dgn-to-excel
Convert DGN files (v7-v8) to Excel databases. Extract elements, levels, and properties from infrastructure CAD files.
Why use this skill?
Convert DGN v7 and v8 CAD files to structured Excel databases with the OpenClaw dgn-to-excel skill. Perfect for infrastructure data.
Install via CLI (Recommended)
clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/datadrivenconstruction/dgn-to-excelWhat This Skill Does
The dgn-to-excel skill provides a robust interface for converting legacy and modern MicroStation DGN files (v7 and v8) into structured Excel databases. This skill acts as a bridge between complex infrastructure CAD data and common analytical tools. It parses DGN elements, including geometry, text, cells, and level properties, mapping them directly into rows and columns within an .xlsx file. By automating the extraction of technical metadata from DGN files, the skill facilitates downstream data reporting, cost estimation, and lifecycle analysis for civil engineering projects.
Installation
To install this skill, use the following command in your terminal:
clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/datadrivenconstruction/dgn-to-excel
Ensure that the DgnExporter binary is correctly configured in your environment path or specify the local path during initialization.
Use Cases
- Asset Management: Convert utility network DGNs into spreadsheets for asset inventory tracking.
- Quantity Take-offs: Extract geometry and line properties from bridge and highway drawings to calculate material volumes.
- Legacy Data Migration: Archive aging V7 MicroStation project files into modernized, searchable Excel formats for long-term document storage.
- QA/QC Reporting: Quickly generate Excel summaries of all levels and elements present in a design file to verify project standards.
Example Prompts
- "Convert the bridge-design-v8.dgn file located in my projects folder into an Excel report so I can review the structural levels."
- "Process all DGN files in the C:\Infrastructure folder and output their element properties to a combined Excel database for my cost estimation team."
- "Extract only the text and cell labels from the site-plan.dgn and format them into an Excel table."
Tips & Limitations
- Version Support: The tool is specialized for V7, V8, and V8i formats. Ensure your files are saved in one of these versions before processing.
- Performance: For massive CAD projects, batch processing is recommended rather than attempting to open single files with tens of thousands of complex elements. Utilize the provided PowerShell batch script template for efficient large-scale conversion.
- Precision: Note that geometry data is exported based on the element bounding box; for highly complex 3D surface analysis, manual validation is recommended after export.
Metadata
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Find the right skillPaste this into your clawhub.json to enable this plugin.
{
"plugins": {
"official-datadrivenconstruction-dgn-to-excel": {
"enabled": true,
"auto_update": true
}
}
}Tags(AI)
Flags: file-write, file-read, code-execution
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