MicroStation is a software of collaborative engineering, or in the past of Conception computer-assisted (CAD). Microstation is published by the company Bentley Systems. Many modules developed by Bentley as by third companies make it possible to use MicroStation in varied scopes of application (engineering of the processes, road infrastructures and urban, architecture, cartography, etc)

Microstation was developed at the origin by the brothers Keith and Barry Bentley. They founded the company Bentley Systems Inc. together in 1984. Bentley in January 2006 counted more than 2500 employees in the world. The leadership team includes/understands Greg Bentley, CEO, Bhupinder Singh SrVP Bentley Software, Malcolm Walter COO, John Riddle Plant and Building, Ted Lamboo Geo and Civil, Jean-Baptiste Monnier Asia-Pacific, and David Hollister CFO.

Microstation is the platform common to the applications of Bentley in the four trades which it serves, i.e. the Seedling (engineering of the processes), civil engineering, architecture/building, and the géospatial.

The Daratech analyst reports that MicroStation is the platform the most used in the world for engineering seedling.

Format of the graphic files

The files have normally the extension .dgn .

Since version 8, a new format makes it possible to encapsulate files towards:

• the old format says V7
• format DWG of AutoCAD in its various versions that MicroStation manages now nativement.
• the new format says V8

New functionalities

• MicroStation V8 makes it possible to manage the history of all the modifications made by the participants in the projects.

• MicroStation V8 makes it possible to protect the data by using technologies PKI (Public Key Infrastructure), either to introduce an authenticated electronic signature, or to restrict the access to information.
• MicroStation V8 directly generates files pdf in 2D or 3D which can be visualized or traced by more than 500 million computers in the world (that is used with the commercial propositions or the invitations to tender, for example).

Computer programming languages

• MicroStation can be configured by using VBA.

• the application programmers largely use MDL (Microstation Language Development) a derivative of the Langage C compiled in a P-code and thus independent of the platform (even principle that the Java).

Range

Microstation is in fact the most complete tool of the range “platform” of Bentley:

• Microstation: all functions of the software.
• PowerDraft Microstation: Microstation without the most advanced functions, for example not of animation.
• Bentley RedLine : Annotation
• Bentley View: Free software of visualization of files DWG and DGN

Collaboration and distributed engineering

The research departments are often companies distributed in the world with teams and subcontractors divided in various sites or various countries. The last version of Microstation, MicroStation V8 XM Edition left in 2006 integrates a solution of collaboration called ProjectWise StartPoint. ProjectWise StartPoint is connected to the SharePoint waiter from Microsoft. The functions include research tools, tools for collaboration between the actors of the projects (authors, consultants, décisionnaires) and of the tools workflow.

More information

• Site of Bentley France
• Site of Bentley
• Newsgroup Bentley (see bentley.general.fr)
• Forum Microstation of CADxp
• X-coordinate-Information, retailer Bentley France

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