Microstation

[CADbug]

Does anyone here use microstation?

I have heard its a great architectural software!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microstation

i want to learn to use microstation! Got any tutorials?

[hyposmurf]

It can be a great tool I suppose in the right hands,but it handles very differently from AutoCAD.I've heard a number of individuals convert to Microstation get fed and come back to AutoCAD.

[Squirreldip]

I've used it in the past but I find the way it does things strange (in comparison to Autocad) and more difficult to customize.

Current version claims to be 100% .dwg compatible (check out http://www.opendwg.com).

[Spacepig]

Ignore the call of the dark side!

Spacepig

[jonesy]

I have used Microstation extensively over the last 15 years (it was the first CAD system I learned). I dont like the software, I only work on it when I cannot get an AutoCAD job.

Microstation came from an engineering background originally (I believe). I have used it in shop layout designs, and I find it not very intuitive to say the least. You have to set up a drawing area first, and if that drawing area changes it means the real life size of the drawing changes. (Unless I'm mistaken - I havent used V8 tho') The fact that V8 has so many AutoCAD features shows which of the 2 is more dominant.

Its been over 2 years since I had to use that software :D

Just my thoughts
Tracey

[Squirreldip]

I'm a 100% AutoCAD guy but... In defence both have borrowed features from the other guy...

I also have never used v8 but I know the latest version is pissing off a lot of old time Microstation users - seems the latest is doing things guite differently than v7 (maybe taking on too much of the Autocad way...)

[scerby]

I just joined :D this forum today in search of an answer (which I found!). I was searching around some more at lucnh today and found this post about MicroStation users. I started using AutoCAd 2005 in Jan. 05.

I grew up with MicroStation. I started out in Feb. 1984 on a VAX system, went to a UNIX system around 1992, and then finally to the PC system in 1994. AutoCAD came out right away on the PC system ( I believe ). In the early stages of AutoCAD, it is my understanding that licenesing wasn't an issue. It didn't matter how many people you gave the software to. This was a great marketing tool. They also got their product into schools.
The cost and licensing of MicroStation made it cost prohibitive to 97% of their market base. In the beginning of MicroStation (the company I work for now and then was one of the first in the central PA area to use the VAX system), it cost $250,000 for a tape drive, 3 seats/licenses, a digitizer and one or two other items. Who was willing to spend that kind of money? We were a civil/municipal/architectural engineering company when the system was purchased. MEP services were added shortly thereafter. Sorry for the rambling on.

Today, I use AutoCAD 2005 exclusively. I am in the HVAC end of things, and 99% of the architectural companies we work with use some version of AutoCAD. The newest version of MicroStation V8 does a good job of interfacing with AutoCAD. You open an Acad file in the DWG environment and work in DWG, as opposed to MicroStation having to import the DWG and converting it to a DGN format. As those of you who have tried to work with MicroStation files in the past know, the conversion process was nearly impossible to avoid problems. It is true MicroStation has adopted a lot of AutoCAD's features. There is enough of a difference still that makes some people scratch their heads and swear. :cry:

I have been using Acad2005 for a year now and definitely am glad I received the training I did. Having been a long time user of MicroStation it didn't take me long to adjust. I think it is similar to going through a major product upgrade. You can still do the same thing, but it is done a little differently. If you choose to learn/switch to MicroStation, you will definitely scratch your head and get frustrated at first. I would evaluate why you want to learn something new (like learning, job security, etc.) I do know that there aren't a lot of architectural/MEP firms using MicroStation. It is definitely geared more toward the Civil side of the room. I hope this helps. I will try not to be to long winded the next time I respond to a question.

[thalon]

I learned Microstation on Version J (V7) after having used autocad for many years. In the beginning I hated it, but over time I began to embrace the way it worked. We upgraded to V8 and it was night and day. V8 is just so much nicer to work with. Yes Microstation is starting to work more like autocad, and in some ways autocad is starting to work more like microstation.
For those who want to know what microstation looks and feels like you can check out Bentleys educational version of Power Draft. It is to Microstation as LT is to AutoCAD, but free to download and use (for students :) )
http://www.be.org/en-US/BE+Careers/Free+Download.htm

I enjoyed my days with microstation and find myself missing some of the feature that autoCAD has yet to steel. :)

[domlanic]

Well said, Thalon

This being an ACAD forum there’s certain to be major bias toward ACAD, naturally.
Much stems from lack of knowledge of the competing product and its good to inform & redress the balance somewhat...
Also a long timer with USTN I hate having to use ACAD, only due to my deficiencies compared to skill with USTN- it is frustrating having to search around when you’re used to picking commands almost subconsciously in your usual program. In other words, it is always the operator at fault, not the software!
One thing, though-I maintain ACAD 3D is significantly ‘dumber’ than USTN 3D, because Autodesk has not put much effort into developing it; rather they develop add-on apps to do the job. A valid strategy, too- but nor much help to users who cannot afford the add-on!!

