Export dwg

Click the "Export dwg" button in the toolbar, and in the pop-up dialog box, you can choose "Export 2D layout" or "Export SLD".

Exporting 2D layout

Select "Export 2D layout" and set the "Settings" first:

Settings is divided into four modules: "Export items", "Export polylines from SU layers", "Post settings", and "Generate CAD layout viewport extents".

Export items

The user can check the export item according to the demand. See the following table for the name and meanings of the layer of each export:

classification	layer name	Description
Array and strings	Array_XX	Array
	Array_XX_name	Tag of Array
	Array_XX_str	PV string
	Array_XX_strname	PV string Tag
	Array_statistics	Count Table of Array
	Array_pitch	Pitch and Clear pitch of Array
	Array_slope_tilt_azimuth	Array base slope, Nom. tilt and azimuth
	Terrain_slope	Information of Terrain faces where Array is located
	Terrain_slope_along_array_width	Terrain slope along array's width
	Array_virtual_module_str	The array is connected in series with photovoltaics according to PV module Combine
	Array_virtual_module_strname	The array is Tag according to the photovoltaic string of PV module Combine
	PV_module	PV module
	SU_Line_Array	Array Projection outer frame line (Parallelogram)
	SU_Line_PV_module	PV module Projection outline (Parallelogram)
Pile position and coordinates	Array_center_name	Center coordinates of Array
	Pole	Pile position
	PoleName	Post coordinate
	Pole_bridge	In tray support Pile position
	Pole_bridgename	Post coordinate of in tray support
	Soft_pole	Flexible Rack Pile position
	Soft_pole_angle	Angle of wire rope of flexible Rack
	Soft_pole_bolt	Flexible Rack Bolts Pile position
	Soft_pole_bottom_elevation	Column bottom elevation of flexible Rack
	Soft_pole_side	Pile position of End pile of flexible Rack
	Soft_pole_code	Flexible Rack Pile position Tag
	Soft_pole_name	Flexible brace post coordinate
	Soft_pole_length	Pile length of flexible Rack
	Soft_pole_length_type	Pile position of flexible Rack is Tag according to Pile length
Cable	Module_index	The array is based on the Tag of the internal PV module in the photovoltaic string of PV module Combine
	Module_to_string	The array is connected to Connection inside the photovoltaic string according to the PV module Combine
	Cable1	Thin cables (String Cable)
	Cable1name	Thin cables Tag
	Cable2	Thick cables (L1 devices Cable)
	Cable2name	L1 devices Cable No
	Cable3	Thick cables (L2 devices Cable)
	Cable3name	L2 devices Cable No
	Cable485	Communication line Cable
	Cable485name	Communication line Cable No
	Cable_MV	MV cable
	Cable_MVname	MV cable Tag
Medium voltage connection diagram	MV_point_link	Medium voltage connection
Cable route	Trench	Cable route
	Trenchname	Cable route Tag
Avai. & Restr. & PV Zones	Available_area	Available area
	Restricted_area	Restricted area
	PVarea	Range line of PV zone
	PVareaname	PV zone information
Shadow area	Shading_range	Object shadow range
	Array_shadow_XYZ_ABC	The Projection shadow blocking shape of the Array in the front row versus the Array in the back row at ABC Time on Date XYZ
	Terrain_shadow_0m_XYZ_ABC	After adjusting the Height above ground of the Array to 0m, the shadow of the Array on the Terrain at ABC Time on Date XYZ
	Terrain_shadow_XYZ_ABC	Shadow of Array on Terrain at ABC Time on Date XYZ
Cable Laying	Cable_laying1	Thin cables Cable Laying Mark
	Cable_laying2	Thick cables Cable Laying Mark
	Cable_laying_bom	Statistics of cable laying materials
Grounding	H_grounding_main	Grounding Gird - main Grounding Gird
	H_grounding_main_trans	Grounding Gird - Containerized Transformer Grounding Gird and connection line between Containerized Transformer Grounding Gird and main Grounding Gird
	H_grounding_array_to_main	Connection line between Grounding Gird - Array and main Grounding Gird
	H_grounding_arrays	Grounding Gird - Array and Array connection line (Overhead)
	H_grounding_arrays_ground	Grounding Gird - Array and Array connection line (grounding)
	H_grounding_point1	Connection point between Grounding Gird - Array and main Grounding Gird
	H_grounding_point2	Grounding Gird - connection point between Array and Array (grounding)
	H_grounding_point3	Grounding Gird - main Grounding Gird connection point
	H_grounding_road	Grounding grid - grounding wire passing through in pipe
	V_grounding	Vertical ground electrode
	V_grounding_name	Vertical ground electrode coordinates
	Grounding_txt	Count Table of Grounding material
Loss and radiation of Array	Loss and radiation	Radiation Loss of Array and radiation received by Array surface
Array pitch	Array_pitch	Pitch of Array
Assist analysis color	Terrain_color	Coloring faces coloring
Slope and hill-shading	Slope_and_hill-shading_color	Mountains and Hill-shading analysis coloring
Generate cable laying trench based on cable routing	Trench_back	The Generate Cable route according to the Cable routing is the PV cable Path laid along the back of the Array
	Trench_ground	According to the Generate Cable route of Cable routing, it is the Cable route of Buried laying
	Trench_road	According to the Generate Cable route of Cable routing, it is the Cable route laid through the path
Slope analysis Color	All_valid_Aspect_color	Aspect analysis coloring - for all mountains in available range
	Terrain_Aspect_color	Coloring of Aspect analysis - effective for Only slope analysis valid
	Terrain_Sun_Aspect_color	Aspect analysis coloring - effective for Both shading and slope analysis valid
	All_valid_Slope_color	Natural slope Analyze coloring - for all mountains in available range
	Terrain_Slope_color	Natural slope Analyze coloring - effective for Only slope analysis valid
	Terrain_Sun_Slope_color	Natural slope Analyze coloring - effective for Both shading and slope analysis valid
	All_valid_EW_slope_color	E-W slope Analyze coloring - for all mountains in available range
	Terrain_EW_slope_color	E-W slope Analyze coloring - effective for Only slope analysis valid
	Terrain_Sun_EW_slope_color	E-W slope Analyze coloring - effective for Both shading and slope analysis valid
	All_valid_NS_slope_color	Analyze coloring of N-S slope - for all mountains in available range
	Terrain_NS_slope_color	N-S slope Analyze coloring - effective for Only slope analysis valid
	Terrain_Sun_NS_slope_color	Analyze coloring of N-S slope - effective for Both shading and slope analysis valid
Fence	Fence_line	Fence
Thick cables shall be Mark separately when it is laid h	Cable2_trench	Thick cables (L1 devices Cable) laying Path
	Cable2_trench_name	Quantity and specifications Mark of Thick cables (L1 devices Cable)

