This article walks you through creating a complex shape from simple elements in multiple files.

Attached to this article is a KEY file you can use with Global File Changer and a sample DGN file to demonstrate this operation.
The KEY file contains commands that MicroStation executes. This operation requires coordinate values that correspond to the locations of elements in the files being processed. The sample DGN is provided as an example so you can see how the coordinates specified in the KEY file correspond to elements in a design file.

Before processing your own files, you’ll need to modify the coordinates in the KEY file to match your element locations.

1. Save the provided Create-Shape.key and Create-Shape.dgn files to a convenient location.
2. Open the Create-Shape.dgn with MicroStation.
   Select each line to observe that the shape in the file is made up of individual line elements.
3. Load Global File Changer.

4. Go to Settings | Restore Factory Defaults…, and press <Yes> when prompted.
   This is a precaution to ensure there are no other features or settings active that might impact your result.

Skip steps 5 and 6 if only processing the provided sample DGN.

5. Next to the Design Files: field, press the <Select...> button.
6. Either drag and drop your files into the Choose Files to Process dialog box or navigate to and select your files for processing. Press <OK> when finished.

7. Next to the Key-in File: field, press <Select...>, then navigate to and select the Create-Shape.key file saved previously.
8. Press <Start> to process your files.

When the process is complete, the simple elements will become a complex shape in each processed DGN file.