Printing Guide
Printing Guide
Printing Guide

Modify Pen Table dialog box

All operations concerning pen tables can be carried out from the Modify Pen Table dialog box. Sections present in the currently loaded pen table are listed in the Processing Order list box. Its File and Edit menus let you create and edit both new and existing pen tables.

Using settings in the Element Selection Criteria tab of the Modify Pen Table dialog box you can define the parameters for selecting elements in the design file (see Element Selection Criteria). Having set the selection criteria, you can use the settings in the Element Output Actions tab to define the changes required for the printed output (see Element Output Actions).

You can define an individual parameter for element selection and based on that evaluation, specify modification of the identified element in the output file. Similarly, you can evaluate multiple parameters. However, when you specify more than one parameter, they are considered as a boolean AND operation. That is, elements for which you specify multiple parameter values must meet all specified criteria before they will be identified.

For example, if you specify Ellipse as the element type, you can specify one or more types of modifications to be applied to all ellipses in the design file. However, if you specify Ellipse, Level 40, Line weight 2, then only ellipses on level 40 with a line weight of 2 will be affected by the Output Action. All other ellipses in the design will be ignored by this section.

Subsequently, you can define changes that you want to apply to other types of Ellipses on other levels of the design file. Those changes will be applied without affecting the first section of changes. Note that elements modified by the present or previous sections cannot be changed in future sections.

To open the Modify Pen Table dialog box
  1. In the Print dialog box, from the Pen Table menu, choose Edit.
    If a pen table is loaded, the Modify Pen Table dialog box opens.
    If no pen table is loaded, the Select Pen Table File dialog box opens. Proceed to the next step.

  2. In the Files list box, select the pen table.

  3. Click OK.
    The selected pen table is loaded and the Modify Pen Table dialog box opens.

File menu

Items in the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s File menu are used to create new pen tables, open existing pen tables, or import AutoCAD CTB/STB files for modification.

File menu item

Description

New

Opens the Create Pen Table file dialog box to create a new pen table.

Open

Opens the Select Pen Table File dialog box to open an existing pen table.

Save

Saves the current pen table file to disk.

Save As

Opens the Create Pen Table file dialog box to save the currently loaded pen table under a different name.

Import

Opens the Import AutoCAD CTB/STB file dialog box.

Exit/Unload

Closes the Modify Pen Table dialog box and unloads the pen table.

Edit Menu

Items in the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s Edit menu are used to create and modify sections in the currently loaded pen table.

Edit menu item

Description

Insert New Section Above

Inserts a new section above the currently selected section in the Processing Order list box.

Insert New Section Below

Inserts a new section below the currently selected section in the Processing Order list box.

Rename Section

Lets you rename the currently selected section.

Delete Section

Lets you delete the currently selected section.

Clear Types

Clears all element types currently selected.

Clear Classes

Clears all element classes currently selected.

Set All Types

Selects all element types.

Set All Classes

Selects all element classes.

Sections

Each section contains the definition for an individual resymbolization task or a group of related resymbolization tasks. These tasks can be applied to either a single element or a group of elements. In the Modify Pen Table dialog box, the Processing Order list box displays the processing order of the sections that you have defined for the pen table.

Sections let you define resymbolization tasks separately from each other. You can specify virtually an unlimited number of resymbolization tasks of varying degrees of complexity. These resymbolization tasks can apply to any element that, while being similar to others, has at least one characteristic differentiating it from the others.

When creating sections, Element Selection Criteria parameters define the elements to be processed and the Element Output Actions parameters define how the selected elements are treated when printed.
To add a section
  1. In the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s Processing Order list box, select an existing section at the point where you want to insert a new section.

  2. From the dialog box´s Edit menu, choose Insert New Section Above to insert the new section above the selected one,
    or
    choose Insert New Section Below to insert the new section below the selected one.
    The Insert Section dialog box opens.

  3. In the Name field, key in the new section´s name.

  4. Click OK.

To rename a section
  1. In the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s Processing Order list box, select the section to rename.

