AutoCAD Transition
==================

Welcome to MicroStation! This chapter is designed to help former AutoCAD 
users successfully upgrade to MicroStation. It includes procedures common 
to transition users, a discussion of some conceptual differences between 
the two packages, and alphabetical listings for MicroStation equivalents of 
AutoCAD terms and commands.

Hint:
It is strongly recommended that all users, including former AutoCAD users, 
become familiar with basic MicroStation terms and operating concepts by 
completing these lessons.

*  Your First MicroStation Session.
*  MicroStation Fundamentals.
   
Hint:
MicroStation documentation is written in a style that is as concise and 
easy-to-follow as possible. However, operations that are consistent across 
MicroStation are not always explained in detail. It is strongly recommended 
that you read Fundamentals (chapter 1 in the User's Guide) to learn basic 
MicroStation terms and operations.

   Common Procedures for Upgrading Successfully 
   Conceptual Differences
   MicroStation Equivalents for AutoCAD Terms
   MicroStation Equivalents for AutoCAD Commands


Common Procedures for Upgrading Successfully 
---------------------------------------------

This section covers common procedures that former AutoCAD users are likely 
to have to do, as well as several procedures where MicroStation is 
considerably different from AutoCAD.

   Getting help
   Converting AutoCAD ".dwg" files to MicroStation


Getting help
------------

>> To get help about the MicroStation equivalent of an AutoCAD command:

1. From the Help menu, choose Contents.
   The Help window open, with the Table of Contents displayed.
2. Click on "AutoCAD Transition." (You may have to scroll down a bit to 
find it).
3. Click on MicroStation Equivalents for AutoCAD Commands. 
4. Click on the first letter of the desired AutoCAD command.
   
Note:
MicroStation's on-line Help is a complete on-line User's Guide (except for 
lessons) and Reference Guide. See Using On-line Help for information about 
using MicroStation's on-line Help. 



Converting AutoCAD ".dwg" files to MicroStation
-----------------------------------------------

MIcroStation Version 5 lets you open AutoCAD drawing ".dwg" files directly, 
with no loss of information.
*  No intermediate translation, using interchange formats such as DXF or 
IGES, is required.
*  All entities in your drawing, including their color, line styles, and 
text, appear exactly as they did in AutoCAD.
*  All AutoCAD attributes (non-graphical data associated with entities) are 
converted to MicroStation tags (see Attaching Non-graphical Element Tags 
for more information).
   
Note:
Some problems may occur because of differences in the way the two packages 
represent data; see *Xref for helpful hints about how to overcome these 
difficulties, which for the most part, is quite easy.

   To open a ".dwg" file in MicroStation:
   To translate a library of blocks into a MicroStation cell library:
   To translate AutoCAD ".shx" files into a MicroStation font resource:
   Ensuring that coordinates in drawing files remain correct
   Centering a drawing in the design plane


To open a ".dwg" file in MicroStation
-------------------------------------

1. TBD
Note:
For more complete information about opening files in different formats in 
MicroStation, see Exchanging Data With Other Applications.



To translate a library of blocks into a MicroStation cell library
-----------------------------------------------------------------

1. TBD.
2. 


To translate AutoCAD ".shx" files into a MicroStation font resource
-------------------------------------------------------------------

1. From the User menu's Utilities sub-menu, choose Install Fonts
   The Font Installer dialog box opens
2. To open an existing font resource file, click Open.
   or 
   To create a new font resource file, click New.
   If you opened an existing font resource file, the fonts are displayed in 
the right list box.
3. Click Open under the left list box. 
   The Open File dialog box opens
4. Select AutoCAD shape files by clicking on the pulldown item list.
   The filter is set to *.shx
5. In the list box, select the AutoCAD shape file to open (You may have to 
traverse a directory tree to find the desired file). 
6. Click the OK button.
7. The contents of the .shx file is read and an entry is placed in the left 
list box. 
8. Identify a new font number for the shape file contents.
To add the ".shx" file contents to the open font resource, select an entry 
from the left list box and click Add.

