Adding a Light to a Piling

QUESTION

I am attempting to add a light to a cylindrical shape that is acting as a piling. However, when I add a light, an error message states that lights can only be added to a wall or cabinet. How do I add lights to this object?

ANSWER

Wall mounted lights cannot be added to a plan unless they are placed on walls or cabinets. It is possible, however, to mimic special light placements, such as on a cylindrical shape, by using an Invisible wall. In a 3D or elevation view, it will appear as though the lights are mounted directly to the pilings.

Begin by opening your plan, and determining the location where you would like to add the pilings and place the lights. 

To place a wall

1. From the menu, select Build> Wall> Straight Exterior Wall , then click and drag to draw a wall.
   
   
   
2. Click on the wall using the Select Objects tool to select it and display its edit handles. If necessary, use these edit handles to position the wall precisely where the pilings will be located. These objects will need to occupy the same space.
   
   

   Note: If you already have pilings in your drawing, temporarily move them to the side and draw a wall where the pilings once were. This wall will serve as a mounting platform for your lights but will remain unseen in 3D views.

   
   

Next, it's time to add the lights to our newly drawn wall. 

To place wall lights

1. Navigate to View> Library Browser  to display the Library Browser side window if it's not already open. 
   
   
   
2. Navigate to Core Catalogs> Architectural> Lighting> Wall Mounted and choose a desired light object.
   
   In this example, the Caged Lantern option from the Semi-Flush Mount folder is selected.
   
   
   
   
   
3. With the desired light selected, click in your plan to place it on your wall.
   
   
   
4. To adjust the placement of the light, click on it using the Select Objects tool, and use the Move handle to drag it into position.
   
   
   
5. With the light still selected, click on the Open Object  edit button to open the Electrical Service Specification dialog and adjust the properties, such as the Object Dimensions, Position, Light Data, and Materials.
   
   

To make the wall invisible

1. Once you have added lights to your plan and adjusted their properties to your liking, select the wall using the Select Objects  tool. 
   
   
   
2. With the wall selected, click on the Open Object edit button to display the Wall Specification dialog.
   
   
   
3. On the General panel, under Options, place a check in the Invisible box.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click OK to close the dialog and apply the change.
   
   

Although you cannot place a wall light on an existing invisible wall, a wall with lights already mounted on it can be made invisible. When the wall is made invisible, the light objects that are attached to it will appear to float in space in a 3D view.

It's now time to place your pilings in the correct position.

To move existing pilings into position

1. Use the Select Objects tool to select a cylindrical piling and display its edit handles.
   
   
   
2. Move  the piling to your desired location. To move the piling without any snap or object restrictions, hold down the Ctrl/Command key on your keyboard while moving it.
   
   

   Note: For more information on controlling snap settings, please see the Related Articles section below.

   
   
3. Repeat this process with the other pilings. If needed, adjust the position of the lights so that they each line up with a piling. 
   
   

To create new pilings

1. Within the Library Browser, navigate to Core Catalogs> Shapes> Cylinders and select an appropriate vertical cylinder.
   
   In this example, the Vertical Cylinder option is selected.
   
   
   
2. Click in floor plan view to place a cylindrical piling, then select it using the Select Objects tool.
   
   
   
3. Click the Open Object edit button to open the Geometric Shape Specification dialog, and specify the Size/Position of the piling.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Make any other desired adjustments, such as to the Materials, then click OK to close the dialog.
   
   
   
5. Click the Copy/Paste  edit button, then click where you want an exact copy of this piling to be located.
   
   You can also use Sticky Mode if you want to place multiple copies uninterrupted until another tool is selected.
   
   
   
6. Create a Camera  view to see the results.