  2. From the dialog box´s Edit menu, choose Rename Section.
    The Rename Section dialog box opens.

  3. In the Name field, key in the new name.

  4. Click OK.

To delete a section
  1. In the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s Processing Order list box, select the section name to delete.

  2. From the dialog box´s Edit menu, choose Delete Section.

To save a modified pen table
  1. From the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s File menu, choose Save.
    or
    To save the modified pen table in a different pen table file, choose Save As and then use the controls in the Save Pen Table As dialog box to specify the destination filename, directory and disk.

To modify a pen table section
  1. In the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s Processing Order list box, select the section.

  2. Set the Element Selection Criteria for the selected section. Element Selection Criteria specify which elements are selected for processing.
    The list boxes used to specify element type, class and file criteria allow multiple, disjointed selections. <Ctrl-click> to select multiple non-contiguous items. <Shift-click> to select a range of items (multiple contiguous items).
    The dialog box´s Edit menu has items for selecting and deselecting list box entries:

    Edit menu item

    Description

    Clear Types

    Clears selection of element types.

    Clear Classes

    Clears all element classes currently selected.

    Set All Types

    Selects all element types.

    Set All Classes

    Selects all element classes.

    The fields used to specify element line weight, level, and color criteria, allow multiple, disjointed value ranges specified using commas and hyphens — for example, 2, 7, 11-14, 16-18, 21.

  3. Set the Output Actions for the selected section. Output Actions specify what is to be done once an element meets the section´s criteria.

Processing Order

This list determines the order of processing of sections. As you create sections, they are added to the Processing Order list box. During processing, each element is checked against the first section, then the second section and so on, through to the last section or until a match occurs. Once an element has been modified by a pen table section, it cannot be processed by another section. Therefore, the order of processing is important. When necessary, you can rearrange the order of sections in the Processing Order list.

To rearrange the processing order of sections
  1. In the Processing Order list box, select the section to be moved.

  2. Click the Down or Up button (below the list box) to move the selected section down or up one position in the list.

  3. Repeat step 2 to further rearrange the order of the sections.

Element Selection Criteria

Settings contained in the Element Selection Criteria tab determine which elements in the design file are selected for processing. You do not have to define all settings. Where a setting is not defined, then all options for that setting are included. For example, if you do not set a color or range of colors, then elements of all colors are selected.

To set the element selection criteria for a pen table section
  1. If necessary, in the Modify Pen Table dialog box, click the Element Selection Criteria tab.

  2. In the Type list box, select the element type(s). Use <Ctrl-click> to select multiple non-contiguous types and <Shift-click> to select a range of types.

  3. In the Class list box, select the class(es).

  4. Click the Files button to Identify the files that you want processed (see Files).

  5. In the Weight field, key in the line weight value(s).
    or
    Click the Weight button and use the controls in the Select Weights dialog box to set the line weight value(s) (see     Weight).

  6. In the Level field, key in the level number(s).
    or
    Click the Level button and use the controls in the Select Levels dialog box to set the level number(s) (see     Level).

  7. In the Color field, key in the color number(s).
    or
    Click the Color button and use the controls in the Select Colors dialog box to set the color(s) (see     Color).

  8. In the Fill Color field, key in the fill color number(s).
    or
    Click the Fill Color button and use the controls in the Select Colors dialog box to set the fill colors (see     Fill Color).

  9. Click the Style button and use the controls in the Select Line Style dialog box to select the line style(s) (see Style).

  10. In the MSLink field, key in the mslink column value(s) (see Mslink column ).

  11. In the Entity field, key in the entity number(s).

Use Section Name As Criteria

When the active file is a DWG file and a CTB/STB file has been imported, the Use Section Name As Criteria option is available. When you turn on this option, if the pentable section name matches the plot style name on the element, then that criteria is used for the pentable section to match. That is, the pentable section match would be on plot-style, rather than element color or type.

Files

This setting defines the design files that will be selected by the pen table for processing. You can select the active file and any references by their Slot Numbers. References also can be selected by their Logical Names.

Using logical names for references produces more reusable pen tables. For example, you may have a number of design drawing files that use the same references, including the border file, but in different slot numbers. Selecting by logical names ensures that the correct resymbolization occurs for the references, irrespective of their slot numbers.

