OLE and MicroStation SE FAQ

Index:

1. When I paste into MicroStation, I am not getting everything I copied. Why?
2. When I copy and paste into MicroStation, I get a MicroStation text window that reads "Font [font name] has not been imported. Substituting [Active Font]". Why is this happening?
3. Even though I have imported into MicroStation the same windows font that is being copied, I am still getting the MicroStation Text window that reads "Font [font name] has not been imported. Substituting [Active Font]".
4. When pasting into MicroStation, the spacing between the font characters is incorrect. Why?
5. When I copy and paste text into MicroStation, how can I control the size of the text?
6. When I try to edit text that has been pasted, all of the individual characters are separated. Is there a way to paste information in as line­strings instead of individual characters?
7. When pasting information copied from Quattro Pro, everything comes in as a solid white block. Why?
8. Whenever I close out of my MicroStation file after pasting in a link, the link is gone. Why?
9. Why do my gridlines appear in MicroStation when pasting information from Excel?
10. After a link is set up in MicroStation, what is the best way to delete it?
11. Sometimes when I paste information into MicroStation, the information doesn't come in as a cell. Why?

Question 1: When I paste into MicroStation, I am not getting everything I copied. Why?

Answer: The languages used by OLE servers (for example, Microsoft® Word or Microsoft Excel) have limitations in the amount of information that can be translated. When information is copied from an OLE server, Windows uses the Picture Metafile language to transfer the information to the clipboard. If all of the information that was copied from the OLE server is not shown, the limitation has been reached. To view the Windows Clipboard choose Start > Program > Accessories > Clipboard. When the program starts, choose Windows > Clipboard to give the Clipboard window the focus, and then choose View > Picture Metafile (this option may not be available on all Windows platforms). This will show the exact amount of data the OLE server (for example, Word or Excel) is providing for MicroStation.

Question 2: When I copy and paste into MicroStation, I get a MicroStation text window that reads "Font [font name] has not been imported. Substituting [Active Font]". Why is this happening?

Answer: When MicroStation pastes text, it looks in the font resource library (.RSC) for the same font that was used in the original copied document. If MicroStation can't find this font, it substitutes the active font. To avoid this substitution, the copied font needs to be imported into the MicroStation Resource File.

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Question 3: Even though I have imported the font that is being copied into MicroStation, I am still getting the MicroStation Text window that reads "Font [font name] has not been imported. Substituting [Active Font]".

Answer: Certain Windows fonts have a copyright on the font name. When these fonts are imported, MicroStation must use a different name for the same font. Therefore, when MicroStation looks for the font when information is pasted, it can't find it. The work around for this is to map the MicroStation font name to the Windows font name. Adding the following configuration variable does this:

MS_OLECNTR_FONTMAP_Name of Windows font=Name of MicroStation's font resource

All spaces should be replaced with underscores (_).

Question 4: When pasting into MicroStation, the spacing between the font characters is incorrect. Why?

Answer: When MicroStation pastes text, it looks in the font resource library (.RSC) for the same font that is used in the original copied document. If MicroStation can't find the font, it substitutes the active font. Because fonts have different spacing patterns between the characters, the spacing may not look the same as the original document. To avoid this substitution, the copied font needs to be imported into the MicroStation Resource File.

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Question 5: When I copy and paste text into MicroStation, how can I control the size of the text?

Answer: At this time, the best way to control text size when using OLE is to paste the information in the same size as it was in the OLE Server (such as Word or Excel.) The best way to do this is to draw a construction grid in MicroStation that represents the same size as the original document (for example, the original Word or Excel document). This grid should have intersecting points at the proper locations to "snap" the paste rectangle.

Question 6: When I try to edit text that has been pasted, all of the individual characters are separated. Is there a way to paste information as line­strings instead of individual characters?

Answer: Yes. The following MicroStation configuration variable needs to be added and disabled:

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Question 7: When pasting information copied from Quattro Pro, everything comes in as a solid white block. Why?

Answer: Quattro Pro has a tendency to fill every cell with the color white. This can be avoided by right clicking on the selected cells, choose the "Border/Fill" tab, choose "Fill Color", choose "More", and choose "No Fill Color". Then, re­paste the information into MicroStation.

Question 8: Whenever I close out of my MicroStation file after pasting a link, the link is gone. Why?

Answer: This is a known issue with MicroStation SE version 05.07.00.25. It has been fixed in MicroStation SE version 05.07.00.35, which is available from Web Downloads on the Bentley SELECT website.

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Question 9: Why do my gridlines appear in MicroStation when pasting information from Excel?

Answer: If the gridlines are on in Excel, then the information will appear in MicroStation. The gridlines can be turned off in Excel by choosing Tools > Options > View, and turn off Gridlines under Window Options. If you still see gridlines, the borders of the gridlines probably need to be turned off. They can be turned off by choosing Format > Cells > Border. In the Format Cells dialog you can turn borders to None. After selecting this button borders should disappear on all selected cells.

Question 10: After a link is set up in MicroStation, what is the best way to delete it?

Answer: To delete the link, choose Edit > Object Links and select the link you want to delete. Choose Break Link and close the Object Links dialog box. The link will be permanently deleted.

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Question 11: Sometimes when I paste information into MicroStation, the information doesn't come in as a cell. Why?

Answer: If the information pasted into MicroStation is over the 128K cell size limit that MicroStation provides, the information will not come in as a cell. If you would like the information to never come in as a cell, set the following configuration variable to 0: