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<p class=MsoNormal>Curt,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>First, as you’ve hopefully gathered, you have already
found the “tech support” department for eQuest (at least in my
eyes): the [Equest-users] and [Bldg-sim] mailing lists hosted at
onebuilding.org. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Let me summarize and add to some of the key advice (which I
fully agree with) that’s been posted so far. This advice is general
and should be considered well by any eQuest beginner:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span><![endif]><u>Hard truth</u>: You <u>should not be expected</u>
to become fully proficient with a program as expansive and powerful as eQuest
within a week. Anyone believing this (yourself included) needs a reality
check. If that is truly a hard deadline and the modeling must be done
with eQuest, you are best advised to find a local mentor (i.e. do not solo
this) and/or compensate another energy modeling consultant to get the work done
on time (and walk you through the model so that you can manipulate and ask
questions). Alternatively, use a program you’re more familiar with.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>a.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]><u>Soft
truth</u>: Truly lucky is the individual who gets to learn energy modeling
software outside of a hard deadline with a simple building (students pay
attention!). To that end, as a group we’re generally sympathetic to
the “trial-by-fire” situation that a lot of us went through.
Take care not to let your emotions get in the way of learning/help.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>b.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Design
engineers/consultants such as yourself will inevitably spend long hours at
first making less accurate models, but as you invest the hours learning the ins
and outs can look forward to more accurate models produced at a much quicker
pace. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>c.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>In
a literal sense, the statement that learning to model building will take years
is an understatement. Anybody who tells you they know all there is to
know is lying through their teeth. The most intelligent modelers never
stop learning. <u>That said</u>, it is not unrealistic to produce your
first model in a week, understanding and accepting it will not be the most
accurate model you will ever build.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span><![endif]>Your primary source for any question regarding the
operation of eQuest/DOE2 should start by right clicking the field in question
and pulling up the appropriate help file. You can also search from there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span><![endif]>Your secondary source for any question regarding eQuest,
or items in the help files you need a layman’s explanation of, should be
to search the mailing list archives. Odds are a majority of the questions
you’ll have have already been asked/answered (BOOKMARK/FAVORITE THESE):<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>a.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]><a
href="http://lists.onebuilding.org/pipermail/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org/">http://lists.onebuilding.org/pipermail/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>b.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]><a
href="http://lists.onebuilding.org/pipermail/equest-users-onebuilding.org/">http://lists.onebuilding.org/pipermail/equest-users-onebuilding.org/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span><![endif]>A tertiary source is to google a specific topic that
hasn’t come up. It’s a big internet out there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>5.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span><![endif]>It’s apparent from the tone of your email that you’ve
got to take a chill pill =)! It’s understandable to be unimpressed
with the “lack of technical support,” but only to the extent that
you weren’t previously aware of the huge international body of scientists/engineers/designers/practicers
of building energy modeling here at these mailing lists. I’ll
venture there is a lot more to be learned here than at any 1-800 tech support
number for any modeling package out there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>6.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span><![endif]>Remember – in a support forum like this, where
the majority of helpful responders are doing so of their own good-will (it’s
not our job), a few key things apply that normally don’t with a “tech
support” line:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>a.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>The
most detailed & informative answers consistently come from detailed
& informative questions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-1.5in;
mso-text-indent-alt:-9.0pt;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span>i.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span><![endif]>I believe a majority of unanswered queries are due to
questions not being completely posed. Always explain what you have tried,
what hasn’t worked, what clues you have etc. to the best of your ability.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-1.5in;
mso-text-indent-alt:-9.0pt;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span>ii.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span><![endif]>There’s a sizeable academic crowd subscribed to
these lists that may not be inclined to respond if it’s apparent you
haven’t looked up the basics for the topic-at-hand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>b.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Pay
it forward =). The best learning comes from teaching/sharing knowledge
with others, and individuals you help out are more likely to return the favor! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>c.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Politeness
is a rule, not an option.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>d.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Good
grammar (at least for a native English speaker) is a rule, not an option.
