Q: Which translator do I need?

A: DGNLink provides two-way translations for smaller projects translated one at a time. The normal mode is single file translation. You can setup a batch of translations with DGNLink, although you have to manually keep track of the files. You can also define project standards to use with all files. However, you must manually keep track of your standards for multiple projects. Translation parameters with DGNLink are easy to setup tables. You can assign layers/levels, colors, linetypes, fonts, and widths/weights for an individual file or for a project. The typical DGNLink user handles one or a couple of projects at once with 20 to 40 files each. He will modify his drawing process to match the client standards and use the translator to create final delivery files adjusted to the final client standards.

CATS includes built-in batch and project control for handling multiple larger projects simultaneously. It keeps track of the files to be translated, the control files to use, other setup parameters, and runs a batch of translations in a single step. It also can create a default project control file for all of the files in a project. This control file will include the layers/levels, colors, linetypes, and fonts actually used in the project. You can use this file as the starting point for your project standards. Translation parameters with CATS go way beyond simple table assignments. CATS uses if ... then ... rules to let you handle almost any translation problem. With CATS rules you can convert from your in-house standards directly to your client standards as part of the translation. The typical CATS user usually has several projects in house simultaneously with hundreds or even thousands of drawings. All CAD drawings are processed to established in house standards. The CATS translator is used to create final delivery files which are converted to the client standards as part of the translation. Each project requires setting up the special commands to match in house standards to the client standards.

Q: Why should I use CATS or DGNLink instead of simply using the MicroStation built-in translator or AutoCAD Map built-in translator?

A: The main reason to use a DGI translator versus a simple built-in translator is the quality of the result. DGI's business is CAD translation, we are registered developers for both AutoCAD and MicroStation and have expertise in both systems and the kinds of problems real users face when translating. Our support staff is trained for CAD translation issues and problems and only CAD translation.

If you are a smaller AutoCAD shop, you may want to consider our DGNLink product. It provides the same high quality translations at a more affordable price while only sacrificing the features for handling a large number of files and multiple projects.

If you are a medium to large organization who translates on a regular basis for several clients, you will want to consider CATS. The CATS project features and customization rules support one step translation from in-house standards to client standards and save hours and hours of clean-up time.