Lighting: LightPro

User Guide

IES Virtual Environment

Copyright © 2015 Integrated Environmental Solutions Limited. All rights reserved.

No part of the manual is to be copied or reproduced in any form without the express agreement
of Integrated Environmental Solutions Limited.
Contents

1. Introduction to LightPro.............................................................................................................. 4
2. Lighting Database ....................................................................................................................... 5
3. Menus ........................................................................................................................................ 6
3.1. File Menu ............................................................................................................................. 6
3.2. Edit Menu ............................................................................................................................ 7
3.2.1. Undo 7
3.2.2. Redo 7
3.2.3. Site Rotation ..........................................................................................................................................................7
3.2.4. Selection Set ..........................................................................................................................................................7
3.2.5. Output for CostPlan...............................................................................................................................................8
3.2.6. Grid settings ..........................................................................................................................................................8
3.2.7. Set grid origin ........................................................................................................................................................8
3.2.8. Place light fitting....................................................................................................................................................8
3.2.9. Place light fitting array ..........................................................................................................................................8
3.2.10. Move light fittings ...............................................................................................................................................8
3.2.11. Copy light fittings ................................................................................................................................................8
3.2.12. Delete object .......................................................................................................................................................8
3.3. View Menu .......................................................................................................................... 9
Navigator, Browser, Status Bar .......................................................................................................................................9
Toolbars .....................................................................................................................................................................9
Rotation .................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Zoom ...................................................................................................................................................................10
Tabular Room Data .......................................................................................................................................................10
Light Bar ...................................................................................................................................................................10
Viewports ...................................................................................................................................................................10
Colour ...................................................................................................................................................................10
Refresh ...................................................................................................................................................................10
3.4. Tools Menu ........................................................................................................................ 11
3.5. LightPro Menu ................................................................................................................... 11
3.5.1. Save 11
3.5.2. Attach DXF File, Detach DXF File, Active DXF Layers ...........................................................................................11
3.5.3. Print... ..................................................................................................................................................................11
3.5.4. Recent File ...........................................................................................................................................................11
3.6. Settings Menu .................................................................................................................... 12
3.7. Help Menu ......................................................................................................................... 12
3.7.1. Help Topics ..........................................................................................................................................................12
3.7.2. All other options ..................................................................................................................................................12
4. Toolbars ................................................................................................................................... 13
4.1. Model Toolbar ................................................................................................................... 13
4.2. View Toolbar...................................................................................................................... 13
5. Dialogue Boxes ......................................................................................................................... 14

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 5.1. Assign Template Dialogue Box ............................................................................................ 14
5.2. Light Dialogue Bar .............................................................................................................. 14
5.2.1. General Page .......................................................................................................................................................14
5.2.2. Light Fitting Defaults Page ...................................................................................................................................15
5.2.3. Database Page .....................................................................................................................................................15
5.2.4. Ceiling Grid Page .................................................................................................................................................16
5.2.5. Placement Page ...................................................................................................................................................17
5.2.6. Placed Light Fittings Page ....................................................................................................................................17
5.3. Light Fitting Settings Dialogue Box ...................................................................................... 18
5.4. Custom Attributes Dialogue Box ......................................................................................... 19
5.5. Light Fitting Array Dialogue Box ......................................................................................... 19
5.6. Light Fitting Rotation Dialogue Box..................................................................................... 19
5.7. Model Dialogue Bar ........................................................................................................... 20
5.7.1. Key-in...................................................................................................................................................................20
5.8. Prompt Area ...................................................................................................................... 20
6. Worked Example ...................................................................................................................... 21

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1 Introduction to LightPro
LightPro is a special view for placing luminaires within the context of the building model. The
menus and toolbars for this view provide tools for placing luminaires, editing room lighting
attributes and surface reflectances, and for maintaining the lighting database (see the Lighting
database documentation). Luminaires may be placed singly or in arrays, and their beam centres
may be pointed in any direction you required. The luminaires you place here may be used in
FlucsPro and Radiance for artificial lighting calculations.

