[esp-r] BETA version of ESP-r 11.8 available for download

[Jon Hand]

For those of you running ESP-r on Native Windows or under Cygwin
we have added new BETA versions of ESP-r installers which include a number
of bug fixes and extensions to the standard 11.8 version.  Below
is a summary of the changes included....

Regards, Jon Hand

Notes about 11.8 BETA version of ESP-r

- Extend the ESP-r META file to include extended zone rotation
  directives (point of rotation) and to relax model complexity
  limitations.  Underlying data structures revised. Users can
  now export to META files from large ESP-r models.

- Extend the support Integrated Performance Views for larger
  models. Up to 72 zones can now be associated with a performance
  metric or demand set.

- Update the user interface to databases so that each database
  (other than climate) have the same functions for browsing
  folders (in GTK version) and copying files. Documentation
  updated and extensive testing carried out. Users will notice
  a number of tasks are easier.  Developers will find a
  more consistent and more compact code base.

  Most databases references in the model configuration file
  use a different token to identify databases located in
  the standard distribution folder (makes models easier to
  move between computers). File name lengths have been
  extended for materials, constructions and misc components,
  databases.

- Revisions to allow constructions with up to a dozen layers
  to be maintained. Useful for massive or complex constructions.
  Add materials from the IBO PassivHaus book and correct
  duplicate names in materials databases (materials names must
  now be unique). Testing identified several errors in
  database interfaces which have been corrected.

- Consolidate most of the code that deals with opening of
  databases in ESP-r models. Developers will notice hundreds
  of lines of duplicate code removed and users will not notice.

- Update climate import facility for EPW files to match the
  specific format of climate files purchased from CIBSE as
  well as newer additions to the US DoE climate sets.

- Fixed a bug in drawing zones which had been defined via the
  click-on-bitmap facility so that they are correctly displayed.
  A related bug was also fixed for redrawing zones after a
  zone copy.

- Update exemplar and validation models to use current file
  formats and revised database references as well as
  updating their documentation (e.g. QA reports).

- A number of buffer overflows have been identified and corrected.
  Identified a glitch when copying operations files and corrected.
  Noticed some dialogs for longer strings could result in trailing
  null characters and corrected. Users will notice fewer crashes.

- Low level changes were made in Fortran to C calls to enable graphic
  functions on several 64 bit computing environments.