New in MicroStation CONNECT Edition Update 16
MicroStation CONNECT Edition Update 16 is now launched and available for download. As in previous updates, MicroStation’s Update 16 is loaded with new features, upgraded workflows, and enhancements. MicroStation CONNECT Edition comes with numerous services and features not available in its V8i version. In previous updates of the CONNECT Edition, MicroStation has introduced the V8i Task Theme to enable users of V8i to make a seamless transition. With the General workflow and the Dark Theme for MicroStation, users migrating from other applications to MicroStation will have the convenience of using a familiar UI. The Collaborate ribbon tab in MicroStation brings together all the collaboration tools and iTwin Services for improved collaboration on projects.
MicroStation Update 16 brings to you the following new capabilities and enhancements:
Pick Lists and Tables Enhancements
In Update 16 you will see enhanced item type workflows with advanced Pick List settings and the ability to derive pick lists from lookup tables and Excel files. This will ensure consistency, reduce manual effort, and avoid human error. The ability to search and filter out pick list values to associate while attaching an item type. This will be useful while working with large lists of values. For any table, you place in your design you can now assign a table name and description to it in the Properties dialog.
Parametric Modeling Enhancements
Multiple placement points were recently introduced in parametric modeling. If you are working with these, you can now choose to fix one of the placement points while placing a parametric cell. After placing, this placement point will become sticky which means that any variation applied to the cell will respect the location of this fixed placement point. While upgrading a parametric cell you can now update it with a newer version having updated item type and parametric information. You can also place a parametric cell with updated item type libraries in a DGN that has older item type libraries attached.
Visualization
The Vue rendering engine offers excellent rendering presets that you can work with. However, if you wish to customize any of these presets you can now use the new Render Setup Manager dialog where you can adjust VUE’s rendering settings. The VUE render engine is made commercially available in Update 16. VUE’s Render Setup manager has separate tabs for Path Tracing and Ray Tracing, allowing you capabilities to create photo-realistic renderings.
One Configuration
If you are a user or an organization using other Bentley products along with MicroStation, you will now have a single Configuration folder that can be shared by the different Bentley products without any conflict. Configuration files and resource files can be extended to suit each product. Changes have been made to the delivered configuration files to achieve this. Your existing configurations will NOT be affected by this change. We will share detailed blogs and articles on One Configuration best practices shortly.
Technology Preview features
- Modify and update sheet index changes for multiple sheets
- Execute Startup Script button in the Preferences Dialog
General Availability Features
The below features that were introduced as Technology Preview in previous releases are now commercially available for all users:
- Attach Item Dialog
- Expression builder
- Parametric Components Dialog
- Vue Rendering dialog and Atmosphere editor dialog
MicroStation CONNECT Edition Update 16 is released with all these and much more. Stay tuned for more updates.
To know what else is new in this update read New in MicroStation CONNECT Edition Update 16.
You can peek at the Update 16 highlights in this short video.
To read more about these enhancements and access help for any feature, please read the product Help for Update 16.
