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Layout information

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Layout information

The Layout information menu consists of two sub-menus:

  • Layout information

  • Bill of Materials

The Layout information tab provides information on multiple PV areas, so the user wouldn't need to do it manually. This window needs to be refreshed if any changes have been done to the PV area.

 

To start, click on the Select PV area button, then you will be prompted to select the PV areas. You may do so with a mass selection or select PV areas individually. To finalize the selection, press Space or Enter on the keyboard.

 

Note: The order in which you select areas will also determine the numbering of PV areas.

 

Area Coverage and Ground Coverage Ratio

In PVcase the Area Coverage compares the ground area covered by frames (horizontal part) to the total ground area of the site. Roads, exclusion areas, or shading are not taken into consideration in the available area calculation, just the PV field boundary.

 

 

 


​On the other hand, our GCR calculates the ratio of frame width (L) to row pitch (R).

 

 

 

Customizing the layout information table

There are a few ways to customize the layout information table to your liking. This can be done by clicking on the cogwheel icon or the filter.

 

  • Customize the columns - by clicking on the cogwheel to choose what type of information you want to see and to organize the column order.

  • Customize the frame types to be counted - by clicking on the filter button you're able to filter out certain frame types. For instance, you can filter out maximum inclination exceeding tables and see how impacted your project capacity is due to complicated terrain.

Turn off PV area

You can hide tables and objects related to them (except for electrical design) which speeds up AutoCAD's performance and provides a better-organized workflow by clicking on the lightbulb icon.

 

Select frames

You can also select frames that belong to a specific PV area by right-clicking anywhere on the row.

 

Export to CAD

To export Layout information to the workspace you could use a native function Export to CAD. In order to execute it click on Export to Cad and left-click to finalize the location in the workspace. Example below:

 

Frame information

To find out all information about the specific frame click on the Frame information button, then you will be prompted to select a frame to finalize press Space or Enter on your keyboard. Having done so, a new window will pop up providing all information about the selected frame.

 

Row & pitch display

There is an option to generate row numbering and pitch distance between the rows. To do so click on Row and pitch distance; Then you will be prompted to select PV area and to finalize press Space or Enter on your keyboard. Having done so, the values will be generated on the left side of the PV area.

 

Piling information

Piling information can be used to:

  • Reference poles by numbering;

  • Show the aerial pole length;

  • Reference the coordinates of each pole to export into BOM.

To generate the piling information click on the Show piling information button from the drop-down menu and then select your PV area, to finalize press Space or Enter on your keyboard. After generation, you will see the piling numbers which represent the table number and pole number of that table along with the aerial pole length.

 

The numbering settings can be found in the command line after you click on Piling information.

 

 

 

Bill of materials

The second tab in the Layout information is the Bill of Materials section. Here you can get quick information about the materials that were used in the layout.

 

Exportation to XLSX format

To review the final detailed report you need to export the information to the Bill of Materials. To do so, click on the Export to XLSX button, and a new window will appear where you will specify the name of the file as well as the location where you want to save it. To finalize the process, click Save.

 

As a final step, a new pop-up window will appear with the message "Export successful. Would you like to open the export now?". If you want to review exported file instantly, click Yes and if you want to keep on working press No.

 

Final Bill of Materials report

The final report in XLSX format contains:

  • Project overview;

  • Piling information (coordinates);

Note: For the piling information to be reflected in the bill of materials, make sure you have enabled Piling information using the associated button.

 

  • Pile grouping

     

    Note: For the pile grouping to be reflected in the bill of materials, make sure you have run Pile grouping before exporting the BOM.

  • Electrical design information - HV / AC / DC cable run lengths for each cable;

  • Spot levels;

 

Note: For the Spot levels to be reflected in the bill of materials make sure the Spot levels are turned On in the Ground grading window.

 

 

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