9. The font is added to the currently open font resource and a new entry 
appears in the list box to the right.
The user may then either open another .shx file to add a new entry to the 
font resource, or remove an existing entry from the font resource, or close 
the font resource and exit the Font Installer application by clicking on 
Done.



Ensuring that coordinates in drawing files remain correct
---------------------------------------------------------

AutoCAD and MicroStation store coordinates differently
*   AutoCAD stores coordinates as floating-point values in an infinite 
volume.
*  MicroStation stores coordinates as 32-bit integers -- in 2D, on a finite 
Design plane or in 3D, the design cube (*Xref). 
   
It may be necessary to shift a drawing so that it fits in the design plane 
or cube or use a design file with Working units set to a more appropriate 
value.

Working units can be adjusted so that the design plane (cube) has enough 
"room" to store even drawings with widespread coordinates with sufficient 
accuracy. In most cases, using a design file with appropriate working units 
ensures that a drawing file is converted with no need for shifting or 
scaling.

Seed files are MicroStation design file templates with settings, including 
working units, set to appropriate values for disciplines such as 
architecture, mapping, and mechanical design. Seed files are more or less 
equivalent to AutoCAD prototype files.



Centering a drawing in the design plane
---------------------------------------

When you open a drawing file, if the drawing does not fit in the design 
plane (cube), it is centered.
*  If you open the drawing file by choosing Import > DWG or DXF (*Xref) 
from the File menu, a warning and the new origin are displayed in the 
Status area in the Import Drawing File dialog box.
   If Shift Global Origin is on, the design file's global origin is shifted 
to match the drawing file's origin. The coordinates of entities in the 
drawing file stay the same, but the coordinates of elements in the design 
file are changed.
*  If you open the drawing file by entering a command at the system prompt 
or using the Open (*Xref) from the File menu, the global origin is shifted 
if a new design file is created.
   
If the drawing file does not fit in the design plane or cube after it is 
centered, a warning is displayed in an alert box and included in the Log 
File. If this happens, use a design file created from a seed file with 
Working units set to a more appropriate value. See To select a seed file: 
for information about choosing a different seed file.



Conceptual Differences
----------------------

This section covers some areas where MicroStation and AutoCAD work 
differently

   Viewports versus views
   Modal versus non-modal dialog boxes
   Active settings in MicroStation
   Snapping to elements
   The MicroStation design plane


Viewports versus views
----------------------

TBD

   All MicroStationviews are always active
   Regens


All MicroStationviews are always active
---------------------------------------

TBD



Regens
------

TBD



Modal versus non-modal dialog boxes
-----------------------------------

Modal dialog boxes require all user interactions to be focused within the 
dialog box. For the most part, modal dialog boxes have an OK or a Cancel 
button. They are typically used in these situations
*  When an application must have some information before it can continue. 
One example is the filename for a file that is being created.
*  A complete set of information must be entered before other actions can 
be taken.
*  To provide messages, especially alerts and warnings.
   
Modal dialog boxes must be dismissed, or closed, before any further action 
can be taken. 

Nearly all dialog boxes in AutoCAD are modal. 

Non-modal, or modeless, dialog boxes let you interact with other dialog 
boxes or other parts of an application, for example, drawing tools. In 
MicroStation, non-modal dialog boxes are called settings boxes -- they let 
you adjust the controls they contain at any time. Settings boxes do not 
have to be dismissed, or closed, before continuing with your work.

Most dialog boxes in MicroStation are non-modal.

MicroStation limits the use of modal dialog boxes mainly to file 
operations, such as New and Open, alert boxes, and less frequently 
performed operations such as setting preferences.

Hint:
In most cases, non-modal dialog boxes greatly improve productivity, because 
you spend more time working and less time opening and closing dialog boxes.

