Managing loads

The Manage Loads tool allows you to attach, reposition, and remove loads 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 preferences setup; whether auto positioning is enabled or disabled, the Manage Loads tool can still be used to attach and reposition loads, such as lighting devices, speakers, and soft goods. See Concept: Attaching loads to 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 Attaching existing loads by dragging.

Mode	Description
Attach	Attaches selected load objects to the selected rigging object, creating an association
Remove	Removes selected load objects from their associated rigging object, breaking the association
Reposition	Displays control points on all of the load objects attached to 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 attach lighting devices and other loads to a rigging object. Loads can be automatically attached when they are inserted and when they are moved in the drawing. For details, see Concept: Attaching loads to rigging objects. In addition, various commands allow you to attach, reposition, and remove loads from rigging objects in the model and in schematic views.

Action	Method	Description
Attaching loads
Insert a load on a rigging object	Symbol insertion	Attaching new loads and Adding lighting devices
Move a load to a rigging object	Click-drag operation	Attaching existing loads by dragging
Attach one or more loads to a rigging object	● Manage Loads tool ● Load object context menu command	Attaching existing loads with the Manage Loads tool
Repositioning attached 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
Removing loads
Remove a load from the rigging object	Manage Loads tool	Removing loads with the Manage Loads tool
Remove a load from the schematic view	Drop-down context menu command (schematic only)	Removing loads in the schematic view