Frequently asked questions

This is a compilation of answers to frequently-asked questions about this site and the software it contains. This list is updated regularly and is intended as a first resource for both software users and site visitors.

• Frequently asked questions
• Installation and Getting Started
  • Can't view CHM help files
  • ComboBoxWrlSky error on startup
  • ECOTECT on an Apple Mac
  • EInvalidOp error when loading software
  • I just purchased but your login doesn't recognise my email
  • Letters and icons turn into funny characters
  • Missing file glu32.dll
  • Problems Installing the Patch File
  • Strange slug trail behind cursor on WinXP
  • Tips on getting started with ECOTECT
  • Trouble downloading
  • Where are the tutorials for v5.50 ?
• Licencing and activation
  • Can I change IP ranges on an existing network licence server ?
  • Can I transfer my desktop licence to another computer ?
  • How can we enter proxy details for our local licence server ?
  • My computer crashed before I could transfer - what now ?
  • What is my Desktop Serial Number and why do you need it ?
  • What is the difference between desktop & network activation ?
  • What is the difference between software licences & activation ?
  • What is the difference between student & commercial licences ?
• Acoustic Analysis
  • Image-method and ray-tracing analysis in ECOTECT
• Climate, Weather Data and Analysis
  • Convert cooling degree days
  • I need weather data for...
  • Reference for weather data
• Lighting Analysis
  • Areas above certain light level (no-sky-line)
  • Date and time changes don't seem to affect DF
  • Daylight factor from Radiance
  • Installing Radiance
  • Internal reflectance changes lighting results in two zones
  • Lighting calculations taking a long time
  • Solar position and sky illuminance from ECOTECT to Radiance
• Modelling and Materials
  • .adj and .shd files
  • Add/modify materials in ECOTECT
  • Automatic calculation of material properties
  • Ceiling vs. roof for thermal analysis
  • CFD and WinAir4
  • Change material colour for solar gain
  • Change zone geometry
  • Change zone height
  • Composite wall construction
  • Crazy morph results
  • Edit geometry of a pitched roof
  • How to model wall thickness
  • Import geometry from other CAD software
  • Internal object; internal or external side
  • Make ECOTECT location specific
  • Missing geometry with 2D DXF file
  • Moving child objects
  • Objects in model turn red
  • Open/closed windows with natural ventilation setting
  • Opening windows; zone management vs. activation settings
  • Primary and alternate materials
  • Rename zone dialog when creating zones
  • Rotate model geometry
  • Schedule energy/water use for an appliance
  • Select single object in group
  • Sending remote commands to Ecotect
  • Specific admittance
  • Specify open/closed windows with seasonal adjustment
  • Strange view distortion when rotating perspective view
  • Triangles with imported 3D geometry
  • Vanishing roof using pitched roof tool
  • Walls with thickness and child objects
  • Walls with thickness and exterior building surface
  • When to run an inter-zonal adjacency calc
  • Why is ECOTECT so slow tracing my DXF file ?
  • Windows opened beyond schedule
  • Zones like layers
• Resource Use and Environmental Impact
  • Calculation for photovoltaics
  • Life cycle data for building materials
• Solar, shading and overshadowing analysis
  • Balcony as shading device
  • Change shade shape based on insolation levels
  • Control solar rays
  • Cumulative insolation on selected objects
  • Daylight savings in ECOTECT
  • Interactively move the sun position
  • Negative percentages for shading calculations
  • Object 100% shaded all day even though exposed to sun
  • Overshadowing for new development with strange shadow pattern
  • Remove surface subdivision after insolation calculation
  • Shading coefficients vs. solar factor
  • Shading options image
  • Solar intensity into a space
  • Solar radiation on an exposed surface
  • Solar radiation units in the Weather Tool
  • Sun penetration strangeness
  • Sun position algorithm in ECOTECT
  • Zero surface insolation
• Thermal Analysis
  • Adjacency errors
  • Alternating solar gain
  • Automatic U-value calculation
  • Constant airflow for mechanical system
  • Daily heating/cooling loads
  • ECOTECT thermal analysis engine/algorithm
  • Heat intensity penetrating windows
  • Optical properties of glazing in thermal calculations
  • Remove objects from simulation effects
  • Schedule for opening/closing windows
  • Setting comfort values
  • Simulate thermal mass
  • Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and g-value
  • Transparency for thermal simulation
  • Unexpected changes in calculations
  • Zone sensitivity values for wind speed
• Visualisation
  • 3D section view
  • Problem viewing model in OpenGL
  • Save an animation
  • Very large Z axis when viewing model

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