Hint:
See *Xref in the UG for an example of working with non-modal dialog boxes.



Active settings in MicroStation
-------------------------------

The two programs get the information they need to place elements (entities) 
in the design quite differently.
*  In AutoCAD, most commands prompt the user for information each time the 
command is requested. In most cases, the information that was last input is 
the default value, but the AutoCAD user still must answer all prompts, over 
and over again, each time a command is requested.
*  In MicroStation, settings that apply to most input or editing operations 
are callled active settings -- you can change any of these settings (or 
none of them)  at any time. 
   
   Example


Example
-------

AutoCAD's INSERT command asks the user to to input the following each time 
it is requested
*  A block name
*  An insertion point
*  An x-scale factor
*  A y-scale factor
*  A rotation angle
   
For each value, the user must either enteri new values or press <Return> 
when prompted to use the values that were previously input. Even just 
pressing <Return> uses time that could be spent on design.

MicroStation's equivalent to AutoCAD's INSERT command, the Place Active 
Cell tool, lets you define the location of the cell by entering a data 
point immediately after you select the tool. 

The settings, including the Active Cell, Active Angle, and scale factors 
are used as you place the cell in the design. You can change any of these 
settings (or none of them) if necessary -- you never spend time repeatedly 
pressing <Return> to answer prompts about settings you do not want to 
change.

Hint:
See *Xref in the UG for an example of working with active settings in 
MicroStation.



Snapping to elements
--------------------

Cover differences



The MicroStation design plane
-----------------------------

TBD (possibly)



MicroStation Equivalents for AutoCAD Terms
------------------------------------------

This section lists common AutoCAD terms and their MicroStation equivalents. 
Click the first letter of the AutoCAD term.


A
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

absolute coordinXY=

ADS             MicroCSL



B
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

block           cell             While blocks are stored in separate drawing 
                                 files, MicroStation cells are stored in a 
                                 special file called a cell library, for 
                                 which AutoCAD has no equivalent. For more 
                                 information, see 
                                 Using Cells.



C
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

Cancel          Reset button     See 
                                 Reassigning Buttons.

command         key-in           See Using Key-ins.

command prompt aCommand Window   See *Xref



D
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

drawing ".dwg" fdesign ".dgn" filThe binary formats with which AutoCAD and 
                                 MicroStation store data are different, as 
                                 are the suffixes commonly used for them. See 
                                 Converting AutoCAD ".dwg" files to MicroStation 
                                 for information about opening AutoCAD 
                                 drawings in MicroStation.[a]

[a]In the MicroStation documentation, since the AutoCAD binary format and 
the DXF format are, for the most part, the same, the term "drawing file" is 
commonly used to refer to either a ".dwg" file of a ".dxf" file.
   
   

E
-



   
AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

elevation       active depth

entity          element

entity propertieelement attributes

erase           delete

error message   error field

explode         drop status



G
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

grips           handles



L
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

layer           level            Although an unlimited number of layers have 
                                 to be set up in AutoCAD, MicroStation has 63 
                                 levels that are available at all times.

linetype        line style



O
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

osnap           tentative        This is MicroStation's "try this" button. 
                                 Used in conjunction with 
                                 Snap Lock. Entering a 
                                 data point always accepts a Tentative point. 
                                 On a mouse or tablet cursor (puck) with 
                                 three or more buttons, Tentative is usually 
                                 assigned to a single button. On a mouse or 
                                 tablet cursor with less than three buttons, 
                                 tentative is typically activated by holding 
                                 down two buttons at once. For information 
                                 about pressing the tentative button on your 
                                 system, see 
                                 Using the Mouse or Digitizing Tablet.



