Dear Forum,
I agree with the previous comments from Andy and Alaa.
·
Designbuilder always has a comment line to identify the zone
referred to by the 5 digit zone name
·
I make sure I’ve got the DB-assigned names identified correctly
·
Then fill out a table in Excel showing the DB name and a new
name that I intend to use
·
The Excel table also has formulae which build up Search and Replace
commands for Visual Basic to execute in Microsoft Word
·
I paste the formulae into a Word VBA module and then run the
macro assigned to the module’s subroutine
If that sounds like a lot of work � it is for only 33 or 4 zones.
If there are more zones and you are comfortable using VBA macros, it works very
well and avoids editing errors.
I’m happy to share the spreadsheet and macros. If anyone is
interested, please send a private message.
The Building Performance Team
James V. Dirkes II, P.E., LEED AP
1631 Acacia Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
616 450 8653
From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Andy Tindale
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 4:12 AM
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [EnergyPlus_Support] graphical user interface for
EnergyPlus
DesignBuilder v3
will have much improved the readability of zone and surface names using the
user-defined names, made unique where necessary. The new version will be
released early in 2011.
In the meantime
there is a short article on how to map from the numeric zone names used in IDF
back to the zones in the DesignBuilder model at:
http://www.designbuilder.co.uk/supportdesk/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=42&nav=0,7
As mentioned by
Alaa, the key is to open the IDF file in a text editor and check the comments.
Andy Tindale
DesignBuilder
From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of alaa kandil
Sent: 22 October 2010 07:57
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] graphical user interface for EnergyPlus
To change the names I open the
idf file in a text editor, design builder uses weird numbers but it shows the
original name in a remark. idf editor doesn't show the remark, then finally i
use "find and replace command to replace the zone name with the name i
want. This method is annoying though when you have to move forward and backward
between design builder and E+. It also can cause problems if the same numerical
zone name was used for another input variable.
Alaa Kandil
Calgary, Canada
From: "Suh, Won-Jun" <qqq000feel@xxxxxxxx>
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thu, October 21, 2010 9:26:42 PM
Subject: RE: [EnergyPlus_Support] graphical user interface for
EnergyPlus
Dear James.
How do you deal
with the zone names in DesignBuilder?
As you know,
every zone names in DB has a weird numbers(ex, 12345, 14283, 21124, 23694, �..)
Do you take any
actions to that zone names?
And I also want
to know about your spreadsheet, can you tell me something more about that?
Best regards.
Swj.
From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of James V Dirkes
II, PE
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 12:45 AM
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [EnergyPlus_Support] graphical user interface for EnergyPlus
Dear Steven,
There’s not too
much to choose from (yet), but check out Open Studio (a Sketchup plugin
you’ll find on the Energy Plus web site) and DesignBuilder (http://designbuilder.co.uk).
I use DesignBuilder and like it for geometry and materials. I add in
schedules and HVAC using a spreadsheet tool that I developed. It holds an
HVAC system library and speeds up that part of the model’s input.
Neither Open
Studio nor DesignBuilder is much help for non-simple HVAC systems, but geometry
and materials become much simpler than trying to do it in E+ IDF Editor.
You’ll have to spend some learning curve time on the HVAC side.
(DesignBuilder has promised a more comprehensive HVAC interface in early 2011.)
I know Bentley
Systems has an E+ interface called (I think) HEVAComp, but I know little about
it.
The Building Performance Team
James V. Dirkes II, P.E., LEED AP
1631 Acacia Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
616 450 8653
From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of beaglhead7
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 11:09 AM
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [EnergyPlus_Support] graphical user interface for EnergyPlus
I am an engineer working for a company that
specializes in energy auditing and modeling buildings to recommend energy
conservation opportunities. I am used to using eQuest and am just beginning to
look into using EnergyPlus for modeling purposes. Can anyone tell me the best
graphical interface to use for EnergyPlus, and what its strengths and
limitations are? How much longer does it take to model a typical building in
EnergyPlus as opposed to modeling in eQuest?
Thanks,
Steven
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