Solar Advisor's menu provide access to commands for managing projects, running simulations, exporting results, and getting more information about the model.

File

The File menu commands allow you to manage files, access component libraries, clear the simulation cache (advanced feature) and close Solar Advisor.

New Project

Start a new project using default input values. Solar Advisor creats a zsam file with no results.

Open

Open an existing project file.

Open Sample Template

Start a new project based on a sample template that contains a complete set of inputs and results. The Submenu lists the available sample templates.

Import SCIF File

Import a case from a SCIF file created in Version 3.0 or 2.5 of the model. See Switching from Earlier Versions for details.

Save

Save the project as a zsam file in its current location.

Save As

Save the project as a zsam file in a different location or with a new name.

Close

Close the project without exiting Solar Advisor.

Clear Cached Simulations

Clears stored results and other data from computer memory. Use this command if the program becomes sluggish after running a very large number of simulations, or if you are setting up very complex simulations and want to clear the cache before running them.

Libraries

Open the library editor to view or modify component libraries. See Working with Libraries for details.

Preferences

Open the Preferences window.

Recent Files

Open a file from the recent files list.

Quit

Closes the software.

Case

The Case menu commands apply to the current case, which indicated by the active case tab in the main window.

Create Case

Create a new case in the project. Solar Advisor opens the Technology and Market window where you choose options for the case. The new case will open with default input values and no results.

Rename Case

Change the name of the current case.

Duplicate Case

Create a copy of the current case.

Delete Case

Delete the current case. You can also delete a case by clicking the 'x' in the case's tab.

Run All Simulations

Runs all of the simulations configured in the current case. Equivalent to clicking the Run button. This option does not save hourly results.

Run All Saving Hourly Data

Runs all of the simulations configured in the current case. Creates a single set of hourly performance results based on the input values shown on the input pages.

Run Base Case Only

Runs a single simulation based on the input values shown on the input pages, ignoring any parametric, sensitivity, optimization or other configurations requiring multiple simulation runs, and does not save hourly results.

Run Base Case Saving Hourly Data

Runs a single simulation based on the input values shown on the input pages and saves hourly performance data. Ignores any parametric, sensitivity, optimization or other configurations requiring multiple simulation runs.

Reset to Tech/Market Default Inputs

Replaces all values on input pages with default values.

Clear Case Results

Clears results from the current case. Solar Advisor removes any graphs and sliders you may have created for the case.

Advanced

The advanced options create lines of code in Excel VBA, ANSI C, or for MATLAB that you can use in your own programs to call the Solar Advisor Model. If you would like to use these features, please contact Solar.Advisor.Support@nrel.gov.

Results

The Results menu commands allow you to export results for the current case to:

Note. If the current case includes simulations that involve multiple input values, such as for parametric and sensitivity analyses, Solar Advisor only exports results for input values shown on the input pages, not for ranges of values defined in simulation configurations.

Graph Data

Exports data from the graphs currently displayed on the Results page.

Cashflows

Exports cash flow data for the current case.

Case Summary Data

Exports all performance and cash flow data for the current case.

View Hourly Time Series (DView)

Opens the DView data viewer and displays graphs of hourly data. See Time Series Graphs for details.

Developer

New SAMUL Script

Opens the script editor to create a program in the Solar Advisor Model User Language (SamUL) to automate Solar Advisor modeling tasks. See the Sam UL guide (on the Help menu) for more information, or contact Solar.Advisor.Support@nrel.gov.

Help

Help Contents

Opens the Solar Advisor Model help system.

User Guide

Opens the user guide, which is a version of the help system in PDF format.

SamUL Guide

Opens the instructions in PDF format for using the Solar Adviosr Model User Language, a scripting language that allows you to automate Solar Advisor modeling tasks.

Release Notes

Displays the Solar Advisor Model's version history.

Web Site

Opens the Solar Advisor Model website in your computer's default browser. (Requires an internet connection.)

User Group

Opens the Solar Advisor Model discussion board on the Google Groups website in your computer's default browser. (Requires an internet connection.)

User Support

Opens your computer's default email program to compose an email that you can send to the Solar Advisor Model support team at solar.advisor.support@nrel.gov. (Requires an internet connection.)

Check for updates

Checks for updates to the software, component libraries, and help system, and allows you to update your software when updates are available. (Requires an internet connection.)

About

Displays the Solar Advisor Model legal disclaimer and information about the version of your copy of the software.