field
Copy and Increment Enter_Data Field Fill In Single Enter_Data Field
Auto Fill In Enter_Data Fields

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 17

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
view control bar

view control bar

1 Update View 10 Change View

2D 2 Zoom In Perspective
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 Zoom Out 11 Change View
4 Window Area Display Mode
3D 5 Fit View 12 Navigate Camera
6 Rotate View
7 Pan View
8 View Previous
9 View Next

View Control tool box

Update View Zoom In

Zoom Out Window Area
Fit View Rotate View
Pan View View Previous
View Next Copy View
Zoom Change View Perspective
Set Display Depth Set Active Depth
Show Display Depth Show Active Depth
Camera Settings Render
Apply Clip Volume

View Groups window

Set the active view group

Manage View Groups
Open or close a view window

XYZ Text tool box

Label Point Coordinate Label Element Coordinates

Export Coordinates Import Coordinates

18 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
File Menu

File Menu

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 19

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Edit Menu

Edit Menu

Element Menu

20 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Settings Menu

Settings Menu

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 21

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Tools Menu

Tools Menu

22 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Tools Menu (continued)

Tools Menu (continued)

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 23

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Utilities Menu

Utilities Menu

Workspace Menu

24 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
Window Menu

Window Menu

Help Menu

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 25

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
AccuDraw Shortcut key-ins

AccuDraw Shortcut key-ins

Key Effect
<?> Opens the AccuDraw Shortcuts window.
<Return> Smart Lock. In Rectangular coordinates, locks X to 0 if the pointer is on the drawing plane y-axis or Y
to 0 if the pointer is on the x-axis. In Polar coordinates, locks Angle to 0°, 90°, -90°, or 180° if the
pointer is on a drawing plane axis or otherwise locks Distance to its last entered value.
<spacebar> Switches between Rectangular and Polar coordinates.
<O> Moves the drawing plane origin to the current pointer position.
<X> Toggles the lock status for the X value.
<Y> Toggles the lock status for the Y value.
<Z> Toggles the lock status for the Z value.
<D> Toggles the lock status for the Distance value.
<A> Toggles the lock status for the Angle value.
<L> Locks the current index state.
<N> Activates Nearest snap mode.
<C> Activates Center snap mode.
<I> Activates Intersect snap mode.
<K> Opens the Keypoint Snap Divisor settings box.
<R>,<Q> Used to quickly and temporarily rotate the drawing plane.
<R>,<A> Used to permanently rotate the drawing plane. Because it rotates the current ACS, this rotation will
still be active after the tool in use is exited.
<R>,<X> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its x-axis.
<R>,<Y> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its y-axis.
<R>,<Z> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its z-axis.
<F> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Front view.
<S> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Right view.
<T> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Top view.
<V> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the view axes.
<W>,<A> Saves the drawing plane alignment as an ACS.
<G>,<A> Retrieve a saved ACS.
<P> Opens the Data Point Key-in settings box for entering a single data point.
<M> Opens the Data Point Key-in settings box for entering multiple data points.
<G>,<K> Opens (or moves focus to) the Key-in window.
<G>,<S> Opens (or moves focus to) the AccuDraw Settings box.
<G>,<M> Opens the More AccuDraw Settings dialog box.
<G>,<T> Moves focus to the Tool Settings window.
<Q> Deactivate AccuDraw.
<?> Opens the AccuDraw Shortcuts window.
<Return> Smart Lock. In Rectangular coordinates, locks X to 0 if the pointer is on the drawing plane y-axis or Y
to 0 if the pointer is on the x-axis. In Polar coordinates, locks Angle to 0°, 90°, -90°, or 180° if the
pointer is on a drawing plane axis or otherwise locks Distance to its last entered value.

