CAD for MX V8 XM
DWG-DGN terminology
AutoCAD Term
MicroStation PowerDraft Term
Notes
Cell libraries
ACIS
Parasolid
Attributes
Tags
Balloon
Callout bubble
Bind XREF
Merge into Master
Blocks
Cells: shared and normal
ByLayer setting
ByLevel setting
Command line
Key-in
Drafting Settings
View Attributes
Drawing layout (paper
space)
Sheet model
Drawing units
Working units
DWG file
DGN file
Explode
Drop Element
Freeze layers
Global Freeze
No analogous AutoCAD term.
Native 3D modeling kernel for
each program.
In AutoCAD, attributes must be
part of a block.
Inserting an external reference
into the current drawing.
In AutoCAD, all blocks behave
like shared cells. There is no
analogy to a normal cell.
Setting that controls whether
color, line weight, and line style
are set for each level (layer).
Place for entering
commands/variables manually.
In AutoCAD, there is no
analogy to View Attributes.
Some settings are found in the
taskbar/drafting settings area.
Unlimited sheet models
(drawing layouts) allowed in
both programs.
MicroStation PowerDraft has a
setting on the DWG Open
dialog box for Design Center
Units. This corresponds to
AutoCAD's setting for Drawing
units for DesignCenter blocks.
Native file format for each
program.
Command used to demote
element/object types to lower
level. For example, cells/blocks
can be demoted to geometry.
In MicroStation PowerDraft, pay
attention to the Mode setting in
the Level Display dialog box.
Viewport Freeze (DWG workmode
only)
Grips
Handles
Hatching
Patterning
Layers
Levels
Vertices on geometry that can
be selected and manipulated.
AutoCAD hatching relies on
predefined patterns.
Both programs have a
Manager style dialog box for
controlling level/layer
symbology. MicroStation
PowerDraft also has the Level
Display dialog box for quick
on/off settings.
CAD for MX V8 XM
DWG-DGN terminology
AutoCAD Term
MicroStation PowerDraft Term
Linetypes
Line styles
LTSCALE
ACTIVE LINESTYLESCALE
Model space
Design model
Nested references
Nested references
Objects
Elements
Osnap
AccuSnap
Plot
Print
Plot styles
Pen tables
Polyline
Smart Line
Properties
Element Information
Rectangle
Block
References:
attachments and
overlays
References
Region
Shape
System variables
Configuration variables
Template drawing
files
Seed files
Text window
Message Center
UCS
ACS
Viewports
View
Zoom extents
Fit View
Notes
MicroStation PowerDraft
standard line codes are not
available in DWG workmode.
Configuration/system variable
used to define the scale of line
scale/linetype patterns.
DWG workmode and AutoCAD
allow only one model.
MicroStation PowerDraft DGN
workmode allows multiple
models.
MicroStation PowerDraft lets
you control levels of nesting;
AutoCAD does not.
Drafting tool for automatic
snaps.
AutoCAD CTB and STB files
can be imported into
MicroStation PowerDraft.
Polylines can have variable
width, as opposed to constant
line weight.
Title for current symbology of
elements/objects.
AutoCAD references are also
known as XREFs (for eXternal
REFerences). MicroStation
equivilant of an overlay is to set
No Nesting.
It is recommended that you not
insert AutoCAD system variable
values in fields in a DWG file
that you expect to save to DGN
format.
These files are used as a
starting point for newly-created
files. They store standard
settings.
Place for viewing text
messages of program
feedback.
Coordinate system acronyms.
ACS = Auxiliary Coordinate
System; UCS = User
Coordinate System.
MicroStation PowerDraft views
are more flexible in terms of
display attributes and number.
Command for zooming in on all
elements currently in the
drawing.
