Defining Outputs
Create output grids with intervals and step sizes, enable default outputs for building and network, choose the binary format, and define custom outputs via the updated output list with object IDs and vector indices
Overview
Which quantities the solver writes out, and in which time grid, is defined in the simulation view on the Outputs page (button 
Simulation in the left toolbar, F10; icon 
). The result files are written to the project directory under <ProjectName>/results/.
Output definitions (basic settings)
- Generate default building-related outputs — automatically adds a predefined set of building- and zone-related outputs (room air and operative temperatures, heating and cooling loads, energy demands). These default outputs are a prerequisite for the integrated result visualization (false-color display); only disable the option if you define all building outputs manually.
- Generate default network-related outputs — the counterpart for hydraulic networks (mass flows, fluid temperatures, pressure losses); only visible in district projects.
- Use binary format — writes the results as binary files instead of human-readable text files. Binary files are faster and smaller and are read transparently by the integrated analysis, but cannot be opened in a text editor.
Automatically generated outputs always use the first output grid in the list (note text: “Note: Automatically generated outputs always use the first output grid in the list.”).
Output grids
The Output grids table lists the time grids used to write outputs. The hourly grid (hourly values over the entire simulation period) is always generated automatically, appears as the first, non-deletable entry in the list, and serves as the default grid.
Use + to create a new grid, - to remove one, and the Edit button to open it. In the Output grid editor dialog you define:
- Name: — a unique name (the name
hourlyis reserved and will be rejected). - Number of intervals: — a grid can consist of several consecutive intervals.
- Per interval Start time, End time, and Step length. Times are entered as a time offset from the simulation start in the format “<value> <unit>” (e.g.
30 d,2 h). Missing end times are automatically filled in from the start time of the following interval or from the simulation end.
This makes it possible, for example, to combine minute values for a design week with hourly values for the rest of the year.
Custom outputs
The collapsible Custom outputs section contains two tables:
Available outputs
The Available outputs table lists all output quantities that the solver offers for the current model. This list comes from the file <ProjectName>/var/output_reference_list.txt, which the solver generates during initialization. With Update output list, VICUS Buildings automatically runs a test initialization and re-reads the list. If the model has changed since the last update, the note “The output definition list is outdated, you should update the output list.” appears.
To narrow down the list, use the Name filter:, the Unit filter:, and type buttons per object type (All, Location, Zone, Construction, Window/Door, Schedule, Model, Network, Network element — depending on the model scope).
Objects and vector indices
By default, Write outputs for all objects is enabled: an added output definition then applies to all objects of the respective type. After clearing the checkbox, two lists appear:
- Objects — selection of the object IDs (for zones with the display name of the room) for which the quantity is to be written.
- Vector indices — for vector-valued quantities (e.g. quantities per model instance), additionally the selection of individual indices; only available when exactly one object is selected.
Use + to create an output definition from the selected quantity and the object/index selection.
Defined outputs
The Defined outputs table shows all manually defined outputs with the columns Quantity (output quantity), Object type, Object IDs, Vector IDs, Mean/Integral, and Output grid. Time handling and grid can be changed directly in the table: the available time handling options are None (instantaneous value), Mean (mean value), and Integral (integral over the output interval). Use - to remove definitions. If a definition refers to a deleted grid, it is marked as invalid.
Good to know:
Leave the default building outputs enabled and add individual quantities selectively — for example FluxHeatConductionA of a critical wall or the SolarShadingFactor of a window. For energy balances, the “Integral” time handling is the right choice: the solver integrates exactly over the output interval, independently of its internal time steps.