© 2009 Autodesk

AUTODESK ECOTECT ANALYSIS

The Desktop Component Interface

UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI FEDERICO II| DiARC DIPARTIMENTO DI ARCHITETTURA

Master di II livello in Progettazione d'eccellenza della città storica | arch PhD Tersigni Enza

© 2009 Autodesk

Main MenuItems in the main menu contain most of the

commands you will use to operate the program.

Main ToolbarThis contains action items that affect the properties

of objects or direct the operation of the program.

Date / Time ToolbarThis toolbar allows you to change the date and

time for the current shadow display and for time-

based calculations.

Snap Settings ToolbarThis contains controls for interactive program

features such as snap settings, grid sizes and

transformation settings.

Menus and Toolbars

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.

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Command Entry ToolbarAllows you to directly enter script and lua commands

in Ecotect. Use the Enter key or green arrow to

execute the command.

Custom SliderInteracts 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 ToolbarProvides tools to use with a Tablet PC or pen-based

computer. The Model and Zones buttons display the

current Page’s context menu.

Movie ToolbarThe 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 ToolbarProvides 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 ListThis 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.

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Control Panels

Selection InformationInformation and settings for the currently

selected object, node or zone.

Zone ManagementA list of zones in the current model.

Material AssignmentDisplays and assigns primary and alternate

materials for the currently selected object(s).

Display SettingsTools for controlling what is displayed in the

3D model.

Visualisation SettingsVisualisation controls for the OpenGL

hardware rendering engine.

Shadow SettingsControls for displaying shadows and shading

functions.

Analysis GridControls for positioning and calculating the

analysis grid.

Rays & ParticlesControls for spraying acoustic rays and

particles within the model.

Scripts & WizardsAllows you to add complex parametric

objects as well as listing scripts and wizards

from any folders you choose.

Object TransformationControls for numerically transforming selected

objects and nodes.

Export ManagerQuick access to model export options.

Control panels are located on the right-hand side.

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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 GridFits the display grid to the extent of all currently visible objects in the model.

Zoom All/SelectedZooms the view to fit selected objects. If nothing is selected, all are used.

Zoom GridZooms 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 GridBy 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 ViewThis 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.

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Right-Mouse Button

Rotating a 3D viewClicking and dragging the Right-Mouse Button allows you to rotate the current model view.

Panning a viewClick and drag the Right-Mouse Button whist holding down the CONTROL Key allows you to pan the current view.

Zooming a viewClick and drag the Right-Mouse Button whist holding down the SHIFT Key allows you to zoom the current view.

Perspective distortionClick 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.

Dynamically Changing the View

Arrow Keys

Rotating a 3D viewSimply press the Left/Right/Up/Down arrow keys.

Smaller incrementsHold the SHIFT Key to reduce the increment from 10deg to 1 deg.

Panning a viewHold down the CONTROL Key.

You can use the mouse or arrow keys to change the view.

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The status bar is located at the bottom of the main window.

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.

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.

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Main Work AreaThe area in the centre of the main application window is where you will do most of your

work.

Choosing a PageThe 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

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PROJECT Page

PROJECT PageShows 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.

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3D EDITOR Page

3D EDITOR PageDisplays 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.

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VISUALISE Page

VISUALISE PageShows 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.

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ANALYSIS Page

ANALYSIS PageDisplays 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.

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REPORTS Page

You can select from a wide

range of standard reports…

… as well as different

formatting options.

REPORTS PageDisplays 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.

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SUMMARY

PAGE TABSAllows you to select from the five

main work pages.

PANEL TABSSelect from the eleven panels

tabs for performing actions.

TOOLBARSShortcuts to common menu

commands and settings.

MAIN MENUContains the commands you use

to operate the program.

VIEW TOOLBARAllows you to fit and adjust the

current model view.

STATUS BARShows settings and progress of

calculations.