[quote user="Barry Lothian"]Seems long-winded[/quote]
MicroStation makes complex operations seem natural. As a programmer, you have to analyse — as you have done — the steps required to accomplish that which MicroStation makes appear simple. Those steps may seem lengthy, but only if you haven't previously considered what's involved. In time, you'll come to appreciate the innovative engine that the Bentley brothers created over three decades ago (the era of Fleetwood Mac and Bananarama), and the depth of functionality provided by the VBA API. It goes without saying that the C++ API digs even deeper, and provides functionality that cannot be achieved via VBA.