IMPORTING DATA FROM ANOTHER PROJECT

The Import HAP Project Data option on the Project Menu is used to transfer data from another HAP project into the current project. This option has two major applications:

1. Transferring one or a few categories of data from one project into a new project. For example, you may use similar wall, roof or window assemblies in all your projects. Rather than manually recreating this data in each new project, you can use the Import HAP Project Data option to transfer wall, roof and window assemblies from an existing project into your new project.

2. Merging whole projects together. For large building projects, individual project team members sometimes model parts of the building in separate HAP projects early in the project. Later in the project cycle, team members may wish to combine their work together into one large project for final design or simulation calculations. The Import HAP Project Data option provides a quick way of merging projects together.

The Application Information discussion at the end of this section explains how to use the Import Project HAP Data option for each of these scenarios.

Basic Procedure. Data is imported using the following procedure.

1. Run HAP and open the project you want to import data into. This project is the destination for

3. The Select Project window will appear. It allows you to choose the HAP project from which you want to import data. This is the source of imported data.

4. The “Select Data to Import” window appears next as shown in the figure above.. It is used to specify the data items in individual data categories you wish to import. Your work with this window involves selecting a data category (in the left-hand panel) and then selecting items in that category (in the center panel) to be imported. Repeat this process for all categories you wish to import data from.

Press the Import button in the lower right when ready to import the selected data.

The window contains four key components:

a. The Data Categories box on the left lists the data categories from which items can be imported.

To select a particular data category click on its name. It will be highlighted to show it is selected. In the figure above Schedules has been selected.

b. The Source Project box in the center of the window lists items available for importing from the source project. To select an item place a check mark in the box next to the item. To quickly select all items in the category, press the “Select All” button below the list box. To quickly unselect all items, press the “Unselect All” button. In the figure above the source project contains four schedules. The first three have been selected and will be imported.

c. The Current Project box on the right lists items in the selected data category in the current project. This information is provided for reference only. Often it is useful to review the contents of the current project before deciding which items to import from a source project. In the figure above the current project does not contain any schedules yet.

d. Command Buttons appear in the lower right part of the window. Press Import to import the items you selected. As mentioned earlier items from multiple categories can be imported all in one session. Press Cancel to exit without importing data. Press Help to display this help topic.

5. Next, the Import Data confirmation window appears as shown below. It lists the number of data items selected in each data category and provides a chance to review and approve your selections. If

the quantities are correct, press the Yes button to continue. To revise selections press the No button to return to the Select Data to Import window.

6. The data you selected will then be imported from the source project into the current project. A status monitor will show the progress of this work.

7. When data has been imported a confirmation window will appear. Its appearance is similar to the Import Window shown above. Its purpose is to confirm the data imported successfully. In most cases the quantities shown in the confirmation window will match those in the original Import Data window. However, when you select data categories with linked items, the number of items shown as imported on the second confirmation window will be larger than on the first. For example, if you selected spaces to be imported, these spaces may link to one or more schedules, wall, roof, window or door assemblies, or to external shade geometries. To provide a complete representation of the spaces you requested, HAP will automatically identify and import all linked schedules, walls, roofs, windows, doors, and shade geometries. These linked items will then be included in the tally on the second confirmation screen. Data categories in a HAP project that have linked items are spaces, air systems, plants, buildings and, in some cases, electric rates and fuel rates.

Application Information. The general steps above should be applied as follows for the two major applications of the Import HAP Project Data option:

(A) Transferring One or a Few Categories of Data from One Project to Another

1. Run HAP. Open the "destination" project you want to import data into. This is often a new project..

2. Choose the Import HAP Project Data option on the Project Menu.

4. In “Select Data to Import” window choose the first data category you wish to import in the left-hand panel, and then the individual items you wish to import from that category in the middle panel.

5. Repeat step 4 for each category of data you want to import.

6. Click the Import button.

7. Check the data on the confirmation window. If data is correct, press Yes to import the data.

(B) Merging Whole Projects

1. Run HAP. Open the "destination" project you want to import data into. This could be a new project, or more frequently it will be an existing project that contains a portion of the building you are modeling.

2. Choose the Import HAP Project Data option on the Project Menu.

3. Select the "source" project from which data will be imported. This will be a project containing one of the other portions of the building being modeled.

4. In “Select Data to Import” window choose the "Building" category in the left-hand panel.

Typically for merge scenarios, there will only be one Building item in the project. Check the box to select that item.

5. Click the Import button.

6. Check the data on the confirmation window. If data is correct, press OK to import the data.

7. Repeat steps 2 through 6 if there are further projects containing portions of the building that need to be merged into the current project.

As noted earlier, the Import option imports the data you selected and the software identifies all linked items and automatically imports those as well. Therefore if you select one Building item for import, HAP will import that Building and will automatically import all plants, air systems, spaces, schedules, walls, roofs, windows, doors, shades, chillers, towers, boilers, electric rates and fuel rates it identifies as linked to that Building. In this way the full content of a building from the source project can be combined into the destination project.