It will become apparent if it hasn’t already that this is an
international body of subscribers with knowledgeable professionals that simply won’t
waste their time trying to decipher poorly written inquiries. Proof your
questions/responses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>This isn’t all specific to your situation Curt, but I’ve
been wanting to write this up for a while so that I can refer others to some of
this basic info. Best of luck, and I hope we’ll all see more of you
here!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>~Nick<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=119 height=37 id="Picture_x0020_1"
src="cid:image001.jpg@01CA5D69.46B3ACD0" alt="cid:489575314@22072009-0ABB"><b><span
style='font-family:"Stylus BT","sans-serif";color:#2D4D5E'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Stylus BT","sans-serif";
color:#2D4D5E'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Stylus BT","sans-serif";
color:#2D4D5E'>NICK CATON, E.I.T.</span></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Stylus BT","sans-serif";color:#2D4D5E'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;color:#CC9900'>PROJECT ENGINEER</span><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#CC9900'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#2D4D5E'>25501 west
valley parkway<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#2D4D5E'>olathe ks 66061<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#2D4D5E'>direct 913
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#2D4D5E'>fax 913
345.0617<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#2D4D5E'>Check out
our new web-site @ </span></i><span style='color:#1F497D'><a
href="www.smithboucher.com" title="blocked::www.smithboucher.com"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'>www.smithboucher.com</span></a></span><u><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'> </span></u><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>-----Original Message-----<br>
From: equest-users-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:equest-users-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Kyte<br>
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:08 PM<br>
To: 'equest-users@lists.onebuilding.org'<br>
Subject: Re: [Equest-users] Urgent Message<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Learning how to do computer simulations for buildings
from scratch without a mentor will take years.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>-----Original Message-----<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>From: Chris Wark [mailto:cwark@rumseyengineers.com]<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 1:31 PM<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>To:; 'equest-users@lists.onebuilding.org'<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Subject: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Curt,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Welcome to the world of FREE software. Energy, airflow,
and design software packages with an actual market value usually do come with
more extensive training material, but in this case, the fastest way to learn
eQUEST is to look at as much of the built-in help as possible by right clicking
on any input field. In fact, the built-in help documents are rather extensive
for FREE software (perhaps because it was developed through government and
utility grants). Beyond the help documents, the only way to learn common
work-arounds is through users forums. I have found that users are pretty
responsive on this one.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Good luck.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Christopher Wark<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Project Engineer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>___________________________<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>RUMSEY<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>E N G I N E E R S<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Energy Efficient Design<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>99 Linden Street<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Oakland CA 94607<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>510 663 2070 x 239<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>fax 510 663 2080<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>cwark@rumseyengineers.com<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>www.rumseyengineers.com<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>___________________________<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>-----Original Message-----<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>From: equest-users-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org
[mailto:equest-users-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of Curtis
Strobehn<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 10:18 AM<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>To: equest-users@lists.onebuilding.org<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Subject: [Equest-users] Urgent Message<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>I am under a dead line and I'm have trouble with Equest<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>IS there any training DVD videos of any kind for Equest?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>If there where training Video's at one time there should
be a back copy or<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>some other source?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>I'm sure there has to be a video somewhere!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>I even tried www.youtube.com and couldn't find one thing
about Equest.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>I'm just a little upset that I have every little time to
get this project<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>done by the 9th November and no training or any Training
videos.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Tools are only good if you know how to use them and with
out any training or<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>training videos, then Equest is useless to me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>I have used this Equest before but it was not a complex
build like the round<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>building "Kaiser medical Office" in Salem
Oregon.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Every program I ever used there was some contact info or
tutorials on line.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>This is a first for me and being an Energy Simulation
program<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>I'm every surprised there is on contact number or
training videos?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY TECH SUPPORT FOR EQUEST OR ANY
CONTACT NUMBER.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>I'm not to impress with Equest so far.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Curt Strobehn<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Mechanical Draft/Designer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>EESI Consulting Engineers<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText> 687 NW 5th Street |Corvallis, OR 97330<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Tel: (541) 754-1062<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Cell: (541) 829-9628<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Fax: (541) 753-3948<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>www.eesinet.com<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
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