*********************************************************** Contents of this README file for FLEX V3.0 *********************************************************** - Quick Start Instructions - Need More Help? - Capabilities and Limitations - Acknowledgements - Copyright Notice - Disclaimer - Distribution File List - Release Notes. **************************** * Quick Start Instructions * **************************** Here are the instructions for running through a quick example of FLEX on your system. This is intended to get you up and running quickly so you can get an idea of the software's capability. The whole process through step 6 should take no more than 10 minutes of your time. The printed users guide also contains a tutorial for the use of the quick input feature in FLEX. 1) Install the program. There are instructions printed on the disk label. If you downloaded the program, see the INSTALL.TXT file for detailed instructions. 2) After installation, log onto the drive where you installed FLEX and type 'FLEX' to start the program. 3) You will see the introductory screen and should see the mouse cursor (an arrow) at the center of the screen. Press any key or a mouse button to remove the introduction screen and get to the main menu. 4) Load the FORREST project using the 'File/Load 'Project' menu. You will notice that the bottom part of the screen shows the 8 character project file name you are currently working on. 5) Use the mouse and select the 'Analyze' menu option or type Alt-A with the keyboard (you will find keyboard equivalent commands throughout FLEX indicated by the underscore). This will run the project you loaded and write the results to the OUTPUT directory. Select 'Yes' when FLEX asks if you want to run the expert system. 6) You should find yourself back at the main menu when you are finished analyzing the project. Now you can go into the 'Report' menu (Alt-R) and view the results at different levels of detail. Select the 'Compare' report to compare the project to the cases generated by the FLEX expert system. 7) Now Explore! You have seen the results, where did they come from? Use the 'File' main menu item to load one of the GENXX case files and use the 'Characterize' menu to review the input data and the Report/Recommendations file. Then try making a change to any of the project files, 'Analyze' the new case, and view the results again with the 'Report/Compare' function. 8) If you want to start a project from scratch, be sure to take a look at the context sensitive help and the users guide on the 'Quick Input' features. ********************* * Windows 3.1 Users * ********************* If you are running Windows 3.1 or higher in 386 Extended mode, you can run FLEX from a DOS window. If you would like to install FLEX as a program item, a program information file (.PIF) and icon file (.ICO) are provided. You will find a separate file called INSTALL.TXT which describes the installation procedure for several operating systems. WARNING: WHEN YOU EXIT FROM FLEX AFTER A WORKING SESSION, WINDOWS MAY TAKE A LONG TIME TO RELEASE THE MEMORY ASSIGNED. THIS LONG WAIT (UP TO 1 MINUTE) MAKES IT APPEAR THAT YOUR COMPUTER HAS CRASHED. BE PATIENT AND WINDOWS WILL RETURN EVENTUALLY. WARNING: WITH THE FLEX/SETUP/HARDWARE MENU YOU CAN CHANGE THE GRAPHCIS MODE USED BY FLEX (IT DEFAULTS TO 640X480X16 COLOR STANDARD VGA WHEN YOU FIRST START THE PROGRAM). UNFORTUNATELY, WINDOWS IS UNSTABLE IF THE GRAPHICS MODE USED BY A DOS-BOX APPLICATION DOES NOT MATCH THE GRAPHICS MODE USED BY WINDOWS. BE CAREFUL. ******************* * Need 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 FEMP Help Desk at: (800)363-3732 You can contact the original author of FLEX via his web site at www.fishbaugher.com **************** * Capabilities * **************** - Lighting Characterization (Survey): FLEX has a complete lighting characterization tool you can use to survey your building. You can apply the tool to anything from a single room, to multi-building complexes. The most typical use will be for single buildings. Lighting equipment data bases simplify the survey process. Just select the appropriate fixture, lamp, or other item from the lists provided. Flex will organize your survey data into a relational data base structure. - Quick Inputs: A feature that automates much of the lighting characterization process. - Economics: FLEX contains the complete set of required Life Cycle Cost economics for Federal relighting projects. This includes effects of user entered local equipment prices, EIA energy escalation rates, HVAC system effects, and a host of other adjustable factors. - Reporting: FLEX lets you examine the results at the individual room, lighting system, or whole building level. Special reports let you do comparisons between projects, or examine lighting levels and targets in your building. You can print formatted reports directly to your laser printer. - EXPERT SYSTEM: Starting with Version 3.0, FLEX contains expert systems to assist in your relighting projects. First, FLEX contains a screening expert (from the main menu select 'Screen') just to make sure you have not forgotten something important and second, FLEX will optionally generate and analyze relighting cases for you. - User Library: Starting with FLEX Version 2.1, you can enter lighting equipment price and performance information directly into the data bases used by FLEX. Your new records are appended to the end of the existing price and performance data bases. Starting with Version 3.0, the FLEX data bases are linked to the Defense Logistics Agency data base of National Stock Numbers (NSNs) and prices. - Zonal Cavity Calculations By Room: FLEX will perform complete IES zonal cavity lighting calculations for each defined room. A building level report shows you how the calculations compare to your light meter readings and IES recommendations. Partition factors are included in the light loss calculations. - Defaults Editor: Starting with Version 2.1, you can directly edit the defaults