Tips： To Export "Array Loss and radiation", analyze arrays shading loss needs to be carried out in the software first. To export "Assist analysis color", coloring faces needs to be performed first in create zones. If it is necessary to export the layer related to cable, the necessary operate such as divide of block and combine shall be carried out in the software first.

Export polylines from SU layers

In addition to the above layer, if you need to export Layer existing in other SU, such as Candela - coordinate origin, you can select a layer in the drop-down menu.

Post settings

It can only be used when "Pile position and Coordinate" is check in "Export items", and the user can select check or not according to the demand.

Generate CAD layout viewport extents

This function is used to generate layouts in CAD. Each viewport can generate a separate layout, facilitating the creation of multiple layouts for plotting when the project is large.

Notes:

Except for the "Viewport boundary for cable laying" which is generated based on the power block, all other viewports are generated based on the original available range. The specific blocks or available range that are merged into one viewport are determined by the "Max grouping distance".

The elements included in different viewport vary. For example, when generating the viewport boundary for MV cable, the main considerations are to include the MV cable route, grid point, transformer, etc., without considering irrelevant elements such as grounding.

Use extended frame: When checked, the A4~A0 lengthening frame will be considered, lengthening by 0.25 times the length of the side, with a maximum of 2 times the length of the side. To custom replacement the frame, refer to the Generate drawings chapter.