P
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

pick            accept

pick button     Data button      For information about pressing the Data 
                                 button on your system, see 
                                 Using the Mouse or Digitizing Tablet.

pick point      data point       See Data points.

polar coordinateDI=distance,direction

pop-down menus  pull-down menus  MicroStation's usage is consistent with the 
                                 Windows and othe GUI standards. In most 
                                 cases, a pull-down menu is referred to just 
                                 as a "menu."MicroStation's 
                                 Pop-up menu can be used 
                                 to select a view control or modifier.

prototype file  seed file        See Seed files.

purge           compress         From the File menu, choose 
                                 Compress Design.



R
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

redraw          update           From the View menu, choose one of the 
                                 following: 
                                 Update > View, 
                                 Update > All, 
                                 Update > Inside Fence, 
                                 Update > Outside Fence, 
                                 or 
                                 Update > Grid. 
                                 (See 
                                 Update > View 
                                 - 
                                 Update > Grid 
                                 in the Reference Guide.)

relative coordinDX=

rubberbanding   dynamics         (Xref tbd)



S
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

style           font



U
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

units           working units    See Working units.



V
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

viewport        view             See Working with Views



X
-




AutoCAD Term:   MicroStation     Comments:
                Term:

Xref            reference file   Brief description of difference and Xref TBD



MicroStation Equivalents for AutoCAD Commands
---------------------------------------------

This section has an alphabetical list of AutoCAD commands and lists the 
equivalent MicroStation tool, dialog box item, or concept (or the nearest 
equivalent). 

Click on the desired command's first letter (or use the ">>" and "<<" 
buttons to browse).


A
-




A B  C  D  E F  G  H  I  K  L M  N  O  P Q  R  S  T  U  V W  X  Z



Command:     MicroStation Equivalent:

ABOUTACADPREFHelp menu/On Version.

AFLAGS       Settings menu/Tag Sets

ALIGN        Not sure

ANGBASE      Settings menu/Locks > Full ???

ANGDIR       Angle direction in MicroStation is always counter-clockwise

APERTURE     User menu/Preferences (Operation)Aperture and Pickbox are the same in 
             MicroStation. 

APPLOAD      User menu/MDL Applications

ARC          Place Arc by Center 
             toolPlace Arc by Edge tool

AREA         Measure Area tool

ARRAY        Construct Array tool

ATTDEF       Settings menu/Tag Sets

ATTDIA       No equivalent -- (tags always operates through a dialog box)

ATTDISP      No equivalent

ATTEDIT      Tags palette

ATTEXT       File menu/Tag Reporting > Generate Reports...

ATTMODE      Not sure

ATTREQ       Not sure

AUDIT        EdG (*Xref to DevSup) lets you examine a design file to see if it is 
             valid, and optionally correct errors.

AUNITS       (Settings menu/Coordinate Readout

AUPREC       Settings menu/Coordinate Readout



A B  C  D  E F  G  H  I  K  L M  N  O  P Q  R  S  T  U  V W  X  Z



B
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

BACKZ        Set Display Depth ???

BASE         Not sure

BHATCH       Hatch Area tool

BLIPMODE     No equivalent

BLOCK        See To create a cell: for the equivalent 
             MicroStation procedure

BPOLY        Create Complex Shape tool with 
             Method set to Flood.

BREAK        Delete Part of Element tool



C
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

CAL          No equivalent

CECOLOR      Active Color (*Xref)

CELTYPE      Line Style (*Xref)

CHAMFER      Chamfer tool

CHANGECHPROP To change an element's level (layer), color, linetye (line style), or 
             line weight (thickness), use the 
             Change Element Attributes tool.To move a line's 
             endpoint or change a circle's circumference, use the 
             Modify Element tool.To move text or 
             a cell (block), use the 
             Move Element tool.To edit text, use 
             the Edit Text tool. To change the font, height, 
             and width of a text element, use the 
             Change Text to Active Attributes 
             tool.

CIRCLE       Place Circle by Center 
             toolPlace Circle by Edge tool

CLAYER       Active Level (*Xref)

CMDDIA       For a discussion of MicroStation's available plottong methods, see 
             Plotting.

