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Using eppy:

In [1]:
import eppy.EPlusInterfaceFunctions.parse_idd as parse_idd

iddfile = "/Applications/EnergyPlus-8-6-0/Energy+.idd"
IDF.setiddname(iddfile)

x = parse_idd.extractidddata(iddfile)

useful = x[2]

The most useful (IMHO) is the second element of the 4-tuple x

That's a list of each idd object, each idd object being a list of dict where the first element (index 0) is the object itself, and the following are each field.

Example:

In [2]: useful[6]
Out[2]:
[{'format': ['singleLine'],
  'group': 'Simulation Parameters',
  'idfobj': 'SurfaceConvectionAlgorithm:Inside',
  'memo': ['Default indoor surface heat transfer convection algorithm to be used for all zones'],
  'unique-object': ['']},
 {'default': ['TARP'],
  'field': ['Algorithm'],
  'key': ['Simple', 'TARP', 'CeilingDiffuser', 'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm'],
  'note': ['Simple = constant value natural convection (ASHRAE)',
   'TARP = variable natural convection based on temperature difference (ASHRAE, Walton)',
   'CeilingDiffuser = ACH-based forced and mixed convection correlations',
   'for ceiling diffuser configuration with simple natural convection limit',
   'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm = dynamic selection of convection models based on conditions'],
  'type': ['choice']}]

Here's a way you would print each object and their fields (there's much more info) for the first few objects of the idd

In [3]:
for k in useful[2:5]:
    print(k[0]['idfobj'])
    for j in k[1:]:
        print("---- {}".format(j['field'][0]))

Out[3]:
Version
---- Version Identifier
SimulationControl
---- Do Zone Sizing Calculation
---- Do System Sizing Calculation
---- Do Plant Sizing Calculation
---- Run Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Run Simulation for Weather File Run Periods
---- Do HVAC Sizing Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Maximum Number of HVAC Sizing Simulation Passes
Building
---- Name
---- North Axis
---- Terrain
---- Loads Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Temperature Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Solar Distribution
---- Maximum Number of Warmup Days
---- Minimum Number of Warmup Days

Using
Option 1: Python, using eppy:

In [1]: import eppy.EPlusInterfaceFunctions.parse_idd as parse_idd iddfile = "/Applications/EnergyPlus-8-6-0/Energy+.idd" IDF.setiddname(iddfile) x = parse_idd.extractidddata(iddfile) useful = x[2]

The most useful (IMHO) is the second element of the 4-tuple x

That's a list of each idd object, each idd object being a list of dict where the first element (index 0) is the object itself, and the following are each field.

Example:

In [2]: useful[6] Out[2]: [{'format': ['singleLine'], 'group': 'Simulation Parameters', 'idfobj': 'SurfaceConvectionAlgorithm:Inside', 'memo': ['Default indoor surface heat transfer convection algorithm to be used for all zones'], 'unique-object': ['']}, {'default': ['TARP'], 'field': ['Algorithm'], 'key': ['Simple', 'TARP', 'CeilingDiffuser', 'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm'], 'note': ['Simple = constant value natural convection (ASHRAE)', 'TARP = variable natural convection based on temperature difference (ASHRAE, Walton)', 'CeilingDiffuser = ACH-based forced and mixed convection correlations', 'for ceiling diffuser configuration with simple natural convection limit', 'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm = dynamic selection of convection models based on conditions'], 'type': ['choice']}]

Here's a way you would print each object and their fields (there's much more info) for the first few objects of the idd

In [3]: for k in useful[2:5]: print(k[0]['idfobj']) for j in k[1:]: print("---- {}".format(j['field'][0])) Out[3]: Version ---- Version Identifier SimulationControl ---- Do Zone Sizing Calculation ---- Do System Sizing Calculation ---- Do Plant Sizing Calculation ---- Run Simulation for Sizing Periods ---- Run Simulation for Weather File Run Periods ---- Do HVAC Sizing Simulation for Sizing Periods ---- Maximum Number of HVAC Sizing Simulation Passes Building ---- Name ---- North Axis ---- Terrain ---- Loads Convergence Tolerance Value ---- Temperature Convergence Tolerance Value ---- Solar Distribution ---- Maximum Number of Warmup Days ---- Minimum Number of Warmup Days

