Aecosim Energy Simulator - Radiance Engine (CEU4)

I am attempting to perform some daylighting calculations but am running into some strange configuration errors. 

  

As configuration explorer does not work on network installs I am unable to identify what files are changing the configuration when opening from Aecosim. 

The below DG System validator error does not occur in ABD. The DG_SCHEDULES_DIR is defined, so AES is messing that up, somehow??

Main issue though is the lack of radiance engine. 

There is next to no help on AES. Help for daylighting helpfully states -

 Note: In order to run Daylighting calculations in AECOsim Building Designer, you must download and install the Radiance simulation engine ( ).

but gives no information on where from. Why is this not included. I have searched the fulfilment centre and there are no related downloads so WTF? 

  • Hi Duncan,

    I've replied to your SR regarding the Radiance Engine for AES.  Hopefully that GitHub page will work!

    As for the other two messages:

    - The STFFILE_MODELSTYLES variable by default points to $(TFDIR)Rules\StructuralAnnotation.rul

    - I can't tell which TFANNOTATION variable is referred to in that message, but since it refers to a "missing" variable can you check whether you have all of these?



  • Thanks for the response Steve. I managed to discover that Radiance was in fact a standalone product and managed to source a download which is now working. 

    Just about to test out the STFFILE and TFANNo variables.

    Should these all be defined in ABD config or are they additionals to do with AES? Just as when searching I am unable to find any other reference to  STFFILE so assume it is either defined by application, or is not required for ABD therefor no error. 

    Lastly, the DG validation error relates to a defined variable (well for ABD) anyway. When ABD exports out to AES that is somehow being changed or undefined. Configuration explorer does not work with U4 (or with network installs) so I am unable to find where it is defined, and as AES is launched from ABD I cannot run a debug 

    Thanks

  • Hi Duncan,

    Good news on the Radiance engine.  Since that's been a requirement since Ss6 I did not even recall downloading and installing it, even though I did.   Age... it's a thing.   ;)

    Regarding the two variables, they are completely independent of AES:

    - STFFILE_MODELSTYLES defines the rule filed used for 3D model annotation: File > Settings > Building > Structural Annotation.  As noted above it's defined as $(TFDIR)Rules\StructuralAnnotation.rul in the delivered datasets.

    - The series of TFANNOTATION variables are used to define cell libraries, settings and preferences, and like STFFILE_MODELSTYLES they're defined by each dataset.  But since the error truncates the name it's unclear which specific variable it's referring to. 

    Regarding the DataGroup error (sorry, missed that before), it quite literally states that DG_SCHEDULES_DIR is not pointing to a valid folder. By default it's defined as $(_USTN_OUT)Schedules\.

    HTH



  • Thanks Steve, 

    STFFILE models is resolved, however DG_SCHEDULES_DIR is also defined at workset level. When I check config variables in AES it is listed as correct??? 

    Likewise all TFANNO variables are listed. 

  • Hi Duncan,

    You're welcome.   We'll get this figured out one way or another.

    Our delivered workspaces define DG_SCHEDULES_DIR = $(_USTN_OUT)Schedules\, with _USTN_OUT = $(_USTN_WORKSETROOT)Output\.    So the folder path is based on the workset itself.   Just to be sure, the resulting folder that DG_SCHEDULES_DIR points to does exist as a valid location, correct?  

    In regards to the TFANNOTATION variables, if they're all defined and all point to valid folders I'm not sure what the error is referring to.  Of course, the error itself is truncated so impossible to tell which specific TFANNOTATION variable is in question.  Anything in the Message Center?