*********************************************************** * Contents of this README file for ASEAM V5.0 * *********************************************************** þ Quick Start Instructions þ Need More Help? þ Capabilities and Limitations þ Acknowledgements þ Copyright Notice þ Disclaimer þ Distribution File List þ Release Notes. **************************** * Quick Start Instructions * **************************** A set of SAMPLE input files are provided for your use. The SAMPLE run control file (SAMPLE.RU5) uses the sample loads, system, plant, and ECO files to make a simple run. NOTE: the file path names are stored in the run control file. The sample run control file contains some assumed path names to the data, weather and output directories. ********************* * Windows 3.1 Users * ********************* If you are running Windows 3.1 in 386 Extended mode, you can run ASEAM from a DOS window. If you would like to install ASEAM as a program item, a program information file (.PIF) and icon file (.ICO) are provided. To install ASEAM as a program item: 1) Select the program group you want to install ASEAM in (e.g. Applications) 2) Chose 'File/New' from the main menu. 3) Type 'ASEAM' as the Description String; type 'aseam' as the command string; and type 'c:\aseam' for the working directory (or whatever you named the directory at installation). Windows will assign a default icon and add ASEAM as a program item. 4) Chose 'File/Change Properties' and press the 'change icon' button. A message about 'no icons available will appear' ignore it and press the OK button. 5) An icon change window will appear. Type 'c:\aseam\aseam.ico' for the file name at the top of the form. The ASEAM icon will be assigned. WARNING: WHEN YOU EXIT FROM ASEAM AFTER A WORKING SESSION, WINDOWS MAY TAKE A LONG TIME TO RELEASE THE MEMORY ASSIGNED. THIS LONG WAIT MAKES IT APPEAR THAT YOUR COMPUTER HAS CRASHED. BE PATIENT AND WINDOWS WILL RETURN EVENTUALLY. ALSO NOTE: ASEAM WILL RUN NOTICEABLY SLOWER UNDER WINDOWS COMPARED TO RUNNING IT DIRECTLY FROM DOS. ******************* * Need More Help? * ******************* Get stuck somewhere? Try using the context sensitive help or get a listing of the help topics from the main menu 'Help' item. Use the mouse to point at any object (menu, button, field etc..) on the screen and press the RIGHT mouse button or press the F1 key. Clicking the left mouse button on any highlighted text in the help material will lead you to information on that topic (ie. hypertext). If the help material does not answer your question you can call the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) hotline at: 1(800)363-3732 If you have a internet web-browser handy, you can check out the latest software at the EREN web page or the FEMP gopher site http://www.eren.doe.gov http://gopher.tmn.com/1/FEMP **************** * Capabilities * **************** All of the file i/o and input forms for loads, systems, plant, and energy conservation opportunity (or ECO) files are working. The setup choices, startup file, and directory path setup also work. NOTE: you can use your own preferred ASCII file editor to view reports -- see the Setup/Preference form. The series of forms for Quick Inputs is working. With it, you can generate Load, Systems, and Plant files from just a few inputs, mostly list selections. This version of ASEAM can make any number of runs of loads, systems, and plants files and provide ASCII file reports to the OUTPUT directory. A report viewer is also included. Use the Setup/Preferences form to identify the executable name of an alternate editor (if you leave it blank a default editor will be used). Versions after 3/96 have the ASEAM to DOE2 conversion feature that allows you to create DOE2 BDL files directly from your ASEAM inputs. This provides a short cut method for creating the complex inputs required for DOE2 runs. **************** * Limitations * **************** -- This is a beta test version, so there are a few limitations -- - Parametrics run processing is not complete, however, you can make any number of simple runs or ECO runs using multiple records in the run control structure. - No weather data editor - The analysis engine has undergone only partial testing, so it is possible to get some strange results. ******************** * Acknowledgements * ******************** Software and supporting materials were developed under contract for the United States Department of Energy, Office of Federal Energy Management Programs. Contributors include Hatten Johnson Associates, The Fleming Group, and Fishbaugher and Associates ************** * Disclaimer * ************** THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, AND IT SUBCONTRACTORS MAKE NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS SOFTWARE AND USER'S MANUAL, ITS QUALITY, PERFORMANCE OR CONTENTS. IN NO EVENT WILL THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, OR ITS SUBCONTRACTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY DEFECT IN THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION. YOU, THE USER, ARE ASSUMING THE FULL RISK FOR THE SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION. ********************************* * Distribution File List * ********************************* The installation procedure creates several subdirectories, with many files on your hard disk. Here is a listing of the directories and the types of files for your reference. ROOT DIRECTORY (whatever you named it, probably C:\ASEAM): ASEAM.EXE The main executable program README This file ASEAM.PIF Microsoft Windows Program Information File ASEAM.ICO Microsoft Windows Icon File C:\ASEAM\DATA This subdirectory contains example project files you can run. It also is the location where your new project files will be stored (you can change directories in the ASEAM Setup). C:\ASEAM\OUTPUT This subdirectory contains the analysis results for the example projects contained in the data subdirectory. It also is the location where your new project result files will be stored (you can change directories in the ASEAM Setup). C:\ASEAM\WEATHER This directory contains sample weather (.AWD) and sample solar (.NSD) files. In contains weather and solar data for Portland Oregon and Chicago Illinois by default C:\ASEAM\ADI This directory contains template files (.ADI) and the utility program for converting ASEAM input files into DOE2 BDL files. ADI stands for ASEAM to DOE2 Interface. C:\ASEAM\BLCC4 This directory contains the qi2.exe program used by ASEAM for economic analysis. This is actually a subset of the complete Building Life Cycle Costing (BLCC) Version 4 offered by NIST. You can delete this subdirectory and update your 'Setup' file locations if you have a RECENT copy (fall 94) of BLCC4 in another directory. C:\ASEAM\BASELINE This directory contains the baseline.exe and associated worksheet for doing utility bill baseline. C:\ASEAM\SYSTEM All of the files in the SYSTEM directory are simply support files for ASEAM. YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THESE FILES OR MAKE ANY ALTERATION TO THESE FILES IN ORDER TO OPERATE ASEAM. THE FILE LIST DESCRIPTIONS HERE ARE ONLY FOR YOUR REFERENCE. *** ANY MANUAL CHANGES YOU MAY MAKE TO FILES IN THE SYSTEM DIRECTORY MAY HAVE UNEXPECTED RESULTS IN THE OPERATION OF ASEAM ***. *.ISS These are the font files containing the definition of character shapes used by ASEAM. ASEAM.ATT This is a file containing object attributes for the graphical objects used by ASEAM. ASEAM.CFG The configuration file for ASEAM. This is where the 'setup' form information is stored. *.DAT These are flat ASCII files that ASEAM uses when presenting lists of selections to the user (everything from building types to wall types). You can examine these files with any ASCII editor software. If you want to understand more about the information in these files or want to change something. MRGDFRFS.FRF This is the forms resource file. It is where all those nifty forms are defined and stored. HELP.ICN An icon used in the on-line help form. MSG.LST The text of all those messages that ASEAM throws at you (there are more than a hundred). QRY.LST The list of query questions. *.NDX Various indexing files to speed access to the help file, form definitions, pictures, etc.. MRGDPCXS.PCX The picture resource file containing graphics. THIS is not readable as a standard PCX file. HELP.TXT The help text material. All of the on-line help material is stored on disk in a generic Word- Processor format. If your read this material into your word processor, you will notice many control codes for use by ASEAM. BE SURE YOU DON'T ACCIDENTALLY ALTER THIS FILE IF YOU READ IT.