MSTIN and MSTOUT Microstation MDL programs.

Translators to convert files between VrOne and Microstation.

Overview

Distribution

VrOne to Microstation Translation Steps

Microstation To VrOne Translation Steps

Installation

Notes

Release Notes

Overview

This directory contains the MDL programs needed to translate from VrOne to Microstation, or from Microstation to VrOne. In order to assist in the translation between Microstation and VrOne, a new intermediate file format named MST was created. The MST format was defined by Cardinal Systems to allow accurate translations between VrOne and Microstation.

MST files may be read into Microstation using the MSTIN MDL program, or created from Microstation using the MSTOUT MDL program. MST files may be read into VrOne using the MstIn command, and created from VrOne using the MstOut command.

The MST file format is ASCII based, and supports all VrOne entity types and their equivalent Microstation entity types. The MST format is only used to transfer to and from Microstation, if you need to convert to other programs, please look at the DxfIn and DxfOut translators.

The MSTIN and MSTOUT MDL programs were made to simply read and write the MST formatted files. There are no translation options to setup inside of Microstation; all options are specified in VrOne using the Mstin and MstOut commands. Please see the VrOne documentation for MstOut and MstIn for detailed information on setting up translations.

Distribution

The MSTOUT and MSTIN MDL programs may be freely distributed as long as they are accompanied by this documentation.

VrOne to Microstation Translation Steps

A typical translation from VrOne to Microstation would involve the following steps.

Run VrOne.
Issue the MstOut command.
Set up all translation parameters using the menus provided in MstOut.
Select the “Translate” button, and specify a file to export the VrOne data to (will have an .mst extension)
Run Microstation.
Load the MSTIN MDL program by typing in “mdl l mstin”. (Installation of MDL programs should already have been completed)
Select the file that was created in step 4.

Microstation To VrOne Translation Steps

A typical translation from Microstation to VrOne would involve the following steps.

Run Microstation.
Load the MSTOUT MDL program by typing in “mdl l mstout”. (Installation of MDL programs should already have been completed)
Specify a file to export the Microstation data to (will have an .mst extension).
Run VrOne.
Issue the MstIn command.
Set up all translation parameters using the menus provided in MstIn.
Select the “Translate” button, and select the file that was created in Step 3.

Installation

The following files are needed to run the MSTIN and MSTOUT MDL applications for Microstation versions prior to 8.

Mstin.ma

Mstin.dll

Mstout.ma

Mstout.dll

The following files are needed to run the MSTIN and MSTOUT MDL applications for Microstation Version 8.

Mstin8.ma

Mstin8.dll

Mstout8.ma

Mstout8.dll

These files must be placed in a location that Microstation recognizes for MDL applications. Typically this will be a directory named “mdlapps” and will be located one level below your main Microstation installation directory. For example, if Microstation were installed at C:\WIN32APP\USTATION, then you would place the MSTIN and MSTOUT files in the directory named C:\WIN32APP\USTATION\MDLAPPS.

To run the MSTOUT mdl, you may either type in “mdl l mstout” or “mdl l mstout8”, or choose Utilities->Mdl Applications from the pull-down menus, find the MSTOUT or MSTOUT8 application and press the “Load” button.

To run the MSTIN mdl, you may either type in “mdl l mstin” or “mdl l mstin8”, or choose Utilities->Mdl Applications from the pull-down menus, find the MSTIN or MSTIN8 application, and press the “Load” button.

Notes

If your cells look like the graphics shown below, it means that you are using a 3D cell library when translating into a 2D design file.