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2 Lighting Database
The program has access to the IES lighting database that holds information about luminaires
and lamps. FlucsPro and Radiance use the information from the database for design or analysis
purposes. An extensive system database is provided but this can be supplemented with your
own data.
Photometric data may be entered into the program either interactively or by importing from
photometric data files in standard CIBSE, EULUMDAT or IESNA formats. The standard CIBSE
type-1 and type-2 formats are used and are described in CIBSE TM14. For interactive input you
describe the luminaire, the valid lamps for the luminaire, and polar-curve data for luminous
intensities. Optionally, light-output ratios, spacing-to-height ratios, utilisation factors, and glare
indices may be entered or calculated. For lamps the lamp description and, optionally, lamp-
lumen maintenance-factor curves are specified.
The program can calculate light-output ratios, spacing-to-height ratios, utilisation factors, glare
data and aspect factors and can perform LG3 checks and BZ classifications for a luminaire,
based on the polar-curve information. The results can be viewed on the screen and output as
hard copy if you wish.

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3 Menus

3.1 File Menu

The File menu handles file operations. Note that there are no options for opening LightPro
project files because there is no LightPro project file. All the luminaires are stored in the
ModelIT file.
All the options are the same as in ModelIT.

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 3.2 Edit Menu

The edit menu handles some of the space properties and CostPlan output.

3.2.1 Undo

This undoes the last change to the model. This applies to changes to light fittings and positions.

3.2.2 Redo

This redoes the last change to the model. See the comments above for Undo.

3.2.3 Site Rotation

This is not functional under LightPro. To change the site rotation, go to ModelIT.

3.2.4 Selection Set

This is only available when one or more rooms are selected. It displays the Selection Set sub-
menu.

3.2.4.1 Custom attributes

This displays the Custom attributes dialogue box, allowing you to edit the attributes for all the
selected rooms.

3.2.4.2 Assign templates

This displays the Assign template dialogue box, allowing you to assign the attributes for all the
selected rooms to the values held in a template.

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3.2.5 Output for CostPlan

This allows you to create output of all the luminaire data for CostPlan.

3.2.6 Grid settings

This allows you to edit the grid settings.

3.2.7 Set grid origin

This allows you to set the ceiling grid origin. Only available when you are in plan view and when
the ceiling grid page is active. Move the mouse to the point where you want the new origin to
be, and click.

3.2.8 Place light fitting

This allows you to place a single light fitting in the selected space, using the default light fitting
settings. Only available when you are in plan view and when the ceiling grid page is active. As
you move the mouse, the light fitting will be shown at the mouse position, after taking into
account the ceiling grid snap option you have selected. Click the mouse to place it.

3.2.9 Place light fitting array

This allows you to place a rectangular array of light fittings in the selected space, using the
default light fitting settings. Only available when the ceiling grid page is active. The Light fitting
array dialogue box will allow you to set the number of fittings in the x and y dimensions. The
placement will use the ceiling grid snap option and the default light fitting settings.

3.2.10 Move light fittings

This allows you to move the selected light fittings. Only available when you are in plan view, the
ceiling grid page is active, and one or more light fittings are selected. As you move the mouse,
the selected light fittings will be shown at the new mouse position, after taking into account the
ceiling grid snap option you have selected. Click the mouse to reposition it. You may use the
X=x,y, DX=x,y, or P=length, angle key-ins.

3.2.11 Copy light fittings

This allows you to copy the selected light fittings. Only available when you are in plan view, the
ceiling grid page is active, and one or more light fittings are selected. As you move the mouse,
copies of the selected light fittings will be shown at the new mouse position, after taking into
account the ceiling grid snap option you have selected. Click the mouse to reposition it. You
may use the DX=x,y, or P=length, angle key-ins.

3.2.12 Delete object

This allows you to delete the currently selected light fittings. Only available when the ceiling
grid page is active and with selected light fittings. Note no confirmation will be requested.

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 3.3 View Menu

The View menu handles display control operations.

Navigator, Browser, Status Bar

These options are the same as in ModelIT.

Toolbars

The Toolbars sub-menu allows you to select which toolbars are displayed.

Rotation

The Rotation sub-menu allows you to switch the selected view port between the standard
views.

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 All these options are the same as in ModelIT.

Zoom

The Zoom sub-menu allows you to set the zoom level of the selected view port.

All these options are the same as in ModelIT.

Tabular Room Data

Inactive in this version.

Light Bar

Display or hide the LightPro dialog bar along the bottom of the application.

Viewports

The Viewports sub-menu handles the division of the view area into one, two or four viewports.

All these options are the same as in ModelIT.

Colour

The Colour sub-menu handles colour settings.

