Batch design

9.14 Batch design

This function allows for the pre filling of design input conditions into an Excel template; The software automatically designs each scheme based on the input conditions in the template. After completing the design of all schemes, the design results of each scheme and the comparison results sheet between the results will be exported.

It should be noted that this function may take a long time (proportional to the number of design schemes) and cannot be paused during using. Therefore, please save important files in advance.

1) Pre-processing of the CAD drawings is necessary. The software will import the processed drawings automatically and read the associated layers in the drawing, so it is necessary to preprocess and check the drwaing accordingly.

2) Fill in the "Batch Design" excel template. The specific method of obtaining is as follows:

Click the "Batch design" button, select "Get template" in the pop-up interface, and click the "Browse" button in the "Batch design preparation" interface to copy the batch design files "batch_design.xlsx" and "users_defined_info.xlsx" to the selected folder.

Open the "batch_design.xlsx" file and fill in the "Input conditions" in the file one by one. If users do not need this input condition, users can select "Yes" in the "Skip" section. The operation of "Skip" has a logical relationship before and after: for example, if "Create power blocks" is skipped, even if "Cable list" is not skipped later, the results obtained will not have the analysis and tables in the "Cable list".

If a project has multiple proposals that need to be executed together, users can fill in the conditions for the first proposal, copy the entire column, and make modifications and saves based on this. The software will design according to the input conditions of each column and generate folders, where design results corresponding to each column's design parameters can be saved.

1. Put the completed form and processed CAD drawings into the same folder, click the "Batch Simulation" button again, select the "Select Template" function, and choose the template in 2).

2. The "users_defined_info.xlsx" is mainly used for automatically generating feasibility study reports, which can be modified and edited as needed.

Tips： The software has added three key nodes to the "Batch design" function, namely "Create terrain", "Array layout", and "Create power block". Assuming that the terrain has already been created in Sketchup and marked available/restricted area, if users do not want to change the logic of the marking, the following two conditions need to be met: ①Place the model in the same folder as the batch simulation template and processed terrain, and the name of the folder should be the same as the "Project name" in the batch simulation template for the created terrain model; ②Select "Skip" for "Created terrain" and "Mark available/restricted area" in the template for batch simulation. At this time, when the software reads the batch simulation template, it will retain the terrain and available/restricted area logic in the original model. If users donn’t select "Skip" in the template, the software will recreate the terrain and mark available/restricted area when reading the template, which means that the priority of the template is the highest.

Before using batch simulation, it is recommended to open the "Ruby Console" to print the time consumption of each item during simulation.

There are the following issues with using "Batch design" function:

1) When there are many layers in the terrain file, setting layers back and forth is too cumbersome;

2) Creating modules and inverters does not support customization;

3) Correspondence between various resource file names is prone to errors.

At this point, the following method can be used for operation:

1) Follow the normal steps to create a SKP and complete the design of the shared parts. Copy multiple SKPs, and the SKP name should correspond to the "Project name" in Excel.

2) Select "Yes" for "Skip" in Excel for the completed steps. The other operations are the same.