To identify the master file, you need to use its slot number, which is always zero because it does not have a logical name.
To select files for processing by slot number
  1. In the Element Selection Criteria tab, click the Files button.
    The     Identify Files dialog box opens.

  2. In the Slot Numbers section click the Select button.
    The Select Files dialog box opens.

  3. Select the required files and click OK.
    The Select Files dialog box closes and the selected files´ slot numbers appear in the Slot Numbers field.

To select references for processing by logical name
  1. In the Element Selection Criteria tab, click the Files button.
    The     Identify Files dialog box opens.

  2. In the References Logical Names section, click the Select button.
    The Select Files dialog box opens.

  3. Select the required references and click OK.
    The Select Files dialog box closes and the selected files are added to the References Logical Names list box.

Alternative Method — To select references for processing by logical name
  1. In the Element Selection Criteria tab, click the Files button.
    The     Identify Files dialog box opens.

  2. In the field below the Reference Logical Names list box, key in the logical name of the required reference.

  3. Click Add.
    The file is added to the References Logical Names list box.
    When specifying a logical name for a reference in the pen table, you can enter the complete logical name, or you can enter an expression pattern consisting of one or more wild cards. The following table identifies the wild cards that you can use for matching logical names.

    Wild Card

    Used to

    (.)

    Match any character. Serves as a single-character wild card.

    (*)

    Match zero or more occurrences of the preceding character. Used in combination with any character or with the single character wild card (.). Automatically includes the root word.

    (+)

    Match one or more occurrences of the preceding character. Used in combination with any character or with the single character wild card (.). Automatically excludes the root word.

    When necessary, you can replace existing entries, or remove them.

To replace a reference entry on processing list
  1. In the Element Selection Criteria tab, click the Files button.
    The     Identify Files dialog box opens.

  2. In the Reference Logical Names list box, select the logical name that is to be replaced.

  3. In the field below the Reference Logical Names list box, type the new reference logical name.

  4. Click Replace.
    The reference logical name is replaced with the new entry.

To remove a reference entry from the processing list
  1. In the Element Selection Criteria tab, click the Files button.
    The     Identify Files dialog box opens.

  2. In the Reference Logical Names list box, select the logical name that is to be removed.

  3. Click Remove.
    The reference logical name is deleted from the list.

Weight

This setting defines the line weights that will be selected by the pen table for processing. When defining the weight parameter for element evaluation, you can key in the values or you can use the Weight button to select the values graphically.
To select Weight values graphically
  1. In the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s Element Selection Criteria tab, click the Weight button.

  2. The Select Weights dialog box opens.

  3. Select the required weights by clicking them. Clicking a selection a second time deselects it.
    or
    Use the All or None buttons to select all weight values or no weight values, respectively.

  4. Click OK.
    The selected values are entered in the Weights field.

Level

This setting defines the design file levels that will be selected by the pen table for processing. When defining the level parameter for element evaluation, you can key in the values or you can use the Level button to select the values graphically.
To select Level values graphically
  1. In the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s Element Selection Criteria tab, click the Level button.

  2. The Select Levels dialog box opens.

  3. Select a level by clicking it. The list box allows for multiple, disjointed selections. You can <Ctrl-click> to select multiple non-contiguous items, and <Shift-click> to select a range of items (multiple contiguous items). With multiple selections, you can deselect an entry by <Ctrl>-clicking it a second time.
    or
    Use the All or None buttons to select all level values or no level values, respectively.

  4. Click OK.
    The selected values are entered in the Level field.

Color

This setting defines the element colors that will be selected by the pen table for processing. When defining the color parameter for element evaluation, you can key in the values or you can use the Color button to select the values graphically, via the Select Color dialog box. Colors are displayed as a circular button when not selected, and as a square button when selected.
To select Color values graphically
  1. In the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s Element Selection Criteria tab, click the Color button.

  2. The Select Colors dialog box opens. By default, all colors are selected and appear as square buttons in the dialog box.

  3. Deselect the unwanted colors by clicking them. Also, you can click and drag to deselect/select multiple colors. Clicking a selection reverses the state (selected/deselected).
    or
    Use the All or None buttons to select all color values or no color values, respectively.

