Navigating building models

Quick overview of the navigation tools in action

There are various ways of navigating (moving around) DesignBuilder models:

Single clicking the appropriate entry in the Navigator panel is the most versatile way because every object in the building has an entry in the Navigation panel. Note that if the Double click to navigate site hierarchy program option is set then you must double-click in the navigator to go to the associated object.
Double-clicking on the appropriate object in the Edit Screen takes you do it.
Single-clicking on the appropriate object in the Edit Screen then mouse right mouse clicking on the object and selecting the 'Go to…’ menu option at the top.
Use the Title / breadcrumbs at the top of the screen to navigate up one or more levels.
Go to the level up in the hierarchy by pressing <F2> or by right mouse clicking in the Edit Screen and selecting the 'Go up...’ menu option.
The Next <F5> and Back <F4> Navigation buttons allow you to move sequentially through the model (avoiding surfaces). This approach can be slow but can be useful when it is necessary to methodically work through the model for any reason.

The Figure below shows how to either click on the Navigator entry or double-click on the Edit Screen to go to 'Zone 1' from 'Block 1'.

Using the Navigator

The Navigator panel in the top left of the screen includes a full list of the model hierarchy, starting at Site Level and going down to Building, Block, Zone, Surface, Opening Levels. Also included are Component and Assembly Blocks and the HVAC hierarchy when using Detailed HVAC.

The following objects can be renamed by clicking on the currently selected the Navigator Treeview node:

Site
Building
Block
Zone
Component block
Assembly instance
Solar panel
High-level HVAC system components (e.g. Loops, Setpoint Managers, Zone groups)

The following objects cannot be renamed through the Navigator TreeView:

Surface
Opening (Window, Door, Vent, Subsurface, Hole, CFD boundary condition)
HVAC system sub-components which only inherit their names from the level above.

Note: The areas quoted in Surface Navigator nodes are gross areas, i.e. they include the areas of any openings they may contain.

Note: The level below Surface in the Navigator includes any openings that are placed on the surface as well as the breakdown of 1 or more adjacencies to other zones or the outside. For example, a floor surface may include two adjacencies: an external floor and an internal floor, as shown in the screenshot below.