[Equest-users] Strange errors in file- HELP!

[Carol Gardner]

I just learned a hard lesson that I'd like to share. I was making a bunch of
CURVE-FIT changes in my .inp file. So many of them that I Saved them, wisely
I thought, while in process. Well, the result of Saving the changes instead
of doing a Save As was that a bunch of Martian, or some unrecognizable
language, got inserted in the Saved .inp file and I couldn't open it. Too
bad it was about 2 hours worth of work. So anyway, buyer beware, all kinds
of weird things can happen in eQUEST, especially when you are using the .inp
file and looking at BDL. The good news is that I have always found a way out
of the pickle.

That is why each and every day I rename my file using the date as part of
the file name, e.g. dambuilding 7-9.inp.

Carol

On Fri, Jul 9, 2010 at 1:22 PM, Nick Caton <ncaton at smithboucher.com> wrote:

>  Let me take a crack at the piñata too!
>
>
>
> -          eQuest Wizard information is stored in the pd2 file.
>
> -          When you hit the “Finish” button in the wizards, an .inp file
> is generated based on the Wizard inputs (which are in the pd2)
>
> -          Whenever you run a simulation, whether in detailed or wizard
> mode, eQuest will first “evaluate” everything in the current .inp file.  The
> generated report is the .bdl file.
>
>
>
> As a result of the above, changing anything in the .bdl file will do
> nothing for you – treat it simply as a report and make changes to the .inp
> file.
>
>
>
> Additionally, if you are ever trying to copy/paste information into a
> wizard-level project, you will never get anywhere pasting into the .inp
> because that .inp will get overwritten (a new one is generated) every time
> you “finish” your wizard screens.
>
>
>
> ~Nick
>
>
>
>
>
> [image: cid:489575314 at 22072009-0ABB]**
>
> * *
>
> *NICK CATON, E.I.T.***
>
> PROJECT ENGINEER
>
> 25501 west valley parkway
>
> olathe ks 66061
>
> direct 913 344.0036
>
> fax 913 345.0617
>
> *Check out our new web-site @ *www.smithboucher.com* *
>
>
>
> *From:* equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:
> equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] *On Behalf Of *Demba Ndiaye
> *Sent:* Friday, July 09, 2010 3:18 PM
> *To:* Bruce Easterbrook; Patrick J. O'Leary, Jr.; cmg750 at gmail.com
>
> *Cc:* equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Equest-users] Strange errors in file- HELP!
>
>
>
> Bruce,
>
>
>
> To your question (My question is does eQuest take the INP file and create a
> new BDL file on opening the project?  I'm referring to the initial run
> (compile) eQuest does on opening, is it creating a new BDL file?), answer is
> YES.
>
>
>
> ____________
>
> Demba NDIAYE
>
>
>
> *From:* equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:
> equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] *On Behalf Of *Bruce
> Easterbrook
> *Sent:* Friday, July 09, 2010 3:40 PM
> *To:* Patrick J. O'Leary, Jr.; cmg750 at gmail.com
> *Cc:* equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Equest-users] Strange errors in file- HELP!
>
>
>
> I have a question, partly due to my ramble a few weeks ago on the wizards
> and how I use them.  After a long series of adjustments I shutdown and
> re-initialize the program.  My question is does eQuest take the INP file and
> create a new BDL file on opening the project?  I'm referring to the initial
> run (compile) eQuest does on opening, is it creating a new BDL file?
> To second what everyone else is saying, certain errors are easier fixed in
> the INP file, like these ones.  The main thing to remember is to always have
> a backup copy.  The most important one is your last one before you leave the
> wizards.  Then go for it, if you crash it, copy your copy and try and other
> tack.
> Bruce
> Abode Eng.
>
> On 09/07/2010 02:48 PM, Patrick J. O'Leary, Jr. wrote:
>
> one thing you can do is make changes to the .pd2 and .inp files using
> notepad once you've figured out what you need to change.   for example, if
> your EL3 East Perim Plnm (G.E6) was referenced but is no longer defined, you
> have a plenum space that belonged to a space that changed names during a
> zoning change.  look at the .inp file line number, find out which space the
> EL3 East Perim Plnm (G.E6) is supposed to correlate to and change the name
> accordingly - in the .inp file.  once these references are corrected the
> simulation should run fine.
>
> you're probably looking at changing EL3 East Perim Plnm (G.E6) to whatever
> the new space name is (checking what comes before line 14898 can put you in
> the right direction on finding the correct name to change to.
>
> and when you have a working simulation always backup your .pd2 (wizard
> mode) and/or .inp (detailed mode) files even if you just copy them in the
> same directory.
>
>
> *ERROR****************************************************************************************
>
> *ERROR*****EL3 East Perim Plnm (G.E6) was referenced on line 14898 but
> never
>
>             defined.