Option 2: Using OpenStudio

This will print each object and its field, as well as save it into a hash (key = idd object name, value = list of fields)

h = {} factory = OpenStudio::IddFileAndFactoryWrapper.new("EnergyPlus".to_IddFileType) factory.objects.each do |obj| n = obj.numFields l = [] puts obj.name.to_s obj.nonextensibleFields.each do |field| puts "---- #{field.name.to_s}" l << field.name.to_s end if l.length < n puts "ERROR, missing fields" end h[obj.name.to_s] = l end

Option 1: Python, using eppy:

In [1]:
import eppy.EPlusInterfaceFunctions.parse_idd as parse_idd

iddfile = "/Applications/EnergyPlus-8-6-0/Energy+.idd"
IDF.setiddname(iddfile)

x = parse_idd.extractidddata(iddfile)

useful = x[2]

The most useful (IMHO) is the second element of the 4-tuple x

That's a list of each idd object, each idd object being a list of dict where the first element (index 0) is the object itself, and the following are each field.

Example:

In [2]: useful[6]
Out[2]:
[{'format': ['singleLine'],
  'group': 'Simulation Parameters',
  'idfobj': 'SurfaceConvectionAlgorithm:Inside',
  'memo': ['Default indoor surface heat transfer convection algorithm to be used for all zones'],
  'unique-object': ['']},
 {'default': ['TARP'],
  'field': ['Algorithm'],
  'key': ['Simple', 'TARP', 'CeilingDiffuser', 'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm'],
  'note': ['Simple = constant value natural convection (ASHRAE)',
   'TARP = variable natural convection based on temperature difference (ASHRAE, Walton)',
   'CeilingDiffuser = ACH-based forced and mixed convection correlations',
   'for ceiling diffuser configuration with simple natural convection limit',
   'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm = dynamic selection of convection models based on conditions'],
  'type': ['choice']}]

Here's a way you would print each object and their fields (there's much more info) for the first few objects of the idd

In [3]:
for k in useful[2:5]:
    print(k[0]['idfobj'])
    for j in k[1:]:
        print("---- {}".format(j['field'][0]))

Out[3]:
Version
---- Version Identifier
SimulationControl
---- Do Zone Sizing Calculation
---- Do System Sizing Calculation
---- Do Plant Sizing Calculation
---- Run Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Run Simulation for Weather File Run Periods
---- Do HVAC Sizing Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Maximum Number of HVAC Sizing Simulation Passes
Building
---- Name
---- North Axis
---- Terrain
---- Loads Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Temperature Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Solar Distribution
---- Maximum Number of Warmup Days
---- Minimum Number of Warmup Days

Option 2: Using OpenStudio

This will print each object and its field, as well as save it into a hash (key = idd object name, value = list of fields)

h = {}

factory = OpenStudio::IddFileAndFactoryWrapper.new("EnergyPlus".to_IddFileType)
factory.objects.each do |obj|
  n = obj.numFields
  l = []
  puts obj.name.to_s
  obj.nonextensibleFields.each do |field|
    puts "---- #{field.name.to_s}"
    l << field.name.to_s
  end
  if l.length < n
    puts "ERROR, missing fields"
  end
  h[obj.name.to_s] = l
end

Of course you can access more info out of each field, for example field.properties.required, field.properties.note, field.properties.units.get, etc, etc

Option 1: Python, using eppy:

In [1]:
import eppy.EPlusInterfaceFunctions.parse_idd as parse_idd

iddfile = "/Applications/EnergyPlus-8-6-0/Energy+.idd"
IDF.setiddname(iddfile)

x = parse_idd.extractidddata(iddfile)

useful = x[2]

The most useful (IMHO) is the second element of the 4-tuple x

That's a list of each idd object, each idd object being a list of dict where the first element (index 0) is the object itself, and the following are each field.

