Import DGN files with line width recognized in "pt" by default

[kstreepywheeler]

Idea: Enable imported DGN feature line widths to be symbolized using "pt" by default instead of "m".

Context: I'm the GIS Technician for a Local Government level Engineering Department. Our Engineers and Engineer Technicians use MicroStation to create plans, but our higher-ups use ArcGIS Pro for situational awareness and reporting. When importing DGN files to ArcGIS Pro, the colors and style are retained from MicroStation, but the line widths, when viewed in the Symbology Pane, are presented in "m" units. Attempts to change the value for this "m" unit does not result in skinnier or wider line features in the Map view. This has been confirmed as expected behavior by Esri Technical Support. The current workaround I have is to change the "Primary symbology" from the default "Unique Values" to "Single Symbol" and then back to "Unique Values" using the same fields as defaulted. This enables the individual line widths of the DGN features to be presented in "pt" units, with subsequent changes to the value resulting in skinnier or wider line widths displayed in the Map view.

Potential Impact: Implementation of this idea could result in less steps and time spent to configure DGNs for viewing in ArcGIS Pro, which would manifest in quicker orientation and follow-on decision making by higher-ups.

[MichaelDavidsonPM]

Hi @kstreepywheeler ,

Thanks for reaching out and sharing the details provided from tech support for one possible workaround.

Something else you may consider here is: you can also bring about individual line weights of the DGN features without the need to change "m" to "pt" units.

Currently, the line weights of DGN are based on a custom expression. You can bring about the desired result from your Idea by changing the symbology from being driven by the field to being none. This will allow you to retain all the other symbolic advantages of the CAD files, such as the coloration.

Here is an illustrative set of steps for this approach (credit to product development/engineering): 

• Add DGN file to a map in ArcGIS Pro. 
• Select the layer in the Table of Contents. 
• Open Symbology for the selected layer
  
• Select the Vary symbology by attribute tab
• Expand the Size
• Under the fields, use <None> instead of Custom or any other fields to set the size of the layer. 
  
• Now you can select any symbol for this CAD layer and change its size from Symbology > Properties > Appearance > Line width.
  
• A video of the illustrative steps is below as well.

Please let us know if this addresses the Idea, and thanks for participating in our community!