26 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
AccuDraw Shortcut key-ins

Key Effect
<spacebar> Switches between Rectangular and Polar coordinates.
<O> Moves the drawing plane origin to the current pointer position.
<X> Toggles the lock status for the X value.
<Y> Toggles the lock status for the Y value.
<Z> Toggles the lock status for the Z value (see “Using AccuDraw in 3dD).
<D> Toggles the lock status for the Distance value.
<A> Toggles the lock status for the Angle value.
<L> Locks the current index state.
<N> Activates Nearest snap mode.
<C> Activates Center snap mode.
<I> Activates Intersect snap mode.
<K> Opens the Keypoint Snap Divisor settings box, which is used to set the Snap Divisor for keypoint
snapping.
<R>,<Q> Used to quickly and temporarily rotate the drawing plane. The procedure is described in “The Rotate
Quick keyboard shortcut”.
<R>,<A> Used to permanently rotate the drawing plane. Because it rotates the current ACS, this rotation will
still be active after the tool in use is exited.
<R>,<X> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its x-axis.
<R>,<Y> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its y-axis.
<R>,<Z> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its z-axis.
<F> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Front view.
<S> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Right view.
<T> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Top view.
<V> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the view axes.
<W>,<A> Saves the drawing plane alignment as an ACS.
<G>,<A> Retrieve a saved ACS.
<P> Opens the Data Point Key-in settings box for entering a single data point.
<M> Opens the Data Point Key-in settings box for entering multiple data points.
<G>,<K> Opens (or moves focus to) the Key-in window.
<G>,<S> Opens (or moves focus to) the AccuDraw Settings box.
<G>,<M> Opens the More AccuDraw Settings dialog box.
<G>,<T> Moves focus to the Tool Settings window.
<Q> Deactivate AccuDraw.
<?> Opens the AccuDraw Shortcuts window.
<Return> Smart Lock. In Rectangular coordinates, locks X to 0 if the pointer is on the drawing plane y-axis or Y
to 0 if the pointer is on the x-axis. In Polar coordinates, locks Angle to 0°, 90°, -90°, or 180° if the
pointer is on a drawing plane axis or otherwise locks Distance to its last entered value.
<spacebar> Switches between Rectangular and Polar coordinates.

MicroStation Quick Reference Guide 27

 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide
AccuDraw Shortcut key-ins

Key Effect
<O> Moves the drawing plane origin to the current pointer position.
<X> Toggles the lock status for the X value.
<Y> Toggles the lock status for the Y value.
<Z> Toggles the lock status for the Z value (see “Using AccuDraw in 3D”).
<D> Toggles the lock status for the Distance value.
<A> Toggles the lock status for the Angle value.
<L> Locks the current index state.
<N> Activates Nearest snap mode.
<C> Activates Center snap mode.
<I> Activates Intersect snap mode.
<K> Opens the Keypoint Snap Divisor settings box, which is used to set the Snap Divisor for keypoint
snapping.
<R>,<Q> Used to quickly and temporarily rotate the drawing plane. The procedure is described in “The Rotate
Quick keyboard shortcut”.
<R>,<A> Used to permanently rotate the drawing plane. Because it rotates the current ACS, this rotation will still
be active after the tool in use is exited.
<R>,<X> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its x-axis.
<R>,<Y> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its y-axis.
<R>,<Z> Rotates the drawing plane 90° about its z-axis.
<F> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Front view.
<S> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Right view.
<T> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the axes in a standard Top view.
<V> Rotates the drawing plane to align with the view axes.
<W>,<A> Saves the drawing plane alignment as an ACS.
<G>,<A> Retrieve a saved ACS.
<P> Opens the Data Point Key-in settings box for entering a single data point.
<M> Opens the Data Point Key-in settings box for entering multiple data points.
<G>,<K> Opens (or moves focus to) the Key-in window.
<G>,<S> Opens (or moves focus to) the AccuDraw Settings box.
<G>,<M> Opens the More AccuDraw Settings dialog box.
<G>,<T> Moves focus to the Tool Settings window.
<Q> Deactivate AccuDraw.

28 MicroStation Quick Reference Guide