TRANSPORTATION

When I try to create Postscript files, EDI starts MicroStation and opens EDI.DGN, but will not create the Postscript file; how do I fix this?

When EDI starts MicroStation (MS), it must wait until MS initializes before attaching to the process. This process takes time to initialize and EDI allows ½ second (500 Milliseconds) by default. If the process fails to start up in a timely manner, you will see MicroStation open EDI.DGN and EDI will display the following message.



If this happens on a regular basis, you can remedy this problem by selecting from the EDI main menu, Tools->Options…->MicroStation [Tab], and then increase the “OLE wait time”.



Note: Slower (Older) PCs with many processes may increase the time MicroStation requires to initialization. Even if MicroStation appears to start quickly, initialization may be slower.

Why are reference/raster files not displaying properly in Postscript files created by EDI?

Reference/raster files that do not reside in the master design file folder, must be located during plot processing. EDI does not define the reference file search path correctly when opening the first design file (for single or multiple file processing); therefore, those reference/raster files do not display. This also occurs when changing plot configuration settings (pen table changes). This only affects the first file processed.

To fix this problem, add the following line of code to the MicroStation Plot Keyins and Configurations, Start list under EDI MicroStation options:

Run EDI then select Tools->Options…->MicroStation (tab), and then under MicroStation Plot Keyins and Configurations, select the Start tab.

Insert “RD=” before the command “LOCK FENCE INSIDE”. This will redisplay the reference files correctly, using the appropriate reference file paths.



The preceding line of code "REFERENCE RELOAD FORCE ALL" is not needed, but it does not cause any problems.

EDI creates the Project.ps file and says Project.pdf processing is complete, why is my Project.pdf missing?

There are a number of reasons Ghostscript (used by EDI and Project Browser) will fail to create the Project.pdf. Two reasons are: file security and special characters in file names or file paths. Make sure the security is removed from PDFs included in the project and project paths do not contain special characters.

EDI2.4 (MR4) will not create Postscript files in my PEDDS sub-delivery. What is the problem?

If you do not have a “data” folder in your directory structure, EDI will not find the plot configuration files. Create the data folder and re-run EDI.

In EDI2 how do you grayscale / halftone sheets?

Depending on the software you are using, the plotter configuration and possibly the associated MicroStation pen table control grayscale.

The default EDI2 plotter configuration file (PLT) specifies color 20 to be light gray.

If special gray scaling is required, such as for a reference file, modify the associated MicroStation pentable to define the output from the reference file to be color 20.

Why are the Postscript file names for EDI2 MR3 different for the missing files in my project?

As of the EDI2 MR3 release, a new Postscript output file naming convention is used. The updated format allows for extended sheet numbering and prevents the possibility of file name conflicts for sheets with similar sheet numbers. The design file’s name, component value and the actual sheet number comprise the new sheet naming convention.

Example: The Postscript name for the Key Sheet in the Landscape discipline (Keysld01.dgn), sheet number “LD-1”, becomes 06_LD-1_Keysld01.ps

Options: EDI2 Tools->Options…->MicroStation [tab] “Postscript Output File Naming Convention”

There are three options available in EDI2, concerning the naming convention process. By default is “Updated Format for New Files” is selected. This means all new files use the new naming convention. Existing Postscript files will stay as they are.

To revert to the original naming convention, select “Original Format Only”. EDI2 will function as before (MR3); the original file naming convention will be in effect.

To start a new project or convert to the new format completely, select “Updated Format Only”.

Note: Make sure the names in your “Sheet Index Files” tree view are correct or check the Index Editor; make sure the files names represent the currently selected naming convention.

Solution:

1. Re-create the Sheet Index using the “Create New Index” checkbox. (Index->Sheets->Update)
2. Use the Index Editor to modify/sort index.

Note: It is OK to have a mix of names, as long as the files in the index, match the files created for the project. If you delete Postscript files, the names can change depending on the option selected.

When I delete Postscript files and they are missing from the Index, I cannot create them. They continue to show as missing in the Index Editor (Red) and they are not the same in the "Sheet Information" views. Where are my Postscript files?

The file naming convention for EDI2 MR3 is new.

1. You must update your index, and overwrite with the new names and Re-create the Postscript files. The files will appear properly in your index.
2. Alternately, Select Tools->Options…->MicroStation [tab] “Postscript Output File Naming Convention”: “Original Format Only”. EDI2 will revert to the original Postscript output file naming convention.

Why are "99_Void00#_filename.ps" file names appearing in 1) Sheet Information view, 2) Plan Sheet Files tree view or 3) Index Editor sheet listing, etc.?

EDI2 creates file names according to the sheet number returned by the mining process. Names containing “Void” indicate the sheet number is missing from the design file attributes (mined data).

You must make sure the mined sheet numbers match the actual sheet numbers in the design file. Use Sheet Navigator to define sheets in MicroStation. Once the design files correctly identify the sheet numbers, select Index->Project->Update to mine the updated files and use Index->Sheets->Update… to synchronize the “Sheet Index Files” tree view and the Index Editor list.

Note: You will be appending the new file names, containing the correct sheet number and manually removing the “Void” Postscript names from the Index Editor listing.

How do I use alternate pen tables or plotter configuration settings for EDI2?

To specify alternate plot settings for design files, use the new context menu item named “Plot Configuration...

1. From the “Project Viewer” window select the “Sheet Information” tab.
2. Select any folder or design file from the tree view and click your mouse’s right button.
3. Click the “Plot Configuration…” menu item to display the “Plot Configuration Settings” dialog.
4. Read the step-by-step instructions at the top of the dialog before proceeding.
5. This ends the initial startup.

Example:

Process selected design files using an alternate PTL or TBL setting:

1. Copy plot settings files to the current discipline folder. On the “Plot Configuration Settings”, click “Copy plotter files to folder”. You may edit and rename these files, then return to the “Plot Configuration Settings” dialog to make selections.
2. Select the “Configuration File (PLT)” from the drop down menu. Always select this option first. The default pentable file automatically displays in the “Pen Table File (TBL)”, dropdown box.
3. Select the “Pen Table File (TBL) from the dropdown box, if necessary.
4. Click the “Select and check Files” button to check all files, or use “Ctrl-Click” or “Shift-Click” selection features or the Right-Click selection menu, to select and check files in the design file list..
5. Click “Apply changes to files”. Each checked file will display the relative path for the selected PLT and TBL files.
6. Click the “Finish and exit” button to accept the changes and dismiss the plot configuration dialog.

Some linestyles display solid (or incorrectly) in the Postscript file created by EDI, but display properly when I open MicroStation. How do I fix this problem in EDI v2.4?

EDI opens design files ReadOnly. Linestyles may not load properly under some circumstances. Override the ReadOnly setting in EDI to allow MicroStation to open the design for write. This is a work-a-round are incorrectly defined linestyles.

1. Select from the EDI main menu, Tools->Options.
2. On the Options dialog, select the MicroStation tab, then the EDIPLT.UCF tab.
3. Click on “MS_READONLY=1” found in the listing. Scroll down if necessary.
4. Edit the line, placing “#” (comment character) in front of the text.
5. Click “OK” to dismiss the dialog.

EDI will allow MicroStation to open design files for write access and linestyles will display as intended.