MicroStation Connect needs an easy-to-use application extension market.
Runtime automated extensions, User Activated extensions and Event Driven extensions.
These can range from running command scripts on demand, to attaching Cell Libraries, changing Element attributes, joining Elements, populating tables while placing Cells, capturing and importing specified type of objects or content from a pool of files in another folder.
Extensions are portable, shareable, easy to update, can integrate command scripts, attribute exchange, Item Types linking, Cell Libraries, Spreadsheets, VBA, DGNLibs, FME.
Extensions can also output data or files, for example if I am creating content my extension can create a spreadsheet, or DGNLib, or Cell Library, or text file, or set of coordinates, or 4D/5D by selecting 3D content in an order to create a 4D/5D process, or other file types useful in design.
The development and implementation should be simplified for the end user to encourage usage. I can think of something like Blender Canvas, or FME Canvas where events, commands where a property can be constructed and chained and triggered by way I have mentioned above.
Using the existing extension of web browsers, Office 365 as examples of what I mean.
I am a little unclear what is being asked for here. Referencing this post, https://communities.bentley.com/products/microstation/f/microstation-forum/254347/microstation-application-extensions are you asking for all additional VBA's, DGNLibs, etc to be available to users via a selection from a folder rather than using a configuration variable? OR are you asking for a "node and wire" type interface in referencing FME Canvas? Would you be able to describe the problem (or if its multiple problems please list out) you are trying to solve with more detail please?
Hi Robert. Thanks for the Idea. We are currently working our Design Automation strategy and will be delivering the first concept in the near future which will satisfy the portable, shareable, easy to share requirement as the VBA implementation does. We are also looking at many different ways of making this easy - the easier it is, the easier to adopt. The node and wire concept in the images are certainly up for consideration. Happy to keep the discussion going and for others, please do add votes to the request if you find this requirement something you need.
An Extensions market will help nurture new ideas, integration and functionality. I think it would be a great stepping stone. Key is making it accessible and easy to create and implement extended functionality that an end user can create and implement. When you look at the extensions market of other platforms, and even app markets, the resident creativity in waiting is there and should be tapped.
Have a nice day.