Importing DGN Files as Blocks

Use the ImportDGN command to insert content from DGN files (DesiGN files) as Blocks into drawings. Files of type .dgn originate from MicroStation® or other CAD software. Supported versions include DGN V7 and V8.

If the DGN file contains multiple Design Models, you can select the model to insert.

You can also convert large numbers of files automatically using batch processing.

To import DGN files as Blocks:

  1. Click Import > Import DGN (or type ImportDGN).
  2. In the DGN Import dialog box, under Mode, select Insert as Block.
  3. Under DGN File, click Browse.
  4. In the Open dialog box, select a DGN file, and click Open.
  5. In the DGN Import dialog box, information displays under DGN file:
    • Name. Displays the complete path and name of the DGN file you selected.
    • Path. Displays the complete path to the DGN files referenced in the Block you create from the DGN file.
  6. If the DGN file contains multiple Design Models, select the model to insert as a Block.

    In DGN files, a drawing can be separated into Design Models, which are individual workspaces where design geometry is defined.

  7. In Conversion units, specify whether unit conversion uses Master units or Sub units as its base. The measurement units defined in the DGN file appear in brackets.

    Master units and sub units express a relationship between applicable measurement units such as feet and inches or meters and millimeters. Sub units cannot be larger than master units. The selected units are converted one-to-one into drawing units.

  8. Under Scale, enter a scale factor, or select Specify later to specify the scaling in the graphics area after you close the dialog box.

    The initial scale factor is set according to the ratio of units (master unit or sub unit) specified in the DGN file to the units used in the current drawing.

  9. Under Rotate, for Angle, enter a value or select Specify later to set the rotation angle in the graphics area during insertion.

    For counterclockwise rotation, enter a positive value. For clockwise rotation, enter a negative value.

  10. Click Options to set preferences for the conversion of DGN files to Block insertions.
  11. Click OK.
  12. In the graphics area, specify the insertion point for Blocks originating from the DGN file.
  13. Specify scale factor and rotation angle.
To break a Block into its component entities, use the Explode command.

Setting Preferences for Converting DGN Files to Drawing Blocks

To set preferences for DGN files:

  1. Click Import > DGN Import (or type ImportDGN).
  2. Click Options.
  3. In the dialog box, specify whether to Explode text node to text elements.
    If selected, text node entities in DGN files are converted to SimpleNotes, otherwise they are converted to Notes. Text nodes are multiline text entities similar to Notes.
  4. Click Close.

Converting DGN Files to DWG Files in a Batch Process

To convert DGN files in a batch process:

  1. ClickImport > Import DGN (or type ImportDGN).
  2. In the dialog box, under Mode, select Batch Processing.
  3. In DGN files:
    1. Click Browse to specify a Source Path that contains the DGN files to convert to DWG files.
    2. Click Browse to specify a Destination Path where the resulting DWG files are stored.
  4. In the Files list, select the DGN files to convert during batch processing.
  5. Click OK to start the batch processing.