Model-IT REALLY annoys me

[ZapBran]

John - Sorry... not been monitoring replies.

In those cases I tend to either:
- start on grid then switch to end-point lock when needed (also use that when I've drawn a zone bang-on grid and I can just snap to that as a reference (cause I know the x/y are all nice and integeresque).
- just click on the grid point nearest (what's a cm here and there going to do)

You bring up a good point about revisiting and changing the building form - that's an area that can be a pain and I don't know any shortcuts but might be worth a thread if you have tricks?

I suppose I should state, since it might have come across that I am "on grid" 100%, that I use end-point locks all the time when I draw in modelit - just not thrilled about doing so while tracing a DXF cause it's too dependent on the drawing.

I can understand Jerry's frustration but I think it's been born out of perhaps not understanding exactly what's happening in the background and not been shown good practice. Pretty sure that a couple of hours with the IES training guy(s) would pay dividends.

Apropos of nothing - My reading of the modelit v drawing packages debate has always been that modelit isn't a cad package and wasn't designed to be - it's a way to define thermally bound spaces for simulation. sketchup, autocad etc all come from the background of drawing shapes - they have no concept of thermal (or whatever) "objects". they've had various objects added to them over the years as they have evolved but they had the basis of being primarily a drawing package to begin with. that being said...modelit is a few years in need of a refresh but I've found the sketchup linkage to be well worth using and lets me get reasonably complex shapes in (with a bit of experimentation). Hate the way your templates get filled with crap though - simple GEM export sorts it out but ies could do a little better with the import in the first place.

OK - kettle has boiled - back to the day job,
Zap.

[JohnLloyd]

sub-contract to someone who knows how to use the modelling software in IES. Simples

[ecoboost]

Sorry, I said import/export but of course IES doesn't allow you to export to sketchup. Don't want to get peoples hopes up.

What is wrong with that John? I don't have ModelIT, sketchup is fine for me, especially as all I use IES for us occasional level 3 or 4 SBEM calcs. If I need to model something a bit more complex that I'm struggling with then I get a colleague who does have ModelIT to help me out, that rarely is required though.

[ZapBran]

Hi Ecoboost,

I think IES can export 3D DXF, STL & GEM files.

The important one to take note of there is DXF because you can import that straight in to SketchUp.

If you have an STL or GEM import script for SketchUp then you can get the model in (I wrote my own a few years back but don't have on my new (2 year old) computer so will have to try and dig them out). My (limited) experience with STL produced a heavily triangulated model but I guess that's it's job. GEM worked fine.

SketchUp is pretty easy to write scripts for so you could have a pop at it yourself.

Zap.

[bgpitts]

IES can export 3D DXF, STL & GEM files?

[ZapBran]

One gets the impression that should one reply directly a new basement or roof solution might be offered at a reasonable price... save the transatlantic flights.

[jm2000]

I have a model , very simple all perpindicualr shapes, circa 3000 sqm. I have the grid set to 0.1, the snap set to grid and model end points, x and Y and 90 degree lock, surely it shoudl be easy to model this. Why when I zoom in after drawing a zone, do I see it hasn't quite locked onto the grid, its marginally off meaning I have to redraw each time, very frustrating. Do you have to zoom in a set the cursor right on top of the grid, to get it to lock?
Frustrating, but I expect it's user error!

[Wasted Energy]

My advice for creating the cleanest geometry in ModelIT is never snap to anything other than the vertices of the adjacent room and always trace the first room as a cube either as a corner room or lift shaft and then work off that.

[jm2000]

I found out where I was going wrong, don't use the V6.1 to build the model ! Use a newer verion and save back! I am doing an Irish job hence the older version.

[R Tibenham]

sub-contract to someone who knows how to use the modelling software in IES.

I've tried Sketchup and contracting out works for construction in TAS, for import into IES.

Both resulted in geometry issues. Even with a perfectly clean Sketchup model, ModelIT will still mange to knacker it upon import.

The bottom line is ModelIT remains barely fit for purpose, particularly when modelling anything not composed of rectangular boxes. I've been using it now for over 6 years, and although I know work arounds for many common errors, it remains tediously inefficient at carrying out the task in hand.