>
>
> *ERROR****************************************************************************************
>
> *ERROR*****EL3 West Perim Spc (G.W4) was referenced on line 15237 but never
>
>             defined.
>
>
> *ERROR****************************************************************************************
>
> *ERROR*****EL3 WNW Perim Plnm (G.WNW7) was referenced on line 15377 but
> never
>
>             defined.
>
>
>
> On 7/9/10 11:23 AM, Carol Gardner wrote:
>
> Hmm. Well I'm not sure I understand exactly what you are asking, but here
> are my recommendations. Finish what you need to do in DDWizard and get out
> of it. I wouldn't even try to make the changes you are trying to make while
> in the Wizard.
>
> Don't fear DD edit. You can do things in it just as easily as in the
> Wizard, and if you get stuck we'll help. Like I said earlier, the easiest
> way to see what and where the error is, is to open up the .bdl and .inp
> files. That might be even scarier to you than DD edit, and that's okay, you
> should be scared. You can mess up in a hurry but with careful work you
> won't.
>
> Take a deep breath and get out of the Wizard!!
>
> Cheers,
> Carol
>
> On Fri, Jul 9, 2010 at 11:11 AM, Paul Brooks <equestpaul at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Carol, Dave, and Mtt:
>
>
>
> Thank you for the replies.  I did look in the BDL file, but did not realize
> I had to update the inp.
>
>
>
> That being said, am I safe in assuming that, if I stay in the DDwizard (not
> quite ready to leave yet), every time i add information and compile, I will
> have the same error.  The root cause of the error is in the interface,
> correct?  If that is the case, then the reality is it just cannot be fixed
> unless i change the inp file after compiling?
>
>
>
> Thank you again!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>   ------------------------------
>
> *From:* Carol Gardner <cmg750 at gmail.com>
> *To:* Paul Brooks <equestpaul at yahoo.com>
> *Cc:* eQuest user forum <equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org>
> *Sent:* Fri, July 9, 2010 1:32:58 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [Equest-users] Strange errors in file- HELP!
>
>
> Hi Paul,
>
> Here's my strategy when this happens to me. I open the *.inp* file and the
> *.bd*l file in Word. I then use the Edit, Find feature and search on ERROR
> in the *.bdl* file. When I find the line that the error is occurring in I
> then fix it in the *.inp* file. Repeat until all errors gone. You probably
> have an existing space that shared an interior wall with your now deleted
> space and is trying to reference it using" NEXT-TO". Be sure to fix the
> error in the *.inp* file not the .bdl file, which I have done a few times.
> This is one example of why it is good to familiarize yourself with the
> Building Descriptive Language (BDL): you can make these sorts of fixes much
> easier in your input deck using than trying to figure it out in DD edit.
> Just be sure not to delete any delimiters (..)
>
> Let me know how you do..
>
> Carol
>
> On Fri, Jul 9, 2010 at 8:33 AM, Paul Brooks <equestpaul at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I am modeling an addition to an existing building.  I originally did the
> shell/zoning using just the original building.  I then, after saving a back
> up copy of the base building, i went back to the shell and zone drawing
> screens in the DD wizard and expanded the shell to account for the addition,
> and then went into the zone creation and adjusted my zones.  I was sure to
> follow the rules about matching verticies, etc.
>
>
>
> Now i am getting errors concerning the zone and plenum.  It appears that
> the program is still seeing plenums and walls that are now non-existent.
> The program says that plenums are being referenced but are not defined (see
> error message below).
>
>
>
> Anyone got any ideas on how to clear this?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *ERROR****************************************************************************************
>
> *ERROR*****EL3 East Perim Plnm (G.E6) was referenced on line 14898 but
> never
>
>             defined.
>
>
> *ERROR****************************************************************************************
>
> *ERROR*****EL3 West Perim Spc (G.W4) was referenced on line 15237 but never
>
>             defined.
>
>
> *ERROR****************************************************************************************
>
> *ERROR*****EL3 WNW Perim Plnm (G.WNW7) was referenced on line 15377 but
> never
>
>             defined.
>
>
>
>
>
> ****************************************    5 ERRORS
>
> ****************************************    2 WARNINGS
>
> ****************************************  103 CAUTIONS
>
>      *20195* COMPUTE ..
>
>      *20196* STOP ..
>
> ****************************************    5 ABORT-LEVEL DIAGNOSTICS
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Carol Gardner PE
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