Managing loads

The Manage Loads tool allows you to associate, reposition, and disassociate load objects from rigging objects—in the model and in schematic views. In the model, the tool can also be activated by selecting Manage Loads from a rigging object’s context menu. Managing loads with the tool is unaffected by the auto positioning options in Spotlight Setup; whether auto positioning is enabled or disabled, the Manage Loads tool can be still used to associate and reposition loads, such as lighting devices, speakers, and soft goods. See Associating loads with rigging objects.

When repositioning a load on a truss line, the tool’s Reposition mode enables sophisticated truss snapping. This allows you to precisely set the load’s hanging point on the top, bottom, or side of the truss. Using the tool for repositioning is more precise than Associating existing loads by dragging.

Mode	Description
Attach	Associates selected load objects with the selected rigging object
Remove	Disassociates selected load objects from their associated rigging object
Reposition	Displays control points on all load objects associated with a selecting rigging object, for repositioning the loads. To display control points on schematic loads, select the schematic load or its associated schematic rigging object.

There are several ways to associate lighting devices and other loads with a rigging object. The association can be automatically created when the load is created or when an existing load is moved in the drawing. For details, see Associating loads with rigging objects. In addition, various commands allow you to associate, move, and disassociate loads from rigging objects in the model and in schematic views.

Action	Method	Description
Associating Loads
Insert a load on a rigging object	Symbol insertion	Spotlight preferences: Loads and rigging pane and Adding lighting instruments
Move a load to a rigging object	Click-drag operation	Associating existing loads by dragging
Attach one or more loads to a rigging object	● Manage Loads tool ● Load object context menu command	Associating existing loads with the Manage Loads tool
Repositioning Associated Loads
Move a load’s hanging point in the model and schematic view	● Manage Loads tool (model only) ● Hanging point control point	● Repositioning loads with the Manage Loads tool ● Moving schematic loads by control points
Move a load’s offset position in the schematic view	Object position control point (schematic only)	Moving schematic loads by control points
Move an offset load onto the schematic rigging object	Drop-down context menu command (schematic only)	Moving an offset load onto the schematic rigging object
Move all offset loads onto the schematic rigging object	Rigging object context menu command (schematic only)	Moving all offset loads onto the schematic rigging object
Disassociating Loads
Disassociate a load from the rigging object	Manage Loads tool	Disassociating loads with the Manage Loads tool
Remove a load from the schematic view	Drop-down context menu command (schematic only)	Disassociating loads in the schematic view