Componants, ie trees as shading device for Suncast

[octavalent]

Hello,
Just been trying to add some tree components to see the effect on shading within Suncast. The FAQ gives a good description of how to do this but in 6.3 it says that that process is no longer supported and to set the component as a local shade. I cannot see which buttons to press to do this.

Any help would be grateful.

Regards,
Paul

[PCully]

I assume you mean this FAQ http://www.iesve.com/Support/Knowledge- ... sectionId=.

The process if much the same as described here but the concept of "Obstructions" has been removed from VE and replaced with Shading objects. The easiest way i think to do this now would be:

1. Import Component to Component Library
2. Export this as a GEM file from Component Modeller (CompLib menu >> Export GEM file)
3. Return to the project in ModelIT and import the GEM file (ModelIT menu >> Import GEM file) - depending on the default position where it imports you might need to switch off the intersection check before importing (in the ModelIT key-in bar type "int = off"), remember to switch it back on after you have finished importing ("int=on" funnily enough).
4. Now you need to define the imported geometry as Shading. The component will most likely come in as a set of surfaces so you have to find these in your Room Browser list (hopefully they will come in at the bottom of the list and all have the same name). Select them all together (you can hold Ctrl key and click each individually or hold shift then click first and last, or select them all in the workspace by dragging). When they are all selected, right click in the browser and select Properties and on the Properties dialog change the dropdown to one of the shading types (I'd suggest probably topographical or you could choose Local shade if you prefer).

Note: on this subject a few of the users in here have started modelling different shading objects (such as trees) using SketchUp then importing these to VE using the IESVE plug-in for SketchUp. The plug-in actually allows you to define a Component as "Shading" so you don't have to go through the above process BUT to import a model from SketchUp you have to have at least one dummy room - if it's only the shade you are interested in just draw a small box, define as a room and then delete after import. This gives you some cool options rather than just being stuck with the standard library of Components in VE (some of which I drew a few years ago, I'm very proud obviously ).

Phil

[octavalent]

Thanks Phil,

Defining the imported geometry as shading was the bit I missed. The Sketchup route sounds far easier.
Kind regards
Paul