Web site | |
Product | MicroStation v8 TriForma, Architecture for
TriForma, Structural for TriForma |
Release date | Current |
Initial price | MicroStation V8 TriForma, $4,795; Architecture
for TriForma, $1,995; Structural for TriForma, $2,750. Monthly
subscription pricing available for all products. |
Annual maintenance fee | $625 (SELECT program) |
Operating systems | |
Supported | Windows NT/98/2000/XP |
Reviewed | Windows 2000 |
Multiple document support | Yes, by using multiple sessions or referencing
and exchanging |
Supports xrefs (or similar ) | Identical to xrefs; supports DWG natively |
Web-aware | Yes |
Web tools | |
Collaboration tools | |
Format for sharing drawings via Web | DXF, DWG, PDF. HPGL |
Attach hyperlinks to entities in drawing | Engineering links |
Access/insert data/ content directly from
Web | Engineering links |
Other | |
Smart AEC objects | |
Predefined objects | Walls, doors, windows, roofs, trusses, stairs,
handrails, stall sections, concrete sections, timber sections,
fittings, cabinets |
Easily exchange objects | All through DWG/DXF |
Custom objects supported | Yes |
View-dependent representation of objects | Always |
Walls | |
Number of predefined | Hundreds wall styles |
Customize wall styles | Unlimited |
Curtain walls | Limited in TriForma, none in Architecture
for TriForma |
Curved walls | Complete support, including smoothly curved
walls (no stroking) |
Hatch fill | Yes |
Solid fill | Yes |
Doors/windows | |
Number of predefined | Hundreds doors and windows |
Customize doors/windows | Unlimited |
Work in 2D | Yes. MicroStation is a complete 2D package |
Work in 3D | Yes, principal mode of operation |
Work in 2D/3D simultaneously | Yes |
Convert 2D to 3D | Yes. References both 3D to 2D (easy) and
2D to 3D (unusual) |
Convert 3D to 2D | Yes, both export as 'pancaking' and extracting
hidden lines (correct geometry, not stroked), orthogonal and
perspective |
2D detailing/drafting tools | 2D drafting tools: comprehensive;
3D detailing tools:Structure for TriForma |
Metric option | Yes |
Space planning tools | Yes |
Generate walls from space plans | Yes |
Mass modeling tools | Yes |
Generate floors from mass models | Yes, with Generate Section tool |
Explicit multistory support | Not explicit; easily done with reference
files |
Layers | |
Maximum number of layers | 4 billion |
Alphanumeric layer names supported | Yes |
AIA layer system | Yes |
Other layer systems | Any system supported |
Master layer controls | Yes, dgnlib |
User-configurable layer system | Yes |
Dimensioning (automatic or semiautomatic) | Both |
Keynotes | Yes |
Schedules; dynamic link with model | Excellent in Structure; limited in Architecture
and TriForma |
Reports; dynamic link with model | Excellent in Structure; limited in Architecture
and TriForma |
Symbols library | |
Doors | Hundreds |
Windows | Hundreds |
Plumbing | Limited |
HVAC | Separate product HVAC for TriForma |
Electrical | Separate product Electrical for TriForma |
Furniture | Some; support for DXF/DWG means unlimited |
Structural | Complete steel sections in Structure |
Site | Limited |
Landscape | Practically none |
Vehicles | Few; support for DXF/DWG and RPC means unlimited |
Other | |
Plotting | |
WYSIWYG preview | Yes |
Color fills | Yes |
Batch mode | Yes |
Save configurations for multiple plotters | Yes |
Other... | Plotter drivers for EPS, WMF, JPG, TIF |
Visualization/rendering | |
Texture mapping | Yes |
Ray tracing | Yes-fast! |
Transparency | Yes |
Reflectance | Yes |
Refraction | Yes |
Procedural rendering | Yes |
Radiosity | Yes-also particle tracing |
Animation | |
Animate camera/target | Yes |
Animate textures | Yes-you can animate ANYTHING: lights, moving
objects, object dependency |
Customization tools | |
VBA support | Yes |
Access ActiveX object model interface | No |
Other | MDL is delivered with product, full C++ language
with compiler |
Data exchange | |
Import formats | DWG, DXF, IGES, Parasolid, ACIS, CGM, STEP,
STL |
Export formats | DWG, DXF, IGES, Parasolid, ACIS, CGM, STEP,
STL |
Tutorials | |
Printed version | Available on Web site in PDF |
Multimedia | On-line explorer help |
Other | |
Undo | Unlimited undo. Undo beyond session by using
Design History |
Surfaces | Full b-spline surfaces toolset. New mesh
elements supports DXF-style meshes |
Solid | Full solid modeling based on Parasolid kernel;
simultaneous support for ACIS kernel. |