Technical Profile

M ICRO S TATION
MicroStation TriForma Integrated Building Design and Drawing Production
MicroStation TriForma is easy-to-use, high-performance software for architectural modeling and drawing production. It represents a dramatic improvement over the traditional CAD approach to building design and drawing production by focusing on the creation of a 3D model that embodies the full scope of your design the Single Building Model. MicroStation TriFormas Single Building Model approach embraces the architectural workflow. It includes true 3D solid modeling optimized for architectural design, with easy-to-use modeling tools that allow you to create and visualize your design. As the design moves through production, all of your 2D drawings and reports are automatically generated from the Single Building Model. Because it fits so smoothly into your workflow, MicroStation TriForma allows you to identify your best design, communicate it effectively and move it through production without delay.

TRIFORMA

for DOS, Microsoft Windows , Power Macintosh and UNIX platforms

True 3D Solid Modeling for Architectural Design

Because MicroStation TriForma provides true 3D solid modeling, you now have a design tool that allows you to quickly create, evaluate and modify your designs working the way you thinkin three dimensions. MicroStation TriForma provides the easy-to-use tools you need to quickly sculpt, modify, section and visualize your conceptual design using 3D volumetric elements. These elements can either be simple volumes, such as walls, slabs and columns, or compound volumes, such as building assemblies made up of cavity walls and structural elements. Graphical, parametric stair and window tools let you easily design and manipulate unique building elements of various types and configurations. And MicroStation TriForma allows you to work in up to eight active, resizable windows containing plan, elevation, isometric and perspective views. Whether its an early schematic design study or a polished client presentation, MicroStation TriForma provides the tools you need to easily create photorealistic rendered images and elaborate aniThe Single Building Model allows you to build the way you thinkin three dimensions.

mations. You can assign patterns and textures to your model to heighten realism. Material definitions provide additional color, texture, transparency and finish, while multiple light sources, including ambient lighting, solar lighting and spotlights, provide realistic shade and shadows. And you can easily display and print

the underlying graphics, while changes to the drawings between sessions are automatically flagged.

Synchronize Your Reports and DrawingsAutomatically

Another benefit to MicroStation TriFormas Single Building Model can be found in the reports needed for every architectural project. With MicroStation TriForma, these reports are linked to your model, just like your plans and elevations. This means that with only a few mouse clicks, you can produce a set of

MicroStation TriForma is easy-to-use, high-performance software for architectural modeling and drawing production.

your finished, high-resolution, antialiased images using a wide variety of industry-standard 24-bit raster formats.

Single Building Model: Everything Under One Roof

All of your 2D production drawings, including plans, sections and elevations, are generated from your 3D model. And since all of your documents are dynamically linked to the Single Building Model, any changes to the model are instantly reflected in the appropriate documents. Moving a wall or inserting a window no longer means revising and coordinating a long list of drawings and reports. MicroStation TriForma takes care of it allautomatically! This advanced, unified approach saves you time and reduces the likelihood of errors and omissions. The 2D drawings generated automatically from this Single Building Model contain specified line weights, crosshatching and patterns and dimension strings. Additional annotation on these drawings is added to

specifications and calculate the cost of the entire project. And because these reports are linked, any changes to your original model will be automatically reflected in the attached reports. This effectively eliminates the human error that normally causes inconsistencies between your design and its corresponding reports. MicroStation TriForma reporting capabilities are powerful and quick. The detailed bills of materials report, for example, automatically gives you the quantity and cost of every item in your model. MicroStation TriFormas what-if? approach provides a very powerful budget control system. You can, for example, analyze the cost implications of selecting alternate materials without having to modify the model. Flexible layout options ensure that your reports contain exactly the information you need and are organized to your specifications. And you can easily import the reports generated with MicroStation TriForma into your spreadsheet or database management software for further refinement and analysis.

The intuitive interface lets you work in plan, elevation and even perspective viewssimultaneously.

an overlay that allows you to easily update

Easy to Learn and Easy to Use

MicroStation TriForma has a consistent, easy-to-learn look and feel on all platforms. The polished user interface is intuitive and fast. The non-modal environment means you can change tool setSpecifications and cost estimates are automatically generated from the Single Building Model.

tings and view parameters in the middle of a command sequence without restarting a command. QuickVision technology even allows you to work in a fully rendered view. MicroStation TriForma expands on the already comprehensive functionality of MicroStation by focusing on the specific demands of architecture and building design. MicroStation TriForma is optimized to take advantage of the innovative drawing tools provided in MicroStation 95 and MicroStation PowerDraft. MicroStations AccuDraw , for example, is the definition of easy 3D drawing input, combining the ease and intuitiveness of sketching using a mouse with the speed and accuracy of keyboard input. Only MicroStation TriForma is backed by all the power and functionality of MicroStation.

Wow your clients with polished presentations.

Share Information Effortlessly

MicroStation TriForma excels in a workgroup environment. Reference files read-only attachments of additional vector or raster fileslet design teams and members of different disciplines simultaneously share design information. Design modifications are stored instantaneously, enabling the members of your design team to work together and coordinate their work over a network in real time. MicroStation TriForma also lets you share information among other software packages. You can read and write a variety of industry-standard drawing formats, including DWG and DXF. User-defined settings and translation tables ensure accurate results. MicroStation TriForma integrates seamlessly into your workflow and promotes communication among the

MicroStation TriForma provides specialized tools optimized for architectural design and drawing production.

entire project team.

