Placing Lighting Pipe Objects

For Braceworks calculations (Braceworks required), the lighting pipe is considered to have a rigid cross section.

The first time you use the tool in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default properties. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

Parameter	Description
Total Pipe Length	Specifies the total length of the lighting pipe; for a single-segment lighting pipe, the length can be edited by changing this value. (Change the segment length or edit multi-segment pipes with the Reshape tool.)
Arc Radius	For single-segment curved pipes, specifies the radius of the arc
Position Name	Enter the name to be used for the symbol when converting the pipe to a hanging position, and also for identification and reporting purposes
Index	Specifies a unique identifier for the object, which is combined with the Name for identification and reporting purposes
Location	Optionally, specifies the location for use in reports
Pipe
Draw Pipe	Shows or hides the 2D component of the lighting pipe
Line Type	Select either a single or double line for Top/Plan views
Diameter	Sets the pipe diameter for all views
Construction Material	Select the material (aluminum, steel, and so on) of the pipe
Wall Thickness	Specifies the thickness of the pipe wall
Total Weight	Displays the total weight of the lighting pipe based on its Total Pipe Length and Construction Material
End Marker	Specifies whether to display the end(s) of the pipe with an end marker in Top/Plan view
Tick Mark
Draw Tick Marks	Creates evenly-spaced marks to assist with lighting instrument placement
Draw Loci	Adds a 2D and 3D locus at the tick mark positions for visibility in 3D views
Centers	Specifies the distance between tick mark centers
Centered on	Spaces the tick marks based on the total length of the pipe, or based on each segment of a pipe that is considered divided into two equal sections
Origin	Starts the tick mark placement at the center of the pipe or split equally from the center of the pipe
Type	Select Line or Dot as the 2D tick mark indicator
Size	Specifies the length of line tick marks or the diameter of dot tick marks
Gap Length	Adds a gap on either side of the tick mark; specify the gap length
Offset	Specify a positive or negative value to shift the tick marks right or left from their centers
Align Tick Marks to Grid	Aligns the center tick mark with the snap grid (see Grid Snapping); this does not change the tick mark spacing but it may change the Offset value
Footprint/3D
Show Footprint	Creates a 2D projection of the 3D component in Top/Plan view; this is useful if the lighting pipe is offset or rotated
Align 3D with Footprint	When selected, aligns the 3D component and the footprint in 3D views. This is the default behavior for the hybrid object to appear correctly in both 2D and 3D views. Deselecting this option and setting offset and rotation values is useful only for workflows where a hybrid appearance is not critical; however, lights placed in one view may not appear positioned correctly in all views.
Origin Offset X/Y	Offsets the 3D component from its origin along the X/Y axes
Rotation	Rotates the 3D component about its origin
I Rotation	Rotates the 3D component along the I axis (parallel to the width)
J Rotation	Rotates the 3D component along the J axis (perpendicular to the lighting pipe); a positive value pivots the pipe up, away from the ground
Classes	Opens the Classes dialog box, to specify class naming for the various portions of the lighting pipe. This allows the pipe, tick mark, end marker, and footprint to be set to visible, grayed, or invisible. Use the suggested standard class, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Lighting Pipe Class> to place the lighting pipe element in the same class as the lighting pipe. ● Class Prefix: Specifies an optional default root class naming standard for all lighting pipe parts; click Use Standard Classes to begin all lighting pipe class names with the prefix, so that they are sorted together. ● Use Standard Classes: Sets the class names for all lighting pipe elements to the default suggested standard names, using the Class Prefix if there is one. ● Lighting pipe elements: For each portion of the lighting pipe, specifies the class name standard; the class names shown here are applied to the elements.
Settings	Opens the Lighting Pipe Settings dialog box, to set the default class for the lighting pipe. Select the Make default for new documents option to always use the specified class as the default class for lighting pipe objects in new files.
Select Truss System	Selects the current lighting pipe and any other connected structural elements in the system
Convert to Hanging Position	Selects the entire system, including the lighting pipe and any connected structural elements, for conversion to one or more hanging positions. Any attached loads are associated with the created hanging position(s); see Creating a Hanging Position Object.
Vertex Parameters	Edits the pipe vertices; see Editing Vertex-Based Objects