CMDECHO      ECHO (???)

COLOR        Active Color (*Xref)BYLAYER -- Level symbology (*Xref)BYBLOCK -- no 
             equivalent, I think.

COMPILE      User menu/Utilities > Install Fonts

CONFIG       For PCs only, USCONFIG from DOS prompt

COORDS       Coordinates are displayed as you move the pointer in the Precision 
             Input settings box, which is opened by choosing 
             Precision Input.

COPY         Copy Element tool

CVPORT       Not necessary -- all open views are active at the same time.



D
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

DATE         No equivalent

DBLIST       At OS prompt: EDG 'design_file'

DBMOD        Design files are accessed directly from the disk

DDATTDEF     Settings menu/Tag Sets

DDATTE       Palettes menu/Tags ???

DDATTEXT     Files menu/Tag Reporting

DDCHPROP     Element menu/Information

DDEDIT       Edit Text, Fill in Single Enter Data Field, Edit Tags

DDEMODES     Element menu/Attributes

DDGRIPS      Not sure

DDIM         TBD

DDINSERT     Settings menu/Cells

DDLMODES     View menu/Levels and/or Level Symbology

DDMODIFY     Element menu/Information

DDOSNAP      See conceptual discussion on Modifiers and/or Tentative Point

DDPTYPE      Place Active Point

DDRENAME     Most tools (Settings menu/Cells, Settings menu/Level Names, etc.) 
             have the capability of changing the respective names

DDRMODES     User menu/Preferences (most options are selectable)

DDSELECT     Conceptual notes on selection capabilities

DDUCS        Settings menu/Auxiliary Coordinates

DDUSCP       Settings menu/Auxiliary Coordinates

DDUNITS      Settings menu/Coordinate Readout

DDVIEW       View menu/Saved

DDVPOINT     View menu/Rotation

DELAY        PAUSE (only in User Commands)

DIM          TBD

DIST         Measuring palette

DIVIDE       Construct Active Points (and associated tools)

DONUT        Place Torus???

DRAG         User menu/Preferences (Input)

DTEXT        Place Text and Place Text Node (Closest equivalent) 

DVIEW        View menu /Camera > Set Up

DWGNAME      The active design file's name is displayed in the Command Window's 
             title bar.

DWGPREFIX,   Help menu/On Version
DWGTITLED

DXBIN        No equivalent

DXFIN        File menu/Import > DWG or DXF

DXFOUT       File menu/Export > DWG or DXF...



E
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

EDGESURF     No equivalent

EDIT         See conceptual discussion on Selection Sets

ELEV         Set Active Depth

ELLIPSE      Place Ellipse (and associated tools)

END          File menu/Exit

ERASE        Delete Element

ERRNO        No equivalent

EXPERT       No equivalent

EXPLODE      Drop (and associated tools)

EXTEND       Extend (and associated tools)



F
-




Command:     MicroStation Equivalent:

FILEDIA      Dialog boxes are an integral part of MicroStation

FILES        MDL LOAD MM

FILL         Set Color Fill On/Off

FILLET       Circular Fillet (and associated tools)

FILLMODE     Active Fill (*Xref)

FILMROLL     Not sure

FILTER       Edit menu/Select By

FRONTZ       Not sure



G
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

GEOMCAL      see CAL

GIFIN        File menu/Import > Image

GRIDGRIDMODEGSetttings menu/Grid 

GRIPBLOCK    Not sure

GRIPCOLOR    No equivalent

GRIPHOT      No equivalent

GRIPS        Similar to what MicroStation and most graphical user interface 
             standards call "handles"

GRIPSIZE     No equivalent



H
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

HANDLES      No equivalent

HATCH        Hatch Area, Crosshatch Area

HELP         Help menu

HIDE         Wiremesh rendering

HIGHLIGHT    SET HILITE



I
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

ID           No command required, use Tentative point, used in conjunction with 
             snap settings

IGESIN       File menu/Import > IGES...

