Structures file conversion

Last updated: 2024-04-29

Use the following steps to convert your C3D Structure Layout files to MicroStation DGN for coordination with our in-house Geotech.

  1. Open Structure Layout file
  2. Reset the Coordinate System to WCS
  3. Type XREF to access the references window

  4. Highlight all files except the top file (which is your current file), right click and click Detach

    Bind or detatch references

  5. Right click on the Alignment file and choose Bind… > Bind > OK

    Bind alignment reference

  6. In Model Space, select the alignment block and EXPLODE

  7. EXPORTTOAUTOCAD2010

    1. Save the file in the References folder that contains the Layout file. Notice the “ACAD-“ prefix that gets added to the file name

      Export to Autocad 2010

  8. Save
  9. Open the ACAD-… .dwg version of the file to be converted

  10. File > Export > Other Formats (at the very bottom)

    Export to other formats

  11. Save the file to the desired location as V8 DGN (*.dgn)
  12. In the Export DGN Settings window, the seed file may need to be specified.
    1. If so, click the ... button and navigate to C:\WisDOT\Stnd\C3D2022\Templates\Conversion.

    2. Select wisdot-seed3d.dgn

      Select MicroStation seed file

  13. Choose wisdot-seed3d.dgn and the WisDOT DWG-DGN EXPORT options. OK

    Export settings

  14. If the conversion was successful, the command bar will tell you so.

    Successful conversion

  15. Open the file in MicroStation and confirm that 2 points on opposite corners of the file have the same coordinates as the C3D file. Also verify that the file converted into the proper units (US Survey Feet).

    Successful conversion Successful conversion

To convert a MicroStation file, use the Convert DGN drawing tool.