Example:

In [2]: useful[6]
Out[2]:
[{'format': ['singleLine'],
  'group': 'Simulation Parameters',
  'idfobj': 'SurfaceConvectionAlgorithm:Inside',
  'memo': ['Default indoor surface heat transfer convection algorithm to be used for all zones'],
  'unique-object': ['']},
 {'default': ['TARP'],
  'field': ['Algorithm'],
  'key': ['Simple', 'TARP', 'CeilingDiffuser', 'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm'],
  'note': ['Simple = constant value natural convection (ASHRAE)',
   'TARP = variable natural convection based on temperature difference (ASHRAE, Walton)',
   'CeilingDiffuser = ACH-based forced and mixed convection correlations',
   'for ceiling diffuser configuration with simple natural convection limit',
   'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm = dynamic selection of convection models based on conditions'],
  'type': ['choice']}]

Here's a way you would print each object and their fields (there's much more info) for the first few objects of the idd

In [3]:
for k in useful[2:5]:
    print(k[0]['idfobj'])
    for j in k[1:]:
        print("---- {}".format(j['field'][0]))

Out[3]:
Version
---- Version Identifier
SimulationControl
---- Do Zone Sizing Calculation
---- Do System Sizing Calculation
---- Do Plant Sizing Calculation
---- Run Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Run Simulation for Weather File Run Periods
---- Do HVAC Sizing Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Maximum Number of HVAC Sizing Simulation Passes
Building
---- Name
---- North Axis
---- Terrain
---- Loads Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Temperature Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Solar Distribution
---- Maximum Number of Warmup Days
---- Minimum Number of Warmup Days

Option 2: Using Ruby, using OpenStudio

This will print each object and its field, as well as save it into a hash (key = idd object name, value = list of fields)

h = {}

factory = OpenStudio::IddFileAndFactoryWrapper.new("EnergyPlus".to_IddFileType)
factory.objects.each do |obj|
  n = obj.numFields
  l = []
  puts obj.name.to_s
  obj.nonextensibleFields.each do |field|
    puts "---- #{field.name.to_s}"
    l << field.name.to_s
  end
  if l.length < n
    puts "ERROR, missing fields"
  end
  h[obj.name.to_s] = l
end

Of course you can access more info out of each field, for example field.properties.required, field.properties.note, field.properties.units.get, etc, etc

Option 1: Python, using eppy:

In [1]:
import eppy.EPlusInterfaceFunctions.parse_idd as parse_idd

iddfile = "/Applications/EnergyPlus-8-6-0/Energy+.idd"
IDF.setiddname(iddfile)

x = parse_idd.extractidddata(iddfile)

useful = x[2]

The most useful (IMHO) is the second element of the 4-tuple x

That's a list of each idd object, each idd object being a list of dict where the first element (index 0) is the object itself, and the following are each field.

Example:

In [2]: useful[6]
Out[2]:
[{'format': ['singleLine'],
  'group': 'Simulation Parameters',
  'idfobj': 'SurfaceConvectionAlgorithm:Inside',
  'memo': ['Default indoor surface heat transfer convection algorithm to be used for all zones'],
  'unique-object': ['']},
 {'default': ['TARP'],
  'field': ['Algorithm'],
  'key': ['Simple', 'TARP', 'CeilingDiffuser', 'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm'],
  'note': ['Simple = constant value natural convection (ASHRAE)',
   'TARP = variable natural convection based on temperature difference (ASHRAE, Walton)',
   'CeilingDiffuser = ACH-based forced and mixed convection correlations',
   'for ceiling diffuser configuration with simple natural convection limit',
   'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm = dynamic selection of convection models based on conditions'],
  'type': ['choice']}]

Here's a way you would print each object and their fields (there's much more info) for the first few objects of the idd

In [3]:
for k in useful[2:5]:
    print(k[0]['idfobj'])
    for j in k[1:]:
        print("---- {}".format(j['field'][0]))

