MicroStation® DGN files are the backbone of infrastructure projects — highways, bridges, rail, utilities. Bentley® has a solid ecosystem, but when you need the data outside MicroStation for cost estimation, quantity takeoff, or validation — you hit the same wall as with every proprietary format.

The CAD2DATA Pipeline includes a DGN converter. It reads V8 DGN files and exports element data to .xlsx. No MicroStation. No Bentley license. CLI, Docker®, APT — same workflow as our other converters.

What data gets extracted?

Quick start

# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/datadrivenconstruction/cad2data-Revit-IFC-DWG-DGN.git

# Windows
DDC_WINDOWS_Converters\DDC_CONVERTER_DGN\DgnExporter.exe "C:\Projects\Highway.dgn"

# Linux APT
sudo apt install ddc-dgnconverter
ddc-dgnconverter input.dgn output_dir/

Output: Highway_dgn.xlsx with one sheet per element type.

DGN versions

Supports V8 DGN (MicroStation® V8, CONNECT Edition, iTwin®). V7 DGN files need to be converted to V8 first using MicroStation or free converters.

Infrastructure use cases

• Road and rail QTO — extract element quantities from alignment drawings for cost estimates
• Utility mapping — pull pipe/cable coordinates and attributes into GIS or spreadsheets
• Level audits — verify naming conventions and standardization across project files
• Data migration — move legacy DGN data into modern platforms (IFC, databases, GIS)
• Cross-format analysis — combine DGN data with DWG™, IFC, and Revit® data in a single spreadsheet

Batch processing

import subprocess
from pathlib import Path

converter = Path(r"C:\DDC\DgnExporter.exe")
for dgn in Path(r"C:\Infrastructure").glob("**/*.dgn"):
    subprocess.run([str(converter), str(dgn)], capture_output=True, timeout=300)
    print(f"Converted: {dgn.name}")

Recursive glob handles nested folder structures common in infrastructure projects.

FAQ

Can I convert DGN to Excel® without MicroStation®?

Yes. No Bentley® software needed. The converter reads V8 DGN files natively.

Does it work with CONNECT Edition files?

Yes. MicroStation CONNECT Edition uses V8 DGN format, which is fully supported.

Can I convert DGN to IFC?

Not directly. The DGN converter exports to Excel. For DGN to IFC conversion, MicroStation’s built-in IFC export or iTwin services are your best bet.

Best choice for DGN to Excel® conversion

Working with other formats? See our guides for Revit to Excel, DWG to Excel, IFC to Excel, and Revit to IFC conversion.

MicroStation® and iTwin® are registered trademarks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated. AutoCAD®, Revit® and DWG™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. Excel® and Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Docker® is a registered trademark of Docker, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.