iesve sketchup plug-in version 3 · introduction page 3 iesve sketchup plug-in version 3 new...

BOSTON, MA │ GLASGOW, SCOTLAND │ DUBLIN, IRELAND │ LONDON, ENGLAND │ MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA │ SAN FRANCISCO, CA │ DUBAI, UAE

IESVE SketchUp Plug-in version 3New Features

INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS LIMITEDInternational Sustainability ConsultingDevelopers of the IES <Virtual Environment>

Date: June 2010

Contents

IESVE SketchUp plug-in Version 3New Features

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 3

IESVE SketchUp Plug-in Version 3 New Features............................................................................... 4

Thick Walls Analysis (SketchUp Pro users only) .................................................................................. 4

Push Through Doors and Windows (SketchUp Pro users only) ........................................................... 5

Build a Storey from a Floor Plan (SketchUp Pro users only)................................................................ 6

Enhancements & Troubleshooting Tools.............................................................................................. 8

IESVE Menu Options........................................................................................................................ 8

Identify Rooms in Selected Faces Only ........................................................................................ 8

Tidy up Model................................................................................................................................ 8

Right Click Menu Options ................................................................................................................. 9

Toggle View of Shading Surfaces Only......................................................................................... 9

Toggle X Ray ................................................................................................................................ 9

Highlight Disconnected Edges ...................................................................................................... 9

Highlighted Disconnected Surfaces .............................................................................................. 9

Clear Highlights............................................................................................................................. 9

Show or Hide Unselected Faces................................................................................................... 9

Select Groups and Components: Rooms ....................................................................................... 10

IESVE SketchUp Plug-in Version 2 New Features............................................................................. 11

Groups & Components....................................................................................................................... 11

Select Groups & Components ........................................................................................................ 11

Group & Component Types ............................................................................................................ 11

Group Types: Room (part) & Room (whole)................................................................................ 12

Component Types: Door & Window............................................................................................ 12

Shade & Excluded....................................................................................................................... 13

Identify Rooms ................................................................................................................................... 13

Introduction


IntroductionWelcome to the IESVE plug-in for Google SketchUp™ Version 3.

Version 3 of the plug-in gives the ability to identify rooms in Thick Walls models for the first time. Thisallows more realistic models to be easily converted to a <VE> analytical model by the plug-in so itcan then be analysed at any level of <VE> VE-Ware, VE-Toolkits, VE-Gaia or VE-Pro.

New tools are provided to assist with the creation of Thick Walls models. Build a Storey from aFloorplan allows any 2-D DXF or sketch to be quickly extruded into a full 3-D model ready for roomidentification while Push Thru Doors and Windows can be used to place Door and Windowcomponents on outer surfaces of any thick wall model and then push these through to the innersurface so that they are recognised by the IESVE plug-in.

Further options in the IESVE menu are now provided to help with model creation and troubleshootingwhen all rooms are not immediately identified by the plug-in.

The information is this document is supplemented by the videos on the IESVE YouTube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/iesve

Thick Walls Analysis


IESVE SketchUp Plug-in Version 3 New Features

Thick Walls Analysis (SketchUp Pro users only)The IESVE SketchUp plug-in v3 is able to identify rooms in models that have been modelled withThick Walls. With no extra input from the user any thick walls model can be run through the plug-into identify rooms and then the IESVE analyses, whether VE-Ware, VE-Toolkits, VE-Gaia or VE-Procan be performed.

Note: Thick Walls analysis mode only available in SketchUp PRONote: Thick Walls mode is currently in beta for feedback

Before running Identify Rooms select the modellingmethod on the <VE> Analysis Settings dialog (Tools >>IES >> Set VE Rooms Analysis Options).

Maximum Wall Thickness – Ensure this is large enough to account for the thickest wall in the modelbut is less than the width of any room.



Push Through Doors and Windows (SketchUp Pro users only)

A new button is added to the toolbar

When a model has been constructed in Thick Walls mode windows and doors can be added asGroups or Components. Ensure the Group/Component has the correct category definition using theIESVE Toolbar Select Groups or Select Components button to define them then place theGroups/Components on the outer surface of walls.

With the Window or Door Group/Component selected then select the Push Through button and theGroup/Component will be pushed through to the inner surface of the wall and will be correctlyrecognised by the plug-in when rooms are identified.



Build a Storey from a Floor Plan (SketchUp Pro users only)

A new button is added to the toolbar

Use the Build a Storey tool to extrude any flat floor plan (for example a DXF floor plan) into a fullheight Thick Walls model.

Step 1Start with a 2-D floor plan (this can be a dxf, dwg or simply a 2-D sketch).

Step 2Select the floor plan then click the Build a Storey from aFloor Plan button on the IESVE Toolbar. The Build aStorey settings dialog will be displayed.

Enter the Height of each Storey, the Ceiling/Slab Thickness and Number of Storeys then click Go.



Step 3The building will be extruded as defined by the settings.

Each Storey has room layout as specified in the original floor plan and the number of storeys, storeyheight and slab thickness (thick walls) are as defined in the settings dialog.