All these options are the same as in ModelIT.

Refresh

As in ModelIT. (Tip: Use the Esc key to abort a slow refresh, e.g. when filled contours are being
displayed).

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 3.4 Tools Menu

All these options are the same as in ModelIT.

3.5 LightPro Menu

3.5.1 Save

This allows you to save the calculation results to file. Results are saved in any case at the end of
a session.

3.5.2 Attach DXF File, Detach DXF File, Active DXF Layers

These options are the same as in ModelIT.

3.5.3 Print...

This option is the same as in ModelIT.

3.5.4 Recent File

This is inactive.

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 3.6 Settings Menu

The settings menu handles grid and lock settings.

Both these options are the same as in ModelIT.

3.7 Help Menu

The Help menu gives access to the help information and all the standard licence handling,
troubleshooting etc..

3.7.1 Help Topics

Displays this help file.

3.7.2 All other options

All other options are as in ModelIT.

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4 Toolbars
4.1 Model Toolbar

This toolbar appears at the top of the view. Most of the buttons have equivalent menu options.

Save – see FileSave.

Undo – see EditUndo.

Redo – see EditRedo.

Locks – see SettingsLocks.

Select - use the mouse to select a space (at model level) or a light fitting (at space
level).

Custom Attributes – see EditSelection SetCustom Attributes.

Assign Template – see EditSelection SetAssign Template.

Grid Settings – see SettingsGrid.

Set Grid Origin – see EditSet grid origin.

Place light fitting – see EditPlace light fitting.

Place light fitting array - see EditPlace light fitting array.

Move light fittings – see EditMove light fittings.

Copy light fittings – see EditCopy light fittings.

Delete – see EditDelete object.

CostPlan output – see EditOutput for CostPlan.

Refresh – see ViewRefresh.

Help – see HelpHelp Topics.

4.2 View Toolbar

This toolbar appears at the top of the view. All the buttons and controls are the same as in
ModelIT. Note that there is no surface level, only model and body level.

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5 Dialogue Boxes
5.1 Assign Template Dialogue Box

This is displayed when you use the tool to assign a template to the selected rooms. Select the
template list box and then select the template you wish to assign to the selected rooms.

5.2 Light Dialogue Bar

This may be displayed at the bottom of the screen if it has been turned on using the view menu.
It contains general settings for the selected room, used mainly for the design calculations. It has
six pages.
 The General page - shows the attributes of the selected room, including the selected lighting
template.
 The Light fitting defaults page - shows defaults for light fittings in the selected room.
 The Database page - shows the default light fitting for the room and allows access to the
lighting database.
 The Ceiling grid page - shows the ceiling grid settings for the selected room.
 The Placement page - shows the default placement settings for the selected room.
 The Placed light fittings page - show the actual light fittings already placed within the
selected room.

5.2.1 General Page

This displays read-only information derived from the selected room, a key-in box, and a prompt
area.
 Room name - displays the name that was assigned to this room.
 Room ID - displays the unique ID that was automatically generated for this room.
 Floor area - displays the floor area of this room, calculated by the program.
 Volume - displays the volume of this room, calculated by the program.
 Room lighting template - displays the name of the lighting template that is currently
assigned to this room. Templates are edited in the Template Manager and may be assigned
when placing a room and reassigned using the Edit > Selection set > Assign Template tool.

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5.2.2 Light Fitting Defaults Page

This page shows the default values for light fittings in the selected room.
 Default check boxes - these check boxes apply to the associated item (to the right of the
check box). Toggle these on to set the associated item to the default value from the
template assigned to this room. Turn off to override the default value – the associated item
will now be enabled allowing you to change the value.
 Luminaire maintenance factor combo - enter a luminaire maintenance factor or select a
typical value from the drop-down list. The lumen output from a luminaire decreases with
time because of dirt deposition on and in the luminaire. The luminaire maintenance factor
quantifies this decline, being a proportion of the initial light output from the luminaire that
occurs after a set time, allowance having been made for the decline in light output from the
lamp. Typical luminaire maintenance factors are shown in the CIBSE Code for Interior
Lighting, 2002, Table 3.6.
 LLMF specified by lamp replacement period - enter the lamp lumen maintenance factor
indirectly as a lamp replacement period in hours. The maintenance factor will be looked up
from the LLMF curve associated with the lamp colour.
 LLMF combo box - enter a lamp-lumen maintenance factor or select one from the list (taken
from CIBSE Code for Interior Lighting, 2002, Table 3.4).
 Specify LLMF as a lamp replacement period check button - when toggled on, the lamp-
lumen maintenance factor is specified indirectly by giving a lamp replacement period in
hours; the actual value is then looked up from the LLMF curve associated with the lamp
colour. When toggled off, the lamp-lumen maintenance factor is specified directly as a
number from 0 to 1.
 Luminaire mounting height - allows you to enter the height of the luminaire mounting in
metres above the datum point of the room.

