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OpenStudio v1.4.0
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@axelstudios axelstudios released this 09 Jul 16:02
· 16336 commits to master since this release
v1.4.0
fb79c6e

These release notes describe version 1.4.0 of the OpenStudio software suite developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Buildings and Thermal Systems, Commercial Buildings Research Group, Tools Development Section, and associated collaborators. The notes are organized into the following sections:

  • Where to Find OpenStudio Documentation
  • Installation Notes
  • Overview
  • New Features
  • Known Issues

Where to Find OpenStudio Documentation

Installation Notes

OpenStudio is supported on Windows 7 – 8.1, OS X 10.8 – 10.9, and Ubuntu 12.04.
OpenStudio 1.4.0 supports EnergyPlus Release 8.1.

Installation Steps

Optional Installation Steps

  • For Radiance integration, download and install Radiance.
  • If you plan to use the OpenStudio SDK Ruby bindings via command prompt on Windows, download and extract ruby.zip to C:\Ruby (or other desired location), and add C:\Ruby\bin to the PATH environment variable.

Overview

This OpenStudio 1.4.0 release is the first major release compatible with EnergyPlus 8.1. OpenStudio 1.4.0 is also the last release to be built on Ruby 1.8. Therefore, this is the last release for which the OpenStudio SketchUp Plug-in will be compatible with SketchUp 8 and SketchUp 2013. The OpenStudio SketchUp Plug-in will only be compatible with SketchUp 2014 and above in future releases of OpenStudio. The most significant new feature in OpenStudio 1.4.0 is the ability to apply measures directly to the current model in the OpenStudio Application. This exciting new feature enables new workflows based around OpenStudio measures and gives immediate feedback on the application of measures.

Other notable improvements:

  • ASHRAE 90.1 2007 and 2010 internal loads and constructions have been added to the OpenStudio templates.
  • PAT now exports a spreadsheet format compatible with the OpenStudio-analysis-spreadsheet project for running large parametric analyses using cloud resources.
  • Improvements to the CONTAM translator and to EPW File parsing were contributed by partners at the Consortium for Building Energy Innovation.
  • New ZoneControlHumidistat and AirLoopHVACUnitarySystem objects as well as multiple performance improvements were contributed by partners at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
  • Radiance support has been improved to search for NREL Radiance packages, (https://github.com/NREL/Radiance/releases), and to prefer those over any other Radiance installation.
  • New experimental Java bindings are available on request.
  • Multiple performance improvements and bug fixes.

New Features

OpenStudio Platform 1.4.0

  • New ZoneControlHumidistat and AirLoopHVACUnitarySystem model objects – Contributed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. See the OpenStudio Contributors page.
  • Improvements to the CONTAM translator and to EPW File parsing were contributed by partners at the Consortium for Building Energy Innovation. See the OpenStudio Contributors page.
  • Other HVAC objects added from the OpenStudio HVAC roadmap.
  • Improved general performance, stability, and usability.

OpenStudio SketchUp Plug-in 1.4.0

  • ASHRAE 90.1 2007 and 2010 internal loads and constructions have been added to the OpenStudio templates.

OpenStudio Application 1.4.0

  • New feature allows users to apply measures directly to the current model.
  • ASHRAE 90.1 2007 and 2010 internal loads and constructions have been added to the OpenStudio templates.
  • Improved general performance, stability, and usability.

OpenStudio ParametricAnalysisTool 1.4.0

  • PAT now exports a spreadsheet format compatible with the OpenStudio-analysis-spreadsheet project for running large parametric analyses using cloud resources.
  • Improved general performance, stability, and usability.

OpenStudio RunManager 1.4.0

  • No changes.

OpenStudio ResultsViewer 1.4.0

  • No changes.

OpenStudio Ruby Bindings 1.4.0

  • Performance improvements.

OpenStudio C# Bindings 1.4.0

  • New methods for casting between OpenStudio model object types.
  • Performance improvements.

OpenStudio Python Bindings 1.4.0

  • Performance improvements.
  • Python bindings are not packaged with OpenStudio. To use them see our developer page for guidance on building OpenStudio.

OpenStudio JavaScript V8 Bindings 1.4.0

  • No changes.
  • JavaScript bindings are not packaged with OpenStudio. To use them see our developer page for guidance on building OpenStudio.

OpenStudio Java Bindings 1.4.0

  • New experimental Java bindings are available on request.
  • Java bindings are not packaged with OpenStudio. To use them see our developer page for guidance on building OpenStudio.

Known Issues

The following are issues known at the time of publication of these release notes. Please contact [email protected] if you require further assistance.

