A seed file is MStation's term for a template. When you hit File/New, MicroStation makes a copy of your selected seed file and you give it a new name. The beauty of the seed file is that it can be used to standardize all new drawings that you create. That is because every new file that you create wil have the same global origin, color table, cell library attachments, working units, views, etc. as those that are in the seed file.
Also, MSta has configuration variables that, when set up properly, will point all MSta users on your network to the same seed files.
When I start a new project, we usually receive some dgn's from our client (most times this is SHA). This is most likely the existing topo file. I check the working units and the global origin to make sure it follows SHA standards. Then you can do a "save as", call it seed2d.dgn (for example). Then I would open that new seed file, turn on all the levels, fence delete everything in it, compress and save settings. Now you've got a seed file for that particular client holding all their standard settings.
Hope this helps you.
Is there an easy way to station along a centerline (tangents and curves in a complex chain) in MicroStation V8. I don't have any civil software as yet.
Roader,
I'm not working in V8 yet. I can tell you how to station a baseline using Microstation J and perhaps it's the same in V8.
On your Main menu, pull out the strip below your fence command and go to the block on the far right hand side. This command is Construct Active Pnt @ Dist Along Element. In the Point Type put in Character and in the Character box put in "X". In the distance box, put 50.
Select the beginning of your baseline (usually a PT), accept it in the direction you want to station, and then accept it. You should see an X appear 50 feet away from where you started. Now, change the distance to 100 and repeat the steps above. Each time changing the distance to +50 until you get your baseline stationed. Then you can go back and perpendicularly (is that a real word?) put in your tick marks.
This should help you until you get Geopak or some other software that will do it automatically.