5.2.3 Database Page

This page shows the default light fitting for the selected room and gives access to the lighting
database.
 Review button - allows you to edit or review the lighting database data. The Review
database dialogue box will open (see the Lighting database documentation), listing the items

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 in each category, depending on which radio button is selected (luminaires, lamps etc.). Note
you may also edit the database and perform database calculations from this dialogue box.
 Path button - allows you to set the list of custom folder paths where lighting database files
are to be accessed. This allows you to access lighting data from different parts of your
network in addition to the system data and the data within your own project folder. The
Database path dialogue box will open (see the Lighting database documentation) allowing
you to browse for and add folders, or to remove folders, from the list of paths.
 Filters button - allows you to set filters that affect what elements of the lighting database
are to be displayed in the light fitting selection or lighting database review dialogue boxes
(Note filters only affect the display - the program may still access all the data). The Filters
dialogue box opens (see the Lighting database documentation), allowing you to enter filters
based on type and manufacturer categories, and on whether the data is from the system
folder, the custom folders, or the local project folder.
 Default check box - this check box applies to the associated luminaire, lamp and colour.
Toggle it on to set them to the default values from the template assigned to this room. Turn
off to override the default values – the Select button will now be enabled allowing you to
select new items.
 Select button - this button allows you to select the luminaire, lamp, and colour from the
database to use for the light fitting. The Select light fitting dialogue will open (see the
Lighting database documentation). Note you may also edit the database and perform
database calculations from this dialogue box.
 Luminaire - displays the selected luminaire used in the light fitting.
 Lamp - displays the selected lamp used in the light fitting.
 Colour - displays the selected lamp colour used in the light fitting.

5.2.4 Ceiling Grid Page

This page allows you to set the attributes of the ceiling grid for the selected room.
 X - specifies the size of the ceiling grid in the x-dimension (Note in millimetres, not metres, in
the metric version).
 Y - specifies the size of the ceiling grid in the y-dimension (Note in millimetres, not metres, in
the metric version).
 Ceiling grid origin combo - this allows you to select the option for positioning of the ceiling
grid with respect to the origin, i.e. whether to assume the origin is at the centre of a tile or at
the intersection of tiles.
 Update button - allows you to update the ceiling grid based on the x and y dimensions you
have entered and on the option you have selected for the placement of the grid origin.

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  Light fitting snap combo - this allows you to select how the light fitting being placed will
snap to the ceiling grid when it is being moved or placed using the mouse. It may be snapped
to the nearest ceiling tile intersection, snapped to the nearest ceiling tile centre, or not
snapped at all.

5.2.5 Placement Page

This page shows the placement settings for light fittings in the selected room.
 Reference - allows you to set a reference for this light fitting. It is not currently used apart
from in results lists.
 Control group number - for future use enter the number to specify which lighting control
group will be used.
 Rotation combo - select the light fitting orientation. Light fittings may be oriented parallel to
the room's x-axis, at 90 degrees to the room's x-axis, or at a defined angle. If you select the
last option, you will need to enter the angle in the adjoining box.
 Rotation - if you selected the defined angle option, enter the light fitting rotation here, in
degrees from the x-axis.
 “Beam” direction X, Y and Z coordinates - enter the coordinates giving a vector for the
“beam” direction in metres. The word “beam” is here given in quotation marks because
what is really meant is the direction of the vector representing the vertically downward line
on the polar coordinate system, e.g. the γ=0 vector in the C, γ photometry. For uplighters
the real beam would be in the opposite direction. When editing single light fittings you may
specify this relative to the luminaire, the room or the model. When placing an array it must
be relative to the luminaire.
 Relative to luminaire option - select this option to specify beam centre coordinates relative
to the origin of the luminaire.
 Relative to model option - select this option to specify beam centre coordinates relative to
the origin of the model. Note not available when placing an array of luminaires.
 Relative to room option - select this option to specify beam centre coordinates relative to
the origin of the room. Note not available when placing an array of luminaires.