Out[3]:
Version
---- Version Identifier
SimulationControl
---- Do Zone Sizing Calculation
---- Do System Sizing Calculation
---- Do Plant Sizing Calculation
---- Run Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Run Simulation for Weather File Run Periods
---- Do HVAC Sizing Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Maximum Number of HVAC Sizing Simulation Passes
Building
---- Name
---- North Axis
---- Terrain
---- Loads Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Temperature Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Solar Distribution
---- Maximum Number of Warmup Days
---- Minimum Number of Warmup Days

Option 2: Ruby, using OpenStudio

This will print each object and its field, as well as save it into a hash (key = idd object name, value = list of fields)

h = {}

factory = OpenStudio::IddFileAndFactoryWrapper.new("EnergyPlus".to_IddFileType)
factory.objects.each do |obj|
  n = obj.numFields
  l = []
  puts obj.name.to_s
  obj.nonextensibleFields.each do |field|
    puts "---- #{field.name.to_s}"
    l << field.name.to_s
  end
  if l.length < n
    puts "ERROR, missing fields"
  end
  h[obj.name.to_s] = l
end

Of course you can access more info out of each field, for example field.properties.required, field.properties.note, field.properties.units.get, etc, etc

Option 3: using the new JSON input dictionary (JDD), using either Python or Ruby

E+ 8.7 release is in preparation and will include a new "JDD" for JSON input Data Dictionary, the JSON equivalent of the IDD. Currently this is on a separate development branch, but here's the input_processor_refactor/idd/Energy+.jdd.in.

I'm gonna propose a Python and a Ruby version to parse this file, print the fields for each object as well as store a simple dict/hash where the key is the object type, and the value is a list of the fields for each object. Of course, there's way more information in the JDD, use it as you want.

3.a Python

import json
import urllib.request 

jdd_url = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NREL/EnergyPlus/input_processor_refactor/idd/Energy%2B.jdd.in'

jdd_txt = urllib.request.urlopen(jdd_url).read().decode('utf8')
jdd = json.loads(jdd_txt)

jdd_objects = jdd['properties']

# Dict to store results: key is the object type, value is a list of fields
simple_dict = {}
for idd_obj_name, idd_obj in jdd_objects.items():
    print(idd_obj_name)
    list_fields = jdd_objects['Wall:Interzone']['legacy_idd']['fields']
    simple_dict[idd_obj_name] = list_fields
    print('\n'.join('---- {}'.format(item) for item in list_fields))

3.b Ruby

require 'json'
require 'open-uri'

jdd_url = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NREL/EnergyPlus/input_processor_refactor/idd/Energy%2B.jdd.in'

data_hash = JSON.parse open(jdd_url).read

simple_h = {}
data_hash['properties'].each do |idd_obj_name, idd_obj|
  list_fields = idd_obj['legacy_idd']['fields']
  simple_h[idd_obj_name] = list_fields
  puts idd_obj_name
  l.each {|e| puts "---- #{e}"}
end

Option 1: Python, using eppy:

In [1]:
import eppy.EPlusInterfaceFunctions.parse_idd as parse_idd

iddfile = "/Applications/EnergyPlus-8-6-0/Energy+.idd"
IDF.setiddname(iddfile)

x = parse_idd.extractidddata(iddfile)

useful = x[2]

The most useful (IMHO) is the second element of the 4-tuple x

That's a list of each idd object, each idd object being a list of dict where the first element (index 0) is the object itself, and the following are each field.

Example:

In [2]: useful[6]
Out[2]:
[{'format': ['singleLine'],
  'group': 'Simulation Parameters',
  'idfobj': 'SurfaceConvectionAlgorithm:Inside',
  'memo': ['Default indoor surface heat transfer convection algorithm to be used for all zones'],
  'unique-object': ['']},
 {'default': ['TARP'],
  'field': ['Algorithm'],
  'key': ['Simple', 'TARP', 'CeilingDiffuser', 'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm'],
  'note': ['Simple = constant value natural convection (ASHRAE)',
   'TARP = variable natural convection based on temperature difference (ASHRAE, Walton)',
   'CeilingDiffuser = ACH-based forced and mixed convection correlations',
   'for ceiling diffuser configuration with simple natural convection limit',
   'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm = dynamic selection of convection models based on conditions'],
  'type': ['choice']}]

