Level-Related Options

MicroStation/J supports a maximum of 63 levels (numbered 1‑63). Each DGN graphical element is on one and only one level. MicroStation also offers names for levels, but Draft_DGN_LI always refers to levels by number. The additional levels possible in DGN8 are not yet supported.

LevelDefault

This switch sets the default level: that means, the level that will be used if no other switches or rules apply. The default value is 1.

LevelPen

This switch can set a mapping to DGN levels associated with Draft pen numbers. This allows fine control of which levels are used for which parts of the Draft drawing. (Note that this is the pen-number as stored in the database, which is not the same as the pen number in the Draft Administrator User Defined Pen Settings form.)

This puts lines and text drawn with pen 10 onto level 30, pen 11 onto level 31 and so on, up to pen 20 onto level 40. Draft pens 100 to 200 are put onto level 63. Any other pens have no specific levels, and the default level is used.

Note that levels set by LevelBack or Level Rules take priority over this switch.

LevelBack

This switch can set the level number for the backing sheet and everything contained within it. The default is Off. If this option is switched On, then no other level switches or rules will apply to items within the backing sheet.

This uses level 63 for the backing sheet and everything within it.

Level Rules

Standard selection syntax is used to define Level Rules. These specify how design elements are to be organized onto DGN Levels.

Rules are applied in order; therefore, if a rule has already been applied for a given element, a later rule will not affect it. Using the order specified in the above examples, a LAYE with PURP ‘ADCA’ will be placed on level 21 not on level 24. However a LAYE with PURP ‘XXXX’ would still be placed on level 24 even if there was a later rule which apparently placed it elsewhere.

Design elements which can have level rules include: SITE, ZONE, STRU, SUBS, FRMW, SBFR, EQUI, SUBE, PIPE, BRAN, HVAC, REST, GRDM, PTRA, BOUN, DRAWI (when owned by a SITE or ZONE) and all Piping Components.

Draft elements which can have level rules include: LAYE, NOTE, OLAY, VNOT, GLAB, SLAB, ADIM, LDIM, PDIM and RDIM.

These rules can operate with a level pool. This consists of one or more levels, which are allocated as required. For example, a Draft Sheet may have several overlays, and you may want each overlay on a separate DGN Level within the range 50 to 59 (the levels assigned for overlays in your drawing standards).

A level pool consists of one or more integers or integer ranges, separated by commas, with the optional characters ‘R’, meaning repeat the pool if necessary, and 'D integer' to specify a default value when the pool is exhausted (see General Mappings in Common Features of Option Switches)

For example, to use levels 3, 5, 6, and 7 for the first four sites, and then put any other sites on level 9, specify the switch setting:

LEVEL ALL SITE ,'POOL 3,5-7D9'

To use levels 6‑10 for all sites, reusing them in turn as necessary, specify:

LEVEL ALL SITE ,'POOL 6-10R '

To use levels 6‑10 for the first four sites, then put any other sites on levels specified by whatever other switches apply, do not use either a ‘D’ or an ‘R, thus:

LEVEL ALL SITE ,'POOL 6-10'

Note: Only the first rule that matches an element is ever considered.