Status: After the viewport extent  is generated, the status is displayed in green.

Plot scale: User-defined drawing plot scale, the scale value directly affects the viewport range results.

Max Grouping Distance: When the distance between different available range (for cable laying viewport, it is distance between different power blocks) is less than the set value, they will be placed within the same viewport range.

Operate: Includes Generate/Grouping and Edit buttons (Edit allows editing of automatically generated viewport extents).

Export: After the viewport extent boundaries are generated, they are ticked by default.

Standard Operating Steps

Click "Export" to bring up the save path selection dialog box, and the model data will be exported as a *. c2c file. This file can be generated in CAD using the CAD plugin provided with Candela3D (file name Candela3D_CD_plugin.dll) to create CAD drawings. The specific method is as follows:

Step 1: Create a new CAD file and load the plugin in CAD. Refer to the "CAD Plugin Loading" chapter for the loading method.

Step 2:Enter the gdwg command in the CAD interface, select the previously exported *. c2c file in the pop-up dialog box, click OK, and complete the import process.

If the "origin coordinates" have been correctly set, the generated array will not be offset. Otherwise, check if the "origin coordinates" are set correctly.

In the low-voltage cable laying viewport layout, if some cable routes are missing or there are extra arrays, you can adjust the "Viewport_boundary_for_cable_laying" boundary line in the Model of the generated DWG file, and then refresh it using the "Refresh Layout Viewports in the CAD Cable Laying Drawing" command in the CAD plugin.

The length unit of imported and exported flat CAD drawings is feet, etc.

At this point, the export interface should select the corresponding length unit (such as feet), and at the same time:

• Project Settings - When setting the origin, the length unit should also be set to (e.g. feet)
• At the beginning of importing DWG, the "Options" should also be set to (e.g. feet)

Export SLD

Before exporting the electrical system diagram, the users needs to set the PV module model for the array in "Create Array" (specifically for reverse-imported projects).

Select "Export SLD", then configure the "Settings" as needed. After completing the settings, click the "Ok" button to apply the changes.

Click 'Export' to bring up the save path selection dialog box, and the model data will be exported as a *.json file. This file can be generated in CAD using the CAD plugin provided with Candela3D (file name Candela3D_CD_plugin.dll) to create electrical system drawings. The specific method is as follows:

Method 1: Create a new CAD file and load the plugin in CAD. Refer to the "CAD plugin installing" chapter for the loading method.

Method 2:Enter the ELECTRALSYSTEMDRAWING command in the CAD interface (or select "Generate Electrical System Diagram" from the CAD menu), select the previously exported *.json file in the pop-up dialog box, click OK to complete the import process, and the software will draw electrical system diagrams for each unit separately.

The drawn effect is shown in the following figure.

Exporting 3D CAD Drawings

Users can export the 3D model in SU - File menu - Export, select DWG format, and export. Please open the layers that need to be exported in the "Tag" toolbar on the right.

The exported CAD file like following:

Export "*.kmz" file to Google Earth

Step 1: Please add geographic location, and the input latitude and longitude should be consistent with the origin latitude and longitude in the SU map.

Step 2: Please close the "Flat Site" layer and open the "Elevated Site"laye.

Step 3: Please use the "pencil" tool to find any point on the terrain surface, and draw two parallel lines along the positive and negative directions of the z-axis. Pay special attention to the intersection of the line along the negative direction of the z-axis with the "Location Terrain" layer.

Step 4: Please select the models that need to be imported into Google Earth and put them into a group.

Step 5: Please use the "move" tool (Hotkey 1: "M") to move the group from point to point ① to point ②.

Step 6: Please close the "Elevated Site" layer and "Terrain" layer, and delete the line created in step 3.

Step 7: Please click on "File" - "Export" -"3D Model" in the menu bar, select Google Earth files ("*kmz") to export Google Earth files, and open the file directly using Google Earth.

The terrain accuracy created by contour lines is higher than that of the model in Google Earth , which may result in array s not fitting well with the terrain. Users can move the created group along the z-axis in SketchUp and observe it from a top view in Google Earth