Three mechanisms are available to provide consistent settings for DWG Import/Export. Exporting settings to a .DWS file for reuse is a good method to apply differing but consistent groups of settings, particularly with batch export/import. Defaults can be set at site or project level using a dwgsettings.rsc file as described in How to Setup DWG Options settings for multiple users across network or more visibly by using configuration variables as described in this article.
The group of settings shown below would typically be added to a site standards.cfg file (see other blogs in this series regarding this file). These are not firm recommendations, only an illustration of what is possible. The settings shown may not suit your particular purposes so each should be considered then altered are required. The available V8i variables are listed in MicroStation V8i Variables.
These can be used in conjunction with .DWS files that apply project or process specific variations, the .DWS settings will apply once loaded. The configured defaults will apply once the application is restarted or, if variables are applied at project level, when a new PCF is applied.
Omit any notes in red text if you copy this text to your own configuration!
#-------------------------------------------------------------------
# dwg
#-------------------------------------------------------------------
MS_DWGDATA = $(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)Resources/ #Site specific location
MS_DWGSYSTEMDATA = $(_USTN_SITE)dwgdata/ #Site specific location
MS_NO_DWG_BACKUP = 1
MS_DWG_PGPFILE = $(_USTN_SITE)data/acad.pgp
MS_DWGFONTPATH = $(_USTN_SITE)symb/shx/
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - Basic
MS_DWG_LEVEL_DISPLAY = 1
# MS_DWG_LEVELSYMBOLOGY_OVERRIDE #comment out to leave open allowing control by user or settings file.
MS_DWG_SAVE_FILE_SETINGS = ON
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - Advanced
MS_DWG_DROP_UNSUPPORTED_LS = ON
MS_DWG_INDEXCOLOR_TO_TRUECOLOR = OFF
MS_DWG_EMPTY_EDF_TO_SPACE = OFF
MS_DWG_ACS_TO_UCS = ON
MS_DWG_NONDEFAULT_DESIGNMODEL = Ignore If Not Merged
MS_DWG_CREATE_SEPARATE_SHEETS = OFF
MS_DWG_LEVELDISP_FOR_VPORTFREEZE = OFF
MS_DWG_SAVEAPPLICATIONDATA = OFF
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - References
MS_DWG_OVERLAY_FOR_REFERENCES = ON
MS_DWG_SAVE_REFERENCE_PATH = Never
MS_DWG_LOGICALNAME_TO_XREFNAME = ON
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - Classes
MS_DWG_CONSTRUCTION_CLASS = Save To "Construction" Layer
MS_DWG_LINEARPATTERN_CLASS = Save To "Linear Patterned" Layer
MS_DWG_PATTERN_CLASS = Save To "Pattern" Layer
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - Cells
MS_DWG_ONE_BLOCK_FOR_DUP_CELLS = ON
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - Fonts
MS_DWG_TEXTSTYLE_NAME_TEMPLATE = %s (dgn)
MS_DWG_SHX_OUTPUT_PATH = $(_USTN_PROJECTDATA)Resources/ #Site specific location
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - Dimensions
MS_DWG_SAVE_DIMENSION_SETTINGS = ON
# DWG/DXF Options General Tab - Triforma
MS_DWG_BLOCKNAMES_FROM_TRIFORMA_PARTS = ON
# DWG/DXF Options References Tab
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_EXTERNAL = Merge To Cell
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_SELF = Merge To Cell
MS_DWG_NONDEF_DESIGNMODEL_ATTACHMENTS = Merge To Cell
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_MASKED = Merge To Cell
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_COPYLEVEL = If Not Found
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_CONVERT = OFF
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_MERGE_OPTIMIZEDCLIP = ON
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_COPYNESTED = OFF
MS_DWG_REFERENCE_MERGE_DISPLAYEDLEVELSONLY = ON
Note the 'Merge to Cell' settings in the final section above, these are the four settings that most people want to control or vary by .DWS.