General User Interface Principles

The SolarFarmer user interface is designed to step the user through the process of configuring a site model in a logical and intuitive order whilst allowing easy access to any part of the model at any time.

The process is organised into 'chapters' symbolized by the large icons on the left of the SolarFarmer window (highlighted in red below). Each chapter is broken down into 'tasks' that appear to the right of the chapter icons when the chapter is selected highlighted (in green below).

Chapters and Tasks in the SolarFarmer user interface (click to enlarge)

Typically, the user will run through the chapters and the task sections within them from top to bottom.

Here's a quick overview of the functionality available in each chapter:

Icon	Chapter	Tasks
	Setup Site	Set the site's location and time zone Download/import map backgrounds and terrain Choose or generate a horizon line for the site
	Define Climate	Import solar data to use in the calculation Specify albedo values
	Define Shading Obstacles	Import 3D Sketchup objects (Collada format) to use for shading Create simple 3D regions that provide shading
	Define Components	Specify the components that will be used in the PV site: PV Modules, inverters, racks, trackers, inverter blocks, transformers Set default string lengths used in the layout
	Lay Out Plant	Lay out the racks/trackers in your site Add inverters and transformers and lay out strings of modules Connect inverters to transformers Review shading and tracker behaviour throughout a typical year
	Calculate Energy	Configure and run the energy yield calculation Review the results of the energy yield calculation using tables and the effects diagram
	Create Report	Create XML and Microsoft Word reports of the site data and energy yield results

Workbook

When choosing the site location, defining components and laying out the site, you can save the current state in what we call a workbook. This is the equivalent of a project or document in other software packages; files are saved with a *.sfw extension (SolarFarmer Workbook).

Working with the Map

See Working with the Map for more details and tips on working with the map in SolarFarmer.