Inserting a heliodon object

Time Display

Select the method of time display; Samples shows the time as it is currently formatted

12/24 Hour

Select whether to display the time in 12-hour or 24-hour time format; in 12-hour format, the date automatically displays as Month/Day, and in 24-hour format, the date automatically displays as Day/Month

Colon/Dot

Sets the time to display with a colon or dot between the hour and minute

2D Graphic

Select a heliodon symbol from a library; a selected symbol is automatically imported into the current file and displays in the Resource Manager

Location

Locations are derived from text files that can be found in the heliodon cities folder in the Vectorworks application folder [Vectorworks]\Libraries\Defaults\Heliodon\Cities (see Concept: Resource libraries) or from georeferenced information (Architect or Landmark required).

Region text files with city, longitude, and latitude information can be added to the current set of files, or the information can be edited from this dialog box. Once a region has been selected, the corresponding text file is saved to the user folder; see Vectorworks preferences: User Folders pane.

Determine the location using the Document/Layer Georeferencing

(Architect or Landmark required)

If document georeferencing is enabled for the file or the layer, sets the heliodon location to the georeferenced location; the remaining heliodon settings update automatically to reflect the geolocation. See Specifying document georeferencing.

Region

Select the region from among the major regions of the world, or click Add New Region from the bottom of the Region list, to create a new region.

If you add a new region, name the region in the Add New Region dialog box, then click Edit City to enter location information.

City

Select a major city from within the specified region

Edit City

If you have different information for the currently selected city, its information can be edited; new cities can also be added to the current region. Any edits are saved to the user folder.

City

If updating the currently selected city, do not edit the city name; if adding a city, enter the new city name

Latitude/Longitude

Specifies the city’s global coordinates

North/South/East/West

Sets the latitude (North/South) and longitude (East/West) hemispheres

Time Zone

Select the city’s time zone based on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Add

Adds the new city to the selected region; the new city must have a unique name

Update

Updates the information of the selected city

Delete

Deletes the city from the selected region

Settings

Opens the Settings dialog box, to specify the heliodon parameters

Heliodon data

Displays the location, position, and time zone set for the heliodon

Show Solar Data

Displays solar information for the heliodon in the Object Info palette; select a Text Display option which includes “Data” to include the solar data in the heliodon text label

Daylight Savings

Select if Daylight Saving Time is in effect

Use Solar Time

Overrides the local time zone and daylight savings settings, using apparent solar time instead of mean solar time. When solar time is used, Daylight Saving Time cannot also be in effect.

Time/Day/Month

Specify the time of day, the day of the month, and the month, or select a winter or summer solstice or spring or autumn equinox from the Month list.

The Time can also be specified as sunrise, dawn, midday, noon, dusk, sunset, or midnight.

Sun Brightness

Sets the brightness of the directional light representing the sun

Renderworks Only

A Renderworks render mode or background is required for the four next parameters

Soft Shadows

Creates soft shadows when rendering shadows with a Renderworks mode.

Select this setting to display shadows in a rendering, but deselect it to conduct a shadow analysis.

Physical Sun

Creates a physical sun with color and brightness that is controlled by the heliodon settings (when rendering with a Renderworks mode); deselect the option to use a white directional light, set to 100% brightness

Physical Sky

Allows the heliodon settings, such as date, time, and use of warm colors, to control a physical sky Renderworks background, when one is applied (see Creating physical sky backgrounds). This creates more realistic solar animations, because the sky reflects the time of day and month of the year as the animation proceeds.

Deselect this option to view the physical sky with bright, midday settings.

Warm Colors

Adds a rosier, richer appearance to physical sun and sky colors

Show Shadow Angle Calculator

Displays additional options for calculating shadow angles for selected walls

Object Display

Select how to display the heliodon object in 2D and 3D views; the heliodon symbol is a 2D graphic.

2D Graphic + 3D Light: Displays as a 2D graphic in Top/Plan view and as a light in 3D views

2D Graphic Only: Displays as a planar graphic in all views

3D Light Only: Displays as a light object; does not use a 2D graphic.

Text Display

Select the information to include in the heliodon’s text label; move the label control point to adjust the label position.

None: Does not display a text label

Time + Location + Date: Displays the time, city, and date

Time + Location + Date + Data: Displays the time, city, date, and solar data including solar time

Time + Date Only: Displays the time and date

Time + Date + Data: Displays the time, date, and solar data

Data Only: Displays the solar data

Solar Animation

Opens the Solar Animation dialog box; see Creating solar animations