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DGNdirect

Overview

DGNdirect is a full-featured development environment for CAD and technical graphics applications. It features a versatile and powerful object oriented C++ API, suitable for applications of any size, including: 

  • Programmatic access to all data in a DGN file.
  • Creation of DGN files of any size, containing any type of object.
  • Batch editing of DGN files (for example, display levels on/off, replace text strings, etc.).
  • Rendering and editing applications (viewing, redlining, etc.).
  • Thumbnail generation.
  • Full import/export of DGN data.

Key Features

  • Supported DGN versions:
    • Read support for V7 and V8 (V8 XM and V8I files are fully supported).
    • Write support for V8.
  • Convert from V7 to V8.
  • Render DGN files using any ODA rendering device (GDI, OpenGL, DirectX).
  • Safely edit and manipulate DGN data programatically:
    • Apply a transformation to an entity.
    • Modify arbitrary properties of database objects.
    • Clone a database object.
    • Many more.
  • Export DGN data to SVG, PDF, BMP, STL.
  • Portable C++ implementation allows usage on Windows, Macintosh, or UNIX.
  • Support for RSC linetypes and fonts.
  • In-house Parasolid and ACIS support which includes rendering (wireframe and shaded) for embedded "smart" and "plain" solids/surfaces, and access to the underlying boundary representation data stored within solid/surface entities.
  • Integration modules available for the following third-party component:
    • HOOPS Export – Allows DGN files to be exported into the HOOPS high performance rendering system (requires separate licensing from TechSoft3d). See HOOPS for more details.

Documentation

Documentation for DGNdirect is available only to ODA members from the following page: http://www.opendesign.com/memberfiles/dgndirect/docs.

Example Applications

The following example applications are included in DGNdirect, covering a wide range of user applications:

  • ExDgnDump – Demonstrates how to read a DGN file and extract entity level data from the file.
  • ExDgnCreate – Demonstrates the programmatic creation of a DGN file containing examples of most supported entity and object types.
  • OdaDgnApp – MFC application which demonstrates rendering, PDF export, and many other features.
  • Many more.

Support & More Information

Additional questions about DGNdirect can be directed to the ODA main support page: http://www.opendesign.com/contact.

Technical support for ODA members only can be obtained on the ODA support forum: http://forum.opendesign.com/.

Availability

DGNdirect is available for download by ODA members from this page (requires ODA membership and login credentials): http://www.opendesign.com/memberfiles.

Information about joining the ODA can be found here: http://www.opendesign.com/join

Supported Operating Systems and Compilers

Note: Additional platforms may be available upon request.

Windows 2000, ME, XP, Vista Visual Studio 6, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008 (static/dll) Borland Builder 6, 2006, 2009 (static)
Windows x64 Visual Studio 2005, 2008 (static)
Linux (x86/x64) Gcc 3.3, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2 (static/dynamic)
Mac OS/X (ppc/x86/x64) Gcc using 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 SDK (static/dynamic)
HP-UX (RISC) aC++ (static)