IGEOUT       File menu/Export > IGES...

INSBASE      Not sure

INSERT       Place Active Cell

INSNAME      Settings menu/Cells

ISOPLANE     Settings menu/Locks > Full



K
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

KEY



L
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

LASTPOINT    Settings menu/Precision Input

LASTPT3D     see LASTPOINT

LAYER        ACTIVE LEVEL

LIMCHECK,    No equivalent
LIMITS, LIMMAX, 
LIMMIN

LINE         Place Line

LINETYPE     Element menu/Line Styles > Select

LIST         Element menu/Information

LOAD         User menu/Utilities > Install Fonts

LTSCALE      No equivalent

LUNITS       Combination of Working Units and Coordinate Readout

LUPREC       Settings menu/Coordinate Readout



M
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

MACROTRACE   No equivalent

MANUALS      Help menu (MicroStation Help is on-line)

MAXACTVP     Users select views for most display functions

MAXSORT      Dialog box listings are sorted

MEASURE      No equivalent

MENU         ATTACH MENU

MENUCTL      MicroStation does not use a screen menu

MENUECHO     ECHO

MINSERT      Place Active Cell Matrix

MIRROR, MIRROMirror

MIRRTEXT     see MIRROR (used in conjunction with Select By)

MODEMACRO    No equivalent

MOVE         Move, Move Parallel 

MSLIDE       File menu/Save Image As

MSPACE       No equivalent

MULTIPLE     Tool stays active until Reset or another Tool is activated

MVIEW        View menu/Open-Close



N
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

NEW          File menu/New



O
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

OFFSET       Copy Parallel (and associated tools)

OFFSETDIST   See OFFSET

OOPS         No equivalent

OPEN         File menu/Open

ORTHO, ORTHOMSettings menu/Locks > Toggle

OSMODE, OSNAPModifiers menu, used in conjunction with the selected tool



P
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

PAN          Press <Shift> and press the Data button (see *Xref);See also MOVE 
             Key-in, Window Center

PCXIN        File menu/Import > Image

PDMODEPDSIZE No Equivalent

PEDIT        Change Element Attributes, Create Complex Chain, Delete Vertex, 
             Insert Vertex

PFACE        Palette menu/3D B-spline (Freeform surfaces)

PICKADDPICKAUSee Conceptual discussion on Selection Sets ???

PICKBOX      Aperture and Pickbox are the same in MicroStation User menu/
             Preferences (Operation)

PICKDRAG     Selection window is always a click-drag-release operation

PICKFIRST    Selection sets, for the most part, are always operated on when an 
             edit/inquiry tool is activated

PLAN         View menu/Rotation

PLATFORM     Help menu/On Version

PLINE        Place Composite CurveSee alos Place Line String, Place Curve, Create 
             Complex Chain

PLINEGEN     Not sure

PLINEWID     ACTIVE WEIGHT, also Element menu/Line Style > Edit

PLOT         File menu/Plot

PLOTID, PLOTTSelected from Plot dialog box

POINT        Place Active Point

POLYGON      Place Regular Polygon

POLYLINE     See PLINE

POLYSIDES    See POLYGON

POPUPS       Dialog boxes are a fundamental part of MicroStation

PSDRAG       No equivalent

PSFILL       No equivalent

PSIN         No equivalent

PSLTSCALE    See PLOT

PSOUT        File menu/Save Image As

PSPACE       Not sure

PSPROLOGPSQUANo equivalent

PURGE        Compress Design File (Conceptual difference)



Q
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

QSAVE        See SAVE

QTEXTQTEXTMODSET TEXT [OFF|ON]

QUIT         QUIT (this requires a backup of the design file in order to operate 
             the same way)



R
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

RE-INIT      No equivalent

RECOVER      MicroStation attempts to repair damaged design files when they are 
             opened

REDEFINE     No equivalent

REDO         Edit menu/Redo

REDRAW       View menu/Update

REDRAWALL    View menu/Update

REGEN, REGENAConceptual display difference
REGENAUTO, 
REGENMODE

REINIT       See RE-INIT

RENAME       See DDRENAME

RESUME       No equivalent

REVSURF      Palettes menu/3D

ROTATE, ROTATRotate

RSCRIPT      No equivalent

RULESURF     Palettes menu/???