MicroStation TriForma Technical Specifications

System Requirements
PC Software Platforms MicroStation PowerDraft, MicroStation V5, or MicroStation 95 DOS, Microsoft Windows 3.1, Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT PC Hardware Requirements 80486DX or Pentium (DOS) 8MB RAM minimum, 16MB RAM recommended 80486DX or Pentium (Microsoft Windows 3.1) 16MB RAM minimum, 24MB RAM recommended 80486DX or Pentium (Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT) 16MB RAM minimum, 32MB RAM recommended DEC Alpha AXP (Microsoft Windows NT) 24MB RAM minimum, 32MB recommended Hard Disk: 200MB recommended (typical installation: 50MB) Input Device: mouse or tablet (tablet on Windows 3.1/95/NT requires vendor-supplied WINTAB driver or Bentley's Windows Digitizer Tablet Interface) Graphics Card: 256 colors recommended for rendering Dual screen graphics supported (Windows and OS/2 require vendor-supplied driver) Macintosh Software Platforms MicroStation V5 or MicroStation 95 Macintosh Hardware Requirements Power Macintosh (System 7 or later) 16MB RAM minimum, 32MB RAM recommended Hard Disk: 200MB recommended (typical installation: 60MB) Input Device: mouse or tablet (serial or compatible with Apple Desktop Bus) Graphics Card: 256 or more colors recommended for rendering Multi-screen graphics supported UNIX Software Platforms MicroStation V5 or MicroStation 95 UNIX Hardware Requirements SPARCstation (Solaris 2.4 or later) 24MB RAM minimum, 32 RAM recommended Hewlett-Packard Series 700 workstation (HPUX 9.x or 10.x) 24MB RAM minimum, 32MB RAM recommended Hard Disk Requirements: 200MB minimum (typical installation: 60MB) Input Device: mouse or tablet Supported Graphics Card: 256 or more color card recommended for rendering X11 (R4 or R5) and dual screen graphics supported Automated 2D production drawings 2D plans, sections, elevations and details are generated from your 3D model. Specified linestyles, line weights and patterns are generated automatically. Objects above and below the section cut can be included in the drawing with specified linestyles and line weights. Dimension strings are automatically created from the 3D model. Additional annotation on the 2D drawings is added to an overlay, which allows you to easily update the underlying graphics. Changes to the drawings between sessions are automatically flagged. Versatile reporting Customizable reports including bills of materials, cost estimates and specifications are automatically generated from your 3D model. Simulations can be created by selecting varying material descriptions without having to modify the model. Specification text is linked to the materials in your model. Macros are provided for Microsoft Word and WordPerfect to automatically assemble the required specification text. Easy customization MicroStation TriForma serves as an end-user tool and a development platform. Customization is provided by the MicroStation Development Language (MDL) and MicroStation BASIC programming environments, which are delivered at no additional charge. Independent software vendors (ISVs) are now using MicroStation TriForma as an integration platform to develop a broad range of new building applications.

Features
Unrivaled ease of use MicroStation TriForma is optimized to take advantage of the advanced user interface features available in MicroStation 95 and MicroStation PowerDraft. This includes support for AccuDraw, SmartLine, Tool Tip help, and dockable tool boxes. MicroStation TriForma has a consistent, easy-to-learn look and feel on all platforms. The new QuickVision technology in MicroStation 95 even allows you to work in a fully rendered view. Natural architectural workflow MicroStation TriForma embraces your workflow. It allows you to design with conceptual modeling tools. All the building information is stored in a 3D model. As the design progresses and detail is added, your model is refined and enhanced. As your design moves through production, all of the 2D drawings and reports including cost estimates, bills of materials and specifications are generated from this single, unambiguous model. Powerful 3D modeling MicroStation TriForma provides easy-to-use modeling tools that allow you to quickly sculpt, modify, section and visualize conceptual designs. You can model complex projects working among plan, elevation, isometric and perspective views. Graphical parametric stair and window tools let you easily design and manipulate unique building elements of various types and configurations.

AccuDraw, MicroStation, MicroStation PowerDraft and SmartLine are registered trademarks; Bentley, B Bentley logo, Engineering the future together, MDL, OpenSpace Engineering Symbols, and QuickVision are trademarks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Apple is a registered trademark and Power Macintosh is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. All other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. 1997 Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Bentley Systems, Inc. believes the information in this publication is accurate as of its publication date. The information is subject to change without notice.

For more information on the MicroStation family of products and services, please contact Bentley.
Americas Headquarters: Bentley Systems, Incorporated 690 Pennsylvania Drive Exton, PA 19341 Phone: (610) 458-5000 (800) BENTLEY Fax: (610) 458-1060 European Headquarters: Bentley Systems Europe Wegalaan 2 2132 JC Hoofddorp THE NETHERLANDS Phone: +31 23 556 0560 Fax: +31 23 556 0565 Asia-Pacific Headquarters: Bentley Systems Pty. Ltd. 51 City Road South Melbourne VIC 3205 AUSTRALIA Phone: +61 3 9699 8699 Fax: +61 3 9699 8677 Electronic Communications: www.bentley.com E-mail: family@bentley.com CompuServe: GO MSTATION Bentley FaxBack: 1-610-458-6485

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