Known Issues Common to All Platforms

OpenStudio SketchUp Plug-in

  • If you use copy multiple on group-level OpenStudio objects, you will get one extra copy. The extra group is created by the first copy-and-paste operation and is not removed when the copy multiple occurs. To address this, after you perform a copy multiple procedure on groups or spaces, press delete. The objects you need to delete should already be selected. If you are copying loose surfaces such as windows, there are no problems, as SketchUp will merge equivalent surfaces. [issue #28]
  • Using SketchUp's undo operation on OpenStudio model elements may produce unexpected results. [issues #54 and #150]
  • SKP and OSM link is not maintained when files are relocated. However, you can manually re-establish that link. When opening a SketchUp file, launch SketchUp and then open the SketchUp file. If that doesn't work you can also directly load the OSM file, bypassing the SKP file. [issue #409]
  • It is possible for the OpenStudio plug-in to conflict with other SketchUp plug-ins. If you suspect this is a problem, try testing with other plug-ins disabled, or contact [email protected] for assistance. [issue #26]
  • Using "Intersect" in the surface matching dialog can result in a crash or unexpected results. This is more common with models that were imported from other CAD formats at some point in the workflow. It is a good idea to save prior to using this to avoid any loss of data. This is related to an underlying SketchUp bug. [issue #168]
  • "Project Loose Geometry" can crash SketchUp. It is a good idea to save prior to using this to avoid any loss of data. [issue #484]
  • Adjacent stacked spaces in same zones may result in incorrect area and likely loads as well. [issue #561]
  • SaveAs in SketchUp corrupts measures in model. To avoid this, only add measures into model after work in SketchUp is done. [issue #754]
  • Using AutoSave in SketchUp can overwrite changes made in OS app if the file is open in both locations. [issue #899]

If your OpenStudio model crashes SketchUp or has unexpected behavior please forward it to [email protected] with a description of the problem. Please also include the directory that has the same name as the OSM file. You can attach it as a zip file.

OpenStudio Application

  • Similar thermostats assigned in the SketchUp Plug-in are shared across thermal zones in the OpenStudio application. Changing or turning off one will do the same to others. [issue #123]
  • The view does not always refresh correctly when you delete a material from a construction. If you still see a material after clicking the "x", switch away from and back to the object to refresh the view. [issue #196]
  • Some pull-down lists in simulation settings don't work. [issue #496]
  • OS App Schedule Editor allows entering values outside of type limits. [issue #531]
  • All drop zones under Water Use Equipment Definitions doesn't enforce schedule types. [issue #532]
  • Removing CoilHeatingWater objects can result in orphaned hot water coils. [issue #594]
  • Some HVAC components in OpenStudio are missing from the HVAC Library (e.g. Fan:OnOff). [issue #599]
  • Several objects in OpenStudio appear to accept erroneous input values, but seems like it is just displaying the erroneous value and not storing it. [issue #656]
  • Attempting to autosize a WaterHeater will result in an error. [issue #669]
  • Entering an invalid date on the Utility Bills subtab crashes OpenStudio. [issue #739]
  • To enable set point schedule drop zones on the Thermal Zones tab, you need to first turn on the thermostat.
  • The Site / Utility Rates subtab in the workflow is marked as "coming soon," and will be completed in an upcoming release of OpenStudio.
  • The default reporting measures used for the results tab show results in IP units, and do not react to changes in the user's unit preferences. That will be addressed in future versions of OpenStudio. The measure can be altered to show SI units instead.
  • It is not possible to choose or define a refrigeration case (or walkin) re-stocking schedule in the "Grid" view or the "Layout" view; the drop down list is blank. [issue #966]
  • IDF import brings in but does not hook up design spec outdoor air. [issue #971]

OpenStudio ParametricAnalysisTool

  • NOTE: when using cloud service please make sure to stop the cloud using the cloud button in PAT when your simulation session is done, and after you have downloaded all of the detailed results you want. You are also strongly encouraged to go to the AWS Management Console to confirm that all instances are terminated. If they are not terminated, you will need to manually terminate them from the console. We have a sticky post on our forum with best practices for cloud simulation in OpenStudio.
  • Daylighting control object variables can't be requested in the output variables tab. [issue #355]
  • Adding a design alternative using measure groups will remove any design alternatives made from external files. However, you can add a design alternative made from external files without losing design alternatives made from measure groups. [issue #369]
  • Always Run measures are applied to externally constructed design alternatives. This may result in unexpected results or errors. [issue #369]

OpenStudio ResultsViewer

  • Alias changes do not update in table view until the data are read in again. [issue #25]
  • Re-arranged column order doesn't stick next launch. [issue #30]

OpenStudio RunManager

  • EnergyPlus ForwardTranslator errors do not appear in the RunManager GUI elements. [issue #181]

OpenStudio Platform, Including SWIG Bindings

  • IdfObject::getQuantity and IdfObject::setQuantity functionality is not comprehensive. The quantity getters and setters for fields whose units are "BasedOnField AX" are not expected to work at the IdfObject level, but are to be handled only for OS: prefixed objects by the specific interfaces of classes derived from ModelObject.
  • The default naming scheme of WorkspaceObject (base class for ModelObject, etc.) sometimes results in undesired name clashes when transferring objects between models, including in the EnergyPlus translators. Therefore, some objects may be unexpectedly renamed or copied.
  • OpenStudio::Model::ComponentVector objects may be inaccessible from the Ruby bindings. [issue #239]
  • If schedule type limits fields are not set properly, OS will not give error but also will not hook up affected schedules. [issue #967]
  • There is no default construction for adiabatic surfaces. [issue #974]
  • Cloning a building disconnects spaces from thermal zones. [issue #980]

Known Issues Specific to OS X

  • The SketchUp Plug-in toolbar tooltips do not work correctly on OS X if you have made your toolbars horizontal. The tooltips never show on OS X in the status bar. The button state may also be incorrect. This is a bug in SketchUp versus the plug-in. [issue #45]
  • OpenStudio 1.4 does not support SketchUp 2014 on Mac. This will be addressed in the next release after switching to Ruby 2.0.

Bug Analytics Since Previous Release

  • 78 new issues were filed since the 1.3.0 release of OpenStudio (not including opened pull requests).
  • 67 issues were closed since the 1.3.0 release of OpenStudio (not including closed pull requests).
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