Setting Global Options for EnergyCAP
Global options apply to all EnergyCAP users.
! Care should be taken in altering these settings!
To set Global Options, select Options - Global from the EnergyCAP Tools menu. The Options
window will open.
Six tabs provide for configuration of a variety of important options. These are described below:
Preferences tab
The Preferences tab provides checkbox options for saving Login parameters, window state, and last view in workspace (user-specific).
When the Autosave option is checked:
Login parameters--EnergyCAP login window will default to last database and user ID referenced from that computer.
Window state--After Login, EnergyCAP will load the last window view/size parameters prior to the previous Logout.
Last view in workspace--After Login, EnergyCAP will load the last window/manager viewed prior to the previous Logout.
The Preferences tab also provides options for specifying the Catalog Server and Data Provider paths for organizations that access the EnergyCAP database via internet or intranet.
Settings tab
The Settings tab provides options for specifying the Organization Name (this optional heading will appear as a report header on all EnergyCAP reports) and the Fiscal Year start month (this determines fiscal year reporting).
The Settings tab also provides the user with options for limiting the display of EnergyCAP PowerViews™ to certain Facility Tree Place Types. Limiting PowerViews can in some circumstances enhance the speed of EnergyCAP processes and improve work flow for some types of users. When the Limit PowerViews for ... checkbox is checked, the user can select from the list of Place Types in the scrolling list box below it.
Check any or all Place Types to cancel the PowerViews for that Place Type. To restore the PowerViews for a Place Type, just click on the Checkbox again. To display all available PowerViews, clear the Limit Power Views for ... checkbox.
The Update PowerViews checkbox provides a way to limit PowerView updates to the selected frequency. Use the up and down arrows to select the number of hours between PowerView updates. For large databases, higher numbers may enhance software performance. The disadvantage of limiting PowerView updates is that data from recently-added bills may not be immediately reflected in the PowerViews.
NOTES:
When Update PowerViews is checked, the next update is performed at the next User Login following the set time parameter.
PowerView updates may also be accomplished external to EnergyCAP via an SQL scheduled task. Contact EnergyCAP for more information on this option, which may be of value to very large organizations.
The time and date of the last PowerView update is displayed above the PowerView graphs (Chart Data Current as of:).
Bill Images tab
The Bill Images tab provides options for specifying the Image Path and/or image Web URL.
The Bill Images tab also provides for three different naming/file linking conventions for bill images:
Bill Image Table: When this option is selected, an EnergyCAP table that is populated by the user MIS team via an external process is used to determine the bill image filename. Three text strings--Image Path, Bill Image Table value, and file Extension--are automatically concatenated by EnergyCAP to produce the bill image link for display of the actual bill image from the View Bill and Edit Bill windows.
Control Code: The bill image filename is equated with the Control Code entered during the bill entry process. Three text strings--Image Path, Control Code, and file Extension--are automatically concatenated by EnergyCAP to produce the bill image link for display of the actual bill image from the View Bill and Edit Bill windows.
Batch Code: The bill image filename is identical to the Batch Code associated with the bill. This is the most common bill image management process; all bills associated with the batch are associated with a single filename (usualy PDF format) that is identical to the Batch Code. Three text strings--Image Path, Batch Code, and file Extension--are automatically concatenated by EnergyCAP to produce the bill image link for display of the actual bill image from the View Bill and Edit Bill windows.
Cost Avoidance tab
The Cost Avoidance tab provides options for setting the default Baseline Start date, the baseline Length (12 to 36 months are acceptable values) and the Savings Start date (the date at which EnergyCAP will begin to provide cost avoidance analysis).
The Cost Avoidance tab also provides for input of Balance Point Temperatures--the temperature 'tipping point' above which the building requires cooling and below which the buidling requires heating. For most buildings, the default value of 55 degrees is an appropriate setting.
For additional information, see the Cost Avoidance topic group.
Other Cost Avoidance Global Options include:
AUC (Average Unit Cost) Safety Min[imum]--this value is set at .5 by default to prevent a skewed determination of AUC in the case of accounts/meters with minimum energy usage as compared to baseline usage.
AUC (Average Unit Cost) Safety Max[imum]--this value is set at 5.00 by default to prevent a skewed determination of AUC in the case of accounts/meters with minimum energy usage as compared to baseline usage.
Min[imum] Degree Day Per Day--this value is used by EnergyCAP in analysis of weather data to determine whether the month in question is a heating month, a cooling month, or both. If the Minimum Degree Day Per Day value is exceeded by total Degree Days Per Day in the analysis month, then the month is considered a heating/cooling month. The default value of .01 is commonly used.
Reports tab
The Reports tab provides for an additional (optional) heading that will appear immediately beneath the Organization Name (see Settings tab, above) for all Reports generated by EnergyCAP.
The Reports tab also provides options for entering the path information for the folder containing the EnergyCAP Report (RPT) files. If reports will be shared between several EnergyCAP users, this path will be the centralized report location for all EnergyCAP users. This path is also used to update EnergyCAP reports via the automated Update Reports option in EnergyCAP (Report/Update Reports from the Report Manager).
Mail tab
The Mail tab provides options for input of the SMTP server, User name, From e-mail address and the communication Port associated with certain legacy e-mail processes in EnergyCAP, including a report export option. These earlier functions have been replaced by the new Report E-Mail Groups option in EnergyCAP, and are no longer recommended for use.
