Convert Photometric Type and/or Angles

This section of the Convert Tool allows you to:

•  Change the Photometric Type (e.g., Convert Type C to Type B and vice versa
• Change the photometric web by specifying a new angle set
• Remove unwanted and/or unnecessary angles from the photometric file

The current photometric file format (Type C or B) is shown for your reference.

Convert Photometric Type

1. Begin by selecting the Convert Photometric Type and/or Angles checkbox.
2. Select the desired photometric format to be used in the conversion.
3. Based on the selected Photometric Type, Photometric Toolbox will populate the Vertical and Horizontal Angle fields with the following default Angle sets:

Type C:

• Horizontal Angles: 0 - 360, in 2.5 degree increments (145 angles)
• Vertical Angles: 0 - 180, in 2.5 angle increments (73 angles)

Type B:

• Horizontal Angles: -90 to 90, in 2.5 degree increments (73 angles)
• Vertical Angles: -90 to 90, in 2.5 angle increments (73 angles)

3. You may change the specified angle set for both Horizontal and Vertical angles by selecting a predefined angle set from the pull-down menu or by entering a number and manually specifying the angles. Note: You may also change the individual angles considered in the predefined angle sets.
4. Add Keyword: By default, a custom keyword [_CONVERT] is added to the descriptive section of the converted photometric file, along with a brief explanation of the conversion. This functionality allows you to easily identify converted files. Note: You may modify the custom keyword and description if desired.
5. Specify whether to convert the original file or a copy. By default, the original file is converted.
6. Click Ok or Refresh to convert the photometric file and refresh any tools using the selected file.

Convert Photometric Angles

1. Begin by selecting the Convert Photometric Type and/or Angles checkbox.
2. Based on the current Photometric Type (Type B or C), Photometric Toolbox will populate the Vertical and Horizontal Angle fields using the default Angle sets described above.
3. Change the specified angle set for both Horizontal and Vertical angles by selecting a predefined angle set from the pull- down menu or by entering a number and manually specifying the angles. Note: You may also change the individual angles considered in the predefined angle sets.
4. Add Keyword: By default, a custom keyword [_CONVERT] is added to the descriptive section of the converted photometric file, along with a brief explanation of the conversion. This functionality allows you to easily identify converted files. Note: You may modify the custom keyword and description if desired.
5. Specify whether to convert the original file or a copy. By default, the original file is converted.
6. Click Ok or Refresh to convert the photometric file and refresh any tools using the selected file.

Conversion Notes

We do not recommend converting an unsaved file. An unsaved file may be in a state of flux (e.g. another tool may be working with and modifying the file).

We do not recommend converting a previously converted file (identified by the [_CONVERT] keyword). Successive conversions can deteriorate the integrity of the file since the conversion is working with a converted version of the file instead of the original version. Always work with the original file (or a copy of the original file) when converting if possible.

Caution should be used when selecting and specifying angles as to not to destroy the integrity of the original photometric file. A thorough knowledge of Type C and Type B distributions is required to successfully convert photometric types using an angle set other than the default (i.e. when in doubt, use the default angle set!). Some interesting cases to note:

• Example #1: Original file is Type C with no symmetry. When converting to Type B, you need to select the complete angle set (-90 to 90 horizontal and vertical). If you select an abbreviated angle set (e.g. 0 to 90), only one quadrant of the original file will be properly represented.
• Example #2: Original file is Type B with symmetry left and right of the beam but no symmetry top and bottom of the beam (Horizontal angles 0 to 90, Vertical angles –90 to 90). When converting to Type C, you could use the following angle set to properly represent this distribution: Horizontal 0 to 180, Vertical 0 to 90.
• All uplight in a Type C photometric file (90 to 180 vertical) will be lost when converted to Type B.
• When converting from Type B to Type C, the vertical angle set of 0 to 90 can be used in place of the default angle set of 0 to 180 (Type B files have no uplight).