RSA MX Tips n Tricks

Issue 16 – 07 December 2005

MXCHANGE
MXChange converts MX drawings to CAD drawings and vice versa. MXChange runs from within both
AutoCAD and Microstation environments. You can import Draw Picture Files (DPF), MX working displays
(DPW) and paged drawings. Alternatively, you can export DWG/DGN files to an MX input file. I’ll look at
MXChange in AutoCAD environment in more detail.

If the MX Change menu is not available from the AutoCAD menubar, type the command mxchange on the
AutoCAD command line. If you are a member of SELECT, you can download MX Change from the
Bentley SelectServices Web site.

Import MX to AutoCAD

There are a number of methods to create CAD drawings from

MX (i.e. saveas from MX in Cad along with MXExplode, export to
DXF etc etc) but I’ve found greater control over how my
drawings are created, when using MXChange.

You are able to control how the MX elements are converted,

what layer they will be placed on, whether the drawing is 2D or
3D, what the drawing units will be, whether the entities are lines
and arcs or chorded polylines and many other options.

MXChange uses either “Model Tables” or “Model Names” to convert MX elements.

Model Tables: will map various MX Models and MX string names to CAD layers, and can control the CAD
element type (lines/arcs or chorded polylines) by a geometry flag.

Model Names: will map each MX Model to a separate CAD layer.

Options: will allow you to set the Import Preferences. i.e. Colour
BYLAYER, Units, Linestyles, Layer options etc etc
Export CAD to MX

Export AutoCAD DWG converts the current AutoCAD drawing to an MX

input file. This file can then be input to MX, either manually or
automatically, to produce a DPW or DPF together with its associated
model file and macro information. Again there are other methods of
converting CAD data to MX. This is just one method.

CAD entities can be converted to MX Models and Strings

by the use of “String Tables”. These tables map CAD
entities from various layers, into MX Models and partial MX
string names.

When using this method, it’s important to ensure your CAD

entities are sitting on the correct (and logical) CAD layers.

You can also set the geometry flag, which will convert objects in a layer which have suitable geometry to a
master strings automatically.

Options: will allow the setting of the MX GENIO code

format, tolerances, units, scale etc. These settings are
quite important to ensure the MX input file is written
correctly.

Once the String Table and Export Preferences are set,

MXCHANGE will create an input file into the MX Project
File directory. This input file can then be run into MX for
creation of the newly mapped Models.

Summary

MXChange is well worth a look, especially for the creation of your CAD drawings from MX. This
convention produces a structured drawing which gives you a high degree of control over.

It is even possible to add an AutoCAD drawing

Template that contains a titleblock, so that on drawing
creation, MXChange has inserted your company’s
titleblock. Especially good for multiple long/cross
section drawing sheets.

By default MXChange is installed to

Program Files\Bentley\MX\mfw\MXChangeAutoCAD
And
Program Files\Bentley\MX\mfw\MXChangeInMstn
where help, samples and tutorials can be found.

Regards

Mark Parkinson
MX Applications Technician
GESS (Graphic Engineering Solutions and Services)

Ph: +27 (0) 31 240 7328

Fax: +27 (0) 31 209 4514
Cell: +27 (0) 83 577 3710
Email: parkinsonm@gess.co.za
Web: www.gess.co.za