topic Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font in AutoCAD Forum

How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

dvalentiW5B93 — Tue, 07 May 2024 18:33:47 GMT

Since our office is primarily Autocad all of our work is done in civil 3D. Our client needs Microstation deliverables so our DWG files are ultimately converted to DGN for submission once our survey is complete. I do use a microstation config file provided by the client so we are able to convert our DWG files using the clients standard layer names, colors, linetypes, etc. so all of the linework is meeting their standards requirements. Recently it has been requested that we use their fonts (these appear to be Bentley fonts when I look at them in the DGN file - that being the dgnlib file the client sent along with their standards) .

The fonts I need to use in our Autocad DWG are part of a dgnlib filetype. I am trying to figure out a way to pull out 3 or 4 specific bentley fonts so I can copy this font and use in our autocad file when adding text so I do not have to edit every piece of text once I convert our DWG to a DGN to send to the client.

Any help would be greatly appreciated ! This has been giving me a headache all morning with no resolve 😞

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

Patchy — Tue, 07 May 2024 18:48:44 GMT

If your client accept the windows fonts, then use them

Arial font tested here:

Microstation vs Autocad

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

paullimapa — Tue, 07 May 2024 18:48:45 GMT

try the recommendations on this link:

http://www.mdlapps.com/microstation/ustnhelp1065.html

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

dvalentiW5B93 — Tue, 07 May 2024 19:04:00 GMT

Thank you for your suggestion. I can use the Arial font for some of the text and lables, however the client was very specific about particular fonts to be used for certain types of callouts.

There are 3 fonts in particular they are requiring (font061, font 062 and font063)

I can see the fonts are available in the microstation file (see screenshot)

but there are no individual font files that I can copy into my Autodesk Fonts folder to use in Autocad.

The microstation fonts reside in a microstation .dgnlib file !

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

pendean — Tue, 07 May 2024 19:25:18 GMT

Here is what Bentley recommends you do:

https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation%20Help-v19/en/GUID-716D3B47-21FF-6061-D05E-97C9BCDCAF7D.html

and

https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation%20Help-v19/en/GUID-0296C8EC-46F9-4855-C21B-A14127B655BE.html

You'll probably need to seek out further assistance in the MS User Forums, here is the link (you have to sign up to see any content, their rules, but it's free):

https://bentleysystems.service-now.com/community

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

Patchy — Tue, 07 May 2024 19:51:17 GMT

You can export MS fonts and use with Autocad if you have Bentley.

Open the MS drawing with Bentley, Save as,

Use the option and path it where Autocad can find them.

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

dvalentiW5B93 — Tue, 07 May 2024 20:02:37 GMT

Thanks for your reply !

I followed the link for instructions and used the "OPTIONS" to convert the fonts to a shx file while converting the DGN to DWG.

The fonts did export to shx files so and I added a temp folder in my autocad support so Autocad would find the fonts.

Now - my only dilemma - the fonts show up as "hollow" text in Autocad which is not how the same font appears in Microstation ....

I hope I'm half way there to a solution .

Thank you for the suggestion

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

dvalentiW5B93 — Tue, 07 May 2024 20:06:42 GMT

thank you - I tried the saving DGN to DWG and used the option to save the fonts as shx.....

now I have the fonts in shx format - but they do not appear correctly in Autocad - the shx exported font format is hollow text , but the same font in Microstation is not hollow text.

I think I am one step closer to reslove - thank you

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

dvalentiW5B93 — Tue, 07 May 2024 20:09:03 GMT

Thank you and to everyone else who has been replying to help me solve this problem.

I did get to that step - now I need to figure out why the "exported" microstation fonts are appearing as hollow text when I use it in Autocad. It was not hollow text in Microstation.

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

paullimapa — Tue, 07 May 2024 20:13:05 GMT

Glad that kind of helped...but it looks like the conversion is not perfect which typically can happen dealing with solid filled typeface. I wonder when after you've converted the DWG to DGN and you open them in Microstation is that an option for those now same matching name fonts to automatically read the actual font definitions in the dgnlib filetype?

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

Patchy — Tue, 07 May 2024 20:13:08 GMT

There are fonts that are not transferable, also linetypes, hatches.........

These two companies aren't partners and it has been that way for a long, long time.

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

pendean — Tue, 07 May 2024 21:23:25 GMT

@dvalentiW5B93 wrote:
... fonts are appearing as hollow text when I use it in Autocad. It was not hollow text in Microstation.

You'll probably need to seek out further assistance in the MS User Forums, here is the link (you have to sign up to see any content, their rules, but it's free):

https://bentleysystems.service-now.com/community

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

Valentin_CAD — Wed, 08 May 2024 08:24:52 GMT

@dvalentiW5B93 ,

@dvalentiW5B93 wrote:
... I need to figure out why the "exported" microstation fonts are appearing as hollow text when I use it in Autocad. It was not hollow text in Microstation.

Filled MicroStation Fonts are not displaying Filled in DWG file as an SHX Font.

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

dvalentiW5B93 — Wed, 08 May 2024 13:33:22 GMT

I just opened the Autocad file in microstation, after using the converted font that shows up "hollow" in Autocad and unfortunately when I save back to microstation the font changes to simplex instead of the original microstation font it was supposed to be.

I'm going to have to contact our client - there doesn't seem to be a viable way to do this.

BUT I a opened to any other possible solutions - if there is one !!

Thank you to everyone for posting to try and resolve, it is greatly appreciated.

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

Patchy — Wed, 08 May 2024 13:36:46 GMT

There isn't any other possible solutions, I work with both for 20 years and it is what it is.

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

dvalentiW5B93 — Wed, 08 May 2024 13:40:51 GMT

thank you. I'm not really sure how to do what your suggesting. If I were to remap fonts would it still go back to the original microstation font when I go back from the Autocad file to microstation ?

My original goal was to get the microstation fonts our client wants into an Autocad template. Then our survey work would be done in Autocad. I need the fonts to appear properly in Autocad because we produce a signed and sealed survey map for submittal. Once our survey is complete, our client wants a DGN file of the existing survey (with Their fonts used for labels) and they proceed with the design work for the project inhouse.

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

spookyfreakss — Mon, 13 May 2024 17:29:13 GMT

In a previous project, we needed to convert files from DWG to DGN format and vice versa. Fortunately, we discovered a tool called Translation Manager, which effortlessly handled the conversion process without any hiccups. We experienced smooth transitions between formats whenever the need arose, without encountering any difficulties. Hope this helps you

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

dvalentiW5B93 — Mon, 13 May 2024 17:34:16 GMT

Thank you, I'll have to take a look at that, hopefully tomorrow, no time alotted in today's schedule!

Is this Translation manager within Autocad ? or within MicroStation? Or an add-on ?

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

spookyfreakss — Mon, 13 May 2024 17:56:46 GMT

From what I know, It is a standalone program @dvalentiW5B93

Re: How to convert a microstation font from a dgnlib to an autocad font

dvalentiW5B93 — Mon, 13 May 2024 18:09:23 GMT

ok, thanks again. I googled it and saw there is a company by the name of Axiom that sells this software.

I contacted them with my questions / dilemmas with translating files, so I am anxious to see how much this "solution" might be. Hopefully it will be in the budget, and it will work and resolve my problem! thanks for the insight .....