5.2.6 Placed Light Fittings Page

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 This page shows the currently placed light fittings, and allows you to add, edit or remove light
fittings, add an array of light fittings, edit the default light fitting, etc.
 Select all button - this allows you to select all the default light fittings in the list.
 Select none button - this allows you to deselect all the default light fittings in the list.
 Edit button - this allows you to edit the settings for the selected light fitting. It is only
available when just one light fitting is selected. The Light fitting settings dialogue box is
displayed, showing the selected light fitting settings.
 Set default button - this allows you to replace the default light fitting settings with those
from the selected light fitting. It is only available when just one light fitting is selected.
 Use default button - this allows you to replace the settings for the selected light fittings with
the default light fitting settings. It is only available when one or more light fittings are
selected.
 Rotate button - this allows you to rotate the selected light fittings. It is only available when
one or more light fittings are selected. The Light fitting rotation dialogue box is shown
allowing you to rotate the fittings to parallel to the room, across the room, or to an angle
that you enter.
 Light fittings list - lists the light fittings in a grid with a summary of their data. As in other
similar lists in Windows, light fittings may be selected in the list by clicking the left mouse
button. Individual fitting selections may be toggled on or off by Ctrl-clicking. Select a range
of fittings by clicking the start fitting in the range, then Shift-clicking the end fitting in the
range. Finally, fittings may be selected in the normal way using the left mouse button in the
viewport – click to select, Ctrl-click to add to the selection, press and move to drag a
selection box, Ctrl-press and move to add to the selection.

5.3 Light Fitting Settings Dialogue Box

To show this dialogue box, select a light fitting from the light fittings list and click “Edit”. This
dialogue box allows you to edit the selected light fitting, or the default light fitting. It has three
pages, which are the same as those shown in the Light dialogue bar. The only difference is that
this property sheet applies to the selected luminaire, whereas the Light dialogue bar applies to
the defaults for luminaires to be placed in the currently selected room.
 The Light fitting defaults page shows values for this light fitting.
 The Database page shows the light fitting type and allows access to the lighting database.
 The Placement page shows the placement settings for the selected fitting.

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5.4 Custom Attributes Dialogue Box

This dialogue box allows you to set the attributes for the group of selected rooms. It has two
pages, which are the same as those shown in the Light dialogue bar. The only difference is that
this property sheet applies to the group of selected rooms, whereas the Light dialogue bar
applies to the defaults for luminaires to be placed in the currently selected room.
 The Light fitting defaults page shows defaults for light fittings in the selected rooms.
 The Database page shows the default light fitting for the rooms and allows access to the
lighting database.

5.5 Light Fitting Array Dialogue Box

This dialogue box allows you to place an array of light fittings in the selected room.
 X - enter the number of light fittings along the x-axis for the array to be placed.
 Y - enter the number of light fittings along the y-axis for the array to be placed.
 Remove any existing fittings check box - turn this on to remove the existing light fittings
before adding the array of light fittings. Turn it off if you want to keep the existing light
fittings.

5.6 Light Fitting Rotation Dialogue Box

This dialogue box allows you to rotate the selected light fittings within the room.
 Rotation combo - select the light fitting orientation. Light fittings may be oriented parallel to
the room's x-axis, at 90 degrees to the room's x-axis, or at a defined angle. If you select the
last option, you will need to enter the angle in the adjoining box.
 Rotation - if you selected the defined angle option, enter the light fitting rotation here, in
degrees from the x-axis.

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 5.7 Model Dialogue Bar

5.7.1 Key-in
Used for entering key-in commands, which are mainly concerned with the accurate
positioning of coordinates instead of using the mouse, e.g. DX=1.1,3.7. See the <VE>
documentation for details of the available commands. The commands relevant to
LightPro are DV=, DX=, X=, and P=.

5.8 Prompt Area

Used for various prompts to the user while performing commands, but also to give you
feedback when moving the mouse over the room surfaces after the analysis
calculations.

When expected to enter a point to set a grid origin, it prompts you to enter the point:

When placing, copying or moving a light fitting, it also asks for a point:

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6 Worked Example
See the FlucsPro User Guide for a worked example.

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