CAD files have a lot of format for different situations. That’s why there are CAD Viewer Software to cater the user’s viewing needs. Some of the formats for CAD are 3DS, DWF, DWG, etc. Today, we’ll be focusing on the DGN format for CAD and some of the computer programs that can read it.
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This is the simple, fast CAD viewer you have been looking for. Works with AutoCAD (.DWG) and Microstation (.DGN) files. Don't pay for what you don't need - only $39.99 CDN! 30 day free trial with 1 free printing. When you are ready to buy, unlock the trial from within the program. Information in DGN format can be viewed and printed with Bentley View. Click to obtain a 'free' Bentley Viewer.
We’ll be talking about some of the features that you should be looking for in a DGN viewer software. We’ll also be providing sample software for your reference. You could take some notes down and list some of the programs here and features so you won’t have a hard time choosing.
CARIS Easy View
DGN is the name used for CAD file formats supported by Bentley Systems, MicroStation CAD programs. The DGN format is used in construction projects, including buildings, highways, bridges, process plants, shipbuilding. DGN is a competing format to Autodesk's DWG. Technical details.
QCAD
TNTatlas
Any CAD Viewer
AutoDWG DGN to DWG Converter
DGN is one of the commonly used formats for CAD. It’s supported by Intergraph’s IGDS, short for Interactive Graphics Design System, and Bentley System’s Microstation CAD programs. This type of file format is used in plenty of large projects like highways, shipbuilding, buildings, process plants, and more. You’d need a reliable software to read its content. Here are some of the features you should be looking for:
- Efficient and Simple
You’ll be dealing with a lot of complex lines and measurements for your task. There’s no need to make things more complicated with confusing interfaces and controls. The software should have intuitive tools to help you review designs, measure, markup, etc. - Ability to View
It’s not enough that you’ll only be able to view a certain resolution for a file. The software should let you view and open files with high-resolution drawings of models, maps, and more. - Annotations
There will come a time that you’ll need to make suggestions, comments, information, or notes in the 2D and 3D designs. You should be able to make these annotations so that those who will be viewing the file could see what you wrote down. - Measurements
Most of the time, you’ll probably be measuring height, width, and different kinds of dimensions. That’s why it’s important that the software is as accurate as possible. It should give you the freedom to measure parts of the design like its surfaces, areas, etc. - Printing
Whether you have a DGN viewer computer program or a DWF Viewer Software, it’s important that once you print the design, the quality should be the same as the original. This way, everyone would be able to see the design down to its most minuscule detail.
AIGraph CAD Viewer
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Teigha Viewer for Mac
Bentley DGN Viewer Software – Most Popular Software
DGN file viewing is very important because as mentioned above, its designs are mostly for large projects. Projects that could definitely benefit the community, economy, or someone’s company. The importance of the blueprints and design for this kind of format is just as large as the project itself.
Another thing you should look for is a software that can read multiple CAD formats. At times, it should act like a DWG Viewer Software, a 3DS viewer, etc. It should be multifaceted when it comes to reading the formats. This way, you could save up on space because you won’t have to get a bunch of different programs.
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What is it?
MicroStation is a suite of CAD software products for 2- and 3-dimensional design and drafting, developed and sold by Bentley Systems. The latest versions of the software are released solely for Microsoft Windows operating systems.
The most popular versions of MicroStation are MicroStation SE (released in 1997 year), MicroStation J (released in 1998 year), MicroStation V8 (released in 2001 year)
The latest version is MicroStation V8 XM (aka MicroStation 8.9), released in 2006. It builds upon the changes made by V8. The XM edition includes a completely revised Direct3d-based graphics subsystem, PDF References, task navigation, and keyboard mapping. Curiously enough, according to Bentley, 'XM' doesn't stand for anything
MicroStation V7 is just common name for pre-MicroStation V8 releases (95, SE, J). It appeared because of significant version change which appeared between MicroStation J and MicroStation V8. Most users which wanted to start their applications which successfully worked under MicroStation J, failed to launch in MicroStation V8. This resulted in huge amount of work for rewriting applications to MicroStation V8.
MicroStation DGN format. How can I view these files?
Bentley created free viewer that allows you to open, view, interrogate, and print MicroStation DGN and AutoCAD DWG drawings and models. With an installed user base in the millions, Bentley View is possibly one of the most widely used CAD viewing tools available anywhere in the world. You can see screenshot of the Bentley View application below:
That is excellent decision for those people who do not want to spend money for viewing MicroStation DGN files.
Download MicroStation FREE Viewer (Bentley View) now!
MicroStation add-ons
MicroStation is famous for it's flexible ability for extension. Each user can potentially write an extension which can be used with MicroStation to add to its functionality.
Like AutoCAD's AutoLISP, MicroStation has it's own developing tools:
Free Dgn Viewer
- The MicroStation Development Language (MDL) which is a 'C' like programming language
- Visual Basic for Applications
- MicroStation Basic
- User Command Macros (UCMs). Once very popular, support for these is no longer guaranteed in V8.
- JMDL
- SDK, which can be used for creation of Windows tools, which will be able to launch MicroStation functions