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Claude Workflow

This guide focuses on reliable tool-driven sessions in Claude clients.

Session Contract

Use this instruction style in Claude projects:

When editing EnergyPlus models, use idfkit-mcp tools instead of raw file edits.
Before writing: describe_object_type.
After writing: validate_model.
For simulation: ensure weather source first, then run_simulation.

Suggested Conversation Pattern

  1. Intent framing
  2. "Target: reduce heating loads in perimeter zones"
  3. Model context pull
  4. Read idfkit://model/summary resource
  5. list_objects(object_type="Zone")
  6. Schema-first changes
  7. describe_object_type for edited types
  8. Implementation
  9. batch_add_objects and update_object
  10. Safety checks
  11. validate_model
  12. Simulation + analysis
  13. download_weather_file
  14. run_simulation
  15. Read idfkit://simulation/results resource

Failure Recovery Pattern

When a call returns {"error": ...}:

  1. Keep prior successful steps unchanged.
  2. Read error details and adjust arguments.
  3. Re-run only failed step.
  4. Re-run validation after any fix.

Example Claude Prompt

Use idfkit-mcp to inspect and improve this model.
Workflow: summarize current model, add missing zone objects, validate,
resolve dangling references, save as ./out/fixed.idf,
run annual simulation with weather for Boston, and report key errors.