How to Change Level in MicroStation?

Understanding Levels in MicroStation

MicroStation employs a system of levels to organize drawing elements. Each level can hold different types of designs, enabling users to separate elements for clarity and ease of management. Comprehension of how to manipulate these levels is central to effective work in MicroStation.

Steps to Change Element Level in MicroStation

1. Open the Change Attributes Toolbox:
   Locate the Change Attributes toolbox within your MicroStation interface. This can typically be found among the main tool frames, with the Change Element Attributes being the default option.

2. Activate the Change Element Attributes Tool:
   From the toolbox, select the tool that allows you to change element attributes. This step is crucial as it prepares the application to modify properties of the selected elements.

3. Select the Level You Wish to Change:
   Within the tool settings, you will find a check box labeled ‘Level’. Click on this box to activate it. A dropdown menu should appear, displaying the list of available levels.

4. Choose the Desired Level:
   From the list, select the level to which you want your elements to be moved. Ensure that you choose the correct level for the elements you intend to modify.

5. Apply Changes:
   Once you have selected the desired level, click on ‘Apply’ or ‘OK’ to confirm your changes. The selected elements will now be relocated to the specified level within your drawing.

Managing Level Priorities in MicroStation

The integrity of your drawing can be affected by the order in which levels are displayed. Here’s how to change level priority:

1. Access Level Manager:
   Navigate to the Level Manager, which is generally accessible from the main toolbar or under the Settings menu.

2. Locate the Priority Settings:
   Inside the Level Manager, find the option to adjust the priority of each level. Levels can typically be listed numerically based on their priority.

3. Adjust the Priority Order:
   Use the arrows or drag features to reorder levels as necessary. Higher priority levels will display on top of those with lower priority, aiding in visibility and organization.

4. Save Your Changes:
   Ensure to save any changes made to level priorities to maintain the intended display structure.

Selecting Elements by Level

When managing multiple levels, it’s often necessary to manipulate or select elements based on their assigned level:

1. Open the Level List:
   Access the level list within the Level Manager to see all existing levels.

2. Select Individual or Multiple Levels:
   For individual level selection, simply click on the preferred level. For multiple selections, hold down the Ctrl key and click on each level you wish to include. To select a range, click and drag over the levels.

3. Apply Actions:
   After your selections, you can perform mass actions such as moving, hiding, or locking selected elements based on their levels.

Using the Display Set for Element Management

1. Creating a Display Set:
   Start by selecting all elements that need to be organized into a display set. Right-click and choose the option to group these elements.

2. Exiting the Selection Set:
   After grouping, release the selection to finalize the display set configuration.

3. Hiding Specific Elements:
   To hide elements from view, select the elements within the display set that you wish to remove. Right-click and use the right-click menu options to exclude them from the display set.

FAQs

1. Can I change the level of multiple elements at once?
Yes, you can change the level of multiple elements by selecting them all before invoking the Change Element Attributes tool. The changes will be applied uniformly to all selected elements.

2. What happens if I forget to save my level adjustments?
If you do not save the changes made to levels or priorities in MicroStation, all alterations will be lost once you close the application, or if you navigate away from the current session.

3. Is it possible to undo level changes?
Yes, MicroStation allows you to undo changes using the undo command, typically available under the Edit menu or as a keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Z), which will revert the last action taken.