All about DGN Files

The DGN file type is primarily associated with MicroStation.

DGN	File extension: DGN
	File type:	design

What is a DGN file

DGN files mostly belong to MicroStation by Bentley. DGN is the filename extension of a 2D/3D computer-aided design format used to store construction project drawings, industrial product designs, and geospatial imagery. Computer-aided design and geospatial imaging programs that save designs in DGN files include MicroStation, AutoCAD, TurboCAD, and ArcGIS. While MicroStation saves drawings in Compound Document format, AutoCAD typically saves a drawing's seed data in a DGN file. Seed data comprises a drawing's underlays, default settings, working units (imperial, metric, user-defined), and whether the file is a 2D or 3D drawing. Another type of DGN file contains data used by Dragon 32 emulators such as XROAR and NAME.

How do you open DGN files?

You need a suitable software like MicroStation to open a DGN file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your DGN file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a DGN file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

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Programs that open and convert DGN files:

MicroStation by Bentley
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. DGN files are often referred to as MicroStation cads because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
ArcGIS (design drawing) by ESRI
ArcGIS is a geospatial data visualization, analysis, and modeling software suite. It can import and use a DGN file created with MicroStation or Smart Interop Publisher. This file format is classified as CAD.
AutoCAD (2D/3D drawing seed data) by Autodesk
AutoCAD is a professional computer-aided design software used for architectural and mechanical product design. It saves a drawing's seed data in a DGN file. This file format is classified as CAD. Related links: Export DGN Settings Dialog Box, Export DGN Settings Dialog Box, DGN
EdG
EdG = Edit Graphics. EdG originated on the VAX with Intergraph's IGDS software. EdG allows you to edit a design file or cell library in a non-graphical or text edit mode. This file format is classified as CAD.
Smart Interop Publisher (design/breaklines) by Hexagon
Smart Interop Publisher is a 3D graphics file viewer that can import and display models and object properties saved in various 3D formats. It saves designs or breakline features in DGN files. This file format is classified as CAD. Related links: Supported 3D Model Formats, Intergraph Standard File Formats
XROAR (data) by XROAR Developer
XROAR is a Dragon emulator compatible with Linux, Windows, macOS, and Unix platforms. It uses some data saved in a DGN file. This file format is classified as Data.

DGN file format:

To find out what program is needed to open DGN files, you need to determine the file format. The first characters in a file identify the file format, for example, HTML files start with the bytes <html>. Nonetheless, different programs can utilize the same file extension to represent distinct file formats. Double-clicking on the file often results in an error when opening. If there are problems opening a file, you must first determine the file format used. In the following you will find our evaluation of the DGN files:

The DGN file extension is quite common and is mainly used by one program with a specific format. The following file formats are most commonly found in DGN files:

90% of all DGN files are based on the Microsoft Compound File format, also known as Compound File Binary File format (CFBF or CFB) or OLE2 Compound Document format. This Windows file format has features similar to those of a filesystem format with virtual files and subfolders. The file signature of compound files is defined as D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1, so the first character of a file looks like "DOCFILE". The app name of DGN files is MicroStation, Power GEOPAK, OpenRoads Designer or PowerSurvey. Sections and streams in the file are named Dgn-Md, Dgn~S, Dgn~H, Dgn^Ix, Dgn^Nm, DocumentSummaryInformation, SummaryInformation, Dgn~Mf, Dgn^NmA and SebiesnrMkudrfcoIaamtykdDa. DGN files can be up to 210 MB in size, but are often around 48 KB - 4 MB. The file type is old but is used even today. Files like these have the following tags: trasa, komunika, plan, veden, road, drainage, elektro and layout.
2% of all DGN files use the same file format, which can be identified by the letters "01010102000105" at the beginning. These are binary files, so they do not contain words or text. Most of these files are 3 KB to 34 KB in size.

All the rest of the DGN files (8%) have different formats. Tagged as proposed, design, civil, house, model, mapa, seed or site. If you want to find out what your DGN file contains, drag and drop it onto this page.

Technical Data for DGN File Extension

File classification:

CAD

Related files:

dgm, dng, cit, dwg, dwn, tin, dcn, agn, hmr, zip, dg, ism, xml, rvt, dsn, pdf, exe, xd, upf, svf, m01

Related links:

DGN

Mime type:

application/x-bentley-dgn, text/plain

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: PaintShopPro8.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro 8 Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro 8
EXEFile: Paint Shop Pro.exe

ProgramID: PaintShopPro8.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro 8
EXEFile: Paint Shop Pro.exe

ProgramID: PaintShopPro8.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 8\Paint Shop Pro.exe /dde

ProgramID: PaintShopPro9.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 9\Paint Shop Pro 9.exe /dde

ProgramID: View Station Document
EXEFile: C:\View\Station\Image.exe %1

ProgramID: MicroStationDesignFile
EXEFile: C:\bentley\Program\MicroStation\ustation.exe %1

ProgramID: MicroStation DGN File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Bentley\Program\PowerDraft\draft.exe %1

ProgramID: MicroStation DGN File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\ustation.exe -wcs:\microstation\program\custom\mslocal.cfg -wustandard %1

ProgramID: quick3D.dgn
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\quick3D Geo\quick3D.exe %1

ProgramID: PaintShopProX.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\Corel Paint Shop Pro X\Paint Shop Pro X.exe

ProgramID: WorldMaster.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Atari\DRAGON~1\DNDEDI~1.EXE

ProgramID: MicroStation DGN File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Bentley\Program\View\BentleyView.exe

ProgramID: ImageView.Document.dgn
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\EAI\VISPRO~1\Products\VISVIE~1\VisView.exe

ProgramID: MicroStation DGN File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\ustation.exe

ProgramID: MicroStation DGN File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Bentley_NoCADtools\Program\MicroStation\ustation.exe

ProgramID: RIA.06.32.RS.DIAGN.U
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\RIA\RS2006\DIGN06U2.EXE

Show all 16 listings To Top

a dgn design is a special file format by Bentley and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with DGN files

Associate the DGN file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open designs. Because only the current version supports the latest DGN file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Bentley manufacturer website after an available MicroStation update.
To make sure that your DGN file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .DGN file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.