This article will walk you through converting an AutoCAD DWG (*.dwg) file to MicroStation DGN (*.dgn) format. The AutoCAD Road data is divided into layers for each road type. Significantly, each road type has its own symbology.
We’ll use FME to convert this road data to MicroStation, change some of the symbology, convert DWG attributes to Microstation tags, and combine a few of these layers.
1. Converting DGN to DWG Using AutoCAD
To convert a DWG to DGN file using AutoCAD, import the former into AutoCAD and save the designs or drawings contained within to DWG. However, while the software handles such an importation easily, a few limitations can cause some issues.
These limitations result from AutoCAD only translating DGN properties and objects with a direct equivalent in DWG properties and objects. Otherwise, the translation will be a failure. However, Autodesk has identified several known limitations and recommendations for success. According to Autodesk, DGN functionality is not available in AutoCAD for macOS.
Follow the steps below to convert a DGN file to a DWG file:
- Start AutoCAD.
- Make a new DWG file.
- You can make a new DWG file by clicking the Open button (on AutoCAD 2021 or later) or the New button (on older versions of AutoCAD).
- Click the AutoCAD icon (Application menu) in the upper left-hand corner of the software’s window, or type DGNIMPORT into the command line.
- Click Import from the drop-down menu that appears and selects DGN from the list of the available formats.
- Follow the prompts on the Import DGN file window that appears to import the DGN file.
- Make no changes to the settings. Instead, click OK. AutoCAD will translate the DGN file and convert the content to DWG.
- Finally, save the DWG file.
2. Converting DGN to DWG Using Bentley MicroStation
Bentley MicroStation has a RealDWG license, which means it can save DWG files with Autodesk’s RealDWG toolkit. As a result, all DWG files created and saved by MicroStation are ‘trusted’ by AutoCAD, and when you open them in AutoCAD, you will not see a message indicating that a non-Autodesk program saved the DWG file. Bentley Systems software is among the best choices for converting DGN to DWG because of its simplicity of use and the fact that MicroStation supports DGN natively.
What is the process for performing the conversion, then? You have a choice between two methods:
- Convert DGN to DWG using Export
- Convert DGN to DWG using Save as
Converting DGN to DWG using MicroStation’s Export option
This method allows you to keep the current DGN session and does not open the converted DWG file. Follow the steps below to convert DGN to DWG using this method:
- Click the File tab, which will open the Backstage view
- Choose Export.
- Enter the file name and choose the appropriate file type (chooses AutoCAD DWG Files as the file format).
- Select the DWG version. Select the DWG version by clicking the value displaying the year under the General tab of the Save AS DWG/DXF Options window (this will present a drop-down menu that allows you to choose the version)
- Navigate to the location where you should save the converted file.
- Finally, press the Save button.
Converting DGN to DWG using MicroStation’s Save As an option
Unlike the Export method, which allows you to stay in the DGN session, the Save As method does not. Instead, it opens the saved DWG file in your session for viewing.
Follow the steps below to convert DGN to DWG using MicroStation’s Save As feature:
- Select the File tab.
- Choose Save As.
- Enter the File name.
- Choose the DWG version.
- Select the Options button to select the DWG version. Then, on the General tab of the Save AS DWG/DXF Options window, select the DWG version by clicking the year value (this will present a drop-down menu that allows you to choose the version).
- Choose a location.
- Navigate to the folder where you want to save the file.
- Select Save.
3. Converting DGN to DWG in Bulk Using ReaConverter
ReaConverter is a converter available as a desktop or browser-based application from Germany-based ReaSoft. It can batch convert DGN to DWG files. It can also convert one DGN file at a time and run both online and offline.
Follow these steps to convert DGN files to DWG in bulk:
- Select the Add Files option.
- Select DWG from the software’s or website’s bottom edge (they share the same interface)
- Press the Start button.
- Download the converted DWG files as individual files or as a ZIP archive (for the web-based converter)
Bottomline
There are several methods for converting DGN to DWG. Among these are Bentley MicroStation, AutoCAD, and ReaConverter. The first two options, as well as ReaConverter’s desktop version, promise security, and privacy. However, MicroStation and AutoCAD stand out because they complete the conversion using Autodesk-authored code. This means that the converted DWG files have been created by software that AutoCAD has ‘trusted.’
ReaConverter, on the other hand, does not use the RealDWG code to convert DGN to DWG. As a result, whenever AutoCAD opens a DWG file created with ReaConverter, it displays an error message. Furthermore, you can use MicroStation or ReaConverter to convert multiple DGN files to DWG.