Note: the user settings dialog has an option to use the current settings as default, tick this to usethese values as default the next time the Build a Storey tool is used.

Enhancements & Troubleshooting Tools


Enhancements & Troubleshooting ToolsNew tools are provided in the IESVE menu and right click menu options to make it easier to reviewthe analytical model after rooms have been identified and to help the user to improve the quality ofthe model geometry before moving on to the VE analyses.

IESVE Menu OptionsTo access the IESVE menu tools, on the SketchUp Menu bar select Tools >> IES. The new optionsare:

Identify Rooms in Selected Faces OnlyUse this tool to run the room finding algorithm on a reduced set of faces. Select the faces that bound the rooms you wantto analyse then select this option.

Note: this tool can be most useful when troubleshooting sections of the geometry that do not find rooms as expected.

Tidy up ModelThe Tidy Model options allow the user to remove superfluous lines that may slow down or inhibit the room identificationprocess, ensuring a faster and higher quality model transfer to the <VE>.

Delete Detached Lines – Delete any lines in the model that do not form part of a surface boundary.

Delete Polygons with a Single Face – Removes any closed loops within a surface.

Delete all Text (exc. Room Names) – Deletes all extra text from the SketchUp model (leaves room names as identifiedby the IESVE plug-in)



Right Click Menu OptionsWhen rooms have been identified and the IESVE Analytical model is displayed, right click will displaythe tools menu. New options here are:

Toggle View of Shading Surfaces OnlySelect this option to display or hide all shading surfaces on the analytical model.

Toggle X RaySelect this option to display the IESVE analytical model with all surfaces in X-ray mode or not.

Highlight Disconnected EdgesUse this tool to help troubleshoot rooms that were not found by the plug-in. Any edges that are not connected arehighlighted blue.

Highlighted Disconnected SurfacesUse this tool to help troubleshoot rooms that were not found by the plug-in. Any surfaces that are not connected arehighlighted red.

Clear HighlightsSelect this option to remove the highlighting on any disconnected surfaces or edges.

Show or Hide Unselected FacesThis option allows the model to be hidden with only faces selected by the user left to assist with any further modelling theuser wishes to do.



Select Groups and Components: RoomsThe Select groups options have been renamed.

Room surfaces is used when the Group contains surfaces that form only part of a room shell.Previously called room (part).Whole room(s) is used when the Group contains all the surfaces that bound the room (or set ofrooms). Previously called room (whole).

All other options are as defined in version 2 of the IESVE plug-in for SketchUp.

Groups & Components


IESVE SketchUp Plug-in Version 2 New Features

Groups & Components

Select Groups & ComponentsThe Select Groups and Select Components dialogs have been enhanced to improve usability.

The format of the dialogs now allows the user to quickly and easily identify Groups or Components inthe model and set their type before running the room identification tool;

Thumbnails are enlarged to easily identify components Lines separate each group/component for fast searching Components within a Group are collected together

Group & Component TypesNew options are now added to the Groups/Components Type dropdown. Options are now

Room (part) Room (whole) Shade Door Window Excluded

Groups & Components


Group Types: Room (part) & Room (whole)Room type is expanded to allow a Group to be defined as Room (whole) or Room (part). Define theGroup as Room (whole) when all surfaces that comprise the room or block of rooms are included inthe Group.This will significantly speed up the Room Identification process as the plug-in will analyse eachGroup defined Room (whole) individually before moving on to the next.

Where rooms have not been grouped in this way then any Groups of surfaces that are to beconsidered as rooms in the model should be defined as Room (part).All Groups defined as Room (part) are analysed together with ungrouped surfaces when identifyingrooms so the process can take longer.

Component Types: Door & WindowComponents can now be recognised by the plug-in as being Windowand Door openings in the <VE> model.

When creating Door and Window components it is important toensure that they have the correct properties:

o Glue to must be seto Cut Opening should be selectedo Axes must be set so component can be placed

Note: Glazed panels on windows are still defined using 1 – 99 % opacity materials.

Groups & Components


Shade & ExcludedAs in previous version of the plug-in any Groups or Components defined as Shade will be identified inthe <VE> project as Local Shading surfaces.

Any Groups or Components marked as Excluded will be ignored by the Room Identification tool andwill not be present in the <VE> project. This can be used to speed up the room finding process byignoring any model details that will not be used in the <VE> analyses.

Identify RoomsThe Identify Rooms tool has been improved so that it can analyse geometry more efficiently and it isnow easier for the user to locate rooms and set room properties. When used in conjunction withRoom Groups (as described above) geometry transfer between SketchUp and <VE> is significantlyfaster.

When in Rooms analysis mode the model is displayed in X-Ray view to make it easier to viewhighlighted rooms.

The order in which rooms are identified is more structured (especially when model is built usingRoom Groups) and rooms are listed in the <VE> Room Properties dialog in order by room number.

iesve sketchup plug-in version 3 · introduction page 3 iesve sketchup plug-in version 3 new...

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