Understanding Cells in MicroStation
Cells in MicroStation are essentially predefined groups of elements saved as a single entity. They can significantly streamline the design process, allowing users to store common elements in libraries for easy access. When a cell is placed in a design file, it acts as a complex element, simplifying repetitive tasks and standardizing components across projects.
Steps to Edit Text within a Cell
Editing text within a cell in MicroStation requires a few methodical steps. Here’s how to approach this task:
Select the Cell: Start by clicking on the cell that contains the text you wish to modify. If the cell is labeled as a shared cell, specific steps are required to unshare it before you can edit the text.
Unshare the Cell (if applicable): If necessary, use the command line to input "DROP SHARECELL." After this, you will be prompted to confirm the conversion from a shared cell to an unshared cell. Identify the element by clicking on it.
Activate the Edit Tool: Once the cell is unshared, double-click on the text you want to edit. This action will invoke the text editing interface.
Modify the Text: In the text editor that appears, make the necessary changes to the text. Whether it’s changing the wording, font, or formatting, ensure all modifications are accurately reflected.
Finalize Changes: After completing the edits, confirm or apply the changes within the text editor to update the cell. This will save your new text configuration.
- Re-share the Cell (if needed): If you wish to keep the updated cell as a shared cell for future use, you can create a new shared cell after editing, ensuring consistency throughout your work.
Editing Text Attributes
You might also want to adjust the text attributes such as size, style, or color. Here’s how to change these attributes:
Open Change Attribute Tool: Select the text, and navigate to the Change Attribute tool in the menus.
Apply New Attributes: Modify attributes such as font size, color, or alignment from the available options.
- Review Changes: After applying the new attributes, check how they appear within your design. If acceptable, save the changes to maintain consistency in your project.
Working with Data Fields in Cells
You might also need to incorporate data fields into your text. Follow these steps for effective data field management:
Select the Text: Choose the text where you want the data field to appear.
Open the Word Processor: Right-click and select to open the text in the Word Processor.
Insert Data Field: Position the cursor where the data field is required, right-click again, and choose “Insert Enter Data Field.” This will allow you to define dynamic values within your text block.
- Edit and Save: Make any adjustments necessary to the data field settings and ensure they reflect accurately in your text.
FAQs
1. What types of changes can I make to text in MicroStation?
You can change various aspects of the text, including the content, font, size, color, and spacing. You can also format the text differently (e.g., bold, italic).
2. Can I edit shared cells directly?
To edit shared cells, you must first convert them to unshared cells by using the "DROP SHARECELL" command. Once the changes are made, you can reassign them as shared cells if necessary.
3. How do I make bulk changes to multiple text elements?
To edit the text attributes for multiple elements at once, use the Select by Attributes command to highlight all relevant text and then modify the attributes in the Change Attribute tool. This allows for uniform adjustments across all selected text elements.
