Overview

Workspaces and Worksets are used in OpenBuildings Energy Simulator to save project data. These set up a folder structure that allows for effective management of preferences, such as standards, custom constructions and schedules.

A new Workset should be created for each project.

The Worksets is, in effect, the project folder.

The below example shows how a project can be created locally. To create and manage projects on a shared server please refer to this article.

Method

Upon starting the software, dropdown menus will appear for Workspace and Workset:

    1. Choose a Workspace

All projects can exist independently in the same Workspace. A new Workspace can be created by selecting the dropdown > Create Workspace.

We would advise, for example, to place all projects within a new Workspace named Energy Simulator Projects:

    2. Create a new Workset

To create a new project, create a new Workset, and enter your project name. Click OK.  (Should you wish to save the project at an alternative location, select Root Folder > Browse).

    3. Create the DGN model

Create your building model in the new Workset by clicking on New File. The DGN must be located within the Workset selected. Do not Browse to an alternate location. Simply enter a name and click OK.

The software will now open your new project.

Navigating to this Workset location in Windows explorer (easiest method shown here) will show the benefit of this process. All project data is organized in a concise manner, with a folder structure as follows:

• Designs: Each New project file created in this Workset will appear as a DGN within this folder.
  
  
• Output: Contains reports from calculations and simulations completed, for all projects within the Workset.
  
  
• Standards: Contains data associated with the projects in the Workset, including Constructions, Materials, HVAC Systems, Schedules and Weather Data. Any new project created in the Workset can avail of this data.