DGN to TXT Converter

DGN to TXT Conversion Explained

Converting .DGN (MicroStation Design) to .TXT (Plain Text) is a highly destructive data extraction process. When you convert .DGN to .TXT, you extract text elements, tags, metadata, or coordinate points from the CAD file and discard all visual geometry.

People perform this conversion to pull usable data out of proprietary CAD files without needing expensive software. You gain a lightweight, universally readable file that is easy to parse with scripts or databases. However, you lose 100% of the graphical data, including lines, polygons, 3D models, layers, and the spatial layout of the text. If you need to view the drawing or understand where a text label points, this conversion is a bad idea.

Typical Tasks and Users

This conversion serves specific data-processing workflows rather than visual design tasks. Common users include:

• Surveyors: Extracting X, Y, and Z coordinate points from a .DGN file into a text list to load into GPS surveying equipment.
• Civil Engineers: Pulling bill of materials (BOM) data, part numbers, or title block information from drawing tags.
• GIS Analysts: Migrating legacy CAD attributes into modern geographic databases.
• Data Engineers: Running batch scripts to index text content from thousands of archived CAD files for searchability.

Software & Tool Support

Extracting text from .DGN files requires software capable of parsing complex CAD structures.

• Bentley MicroStation: The native software for .DGN. It includes built-in reporting tools to export tags, text nodes, and coordinates to text formats.
• Safe Software FME: A powerful spatial ETL tool that can read .DGN elements and route text or coordinate data into .TXT or CSV files.
• Open Design Alliance (ODA): Provides C++ and .NET SDKs for developers to programmatically read .DGN files and extract text strings.
• Autodesk AutoCAD: Can import .DGN files and use data extraction wizards to output text data.
• GDAL/OGR: A free, open-source command-line library that can read .DGN vector data and output attributes to text-based formats.

Pros and Cons of the Conversion

Pros:

• Universal Compatibility: Any operating system or basic text editor can open a .TXT file.
• Automation: Plain text is easy to parse using Python, grep, or database import tools.
• File Size: .TXT files are tiny compared to binary CAD files.
• Transparency: Exposes hidden metadata and tags that are difficult to query inside a CAD environment.

Cons:

• Total Geometry Loss: All lines, shapes, and 3D models are permanently deleted.
• Loss of Context: A text string like "Valve 4B" loses its physical location on the drawing.
• Encoding Issues: Legacy .DGN V7 files often use proprietary Bentley resource (RSC) fonts, which can result in garbled characters if not decoded properly.
• No Formatting: Font sizes, colors, and layer assignments are lost.

Conversion Difficulties & Why Convert.Guru

The primary technical difficulty when you convert .DGN to .TXT is parsing the binary structure of the CAD file. .DGN exists in two major versions (V7 and V8), which handle text differently. Text in MicroStation is often stored in complex "text nodes," linked to geometric elements via "tags," or formatted with proprietary RSC fonts. A simple text scraper will fail to read these files or will output unreadable binary gibberish.

Convert.Guru handles this conversion pipeline by accurately parsing the V7 and V8 binary structures. It identifies text elements, decodes proprietary font mappings into standard UTF-8 characters, and extracts the raw text cleanly. This allows you to access the data locked inside the CAD file without purchasing a MicroStation license or writing custom parsing scripts.

DGN vs. TXT: What is the better choice?

Which format should you choose?

Choose .DGN if you are actively drafting, engineering, or sharing visual models. It is the only format here that actually stores the drawing.

Choose .TXT only if you need to extract raw data—such as coordinate lists, part numbers, or metadata—for use in external databases, scripts, or surveying tools.

Avoid this conversion if you want to keep the visual layout of the text but do not have CAD software. In that case, convert .DGN to .PDF to preserve the visual drawing, or convert to .CSV if you need structured tabular data rather than a flat text file.

Conclusion

Converting .DGN to .TXT makes sense exclusively for data extraction workflows where CAD geometry is no longer needed. The biggest limitation is the complete destruction of the visual drawing and the spatial context of the text. When you need to pull text, tags, or coordinates out of a MicroStation file quickly, Convert.Guru provides a reliable, accurate way to convert .DGN to .TXT without dealing with proprietary font encoding or expensive CAD software.