RuleManager V8 Quick Start

Quick Start Objectives

The purpose of this Quick Start is to introduce you to the basic features of RuleManager
so that you can immediately use the program.
This Quick Start should take less than 30 minutes.

Prerequisites
1. MicroStation V8 version 8.1 or later.
2. RuleManager must be installed on your computer. You can verify this by selecting
the Axiom menu from MicroStations main menu bar, then select RuleManager. If
RuleManager does not appear in the Axiom menu, follow the instructions in the
Installation chapter of your User Guide.
3. You will need some design files to practice with. The sample files that are delivered
with RuleManager are used in this quick start.
4. You can run RuleManager with any production file.

Demonstration Version
Demonstration versions of RuleManager expires after 30 days.
Licensed versions of RuleManager do not have this restriction.

The Basics
This Quick Start will briefly introduce:

How to use RuleManager to create your own rules.

Quick Start Step 1 Automatic design file analysis and rules

generation.
RuleManagers Automatic design file analysis and rules generation is accomplished by
using one or more of your design files as a template a model file which is known to
adhere to your standards. RuleManager automatically generates rules based on the
composition of the specified file(s).

Copyright 19992013 Axiom. All Rights Reserved. Page 1 of 6.

RuleManager V8 Quick Start

1. Install RuleManager as described earlier.
2. In MicroStation, open the provided rulemgr3.dgn:
C:\Program Files\axiom\v8\rulemgr\sample\rulemgr3.dgn
3. Load RuleManager from the Axiom menu.
Your main RuleManager dialog box should look like this:

4. From the drop down menu in the Action field, we will use the default, Automatic
design file analysis and rule generation as seen in the image above.
5. The active design file name, rulemgr3.dgn, will already be selected in the Design
File(s): field.
6. The program will suggest a Rules File name. In this case we will use the suggested
rulemgr3.rul name. To use a different name or location, click the {Select} button
and specify a name for the rules file to be created. Remember the name well need
it to view the file contents later.
7. Select Rule Generation Options from the Options pull down menu at the top of
the dialog box.

Copyright 19992013 Axiom. All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 6.

RuleManager V8 Quick Start

The displayed Rejection message is the default, user-definable message that will be
used for all rejections. The symbols like %TY and %LV are called message
variables, and these two will display the type number and level number of any
element that is rejected using this rules file. You can retype this message to suit your
needs. There are more than 100 message variables you can use all described later
in this document.
Other fields on this dialog box represent element characteristics that are important to
your Quality Control process. By turning them on and off or making different
selections you can control which element properties the generated rules file will
check. For example, if you un-check Cell name, the generated rules file will not
contain rules that check for valid cell names.
8. Click the {OK} button to close this options box.
9. Click the {Start} button. The new Rules File is generated based on the elements in
the active design file, rulemgr3.dgn.
10. When processing is complete, you can use RuleManagers Rule Wizard to view (or
edit) the rules that have been automatically created. Select Edit a rules file from the
Action menu button and then click the {Start} button to activate the Rule Wizard.
The guilty until proven innocent approach is used in building the rules (See the
section of this manual titled, The Rules File, for more information). RuleManager
begins the file with REJECT ALL. This statement is followed by the rejection
message that will display for all rejected elements.
Next, RuleManager inserts some default rules which accept the non-graphical
elements that are present in all design files, sets some default runtime options and
makes allowances for accepting the components of complex elements, allowing
invisible elements that MicroStation uses behind the covers, etc.
Finally, RuleManager inserts the rules generated from the elements in your template
design files. Scroll down to see some of these rules.

Copyright 19992013 Axiom. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 6.

RuleManager V8 Quick Start

11. You can use the Rule Wizard to change, add, or delete rules but were using it for
display only in this step. Press {Close}. See the section titled Rule Wizard for more
information.
12. You can now use the rules file just created with SpecChecker or SpecMonitor.
Note: The above steps are intended to quickly show you how rules can be generated
automatically with RuleManager. The remainder of this RuleManager System
Administrators Guide explains rules and other features in detail.

Additional examples
Additional rules file examples are provided in the folder:
...\axiom\v8\checker\sample\

Quick Start Step 2 Automatic DGN library analysis and

rules generation.
RuleManagers Automatic DGN library analysis and rules generation is accomplished by
using one or more of your DGN libraries as a template for creating rules that verify the
level settings contained in your project design files level table, that verify graphic
element symbology, that verify text uses the correct text style name and that dimension
elements use the correct dimension style name.
1. In MicroStation, open the provided Civil.dgnlib:
...\axiom\v8\rulemgr\sample\civil.dgnlib
2. Load RuleManager from the Axiom menu.

3. From the Action drop down menu choose {Automatic DGN library analysis and
rule generation} as seen in the image above.
4. The active DGN library name, civil.dgnlib, will already be selected in the Design
File(s): field.

Copyright 19992013 Axiom. All Rights Reserved. Page 4 of 6.

RuleManager V8 Quick Start

5. The program will suggest a Rules File name. In this case we will use the suggested
civil.rul name. To use a different name or location, click the {Select} button and
specify a name for the rules file to be created.
6. Select Rule Generation Options from the Options pull down menu at the top of
the dialog box.
7. Now select DGN Libraries from the list box on the left side of the dialog box.

There are 4 separate sections for creating rules using DGN libraries. All 4 sections
are turned on by default. Click the {Restore Defaults} button to set the defaults.
The displayed Rejection message: for each section is the default, user-definable
message that will be used for all rejections pertaining to that section of rules. The
symbols like %TY, %LV and %Level_Color are called message variables.
When an element is rejected by a rule using them, these variables will display
specific information like the element type number (%TY), the elements level
number (%LV) and the byLevel color of a level table entry (%Level_Color). You can
retype these messages to suit your needs. There are more than 100 message variables
you can use all described later in this document.
Other fields on this dialog box represent element or level table characteristics that are
important to your Quality Control process. By turning them on and off or making
different selections you can control which element or level table properties the
generated rules file will check.

Copyright 19992013 Axiom. All Rights Reserved. Page 5 of 6.

RuleManager V8 Quick Start

8. Click the {OK} button to close this options box.
9. Click the {Start} button. The new Rules File is generated based on the level table,
text style table and dimension style table stored in the selected DGN library
civil.dgnlib.
10. When processing is complete, you can use RuleManagers Rule Wizard to view (or
edit) the rules that have been automatically created. Select {Edit a rules file} from the
Action menu button and then click the {Start} button to activate the Rule Wizard.
The guilty until proven innocent approach is used in building the level table and
graphic element rules (See the section of this manual titled, The Rules File, for more
information). RuleManager begins the file with two REJECT rules. One that
rejects each named level in the master files level table and one that rejects all
graphic elements in the model. Each of these reject criteria statements is followed by
a generic rejection message that will be displayed or reported for all rejected
elements.
Next, RuleManager inserts the ACCEPT rules generated from the tables in your
DGN libraries. Scroll down to see some of these ACCEPT rules.

11. You can use the Rule Wizard dialog and controls to change, add, or delete rules
but were using it for display only in this step. Press {Close}. See the section titled
Rule Wizard for more information.
12. You can now use the rules file just created with SpecChecker or SpecMonitor.
Note: The above steps are intended to quickly show you how rules can be generated
automatically with RuleManager. The remainder of this RuleManager System
Administrators Guide explains rules and other features of the Rule Wizard in detail.

Copyright 19992013 Axiom. All Rights Reserved. Page 6 of 6.