June 19, 2013

MicroStation tip: change view background color and pointer size

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Do you like your MicroStation view background is white instead of black? And do you prefer to have full sized crosshair size instead of just few pixels wide? If you happened to use AutoCAD before, you might want that. Older AutoCAD has white background (but now it’s almost black) and has full sized crosshair (also not anymore in recent version). Some AutoCAD users also like to have the old settings back. Not only in AutoCAD, but also when they are using other program like MicroStation.

So how can we change the settings in MicroStation? Both of them are in menu workspace>preferences.

Changing background to white/black

In opened dialog box, choose category view options. If you simply want to switch the background to white or black, you can check/uncheck black background –> white. (1).

In AutoCAD, we can change the background color to any color we want. Can’t we do it here? Sure you can. I can’t see the reason why people want to have pink color as background, but if you do want it, you can define the background color in (2). Check which element you want to override, then choose the color you want.

view_background_color

Changing pointer size to full size

You can also change the pointer/crosshair size to full view. Some people find crosshair at this size gives more convenient and accuracy.

You can change it in the same dialog box. Go to input category. Change the pointer size as shown below.

MicroStation_pointer_size

What are your favorite settings for MicroStation look and feel?

We have our own favorite, for different purpose. I like black background for work. But for writing purpose, I need it white. Especially when I need to print my captured images. Some people like to have the same look and feel to other application they use before. There are many possible reasons.

What are your favorite settings? And why do you like it?

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About Edwin Prakoso

Edwin works as an Application Engineer in Jakarta, Indonesia. He has 4 years experience in building industry, then start to work for Autodesk reseller.
He is certified as Revit Architecture 2010 certified professional and AutoCAD 2013 certified professional.
He loves sharing his experience and starts to blog on CAD notes. Now using CAD is more to a lifestyle for him than working.
You can reach him on twitter @CADnotes. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn. If you prefer email, reach him at edwin.prakoso@cad-notes.com.

  • behrooz

    How do you display an image as background? Thank you.

    • http://cad-notes.com Edwin Prakoso

      Behrooz,
      Are you trying to use an image as underlay? You can use image reference to do that.

      • Behrooz

        Hi Edwin,
        Thank you for the reply. I am still a little confused. Are you saying to import an image?
        About 15 years ago, I did a rendering of an isometric view of a plant and used an image as background. However, I had forgotten how I did this. I know that i was able to toggle it on and off by going to Settings>View attributes and toggle the “Background” option.
        Thanks for incoming help.

  • Bobby

    How can i save the state of my Levels and References?

  • Chester

    how can you change the color for Sheet view? Instruction above is for Design model only. I am using V8 version.

  • Hasan

    how to change tranceperancy of filling colour box to show the image under in microstation v8i

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