[stevereno]

Well I hate to spoil the Microstation bashing party but I have been using both AutoCad and Microstation heavily for the last 24 years. I started out with AutoCad version 2.63 in 1987 and Microstation Version 3.3 in 1988. Microstation is hands down the Superior Cad Software. It's speed and stability outrank AutoCad 10 to 1. Not too mention the reading to the disc as you write to your drawing! Hmm, how often has your PC crashed and you've lost work in Autocad? Probably thousands of times more than Microstation. Whenever my PC crashed while using Microstation, I've lost maybe 1 command's worth of work. AutoCad is simply NOT condusive to high production Drafting. It's command application often involves way too many mouse clicks and steps to get a command completed. And because of that long drawn out command application if you screw up one single step, you find yourself slamming the escape key and starting ALL OVER again. And how many versions of AutoCad have there been in it's 30 years of existance? Like 28 or 29?!? Keep on trying Autodesk! And were talking what..9 Versions of Microstation in 26 years of it's existance. And the worst thing Microstation ever did was try and make it's software like AutoCAD in version 8. What Autocad needs to do is re-write the file format based on intergers instead of a floating point real number thus allowing a streamlined, shortened command application. And the 2 environments for Scaled drawing of Paper Space and Model Space?!? Puhleease, get that eliminated and put it all in one environment. And Attributed Blocks?!? Oh my what a time consumer there! And how 3rd party dependent is AutoCAD? Extremely! Years ago, when I was working as a contractor in a Federal Adminstration building, I had the pleasure of training many AutoCad users in Microstation. Yes, the learning curve took longer because of the Icon based command activation but once these folks learned Microstation they never wanted to go back to Autocad. Bottom line is, Microstation is far better because of it's stability, speed and dependability of command application. AutoCAD?!? yeah, you'll get there eventually. AutoCAD is a memory hog that is unstable and has many pandora boxes that can be opened thus the possibility of losing work, doing more re-work that in the end costs more money in hours billed to the client and less profit for businesses. Like the old Fram Oil commercials used to say: "You can pay me now! or you can pay me later". Yes AutoCad is cheaper than Microstation but you get what you pay for and it is a crying shame the industry has taken the cheap, easy way out for it eventually costs them in the end.

[Organic]

Well I hate to spoil the Microstation bashing party but I have been using both AutoCad and Microstation heavily for the last 24 years. I started out with AutoCad version 2.63 in 1987 and Microstation Version 3.3 in 1988. Microstation is hands down the Superior Cad Software. It's speed and stability outrank AutoCad 10 to 1. Not too mention the reading to the disc as you write to your drawing! Hmm, how often has your PC crashed and you've lost work in Autocad? Probably thousands of times more than Microstation. Whenever my PC crashed while using Microstation, I've lost maybe 1 command's worth of work. AutoCad is simply NOT condusive to high production Drafting. It's command application often involves way too many mouse clicks and steps to get a command completed. And because of that long drawn out command application if you screw up one single step, you find yourself slamming the escape key and starting ALL OVER again. And how many versions of AutoCad have there been in it's 30 years of existance? Like 28 or 29?!? Keep on trying Autodesk! And were talking what..9 Versions of Microstation in 26 years of it's existance. And the worst thing Microstation ever did was try and make it's software like AutoCAD in version 8. What Autocad needs to do is re-write the file format based on intergers instead of a floating point real number thus allowing a streamlined, shortened command application. And the 2 environments for Scaled drawing of Paper Space and Model Space?!? Puhleease, get that eliminated and put it all in one environment. And Attributed Blocks?!? Oh my what a time consumer there! And how 3rd party dependent is AutoCAD? Extremely! Years ago, when I was working as a contractor in a Federal Adminstration building, I had the pleasure of training many AutoCad users in Microstation. Yes, the learning curve took longer because of the Icon based command activation but once these folks learned Microstation they never wanted to go back to Autocad. Bottom line is, Microstation is far better because of it's stability, speed and dependability of command application. AutoCAD?!? yeah, you'll get there eventually. AutoCAD is a memory hog that is unstable and has many pandora boxes that can be opened thus the possibility of losing work, doing more re-work that in the end costs more money in hours billed to the client and less profit for businesses. Like the old Fram Oil commercials used to say: "You can pay me now! or you can pay me later". Yes AutoCad is cheaper than Microstation but you get what you pay for and it is a crying shame the industry has taken the cheap, easy way out for it eventually costs them in the end.

That sounds like a rant more than anything else.

I've used both and much prefer AutoCad personally, although for the right job at the right price would be willing to use Microstation again and its associated design add ons.