LightPro User Guide
<Virtual Environment> 6.0
Page 1 of 23
Contents
1.
2.
3.
Introduction to LightPro...................................................................................3
Lighting Database.............................................................................................3
Menus ................................................................................................................4
3.1.
File Menu.............................................................................................................................. 4
3.2.
Edit Menu ............................................................................................................................. 5
3.2.1.
Selection Set sub-menu .............................................................................................. 6
3.3.
View Menu............................................................................................................................ 7
3.3.1.
Toolbars sub-menu...................................................................................................... 8
3.3.2.
Rotation sub-menu ...................................................................................................... 8
3.3.3.
Zoom sub-menu .......................................................................................................... 8
3.3.4.
Viewports sub-menu.................................................................................................... 8
3.3.5.
Colour sub-menu ......................................................................................................... 9
3.4.
Settings Menu ...................................................................................................................... 9
3.5.
Help Menu ............................................................................................................................ 9
4.
Toolbars...........................................................................................................11
4.1.
4.2.
5.
Model Toolbar .................................................................................................................... 11
View Toolbar ...................................................................................................................... 12
Dialogue Boxes...............................................................................................13
5.1.
Assign Template Dialogue Box .......................................................................................... 13
5.2.
Light Dialogue Bar.............................................................................................................. 13
5.2.1.
General Page ............................................................................................................ 14
5.2.2.
Light Fitting Defaults Page ........................................................................................ 14
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......................................................................................... 18
5.3.
Light Fitting Settings Dialogue Box .................................................................................... 19
5.4.
Custom Attributes Dialogue Box ........................................................................................ 19
5.5.
Light Fitting Array Dialogue Box......................................................................................... 20
5.6.
Light Fitting Rotation Dialogue Box.................................................................................... 20
6.
Model Dialogue Bar ........................................................................................21
6.1.
6.2.
7.
8.
Key-in ................................................................................................................................. 21
Prompt Area ....................................................................................................................... 21
Worked Example.............................................................................................22
Version History ...............................................................................................23
8.1.
8.2.
8.3.
8.4.
Version 12.8.0.6 ................................................................................................................. 23
Version 12.8.0.5 ................................................................................................................. 23
Version 12.6.0.0 ................................................................................................................. 23
Version 12.5.0.0 ................................................................................................................. 23
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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.
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. The options are:







Save
Attach DXF File
Detach DXF File
Active DXF Layers
Print
Print Setup
Recently used file list
All these 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. The
options are:

Undo - undoes the last change to the model. This applies to changes to
light fittings and positions.

Redo - redoes the last change to the model. See the comments above
for Undo.

Site Rotation – this is not functional under LightPro. To change the site
rotation, go to ModelIT.

Selection Set - this is only available when one or more rooms are
selected. Displays a sub-menu allowing operations on the selected
rooms in the model - see section 3.2.1.

Output for CostPlan - allows you to create output of all the luminaire
data for CostPlan.

Grid settings - allows you to edit the grid settings.

Set grid origin - 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.

Place light fitting - allows you to place a single light fitting in the
selected space, using the default light fitting settings. Only available
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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.

Place light fitting array - 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.

Move light fittings - 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.

Copy light fittings - 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.

Delete object - 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.
3.2.1. Selection Set sub-menu

Custom Attributes - displays the Custom attributes dialogue box, allowing
you to edit the attributes for all the selected rooms.

Assign Template - 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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3.3. View Menu
The View menu handles display control operations.

Navigator – as in ModelIT.

Browser – as in ModelIT.

Status Bar – as in ModelIT.

Toolbars - allows you to select which toolbars are displayed. Click the
items in the list to add or remove the tick symbol - see section 3.3.1.

Rotation - the Rotation sub-menu allows you to switch the selected
view port between the standard views - see section 3.3.2.

Zoom - the Zoom sub-menu allows you to set the zoom level of the
selected view port - see section 3.3.3.

Light Bar - allows you to turn on or off the display of the Light dialogue
bar. When turned on, the LightPro dialogue bar is shown at the bottom
of the window.

Viewports - the Viewports sub-menu handles the division of the view
area into one, two or four viewports - see section 3.3.4.

Colour - the Colour sub-menu handles colour settings - see section
3.3.5.

Refresh - as in ModelIT.
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3.3.1. Toolbars sub-menu
This toolbars menu allows you to turn on or off the display of the available toolbars. It
lists the available toolbars. The ones with a tick are currently displayed. Click the
items to turn on or off the display.
3.3.2. Rotation sub-menu
All these options are the same as in ModelIT.
3.3.3. Zoom sub-menu
All these options are the same as in ModelIT.
3.3.4. Viewports sub-menu
All these options are the same as in ModelIT.
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3.3.5. Colour sub-menu
Both these options are the same as in ModelIT.
3.4. Settings Menu
The settings menu handles grid and lock settings.


Grid
Locks
Both these options are the same as in ModelIT.
3.5. Help Menu
The help menu gives access to the help information. The help topics link is the
only link that is relevant to LightPro module. Other links in the help menu are
not relevant to LightPro module.

Help Topics – connects to the LightPro user guide through internet.
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
General Help Topics... – connects to the <Virtual Environment>
overview user guide through internet.

User Guides – connects to user guide for different modules through
internet.
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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.

Model Viewer – shows the Model Viewer.

Help – see Help > Help Topics.
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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.
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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.
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
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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 lamplumen 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 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
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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.

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
Page 16 of 23
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.
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5.2.6. Placed Light Fittings Page
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.
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5.3. Light Fitting Settings Dialogue Box
To bring out this dialogue box, it is required to 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.
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.
Page 19 of 23
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.
Page 20 of 23
6. Model Dialogue Bar
6.1. 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=.
6.2. 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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7. Worked Example
See the FlucsPro User Guide for a worked example.
Page 22 of 23
8. Version History
8.1. Version 12.8.0.6


DV= command now works for light fittings
Other minor changes
8.2. Version 12.8.0.5













IP units may now be used
Beam direction now in quotes because this is misleading for uplighters
Light fittings are now numbered in lists and in the view
Buttons made clearer
CostPlan button changed
Key-ins for IP units are now converted correctly
Can now move multiple light fittings
Can now also copy light fittings
Key-ins now work for place, copy and move
Better message explaining why light fitting could not be placed
"Select all" and "Select none" buttons added in Placed light fittings tab
Fixed problems relating to tab items being validated when they lose
focus
Allowed the "Defined angle" to be used in the Rotation combo box
8.3. Version 12.6.0.0


New framework layout.
Changed name to LightPro.
8.4. Version 12.5.0.0

This view (LightView) was added to allow for general preparation for
Radiance, FlucsPro, or any future lighting calculation add-on.
Page 23 of 23