CBECC-Com OneDrive simulation failure

[joesinger12]

5/8/18 DR - I did a little bit more structured testing on the issue 2734

Basically, CBECC-Com isn't happy with the Data/Projects folder installation on a OneDrive\Documents folder. More specifically, it occurs when the OneDrive folder has the 'Files On-Demand' option enabled. If this option is not enabled, and all of the files are downloaded locally, and it doesn't appear to be a problem.

If you try to run a project file that is stored in a OneDrive folder with this option enabled, CBECC will let you know prior to running any simulations.:

However, if you save the project to another local folder that is not associated with OneDrive, the simulation will proceed, but ultimately (consistently) fails due to this Energy plus error for each of the AirSystems in the project:

Program Version,EnergyPlus, Version 8.5.0-c87e61b44b, YMD=2018.05.08 10:21,IDD_Version 8.5.0 Severe IP: IDF line~9181 Object=CONTROLLER:MECHANICALVENTILATION, name=BASESYS3 OACTRL MECH VENT CONTROLLER, Required Field=[Zone 1 Name] was blank.

This suggests that not only must the project file be saved to a non-Files On-Demand folder, but that the CBECC-Com Data folder must be as well. Attached are the sim XML, IDF, and OSM files for the 0200 Std model -zb run for comparison. The same problem exists for the ANNUAL ap run that does not rely on a SIZING runs. Comparing the two IDF files, I'm seeing a lot of differences, but if you compare the OSMs (with some filters to exclude UID differences), you'll see that the OS:SizingPeriod and OS:WeatherFile are missing in the OneDrive case. The sizing periods are also missing in the IDF, along with some other important objects such as Sizing:Zone, and Controller:MechanicalVentilation, which is ultimately what E+ errors out on first.

The missing weather information is consistent with having the CBECC-Com data folder in the 'File-OnDemand' OneDrive folder; i.e, the program can't access the weather files since they are stored in the cloud. I tried applying the 'Always keep on this device' option to the Data folder, and it doesn't appear to fix the problem.

I'd recommend we add a check to make sure the Data folder does not reside in a folder with this option enabled, or at minimum, stop analysis if the EPW/DDY files can't be found.

I've copied KB here in case this has already come up among OS users/developers and has input on how this might already be handled in OS.

Reported by: joesinger12

Original Ticket: cbecc-com/tickets/2737

[joesinger12]

• assigned_to: Nikhil Kapur --> Scott Criswell

Original comment by: joesinger12

[joesinger12]

• Milestone: ComDevIssue --> CBECC2022DevIssues

Original comment by: joesinger12