Here's a way you would print each object and their fields (there's much more info) for the first few objects of the idd

In [3]:
for k in useful[2:5]:
    print(k[0]['idfobj'])
    for j in k[1:]:
        print("---- {}".format(j['field'][0]))

Out[3]:
Version
---- Version Identifier
SimulationControl
---- Do Zone Sizing Calculation
---- Do System Sizing Calculation
---- Do Plant Sizing Calculation
---- Run Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Run Simulation for Weather File Run Periods
---- Do HVAC Sizing Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Maximum Number of HVAC Sizing Simulation Passes
Building
---- Name
---- North Axis
---- Terrain
---- Loads Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Temperature Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Solar Distribution
---- Maximum Number of Warmup Days
---- Minimum Number of Warmup Days

Option 2: Ruby, using OpenStudio

This will print each object and its field, as well as save it into a hash (key = idd object name, value = list of fields)

h = {}

factory = OpenStudio::IddFileAndFactoryWrapper.new("EnergyPlus".to_IddFileType)
factory.objects.each do |obj|
  n = obj.numFields
  l = []
  puts obj.name.to_s
  obj.nonextensibleFields.each do |field|
    puts "---- #{field.name.to_s}"
    l << field.name.to_s
  end
  if l.length < n
    puts "ERROR, missing fields"
  end
  h[obj.name.to_s] = l
end

Of course you can access more info out of each field, for example field.properties.required, field.properties.note, field.properties.units.get, etc, etc

Option 3: using the new JSON input dictionary (JDD), using either Python or Ruby

3.a Python

import json
import urllib.request 

jdd_url = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NREL/EnergyPlus/input_processor_refactor/idd/Energy%2B.jdd.in'

jdd_txt = urllib.request.urlopen(jdd_url).read().decode('utf8')
jdd = json.loads(jdd_txt)

jdd_objects = jdd['properties']

# Dict to store results: key is the object type, value is a list of fields
simple_dict = {}
for idd_obj_name, idd_obj in jdd_objects.items():
    print(idd_obj_name)
    list_fields = jdd_objects['Wall:Interzone']['legacy_idd']['fields']
    simple_dict[idd_obj_name] = list_fields
    print('\n'.join('---- {}'.format(item) for item in list_fields))

3.b Ruby

require 'json'
require 'open-uri'

jdd_url = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NREL/EnergyPlus/input_processor_refactor/idd/Energy%2B.jdd.in'

data_hash = JSON.parse open(jdd_url).read

simple_h = {}
data_hash['properties'].each do |idd_obj_name, idd_obj|
  list_fields = idd_obj['legacy_idd']['fields']
  simple_h[idd_obj_name] = list_fields
  puts idd_obj_name
  l.each {|e| puts "---- #{e}"}
end

Option 4: Using IDF Editor

In IDF Editor, open an new file that contains no objects, and in the HELP menu chose "Create objectList.txt":

image description

This creates a file that lists all the objects by group. The file ends up in the same directory as the IDF Editor program (c:\EnergyPlusV8-6-0\Preprocess\IDFEditor).

image description

By the way, if you do the same procedure with a file with objects, the number of objects shows up where the dashes are shown.

Option 1: Python, using eppy:

In [1]:
import eppy.EPlusInterfaceFunctions.parse_idd as parse_idd

iddfile = "/Applications/EnergyPlus-8-6-0/Energy+.idd"
IDF.setiddname(iddfile)

x = parse_idd.extractidddata(iddfile)

useful = x[2]

The most useful (IMHO) is the second element of the 4-tuple x

That's a list of each idd object, each idd object being a list of dict where the first element (index 0) is the object itself, and the following are each field.

