Raster imagery can often greatly enhance the MicroStation environment, whether one is working with a geospatial, civil, or any other relevant application. This paper provides tips on properly attaching and displaying raster imagery.

Attaching Images 

When you attach a raster image or a group of raster images in MicroStation and the raster images do not display in the design file, you may need to define proper environment variables to handle the caching when you attach the raster images. If the raster images show in the Raster Manager listing, but do not display in your design file, then try the following steps to resolve the problem. Normally, a purple border will display where the raster image should be displayed. For starters, try the following:

1. Exit MicroStation and then do a search and delete the .CTIFF file that you find that contains part of the Raster Image file name.
2. Check free disk space on the C:\ disk drive and the disk drive where the design file and raster image are located. (Go into Windows Explorer - My Computer - click the right mouse button on the disk drive you want to check the free disk drive space - Properties - General tab.)
3. Check file and folder permissions for user privileges.
4. Select Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Environment Variables -> System Variables -> New -> Variable Name: -> MS_RASTER_LOADMODE -> Variable Value: -> 3
5. Create a folder on a disk drive with ample free space; for example C:\HmrTemp or D:\HmrTemp. Then, choose Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Environment Variables -> System Variables -> New -> Variable Name: -> HmrTempDirectory -> Variable Value: -> (Use the disk drive and folder that you created, for example, C:\HmrTemp for the Path. The folder name can be anything you want to name it.
6. Rename your .UPF file. The .UPF file is located in the C:\Program Files\Bentley\Home\prefs folder and will be named the same thing as what shows in the Workspace -> User box on the MicroStation Manager screen when you go into MicroStation.

Restart MicroStation, and if the raster image does not display and is not shown in the Raster Image listing, then check the raster attachment settings in Raster Manager and make sure Place Interactively is NOT marked. Go into Raster Manager - File - Attachment.

Check the attachment settings. If the Place Interactively setting is marked, then the raster image will be placed where you place the box using the mouse.

It is recommended that you also reference the following TechNotes:

Technote 9004 - Configuration Variables in MicroStation V8 XM Edition
TechNote 8223 - Configuration Variables in MicroStation V8 (2004 Edition, V8.0 and V8.1)
TechNote 8325 - Supported AutoCAD Key-ins
TechNote 6123 -- MicroStation Images Manager FAQ
TechNote 6205 -- Raster Manager FAQ
TechNote 6195 -- Raster Manager General FAQ
TechNote 8224 -- What's New for Referencing
Unable to load dialog whose ID is 701
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This brief section describes how to correct the following error message: "Unable to load dialog whose ID is 701", which could display when performing File->Attach--Raster Manager.

First, check the workspace for MS_MDLAPPS (and related MDL variables) and particularly MS_RSRCPATH. Ensure that the existing MS_RSRCPATH variable is not being overwritten.

Go to Workspace - Configuration - MS_RSRCPATH - Edit - New Value the line must be:

$(MSDIR);$(MSDIR)mdlsys\asneeded\;"Then your custom value"

C:\Program Files\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\

C:\Program Files\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\ mdlsys\asneeded\

If you have Descartes loaded, then the line must be:

$(MS_DESCARTESDIR)mdlapps\;$(MSDIR);$(MSDIR)mdlsys\asneeded\;"Then your custom value"

C:\Program Files\Bentley\Program\Descartes\mdlapps\

C:\Program Files\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\

C:\Program Files\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\ mdlsys\asneeded\

If you still have a problem, then try the following:

Rename the .UPF file in the

C:\Program Files\Bentley\Home\prefs folder and comment out the project name in the .UCF file in the C:\Program Files\Bentley\Workspace\Users folder.

See also

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