Rotate light source

[poppyHFA4L]

Hello!

I am currently creating a face based model of a luminaire which is wall mounted. I need the light source to therefore be to the side. It has to emit from a rectangle shape and use the photometric web light distribution. I found a model where they have managed to do it so I know it is possible however I can not seem to figure it out. They did not create it using a nested family which is what I was going to do. Anyway, the parameter 'tilt angle' doesn't tilt the light source on the right plane so that doesn't help. Is there any way to rotate the entire light source on a different plane? I have also tried using the rotate tool but that's not working either. 

I have attached a picture of the model that has the light source in the correct place and a picture of my model with the light source in the default position. 

Thanks in advance!

[barthbradley]

You're on the right track.  Post the family. Lets see how she's built.  Could be that the parameter is nested and unassociated.   

[poppyHFA4L]

Here's their file

[poppyHFA4L]

Sweet I've linked the file now

[barthbradley]

I can rotate it.  

Maybe I'm misunderstanding. What can't you do?  

...maybe you want to rotate it away from the host?  If so, Nest a Light Source into the Family.  Make the Nested Family Work Plane Based and NOT Always Vertical - and then place it on a movable Ref. Line Work Plane in the Host Family.  Get it? 

[poppyHFA4L]

I can also rotate it on their model however on my model, because the light source is not on the right plane, it is not rotating on the right plane. I need to figure out how to get my model's light source to be on the right plane. You can rotate it because theirs is on the right plane in the first place. I've attached my model so you can compare and see what I'm talking about. Hope that explains it 🙂  

[poppyHFA4L]

Sorry I didn't see the bottom part of your reply, yes the nested method would work, however it seems the model that achieved the right angle didn't use a nested family so they must have done it somehow. I would prefer to do it like they did without nesting. 

[barthbradley]

Did see my edited reply? Do you understand the workflow? 

[barthbradley]

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@poppyHFA4L wrote:

however it seems the model that achieved the right angle didn't use a nested family so they must have done it somehow.

You probably tilted the HOST it was placed on it the Project.  Not the Light itself.  That's my educated guess. I'd have to see that Family to confirm. 

...FWIW: you can host a Face Based Family to a named Ref. Plane in the Project. The host doesn't have to be geometry. 

[poppyHFA4L]

I attached my file in message 6 if you want to have a look at that and see what I have done. 

[ToanDN]

Is this not what you want?

[barthbradley]

Okay, I see what you see now.  Probably has something to do with the Template used to create it.  There is no Face Based Templates for Light Fixtures 2018-2022.  Maybe there once was. I'd need to really dig into it to find the explanation. But right now, that's all I have for you. 

...what about just using the Family itself as a "Template" for new Families that you want to operate the same way?       

[poppyHFA4L]

Unfortunately no, that is rotating it on the top plane however I want it to rotate forwards if that makes sense. 

[poppyHFA4L]

Yes that is what I have ended up doing - I've just deleted all the information in that file that worked and kept the light source and then remade the model how I want it. Works well but would be great to know how they managed to tilt the light source forwards. Thanks for your help anyway. 

[ToanDN]

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@poppyHFA4L wrote:

Unfortunately no, that is rotating it on the top plane however I want it to rotate forwards if that makes sense. 

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Look at the edited image.  I rotate the light source so its placement plane at the lens plane.

[barthbradley]

2017 doesn't have Face Based Lighting Fixture Template either.  

[poppyHFA4L]

Ah yes! That is what I want! How exactly did you do it? 

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

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@poppyHFA4L wrote:

Ah yes! That is what I want! How exactly did you do it? 

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Rotate the light source from the left or right elevation.  Here is using another ies from Revit Library.

[poppyHFA4L]

Perfect! I knew it wouldn't be very hard - I didn't think to try rotate it from the side view. Thanks so much