Effective Searching

The Instabase® is designed specifically to be queried to narrow the data presented into a targeted result that is easy to browse. As a minimum you should plan on using the Source Type and Wattage fields for every query. Through experience you will learn to use more search fields to yield more precise results.

 

The success rate of any search will be dependent on the state of the manufacturers’ photometric data. If they have been diligent in maintaining adequate descriptive information within the standard IES keywords, the number of false positives is generally low. If they have taken the extra step to add Custom Search Keywords using our IKE software (or otherwise), the resulting data will be close to 100% in precision.

On the other hand, if their descriptive information is poorly constructed, you may find it impossible to get useful results from some Brands. You will easily recognize poorly performing data as the manufacturer will not populate seemingly obvious queries. While Lighting Analysts goes to great lengths to persuade manufacturers to maintain good data structure, it is the manufacturers intellectual property and they are ultimately responsible. Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding unexpected results.

How to Search:

  1. Select All Brands or select the manufacturers to be used for the query.
  2. Set your search criteria. You may want to use the Reset button (next to the SEARCH button) to remove any transient settings.
  3. Click the SEARCH button.

 

Search Parameters

 

Source & Photometrics

Lamp/Source Type - Select from the choices in the menu. Instabase will search first for data in [_SEARCH_SOURCETYPE] Custom Search Keyword. It will then search the IES keywords [LAMP] and [LAMPCAT].

 

Number of Lamps - Instabase searches the IES file parameter "Number of Lamps".

 

Wattage - Instabase searches the IES file parameter "Watts".

 

Luminaire Lumens - This is a calculated field.

 

Lumens/Lamp - Instabase searches the IES file parameter "Lumens/Lamp"

 

Color Temp (K) - This is a Custom Search Keyword (CSK) searching [_SEARCH_COLORTEMP] keyword

 

CRI - This is a Custom Search Keyword (CSK) searching [_SEARCH_CRI] keyword

 

LER, UWLR, Efficiency - These are calculated fields.

 

Approx. Shape & Size - Instabase searches the luminaire's luminous Dimensions in the IES file.

 

Classification

All parameters under Classification are calculated fields.

 

Application, Mounting & Classification Types

These fields search Custom Search Keywords: [_SEARCH_APPLICATION],[_SEARCH_MOUNTING], [_SEARCH_CERTIFICATION] respectively. Click the ellipsis button to make your selections. Best practice is to search for "Any" of the selected keyword responses.

 

 

Parameters for Custom Search Keywords (CSK's)

 

Text Search

The top field in the Text Search can be used to search for any alphanumeric character string in the IES file description, filename or file path (folder names). For example, you could search for the word "Garage". If the word occurs anywhere in the IES file, filename or file path, the file will be listed in results.

 

Checking the box to Incl. Photometric File Contents expands the search to the contents of the entire file.