DesignBuilder includes a wide set of predefined selectable outputs. However, there are some situations when it may be useful to expand the default set. This can be done by including additional output variables using one of the following 2 routes (Scripting or Additional IDF). If you do not have a Scripting module license then you can use the second method below.
Method 1 - DesignBuilder EMS – using DesignBuilder scripting tools
Note that this option requires a Scripting license
1. Go to the Tools menu and select the Scripts option to open the Script Manager dialog and tick the Enable scripts.
2. Add a new EMS script and select Enable program in the script dialog.
3. Click the Add Output command and wait for the ‘Add Output’ dialog pop-up.
4. The output variables will be specifically tailored to your project. Add output variables by double-clicking list items.
5. Confirm dialogs and re-run the calculation.
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6. The additional outputs will appear in the eplusout.eso results after re-running the simulation.
To see these additional outputs open the eplusout.eso in DesignBuilder Results Viewer application.
Method 2 - Additional IDF – using a text file with EnergyPlus IDF extension
1. To get a list of all available outputs, go to the Simulation tab and update the simulation.
2. Select the Output tab and tick the RDD/EDD or RDD/MDD/EDD checkbox in the Miscellaneous Outputs category.
3. Confirm and wait for the simulation to finish.
4. After the simulation has completed, go to File > Folders > EnergyPlus folder and open eplusout.rdd (list of output variables) or eplusout.mdd (list of output meters) in text editor.
5. Create a new text file with the .IDF extension (outputs.idf) and save it into the EnergyPlus folder.
6. Copy all the required Output:Variable or Output:Meter objects to the new file.
7. Go back to Calculation Options.
8. Navigate to the Options > Advanced > Include IDF Data and select the outputs.idf file.
Note that the IDF file with the additional outputs must be located in the EnergyPlus folder.
9. The additional outputs will appear in the eplusout.eso results after re-running the simulation.
To see these additional outputs open the eplusout.eso in DesignBuilder Results Viewer application.
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