Export to DGN
- Last UpdatedJul 27, 2026
- 4 minute read
Exports a drawing or drawings to a DGN file.

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Export |
Click to export the current sheet. When Export is selected, the current export settings are saved. |
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Multi Export |
Allows you to export multiple sheets. When Multi Export is selected, the current export settings are saved. Refer to Export Multiple Sheets for further information. |
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Specify the export type |
Select Export to DGN from the drop-down list to define a .DGN file as the export format. |
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Specify file type |
Allows you to define the exported file type. Click to display a drop-down list.
Select the required export file format from the drop-down list. |
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Specify what to export |
Allows you to define what to export. Click to display a drop-down list.
Select either the entire sheet or one of its views from the drop-down list. |
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Specify paper size |
Allows you to define the size of the paper. Click to display a drop-down list.
Select a pre-defined scale size for the exported file, for example, ISO A3 or ISO A4, or select Auto size paper to compute a custom paper size using the Paper ScaleUp field and the extents of the exported data. |
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Cutmarks |
Select the check box to export the file with cutmarks. |
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Paper ScaleUp |
Input a value in the field to define a scale factor for the exported file or select a scale factor from the drop-down list. The Paper ScaleUp field becomes active if Auto size paper is selected when you specify the desired output size. |
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Paper Frame |
Select the check box to export the frame. |
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Border |
Input a value in the field to define the border width. 0mm indicates no border. |
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Advanced |
Select the check box to display advanced export settings. Deselect the check box to suppress the display of advanced export settings. Export white graphics becomes available. |
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Export white graphics |
Select the check box to export all graphics as white, in order for them to be seen in a viewer with a black background. The default is to export all graphics as black. |
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The following options are only available when Advanced is selected: |
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Annotation Mapping |
Select the check box to map annotation entities to equivalent AutoCAD/Microstation entities, if available. If a good equivalent entity is not available, the export reverts to the basic (exploded) version for that entity. |
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Blanking |
Select the check box to export labels and dimensions with blanking, if blanking is enabled for the DRAW element. |
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Seed File |
Select the check box to associate a seed file with the exported output. Click If enabled, the specified seed file is used to configure the export settings. |
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Use Grouping Rules |
Select the check box to use grouping rules for the export. Edit Grouping rules becomes active. |
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Edit grouping rules |
Click to define the grouping rules for the export. Refer to Edit Grouping Rules for further information. |
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Assign levels by rule |
Select the check box to use level rules for the export. Edit level rules becomes active. |
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Edit level Rules |
Click to define the level rules for the export. Refer to Edit Level Rules for further information. |
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Use backing sheet level |
Select the check box to export the backing sheet to a specified level. Input a value in the field to define the level for the exported backing sheet. |
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Default level |
Input a value in the field to define the default level for exported elements. |
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Auto Preview |
Select the check box to update the preview as the export settings are changed, by default. |
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Show View Frames |
Select the check box to include the frames of all View frame owners (for example, Views, Regions and Sheets) in the exported output, if they are enabled in Draw. |
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Preview |
Click to update the view of what will be exported. |
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Load Settings |
Click to open a file browser to locate and load new export settings from a configuration file (.pmldat) or a legacy LIEXEC configuration macro file (.mac). |
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Save Settings |
Click to save the current export settings. |
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Restore Defaults |
Click to restore the default export settings. |
To export blanking information with the drawing, select the Advanced check box. Refer to Label and Dimension Blanking for further information.



and browse to the required seed file.