  4. Click OK.
    The selected values are entered in the Color field.

Fill Color

This setting defines the fill colors that will be selected by the pen table for processing. When defining the fill color parameter for element evaluation, you can key in the values or you can use the Fill Color button to select the values graphically.
To select Fill Color values graphically
  1. In the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s Element Selection Criteria tab, click the Fill Color button.

  2. The Select Colors dialog box opens. By default, all colors are selected and appear as square buttons in the dialog box.

  3. Deselect the unwanted colors by clicking them. Also, you can click and drag to deselect/select multiple colors. Clicking a selection a second time reverses the state (selected/deselected).
    or
    Use the All or None buttons to select all color values or no color values, respectively.

  4. Click OK.
    The selected values are entered in the Fill Color field.

Style

This setting defines the line styles that will be selected by the pen table for processing.
To select Style values
  1. In the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s Element Selection Criteria tab, click the Style button.

  2. The Select Line Style dialog box opens.

  3. Select the required line styles by clicking them. Clicking a selection a second time reverses the state (selected/deselected).

  4. Click OK.
    The selected values are entered in the Style list box.

Global Actions

Global Actions are completed without regard to section definitions. They are applied across the entire design file and across all levels within the file. Global actions cannot be focused on any specific section. They provide three features for modifying your design´s printed output:

Explode Cells

Explode Cells must be turned on if you want element selection criteria to be evaluated against individual elements making up the design file´s cells. This is done without regard to the design levels containing the cells or the processing section. If Explode Cells is turned off, only the cell header is considered during element selection criteria evaluation.

Text Substitutions

You can use the text substitution feature to replace text in your design file for the printed output. This can be with standard text string variables for text items such as the date, time or filename. Proposed replacement strings for the date, time, filename (full and abbreviated) are special strings that are converted to the required information during processing for printing. When specifying these text substitutions, the system provides a suggested actual string. You can place an identical text string in the design file at the position that you want the text substitution. Alternatively, you can amend the actual string to match an existing text string in the design.

In addition, you can replace original “generic” text (text that is not standard design file information, such as date, time and filename) with replacement text strings.

To define a text substitution entry for the filename, date or time
  1. In the design, place at least one string of text for which you want to substitute the filename, date or time for printed output.

  2. In the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s Global Actions section, click the Text Substitutions button.
    The Text Substitutions dialog box opens.

  3. From the Text Substitutions dialog box´s Edit menu, choose from —Insert Abbreviated Filename, Insert Filename, Insert Date or Insert Time.
    Choosing one of these menu items inserts a list box entry. A special string appears in the Replacement field and a suggested string appears in the Actual field, as follows:

    Edit menu item

    Actual string

    Proposed replacement string

    Effect of leaving the proposed replacement string as is

    Insert Abbreviated Filename

    $FILEABBREV$

    _FILEA_

    Replaces the actual string with the filename of the active design file. The replacement filename is truncated to the size of the actual string.

    Insert Filename

    $FILE$

    _FILE_

    Replaces the actual string with the filename of the active design file. No truncation takes place.

    Insert Date

    $DATE$

    _DATE_

    Replaces the actual string with the current date, for example, “22 MAY 95.”

    Insert Time

    $TIME$

    _TIME_

    Replaces the actual string with the current time, for example, “22:18:21.”

  4. (Optional) In the Actual field, edit the string to match an existing string in the design file.

  5. Press <Enter> to update the list box entry with the specified strings.

To insert a generic text substitution entry
  1. In the design, place at least one string of text for which you want to substitute other text for printed output.

  2. From the Text Substitutions dialog box´s Edit menu, choose Insert New.
    An entry labeled “Original” appears in the Actual field of the list box.

  3. In the Actual field, replace “Original” with the string in the design that you want replaced for printing purposes. Text substitution is case sensitive, so make sure that the Actual string is exactly the same as that in the design file.

