Tim's Microstation & Inroads Tips

ACCUDRAW "BUMP TOOLS SETTINGS":
Use the "~" while Accudraw is active to change settings in the Tools Settings Window.

THE "/" AND "*" KEYINS:
These keyins can be used to divide or multiply settings. For example to double the current text size keyin "tx=*2".

TEXT UNDERLINE SPACING:
The spacing of the underline below underlined text can be set as a % of text height under the Workspace Menu, Preferences, Text, Underline Spacing.

ACCUDRAW READOUT
For you surveyors out there, Accudraws readout can be switched to N E by the keyin "accudraw settings northeast". To get it back to X Y use the keyin "accudraw settings xy".

MIRROR CELLS DURING PLACEMENT:
When placing a cell, give a negative scale factor for X or Y to mirror the cell during placement.

SETTING GLOBAL ORIGIN
If you need to set a design files cooridnates to a large value (example: state plane coordinates) select coordinates near the project area. Use the keyin "GO=X,Y,Z". When prompted for the monument point, key in "XY=0,0|UOR" which sets the center of the design cube to the keyed in coordinates. Another option is to to give a Reset when prompted for a monument point, this sets the keyed in XYZ to the bottom left corner.

WORKING WITH REFERENCE FILES:
When working with reference files it is often handy to switch to a file that is referenced in to make an edit. Try using the key-in XD=Filename. This will switch you to the specified file after prompting to save your work. The best part is you will be in the same view as in the file you left. If you use standard file names, you could even put these in function keys to let you switch from file to file.

PRECISION INPUT:
When using precision input, following the key-in with the pipe symbol "|" and a number repeats the input. Ex. "dx=1,2|10"

DIMENSION EXTENSION LINES:
It is possible to turn the display of dimension extention lines on and off by using the key-in "Change Dimension Extension" and picking the element. It also works with selection sets.

ROTATING VIEW TO ELEMENT:
Rotate the view to an element with the key-in "Rotate View Element".

COORDINATE READOUT:
When a tenative point is placed, the coordinates of that point display on the status bar. There is several different modes that control how these coordinates display. The key-in "set tpmode *" sets the readout mode. (where * is a mode from the table below)

Mode	Description
locate	absolute coordinates
delta	distance between two or more tenative points along design file axis
vdelta	distance between two or more tenative points along view axis
distance	distance and angle
acslocate	coordinates based on ACS
acsdelta	distance between two or more tenative points along ACS axis

If you have any tips you would like to submit, please email them to Tim Shoemaker.

This page is maintained by Tim Shoemaker
Last Updated 10/7/98