S
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

SAVESAVEASSAVDesign files are accessed directly from the disk

SCALE        Scale

SCREENMODE   There is no text screen in MicroStation

SCRIPT       No equivalent

SELECT       Palettes menu/Main > Element selection icon

SETVAR       User menu/Workspaces > Modify User [or Project] Configuration, User 
             menu/Preferences, Settings menu/Locks, View menu/Attributes

SH           See SHELL

SHADESHADEDGEView menu/Render

SHAPE        See Common Procedures to translate .shx files into a font resource, 
             Settings menu/Fonts

SHELL        !, DOS or UNIX

SHPNAME      See SHAPE

SKETCH       Place Stream Curve, Place Stream Line String

SKETCHINC    Settings menu/Digitizing

SKPOLY       Tool selection determines whether line strings or curve strings are 
             created

SNAP         Settings menu/Locks > Full, Settings menu/Grid 

SNAPANG,     Settings menu/Locks > Full
SNAPBASE

SNAPISOPAIR  No equivalent

SNAPMODE     Settings menu/Locks > Full

SNAPSTYLSNAPUConfiguration (Settings menu/Grid) 

SOLID        Place Orthogonal Shape, Place Shape

SORTENTS     No equivalent

SPLFRAME     Palettes menu???

SPLINESEGS   Palettes menu/???

SPLINETYPE   Palettes menu/???

STATUS       No equivalent

STRETCH      Fence Stretch

STYLE        Settings menu/Fonts

SURFTAB1SURFTPalettes menu/???

SURFU,SURFV  Palettes menu/3D B-spline



T
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

TABLET       Settings menu/Digitizing

TABMODE      No equivalent

TABSURF      Palettes menu/3D B-spline

TEMPPREFIX   Configuration variable MS_TMP

TEXT         Settings menu/Text, Text sub-palette

TEXTEVAL     No equivalent

TEXTSCR      Graphical user interface is always active in MicroStation

TEXTSIZE,TEXTSettings menu/Text

THICKNESS    Not sure

3DFACE       Place Shape

3DMESH       Not sure

3DPOLY       Place Space Line String, Place Space Curve String

TIFFIN       File menu/Import > Image

TILEMODE     User menu/Preferences (Window)

TIME         No equivalent

TOGGLES      Not sure

TRACE        Element menu/Line Styles

TRACEWID     Element menu/Line Styles > Edit

TREEDEPTH,TRENo equivalent 

TRIM         Trim Element



U
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

UCS          Settings menu/Auxiliary Coordinates

UCSFOLLOWUCSINo equivalent

UCSNAMEUCSORGSettings menu/Auxiliary Coordinates

UNDEFINE     Not sure

UNDO         Edit menu/Undo

UNITMODE     Not sure

UNITS        Settings menu/Working Units



V
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

VIEW         View menu/Saved

VIEWMODE     No equivalent

VIEWPORTS    View menu/Open-Close, Conceptual difference between viewports and 
             views

VIEWRES      No equivalent

VISRETAIN    No equivalent

VPLAYER      View menu/Levels

VPOINT       View menu/Rotation

VPORTS       See VIEWPORTS

VSLIDE       File menu/Display > Movies



W
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

WBLOCK       FF=design_file



X
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

XBIND        Conceptual discussion concerning Reference Files

XREF         File menu/Reference

XREFCTL      No equivalent



Z
-




Command      MicroStation Equivalent:

ZOOM         View menu/FitView menu/ZoomView menu/Window

