Photometric Errors and Warnings

When opening photometric files, Photometric Toolbox looks for inconsistencies in the file that may cause the file to be invalid. Two types of errors are searched for during this process:

The Repair Console will appear for all photometric files with inconsistent data. Depending on the photometric errors found, you may select Automatic Repair, Manual Repair or Cancel. Warnings can be ignored by clicking Ok.

Files with manageable problems will offer the opportunity to be repaired automatically. These photometric errors are as follows:

The affected photometric file will be shown in its entirety with its corresponding errors and/or warnings on top. The dialog specifies the inconsistent data on a line by line basis. To see the problem in the file, highlight the line in question. The photometric error location is also shown highlighted.

It may be desirable to prevent photometric files with only warnings from being flagged each time. As warnings do not usually affect the viability of the photometric data, you may wish to disregard these messages.

You may edit a photometric file in this dialog and fix any errors or warnings by selecting the Manual Repair button. In order to fix a file, be sure you are knowledgeable of the required format. If you are not familiar with the LM-63 format, you may look it up in this help or purchase the complete documentation set online at www.ies.org. Do not modify a photometric file if you are not familiar with its format. You can introduce additional errors or make the file unusable. It's best to obtain a correct file from the manufacturer.

When a file is repaired, the repairs are not permanent until the photometric file is saved. You will have the option to save the file when the file is loaded into the file list.

To see the explanation of a particular error or warning, double click on the message displayed. You may also see a complete list by expanding the hot spot below.

Error Class	Error Code	Error Type	Description	Automatic or Manual Repair?
Warning	01	Exponential data found.	Any value in the file given as an exponential (i.e. 3.02E-4).	Manual Repair or Ignore
Error	02	No external tilt file found	File points to an external Tilt file location which cannot be found.	Neither. User must obtain new photometric data.
Error	03	Invalid number of lamps	Lamp number must be greater than 0	Automatic Repair sets Number of Lamps equal to one.
Error	04	Invalid lumens per lamp	Lamp lumens must be greater than zero, or –1 (which is absolute photometry)	Automatic Repair sets Lamp Lumens equal to one.
Error	05	Invalid candela multiplier	Multiplier value must be greater than zero	Automatic Repair sets Multiplier equal to one.
Warning	06	possible wrong type (i.e. B not C)	Parser assumption may not be correct. Opening these files may not always provide successful results.	Automatic Repair sets the photometric type equal to type C, but mentions that Type B is available.
Error	07	invalid ballast factor	Ballast Factor must be greater than 0	Automatic Repair sets Ballast Factor equal to one.
Error	08	End of File (EOF) within vertical angles	File is truncated, all data needed is not present	Neither. User must obtain new photometric data.
Error	09	vertical angles not in ascending order	Vertical angles must be listed in ascending order. This error usually follows another error which indicates a missing value	Manual Repair only
Error	10	Type C: first vertical angle must be 0 or 90	Photometric web is not complete.	If first vertical angle equals negative ninety (-90), Automatic Repair will suggest setting the photometric type to Type B. Manual Repair is available
Error	11	Type C: last vertical angle must be 90 or 180	Photometric web is not complete.	Automatic Repair will expand photometric web to 90 or 180 degrees.
Error	12	Type B: first vertical angle must be –90 or 0	Photometric web is not complete.	Automatic Repair will expand photometric web to -90 or 0 degrees.
Error	13	Type B: last vertical angle must be 90	Photometric web is not complete.	Automatic Repair will expand photometric web to 90 degrees. If the last vertical angle is 180, 270 or 360, Automatic Repair will suggest setting the photometric type to Type C.
Error	14	End of File (EOF) within horizontal angles	File is truncated, all data needed is not present	Neither. User must obtain new photometric data.
Error	15	Horizontal angles not in ascending order	Horizontal angles must be listed in ascending order. This error usually follows another error which indicates a missing value	Manual Repair is available
Error	16	Type B: first horizontal angle must be –90 or 0 Type C: first horizontal angle must be 0 or 90	Photometric web is not complete. Photometric web is not complete.	Automatic Repair will expand Type B photometric web to -90 or 0 degrees. Automatic Repair will expand Type C photometric web to 0 or 90 degrees. If the photometric Type is Type C and the first horizontal angle is -90, Automatic Repair will suggest setting the photometric type to Type B.
Error	17	Type C: last horizontal angle must be 270 if first angle is 90	Photometric web is not complete.	Automatic Repair will expand Type C photometric web to 270 degrees.
Error	18	Type C: last horizontal angle must be 90, 180, 270, or 360 if first angle is 0	Photometric web is not complete.	Automatic Repair will expand Type C photometric web to 90, 180, 270 or 360 degrees (next largest valid web).
Error	19	Type B: last horizontal angle must be 90	Photometric web is not complete.	Automatic Repair will expand Type B photometric web to 90 degrees.
Error	20	End of File (EOF) within candela values	File is truncated, all data needed is not present	Neither. User must obtain new photometric data.
Error	21	Negative candela value	Negative values are not allowed. Its impossible to measure negative light	Automatic Repair sets negative candela values equal to zero.
Error	22	Nadir candela values unequal	Nadir candela values must be equal; all measure same point in web	Automatic Repair suggests averaging values and provides the average candela figure. You may specify an alternate nadir value - all individual values are shown. Standard deviation is used to determine whether error is caused by rounding or if there are inconsistencies in file.
Error	23	Premature End of File (EOF)	File is truncated, all data needed is not present	Manual Repair is available
Warning	24	Contains Pipe “\|” character	This character is considered harmful to software which uses Microsoft databases	Manual Repair or Ignore
Error	25	Null file	No information is present in file	Neither. User must obtain new photometric data.
Error	26	Huge file, greater than 100k	Photometric files only contain ASCII data;this file is not a photometric file	Neither. User must obtain new photometric data.
Warning	27	Bad keyword	Either not described in the IESNA LM-63-XXXX document ([TEST], [MORE], [OTHER], etc..), or not prefaced with an underscore: [MYSPECIALKEY] is invalid [_MYSPECIALKEY] is Ok.	Manual Repair or Ignore
Error	28	Never found a TILT=NONE or TILT=INCLUDE line	Parameter must be included in photometric file. This line specifies tilt information and separates description from data	Manual Repair is available
Error	29	Invalid value for a vertical angle	(non-numeric value). All values after the TILT= line must be numeric	Manual Repair is available
Error	30	Invalid value for a horizontal angle	(non-numeric value). All values after the TILT= line must be numeric	Manual Repair is available
Error	31	Invalid units	Correct values are 1 (ft) or 2 (meters)	Automatic Repair sets Photometric Units equal to one.
Error	32	Generic non-numeric error while reading values	(non-numeric value). All values after the TILT= line must be numeric	Manual Repair is available
Error	33	Type B: only one horizontal plane defined	Type B photometry requires a set of horizontal angles from -90 to 90.	Automatic Repair will suggest setting the photometric type to Type C.
Warning	34	LM-63-2002 requires the keywords [TEST], [TESTLAB], [MANUFAC], and [ISSUEDATE].	LM-63-2002 compliance requires these keywords be included as the minimum description.	Manual Repair or Ignore
Error	35	Zenith candela values unequal	Zenith candela values must be equal; all measure same point in web	Automatic Repair suggests averaging values and provides the average candela figure. You may specify an alternate zenith value - all individual values are shown. Standard deviation is used to determine whether error is caused by rounding or if there are inconsistencies in file.