Skip to content

What Are All These Output Files?

When running EnergyPlus using EP-Launch or from the command line, depending on the options selected, many different output files may be generated. The file extensions and file suffixes (added to the original file name prior to the file extension are shown below:

  • ERR -- list of errors and warnings
  • TABLE.HTML, TABLE.TXT, TABLE.TAB, TABLE.CSV, TABLE.XML -- tabulated report of the bin and monthly data in HTML, space delimited, tab delimited, comma delimited, or XML format. This is one of the primary output files.
  • CSV, TAB, or TXT -- time series output from the Output:Variable input object in a comma, tab, or space delimited format (generated by the ReadVarsESO postprocessor or directly from EnergyPlus using OutputControl:Files)
  • METER.CSV, METER.TAB, or METER.CSV File -- time series output from the Output:Meter input object in a comma, tab, or space delimited format (generated by the ReadVarsESO postprocessor or directly from EnergyPlus using OutputControl:Files)
  • SQL - sqlite3 output database format
  • EIO -- additional EnergyPlus results
  • RDD -- list of output variables available from the run
  • MDD -- list of output meters available from the run
  • MTD -- list of meter component variables
  • DXF -- drawing file in AutoCAD DXF format
  • AUDIT -- input file echo with input processor errors and warnings
  • BND -- HVAC system node and component connection details
  • DBG -- output from the debug command
  • EDD -- Energy Management System details
  • END - a single line synopsis of the simulation
  • EPMIDF -- clean idf file after EP-Macro processing
  • EPMDET -- EP-Macro detailed output with errors and warnings
  • ESO -- raw Output:Variable output before processing into CSV, TAB, or TXT files
  • MTR -- raw Output:Meter output before processing into CSV, TAB, or TXT files
  • SHD -- output related to shading
  • SLN -- output from "report, surfaces, lines"
  • SSZ -- system sizing details in a comma, tab, or space delimited format
  • ZSZ -- zone sizing details in a comma, tab, or space delimited format
  • MAP -- daylighting illuminance map
  • DFS - daylighting factors report
  • Screen.CSV - window screen transmittance map report
  • RVAUDIT - output from the ReadVarsESO post-processing program
  • SVG - HVAC Diagram related to the arrangement of HVAC components
  • SCI - surface cost information report
  • WRL -- drawing file in VRML (Virtual Reality Markup Language) format
  • Delight IN - DElight input generated from EnergyPlus processed input
  • Delight OUT -- Detailed DElight output
  • Delight ELDMP -- DElight reference point illuminance per time step
  • Delight DFDMP -- DElight warning and error messages
  • EXPIDF -- Expanded IDF when using HVACTemplate input objects
  • Group Error -- combined error files for a group run
  • VCpErr -- Transition program error file
  • Proc.CSV -- Simple statistics generated from CSVProc

Most of these output files are documented in the Output Files chapter of the OutputDetailsAndExamples document.

Don't be intimidated by the long list of files; you can do a lot in EnergyPlus with just the IDF input file, the TABLE.HTML file, and the ERR file. The building description, the detecting and solving of errors, and the most common primary outputs are found between these three files. Starting with these three files and branching out to others as needed is a good strategy for using EnergyPlus.