© 2009 Autodesk Autodesk ® Ecotect TM Analysis: The Desktop Component Interface Dr. Andrew Marsh Principal Software Engineer, AEC-Simulation

© 2009 Autodesk Menus and Toolbars The menu-items and icon shortcuts you use to get things done. Control Panels Tabbed property editors you use to manipulate and view the model. View controls Icons for zooming, fitting and manipulating the model view. Status-bar Displays model statistics and the application interactive status. Pages Tabs that control the main window and how you work with the model. Topic Overview Topics covered in this tutorial: ELEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THIS ORDER

© 2009 Autodesk Menus and Toolbars Main Menu Items in the main menu contain most of the commands you will use to operate the program. Main Toolbar This contains action items that affect the properties of objects or direct the operation of the program. Date / Time Toolbar This toolbar allows you to change the date and time for the current shadow display and for time-based calculations. Snap Settings Toolbar This contains controls for interactive program features such as snap settings, grid sizes and transformation settings. Menu and toolbars are located along the top-left of the application. Displays a brief description of the selected item. Resets all toolbars to default position. These let you toggle the visibility of each toolbar.

© 2009 Autodesk Command Entry Toolbar Allows you to directly enter script and lua commands in Ecotect. Use the Enter key or green arrow to execute the command. Custom Slider Interacts with the OnSlider() event within dynamic models. Typically models with embedded scripts that use this slider will modify it’s name and unit values. Stylus Toolbar Provides tools to use with a Tablet PC or pen- based computer. The Model and Zones buttons display the current Page’s context menu. Movie Toolbar The controls used to create movies and animations. These are usually located in the Display Settings control panel, but are moved here whenever you open this tab. The User Toolbar User Toolbar Provides a set of user-customisable buttons. Use the ‘…’ button to display the toolbar editor dialog in which you can add, edit and remove your own buttons. Each button can be used to execute a command, call as script or run an external application. You can use the value shown at the bottom of this toolbar to observe selected data from the Selection Information control panel. Undo Steps List This is simply a list of the last few action that you have done that are available to be undone. A tabbed set of user tools is also optionally available.

© 2009 Autodesk Control Panels Selection Information Information and settings for the currently selected object, node or zone. Zone Management A list of zones in the current model. Material Assignment Displays and assigns primary and alternate materials for the currently selected object(s). Display Settings Tools for controlling what is displayed in the 3D model. Visualisation Settings Visualisation controls for the OpenGL hardware rendering engine. Shadow Settings Controls for displaying shadows and shading functions. Analysis Grid Controls for positioning and calculating the analysis grid. Rays & Particles Controls for spraying acoustic rays and particles within the model. Scripts & Wizards Allows you to add complex parametric objects as well as listing scripts and wizards from any folders you choose. Object Transformation Controls for numerically transforming selected objects and nodes. Export Manager Quick access to model export options. Control panels are located on the right-hand side.

© 2009 Autodesk Zoom Window Allows you to select a zoom region in the current view. Simply click the Left Mouse button at one corner of the desired region, drag the cursor to the opposing corner and release it. If this icon is clicked with the Right Mouse button, the last view change is undone. Fit Grid Fits the display grid to the extent of all currently visible objects in the model. Zoom All/Selected Zooms the view to fit selected objects. If nothing is selected, all are used. Zoom Grid Zooms to fit the current grid within the 3D Editor. If this icon is clicked with the Right Mouse button, all objects are fitted within the 3D Editor without any alteration to the grid. View Controls Resize Grid By resizing the grid to a particular section of a model, it is possible to zoom in and out of that section of model quickly and easily. In conjunction with the Zoom Grid command, this is the preferred method for working on sections of a model, rather than repeatedly using the zoom in and out commands. Copy View This command copies the current view to the clipboard as either an enhanced Windows metafile (WMF) or as an RGB Windows bitmap (BMP), which you can then paste directly into other image manipulation or desktop publishing applications. View control icons are located beneath the control panels.

© 2009 Autodesk Dynamically Changing the View Right-Mouse Button Rotating a 3D view Clicking and dragging the Right-Mouse Button allows you to rotate the current model view. Panning a view Click and drag the Right-Mouse Button whist holding down the CONTROL Key allows you to pan the current view. Zooming a view Click and drag the Right-Mouse Button whist holding down the SHIFT Key allows you to pan the current view. Perspective distortion Click and drag the Right-Mouse Button whist holding down the SHIFT and CONTROL Key allows you to adjust the perspective distortion within the current view. Arrow Keys Rotating a 3D view Simply press the Left/Right/Up/Down arrow keys. Smaller increments Hold the SHIFT Key to reduce the increment from 10deg to 1 deg. Panning a view Hold down the CONTROL Key. You can use the mouse or arrow keys to change the view.

© 2009 Autodesk Status Bar If the application is busy, this area displays either a progress bar or an action description. Current cursor snap settings - you can toggle any of these by left-clicking with the mouse. The status bar is located at the bottom of the main window. Displays the status of the application - whether it is Idle or busy calculating something. Displays the number of objects selected and the total number of objects in the model. The first status bar sub-panel can also contain a command entry text box, allowing you to enter command shortcuts based on ECOTECT script commands. You can toggle this feature on/off using the Command Entry Box item in the Tools menu or by simply double-clicking the left mouse button in the status bar.

© 2009 Autodesk Main Work Area The area in the centre of the main application window is where you will do most of your work. Choosing a Page The tabs running down the left side allow you to choose Pages which show different aspects of the model, its associated data and analysis. Pages in Main Application Window

© 2009 Autodesk PROJECT Page PROJECT Page Shows textual and context information relating to the project itself and the site on which it sits. Many different types of information can be held within your project. This is also where you set the location and orientation of the building site.

© 2009 Autodesk 3D EDITOR Page 3D EDITOR Page Displays the editable building model, allowing you to add, modify and delete building elements. These icons act on selected objects in the 3D Editor. Use these icons to create new objects in your model.

© 2009 Autodesk VISUALISE Page VISUALISE Page Shows a rendered view of the model, complete with all the analysis elements you choose to display. Use these tabs to create, store and select different model views. Use the Visualization Settings panel to control render and sketchiness parameters.

© 2009 Autodesk ANALYSIS Page ANALYSIS Page Displays graphical analysis information such as solar radiation, internal temperatures or reverberation times. Use these icons to fit, capture, scale and lock the current graph. Use these tabs to select the type of graphical analysis you wish to run. Both graphical and tabulated text data is available for almost all types of analysis.

© 2009 Autodesk REPORTS Page You can select from a wide range of standard reports… … as well as different formatting options. REPORTS Page Displays an embedded HTML browser that has a number of uses: to display embedded help within the software as well as report tables which can be displayed as either formatted text, styled HTML or sent direct to MS Excel.

© 2009 Autodesk SUMMARY PAGE TABS Allows you to select from the five main work pages. PANEL TABS Select from the eleven panels tabs for performing actions. TOOLBARS Shortcuts to common menu commands and settings. MAIN MENU Contains the commands you use to operate the program. VIEW TOOLBAR Allows you to fit and adjust the current model view. STATUS BAR Shows settings and progress of calculations.

© 2009 Autodesk