Example:

In [2]: useful[6]
Out[2]:
[{'format': ['singleLine'],
  'group': 'Simulation Parameters',
  'idfobj': 'SurfaceConvectionAlgorithm:Inside',
  'memo': ['Default indoor surface heat transfer convection algorithm to be used for all zones'],
  'unique-object': ['']},
 {'default': ['TARP'],
  'field': ['Algorithm'],
  'key': ['Simple', 'TARP', 'CeilingDiffuser', 'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm'],
  'note': ['Simple = constant value natural convection (ASHRAE)',
   'TARP = variable natural convection based on temperature difference (ASHRAE, Walton)',
   'CeilingDiffuser = ACH-based forced and mixed convection correlations',
   'for ceiling diffuser configuration with simple natural convection limit',
   'AdaptiveConvectionAlgorithm = dynamic selection of convection models based on conditions'],
  'type': ['choice']}]

Here's a way you would print each object and their fields (there's much more info) for the first few objects of the idd

In [3]:
for k in useful[2:5]:
    print(k[0]['idfobj'])
    for j in k[1:]:
        print("---- {}".format(j['field'][0]))

Out[3]:
Version
---- Version Identifier
SimulationControl
---- Do Zone Sizing Calculation
---- Do System Sizing Calculation
---- Do Plant Sizing Calculation
---- Run Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Run Simulation for Weather File Run Periods
---- Do HVAC Sizing Simulation for Sizing Periods
---- Maximum Number of HVAC Sizing Simulation Passes
Building
---- Name
---- North Axis
---- Terrain
---- Loads Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Temperature Convergence Tolerance Value
---- Solar Distribution
---- Maximum Number of Warmup Days
---- Minimum Number of Warmup Days

Option 2: Ruby, using OpenStudio

This will print each object and its field, as well as save it into a hash (key = idd object name, value = list of fields)

h = {}

factory = OpenStudio::IddFileAndFactoryWrapper.new("EnergyPlus".to_IddFileType)
factory.objects.each do |obj|
  n = obj.numFields
  l = []
  puts obj.name.to_s
  obj.nonextensibleFields.each do |field|
    puts "---- #{field.name.to_s}"
    l << field.name.to_s
  end
  if l.length < n
    puts "ERROR, missing fields"
  end
  h[obj.name.to_s] = l
end

Of course you can access more info out of each field, for example field.properties.required, field.properties.note, field.properties.units.get, etc, etc

Option 3: using the new JSON input dictionary (JDD), using either Python or Ruby

E+ 8.7 release is in preparation and will include a new "JDD" for JSON input Data Dictionary, the JSON equivalent of the IDD. Currently this is on a separate development branch, but here's the input_processor_refactor/idd/Energy+.jdd.in.

I'm gonna propose a Python and a Ruby version to parse this file, print the fields for each object as well as store a simple dict/hash where the key is the object type, and the value is a list of the fields for each object. Of course, there's way more information in the JDD, use it as you want.
3.a Python

import json import urllib.request jdd_url = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NREL/EnergyPlus/input_processor_refactor/idd/Energy%2B.jdd.in' jdd_txt = urllib.request.urlopen(jdd_url).read().decode('utf8') jdd = json.loads(jdd_txt) jdd_objects = jdd['properties'] # Dict to store results: key is the object type, value is a list of fields simple_dict = {} for idd_obj_name, idd_obj in jdd_objects.items(): print(idd_obj_name) list_fields = jdd_objects['Wall:Interzone']['legacy_idd']['fields'] simple_dict[idd_obj_name] = list_fields print('\n'.join('---- {}'.format(item) for item in list_fields))
3.b Ruby

require 'json' require 'open-uri' jdd_url = 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NREL/EnergyPlus/input_processor_refactor/idd/Energy%2B.jdd.in' data_hash = JSON.parse open(jdd_url).read simple_h = {} data_hash['properties'].each do |idd_obj_name, idd_obj| list_fields = idd_obj['legacy_idd']['fields'] simple_h[idd_obj_name] = list_fields puts idd_obj_name l.each {|e| puts "---- #{e}"} end

Option 4: Using IDF Editor

In IDF Editor, open an new file that contains no objects, and in the HELP menu chose "Create objectList.txt":

This creates a file that lists all the objects by group. The file ends up in the same directory as the IDF Editor program (c:\EnergyPlusV8-6-0\Preprocess\IDFEditor).

By the way, if you do the same procedure with a file with objects, the number of objects shows up where the dashes are shown.