Getting Started With the Plugin

Drawing Settings Requirements

General

1. Platform: AutoCAD.
   1. Supports AutoCAD version 2020 and higher
2. Drawing units could be either imperial or metric
   1. Go to Drawing Units and select the Unit you prefer

3. The layout should be created in the Model view

 

Layers

1. Layers should be visible on the Model View:
   1. Turn on💡a Layer
   2. ‘Freeze’ and ‘Lock’ states are insignificant

 

Plugin Commands

Basic Commands

GetBoundaries – Exports polylines as boundaries as PVFM file

GetsSurfaces – Exports all surfaces in the Civil3D/AutoCAD project as PVFM file

TrackersToPvsyst – Exports layout from Civil3d to PVsyst

GetLayout - Exports existing layout from Civil3d to PVFARM

 

Commands for Layout import:

CreateTracker - Creates a new tracker item with attributes and a block name ’pvfarm_tracker_’

CreateSkid - Creates a new Skid item with a block name ‘pvfarm_skid_type1’

CreateRoad - Converts layers into the layer with the conventional name ‘pvfarm_road_Xft’

CreateBorder - Converts layers into the layer with the conventional name ‘pvfarm_include_boundary’

CreateBlock - Creates a block reference by selected Skids and Trackers with the conventional block name ‘block_1’

ConvertCurrentTracker - Convert an existing tracker’s block reference into the conventional one with the block name ‘pvfarm_tracker_NXT_6/60_FS7_300W’

ConvertCurrentSkid - Convert an existing tracker’s block reference into the conventional one with the block name ‘pvfarm_skid_type1’

 

How to Use Commands

GetBoundaries

1. Run the command ‘GetBoundaries’

2. Select a set of needed boundaries (inclusion and exclusion zones)

3. Press ‘Enter’

4. Choose the desired location on your computer where you wish to save the file

Requirements

1. Boundaries should be represented as closed polylines

 

GetSurfaces

1. Run the command ‘GetSurfaces’

2. Select surfaces in the Export Surfaces menu

3. Choose the ones you need and press 'Ok'.

 

Requirements

1. The surface should be created before using the plugin

2. The plugin works with both, GRID and TIN surfaces

 

TrackersToPvsyst

1. Run the command ‘TrackersToPvsyst’

2. Select block references

3. Press ‘Enter’

4. Select the ‘Trackers’ or ‘Tables’ option (press ‘Tracker’ or ‘Table’)

5. Choose the desired location on your computer where you wish to save the file

6. After launching the command, choose a part of the model you want to export to the SHD file or press ‘Enter’ when you want everything to be exported (use the FINDARRAYS if necessary)

7. Open SHD file in PVSyst

 

Requirements:

1. Arrays of trackers should be shown using a one-dimensional associative array

2. The original element can be a block, polyline, or set of lines

3. The original element of the associative array must be built orthogonally so that the vertical axis corresponds to the tracker length and the horizontal to its width

4. Associative arrays must be on visible layers

5. During export, trackers are painted in the color of the layer on which the associative array is located

6. The drawing should be drawn on a 1:1 scale in the current drawing units

GetLayout

1. Upgrade and prepare your DWG drawing to the right format

   1. Please follow the Layout Import Article.

      Run the command 'GetLayout'

2. Select nothing

3. Name the PVFM file

4. Press 'Ok'

Requirements

1. The Layout should be created before using the plugin