💡 Problem in Bentley Templates
In Bentley software, defining dependencies between points requires creating a very large number of individual points. This makes templates complex, cluttered, and difficult to edit, since every relationship must be represented by additional elements rather than a clear logical flow.

🔗 Inspiration from Autodesk Civil 3D

Autodesk Civil 3D’s Subassembly Composer solves a similar challenge by using a flowchart interface. Each step in the construction logic is represented as a block, and users connect these blocks to define conditions, geometry, and outputs. This approach makes even complex assemblies transparent and easy to follow.

🚀 Proposed Solution: Flowchart-Based Template Editor

By combining these insights, we can design a new template editor that:

• Uses flowcharts instead of point-heavy structures

  • Each template element (section, condition, loop, variable) is represented as a block.

  • Dependencies are shown as simple connections between blocks, rather than requiring dozens of individual points.

• Supports conditional flows

  • IF/ELSE logic visualized as branching paths, similar to Civil 3D.

• Provides reusable components

  • Frequently used logic can be saved and reused.

• Offers parameter-driven design

  • Each block has editable parameters, reducing the need for repetitive point creation.

• Includes real-time preview and debugging

• Users can see which blocks are triggered during testing, making troubleshooting easier.

🎯 Benefits

• Clarity: Templates are easier to understand, even for non-technical users.

• Efficiency: Fewer elements required compared to Bentley’s point-heavy approach.

• Maintainability: Visual changes reduce errors and simplify updates.

• Scalability: Complex templates remain manageable thanks to modular, block-based design.

👉 In short: Bentley’s point-based system makes editing cumbersome, while Autodesk Civil’s Subassembly Composer shows the power of flowcharts. A new flowchart-based template editor would combine the best of both worlds — clarity, efficiency, and flexibility.