[Equest-users] Your Basic N00B Problem creating zones

[lawrence Lile]

This was the key information needed:

*If you need to create new or additional zones, click the “create new zone”
button.  From there your next click will define the first vertex, from which
you will drag out the following vertices.*

The last thing I would think of was to try was to click *and drag *to create
the next vertex.  Doing this on a laptop with a touchpad doesn't help, as
that move is awkward for me on a touchpad.  This is, of course, unlike
AutoCad, where you click then click again to define lines, vertices etc.  I
would suggest (if I was talking to the developers) that embedding CAD-like
sequences into input screens down to the very lowest level will shorten the
learning curve for folks who have autocad on the brain like so many of us
do.  Thanks for your help that was the problem!


On Mon, Aug 8, 2011 at 9:54 AM, Nick Caton <ncaton at smithboucher.com> wrote:

> Hi Lawrence,****
>
> ** **
>
> I’m going to address this roughly –zone definition screens are tough to
> convey in text… I believe some of the introductory help files may have some
> good illustrations if you remain stuck:****
>
> ** **
>
> **-          **New vertices are always created from the “active” vertex.
> Notice that one should be a different color (white/cyan) than the others on
> your screen for the active zone – that’s the active vertex.****
>
> **-          **You can click inactive (red) vertices to make another the
> active vertex.****
>
> **-          **If you simply click the active vertex a single time, it
> will change colors from white to cyan or vice versa****
>
> **-          **When white, you can click-drag to move that vertex around**
> **
>
> **-          **When cyan, you can click-drag to create a new vertex from
> that point****
>
> **-          **If you need to create new or additional zones, click the
> “create new zone” button.  From there your next click will define the first
> vertex, from which you will drag out the following vertices.****
>
> **-          **Something everyone messes up at least once:  You need to
> remember to define your points in a “counter-clockwise” fashion, or else the
> program will hiccup and make you re-do your work.****
>
> **-          **One of the buttons to the left lets you adjust your “snap
> priority” to snap to ends of line segments when you’re referencing CAD
> files… this is pretty important if that’s what you’re attempting.****
>
> **-          **The “snap resolution” in that same dialog should be
> adjusted if you have trouble snapping to the right point, even after zooming
> in.****
>
> ** **
>
> I believe all of the above apply equally to both SD and DD wizards, though
> I’ll throw out the disclaimer that I rarely use SD wizards myself.  Best way
> to learn is to play around with all the buttons/options available, so you
> get a sense of what tools are in front of you… hopefully the above helps in
> getting you started!****
>
> ** **
>
> ~Nick****
>
> ** **
>
> [image: cid:489575314 at 22072009-0ABB]**
>
> * *
>
> *NICK CATON, P.E.***
>
> SENIOR ENGINEER****
>
> ** **
>
> Smith & Boucher Engineers****
>
> 25501 west valley parkway, suite 200****
>
> olathe, ks 66061****
>
> direct 913.344.0036****
>
> fax 913.345.0617****
>
> www.smithboucher.com* *****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:
> equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] *On Behalf Of *lawrence Lile
> *Sent:* Sunday, August 07, 2011 12:31 PM
>
> *To:* equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Equest-users] Your Basic N00B Problem creating zones****
>
> ** **
>
> I am just learning E Quest and am having some very basic issues.  ****
>
>  ****
>
> I am trying to enter a very simple building into the Schematic Design
> Wizard.  This building has two zones.  I can check the dropdown for "zoning
> pattern one per floor" to make it automatically make a zone on the floor.
> I'd like to edit this to make a second zone.  I then hit "custom" and start
> having pretty much no luck creating any more zones.  ****
>
>  ****
>
> When I start out, there is a single active zone, with 9 points same as the
> building footprint.  It will need 11 points to be able to add the second
> zone.   I can't seem to add any points by clicking on the screen, except for
> the very first vertex, so I guessed that is not the way to proceed.  If I
> manually type in the numbers for the vertices of the zone, it will not allow
> more than 9 vertices to exist in this zone.  If I add one manually, it
> automatically deletes one.  If I try to edit the 10th cell, it will not
> allow any numbers to be entered.  If I delete the active zone, and then hit
> "Create a new zone", then it complains that a zone cannot have less than
> three points, preventing a new zone from being created from scratch.  If I
> hit "create a new zone" before deleting the first one, it will allow exactly
> two vertices to be created, but refuses allow the third and fourth,
> generating another "no less than three vertices" error when I finally give
> up.  Same with "start from blank slate" - no new zones can be created by
> clicking the "create new zone" button. ****
>
>  ****
>
> What is the trick for adding or creating points in a zone?  So far the
> program seems determined to prevent any new zones from being added or any
> old ones from being edited.  ****
>
>  ****
>
> --Lawrence****
>
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