used by FLEX/Quick Inputs when it constructs new input files. - Photo Gallery: Under the 'Help' menu item, you will find an option to view images in a photo gallery. These images cover different subject in lighting quality and case studies. A sample photo gallery showing images generated with the RADIANCE program is included on the diskette. Contact the FEMP help desk for availability of other photo gallery disks. - Daylighting: Starting with Version 3.0, FLEX can characterize the daylight illuminance on work surfaces from vertical glazing and skylights. - Controllers: FLEX has a lighting schedule editor that lets you characterize the effects of different kinds of lighting controllers including daylight following controllers. ******************** * Acknowledgements * ******************** Software and supporting materials were developed under contract DEAC02-83CH10093 by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and its subcontractors for the United States Department of Energy, Office of Federal Energy Management. ************** * Copyright * ************** This software is copyrighted and all rights are reserved by The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Under the copyright laws, you may not copy or in any way reproduce the software or this manual without written permission from NREL, except to make one backup copy of the original software. ************** * Disclaimer * ************** NREL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 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 NREL, 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:\FLEX): FLEX.EXE The main executable program FLEX.ICO The Windows icon file FLEX.PIF The program informatino file for Windows graphics. CONVERT.EXE Program to convert data files from previous FLEX versions README.TXT This file! INSTALL.TXT Contains install instructions for different OS REMOVE.BAT Batch utility to remove FLEX file from hard disk C:\FLEX\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 FLEX Setup). C:\FLEX\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 FLEX Setup). C:\FLEX\SYSTEM All of the files in the SYSTEM directory are simply support files for FLEX. YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THESE FILES OR MAKE ANY ALTERATION TO THESE FILES IN ORDER TO OPERATE FLEX. 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 FLEX ***. *.HP These are the font files containing the definition of character shapes used by FLEX. FLEX.ATT This is a file containing object attributes for the graphical objects used by FLEX. DEFAULT.* These files contain the default information for each of the relation files in FLEX. You can examine or make changes to these files with the Setup/Defaults menu. DEFAULT.ZIP This is a PKZIPed file containing the 'factory' default files. Its placed here as a backup if you make a mistake editing the defaults and want to 'start over'. You will need pkunzip.exe version 2.0 or higher to unpack this file. FLEX.CFG The configuration file for FLEX. This is where the 'setup' form information is stored. MODES.CFG stores the graphics modes possible on your PC. LIB-V30.* These are standard library files FLEX uses when presenting lists of selections to the user (everything from building types to bulb types). You can examine and make additions to these library files with the Setup/Library command. LIBRARY.ZIP This is a PKZIPed file containing the 'factory' default files. Its placed here as a backup if you make a mistake adding to the libraries and want to 'start over'. You will need pkunzip 2.0 or higher to unpack this file. 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. HEADERS.LST Compressed echo output and input formating strings used internally by FLEX, do NOT change. MSG.LST The text of all those messages that FLEX throws at you (there are more than a hundred). *.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. ENCOSTNN.* EIA energy cost escalation files. 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 FLEX. BE SURE YOU DON'T ACCIDENTALLY ALTER THIS FILE IF YOU READ IT. C:\FLEX\GALLERY This directory contains sample image files and associated descriptive text for the Photo Gallery feature. If you place a companion 'FLEX Photo Gallery' disk in drive A:, FLEX will automatically make use of that new diskette. C:\FLEX\LIB This directory contains definition files (*.DEF), instruction files (README), and batch utilties (*.BAT) for manipulating FLEX's price and performance data base in DB3 format. ********************** * What's New in V3.0 * ********************** - Daylight Analysis: FLEX will now assess daylight illuminance levels on the workplane from vertical glazing (any orientation(s) up to 4) and skylights. Includes a method for assessing the effects of stepwise and continuous controllers on lighting schedules. - New Initial Costs Form: The equipment initial costs are now handled directly in the Characterize/Systems form rather than a separate main menu item. You can easily fill in the costs from the FLEX data base directly from the form. - Updated Expert System: All recommendations generated by the Expert System are now supported by associated cost and performance analysis. The recommendations report will show you what was changed and the cautions about implementation as well as references to assumptions that were made during the analysis. You can also edit the 'assumptions' file to customize the expert. - Updated lamp, ballast, and fixture data bases including a listing of National Stock Numbers (NSNs) linking the data bases to the Defence Logistic's Energy Efficient Lighting Catalog. - New file import feature for those using the LSST screening tool. ********************** * Release Notes * ********************** 5/27/98 When FLEX first starts, it examines available graphic modes and creates the MODES.LST file in the system directory. I limited this search to the first 5 modes to reduce potential conflicts with Windows when examining the higher modes. 6/1/98 Maintenance Release 3.0.1