  4. In the Replacement field, type the replacement string.

  5. Press <Enter> to update the list box entry with the specified strings.

Date and Time Format

The Windows Regional Settings are used to format the time and date for printed output in a locale-sensitive manner. This produces the following results when English (U.S.) is used and the short date is set to mm/dd/yyyy and the time is set to hh:mm:ss tt:

To maintain the MicroStation pre-version 7.1 format of the printed output for time and date, use the following configuration variables and assign the value “v7.0.”

Setting these variables to “v7.0” results in the month abbreviation for the pen table date being in mixed cases (such as Jan, Feb) instead of upper case (such as JAN, FEB) as it was previously.

If you want to customize the date or time format, you can assign an ANSI C function strftime-compatible format string to any of the following variables. Some of the more common substitution codes are listed below.

There are less common strftime( ) formatting codes also. With these formatting strings, you can choose how to display the date and time. For example, you can set MS_PENTABLE_DATE_FORMAT=“It is now %I:%M %p on %A, %B %d, %Y”, which displays as “It is now 02:36 PM on Monday, December 10, 1999”.

%a

Abbreviated weekday name (such as Thu)

%A

Full weekday name (such as Thursday)

%b

Abbreviated month name (such as Nov)

%B

Full month name (such as November)

%c

Date and time representation appropriate for the locale

%d

Day of the month as a integer (00-31)

%H

Hour using a 24-hour clock (00-23)

%I

Hour using a 12-hour clock (01-12)

%j

Day of year as decimal number (001-366)

%m

Month as decimal number (01-12)

%M

Minutes as decimal number (00-59)

%p

AM/PM indicator for the 12-hour clock

%S

Seconds as decimal number (00-59)

%w

Weekday as a decimal number (0-6 with Sunday as 0)

%x

Date representation for current locale

%X

Time representation for current locale

%y

Two-digit year number (such as 99)

%Y

Four-digit year number (such as 1999)

The entry automatically updates in the pen table when you close this dialog box, edit another string or insert a new string.

If a replacement string or a portion of a replacement string has the format of a MicroStation configuration macro — that is, $(<text>) — the string undergoes substitution automatically to a preset value. This automatic substitution is called expansion. For example, the string User: $(_USTN_USERNAME) might expand to “User: JohnSmith.” See .

If a string in configuration macro format is expanded to another configuration macro, substitution is iterative. That is, it continues until the resulting string does not contain a configuration macro.

Symbology

The Symbology toggle serves two purposes. First, it affects whether level override symbology is taken into account when processing color, weight, and style, element selection criteria. Second, it determines whether pen-table-assigned index color, weight, and style output actions take precedence over level override symbology (that is, symbology as set in the Level Manager dialog box when Symbology is set to Overrides).

The symbology toggle may take one of the following two values:

For example, take the case of Level "Default" with a level override color of 1 (blue). A shape element with an element header color of 2 (green) is on level "Default". The table below describes how that shape element can be processed under various conditions.

Pen Table symbology mode

Level Symbology enabled for view

Color to test against in pen table element selection criteria

Pen Table element output action color

Resulting color on the print

As stored

No

2 (green)

Index 3 (red)

red

As stored

No

2 (green)

RGB (red)

red

As stored

Yes

2 (green)

Index 3 (red)

blue

As stored

Yes

2 (green)

RGB (red)

red

As displayed

No

2 (green)

Index 3 (red)

red

As displayed

No

2 (green)

RGB (red)

red

As displayed

Yes

1 (blue)

Index 3 (red)

red

As displayed

Yes

1 (blue)

RGB (red)

red

Element Output Actions

Output actions are associated with each pen table section. Output actions specify what is to be done once an element meets the section´s Element Selection Criteria.

To set the output actions for a pen table section
  1. If necessary, in the Modify Pen Table dialog box, click the Element Output Actions tab.

  2. From the Master Control option menu, choose the required option (see Master Control ).

  3. (Optional) Turn on other settings, as required, and define their values.

Master Control

Items in the Master Control option menu let you choose whether the element is modified, printed or passed on to a custom BASIC macro, as follows:

Master Control option

Effect

Allow Additional Processing (default)

After the other Output Action controls have been applied to the selected element, any loaded MDL applications that desire to process the element further are afforded the opportunity.

