SpotlightPlacing lighting pipe objects

Tool

Tool set

Lighting Pipe

LightingPipe_tool.png

Rigging/Braceworks

Insert and configure a lighting pipe object with the Lighting Pipe tool. Lighting pipe objects function as rigging objects, so lighting devices and other loads can attach directly to the lighting pipe. Lighting pipes support full 3D rotation, and they can be used to create schematic views.

In addition to individual objects created using the Lighting Pipe tool, you can access a variety of standard lighting pipe resources and custom styles (see Concept: Plug-in object styles).

Mode

Description

Standard Insertion

Inserts the pipe with two clicks, to place and set the rotation

Line Insertion

Inserts the pipe as a line to define the length

Vertex

Inserts the pipe using the polyline creation options

Length

For Standard Insertion mode, sets the length of the pipe

Align Left

(Standard Insertion mode only)

Inserts the pipe with a left-aligned insertion point

Align Center

(Standard Insertion mode only)

Inserts the pipe with a center insertion point

Align Right

(Standard Insertion mode only)

Inserts the pipe with a right-aligned insertion point

Vertical

(Standard Insertion mode only)

Inserts a vertical pipe

Vertex

(Line Insertion mode only)

Inserts a pipe from its start point to its end point

Center

(Line Insertion mode only)

Inserts a line from its center point

Polyline creation options

(Vertex mode only)

For Vertex mode, selects the method for drawing the polyline upon which the object is based; see Creating polylines

Style

Opens the Resource Selector to select a symbol for placement; double-click a resource to activate it

Automatic Numbering

When toggled on, enables automatic numbering as objects are placed

Automatic Numbering Preferences

Sets the automatic numbering preferences

Preferences

Opens the object properties dialog box to set the default preferences for lighting pipes

To insert a lighting pipe object:

Click the tool.

Do one of the following:

Click Style on the Tool bar to select a resource from the Resource Selector.

Click Preferences to open the object properties dialog box and specify the tool’s default parameters.

The parameters can be edited later from the Object Info palette.

Do one of the following:

Click Standard Insertion mode and the needed insertion point alignment submode. Set the pipe Length.

Click Line Insertion mode and either click Vertex submode to place the pipe from start to end points, or Center submode to place it from the center to an end.

Click Vertex mode and use the polyline creation modes to insert the pipe.

Alternatively, create a polyline and then select the Create Objects from Shapes command (see Creating objects from shapes).

Click in the drawing area to draw the lighting pipe according to the modes selected.

Optionally, create a style resource from the object (see Creating plug-in object styles).

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Trim Height

Specifies the height of the lowest point on the object; it is the absolute height of the object compared to the ground level. Trim height could be different from the Z height if the object is rotated with its its roll or hanging angles, or if its insertion point is not the lowest part of the object.

Roll Angle

Rotates the lighting pipe on its X axis; the pipe rotates around its insertion point

Hanging Angle

Rotates the lighting pipe on its Y axis; the pipe rotates around its insertion point.

When this angle is adjusted, attached load objects may appear to overlap in Top/Plan view.

Rotation

Rotates the lighting pipe on its Z axis; the pipe rotates around its insertion point

Style

Replace, remove, or edit the current style, or create a new plug-in object style for this object.

Editing a style changes all instances in the file that use the style.

Hide Style Parameters

Hides the parameters that are set by style; these cannot be edited from the dialog box or Object Info palette

General

 

Shape

 

Insertion Point

Select the insertion point of the object, without moving the object

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.)

Show Direction

Places a directional indicator on the lighting pipe

Arc Radius

For single-segment curved pipes, specifies the radius of the arc

Data

 

Position Name

Enter a name for identification and reporting purposes. When the lighting pipe is used as a hanging position, this name automatically populates the Position field of any attached load objects. 

Index

Specifies a unique identifier for the object, which is combined with the Position Name for identification and reporting

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

Render Profile

Select the 3D profile of the pipe; this setting affects rendering speed (shapes other than round may render more quickly)

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

Smooth Corners

Draws a pipe with rounded rather than mitered corners

End Marker

Specifies whether to display the end(s) of the pipe with an end marker in Top/Plan view

Show Centerline Snap Guide

Displays a centerline in 3D view; in Top/Plan view, the centerline displays when the Line Type is set to Double

Tick Mark

 

Display ticks as

Choose how to display evenly-spaced marks to assist with lighting device placement; all options except None also provide master snap points along the lighting pipe when hovering over it.

Centers

Specifies the distance between tick mark centers

Snap intervals between ticks

Specifies the distance between master snap points

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

LightingDesign103760.png 

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 Snapping to the grid); this does not change the tick mark spacing but it may change the Offset value

Classes

 

Use Standard Classes

Opens the Use Standard Classes dialog box to set the class prefix used by the pop-up class settings below.

Select Existing class to use an existing class from the document as a prefix. Select Other prefix to create a new custom prefix without creating the class.

List of lighting pipe parts

To control appearance and visibility, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Lighting Pipe Class> to place the part attributes in the same class as the lighting pipe object.

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

Vertex Parameters

Edits the pipe vertices; see Editing vertex-based objects

Equipment Subparts

Lists the subparts that make up the object. These subparts are counted and reported separately in equipment and inventory lists.

The parameters must be selected for display for this type of object in Spotlight preferences: Inventory pane.

Equipment Virtual Parts

Virtual parts are associated with an object and are reported in equipment and inventory lists, but do not display in the drawing. After adding virtual parts, they are listed in the Object Info palette.

Edit Virtual Parts

Opens the Virtual Parts dialog box to add virtual parts to the object; see Managing virtual parts and independent virtual parts

Assign Sources

Opens the Assign Sources dialog box to assign the object and its subparts and virtual parts to an inventory source; see Assigning equipment to an inventory

Inserting hanging positions

Numbering objects at placement

Concept: Hanging positions

Concept: Rigging objects

Connecting rigging objects

Concept: Braceworks structural analysis

 

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