Wow, this tool is insane. It is way over my head, the documentation for creating an input file and working with the output file is 2263 pages long. ...and that is just one section of the documentation. It wasn't until I started reading through the documentation that I realized that it was designed for programmers to create a user interface of their own for it and use it that way. The example file creation might be helpful but with all the work I might as well go back to trying to track down the Manual J again for heat and cooling load calculations. Too bad my library has it, shows it checked in but it doesn't exist on the shelf. Being that HVAC contractors are vultures in my area probably not wanting a single person other than them to use the Manual J, I figure they probably took the book and buried it amongst some other section where it shouldn't be so nobody can find it as its the only copy in the entire counties library system of 40+ libraries.
If someone ends up creating a WYSIWYG-style UI for it, I'd be all over that but until now I'll keep air sealing and insulating the attic and relying on an HVAC contractor if I ever need to replace the furnace or A/C and use my own judgement to see if theirs is anywhere near where I think it should be but they better show me their Manual J calcs.