No Additional Processing

No further processing is performed on the selected element after the other Output Action controls have been satisfied. No MDL applications that desire to process the element are afforded the opportunity. You may find this option useful if you already use MDL applications to process elements during printing.

Don´t Display Element

The element is not printed. No MDL applications that desire to process the element are afforded the opportunity. When chosen, the other Output Actions controls are dimmed (disabled).

Call BASIC Macro Function

After the other Output Action controls have been applied to the selected element, additional processing is performed by the designated Function in the designated BASIC macro. You should not select Call BASIC Macro Function until your macro is fully prepared. This means you must have already used the BASIC Editor to debug the macro and to define a Pen Table Print Element Hook entry point in your macro. See Macro File .

Macro File

(Master Control set to Call BASIC Macro Function only) Indicates that you wish the element to be passed to a function in a MicroStation BASIC macro as an MbeElement. When you choose the Call BASIC Macro Function option, the Macro File button is automatically activated, prompting you to identify the macro source file and the function within.

See Using Macros to Specify Pen Table Output Actions in the MicroStation BASIC Guide for more information about defining BASIC Program Entry Points and debugging Pen Table BASIC programs.

If color, weight, or style resymbolization is specified, in the Element Output Actions tab, and the section also has a BASIC function associated with it, then the specified color, weight and style resymbolizations are applied to the MbeElement object prior to it passing to the BASIC function. As always, the BASIC function then is free to manipulate the element, including overriding the color, weight, and style.

In contrast to the above, if you assign an element priority it takes precedence over any priority assigned by a BASIC function. This exception allows pen tables to execute more efficiently.

Priority

This setting lets you determines the order in which elements are printed. The valid range for setting priority is -2147483648 to 2147483647. Priority of elements is determined by the following rules:

To make an element meeting certain criteria print before any other elements, you must prioritize all other elements (those that you do not want printed first) in the entire design. To make elements meeting certain criteria print after other elements, you need only prioritize the elements you wish to be printed last.

Do not prioritize elements unless it is significant to the printed output, since prioritized elements require additional processing time and memory.

Fill

Using this setting, you can control whether or not filled areas are printed for the selected filled elements, such as text, ellipses, shapes and complex shapes. When you turn on Fill, its option menu lets you choose between:

When the Fill setting is turned off, the selected filled elements are printed as they appear in the design file.

Color

This setting lets you control the color of the printed output for the selected elements. When you turn on Color, you can select the output color as follows:

Fill Color

This setting lets you control the color of the printed output of filled areas for the selected elements. When you turn on Color, you can select the output color as follows:

Fill Pattern

When you turn on Fill Pattern, you can select the fill pattern from an option menu that lets you select from: Solid, Checker Board, Cross Hatch, Diamonds, Horizontal Bars, Slant Left, Slant Right, Square Dots, Vertical Bars.

Screening

Used to “wash-out” a color towards white in the printed output. A 50% screen, for example, moves a color halfway to white. Can be used to save ink, or to de-emphasize elements plotted in that color.

Width

Turning on Width lets you control the line weight of the selected elements in the printed output. You can select the required line weight either:

Style

This setting lets you control the line style and the scale of the selected elements. When this setting is enabled, you can key in the required line style or click the Browse button to select the line style via a dialog box. When you choose a custom line style, you can use the Style Scale field to key in a scale value. Turning on Adaptive ensures that dashed lines in the printed output do not display with gaps at vertices.

Line Cap

Used to define the way end caps appear on lines in the printed output. Choices are Round, Square, or Flat.

Line Join

Used to define the way that line joins appear in the printed output. Choices are Bevel, Miter, or Round.

Transparency

(Available with the RIP drivers only) With this setting turned on you can set a value from 1 to 99 to make the selected elements transparent in the printed output.

Transparency appears only in the printed output, it is not displayed in the Preview windows.

Unloading the pen table

To disable pen table processing, you simply unload the pen table.

To unload the pen table
  1. From the Print dialog box´s PenTable menu, choose Detach.
    or
    From the Modify Pen Table dialog box´s File menu, choose Exit and Unload.