What is a .ELD file?
An ELD file is a simple text file that contains important information about a light fixture, such as how bright it is, how it spreads light around, its size, and how many bulbs it has. This information is arranged in a special way that is used by a program called DIALux, which is a tool used by professionals to plan lighting setups. For example, if someone is designing the lighting for a new building, they would use DIALux to make sure the lights will work well in the space.
The details inside an ELD file are saved in a special format known as Elumudat, which is made by a company called DIAL. However, not all programs that work with lighting design can open ELD files directly. This is because these files are usually saved with a different extension, .LDT, which is more widely recognized.
If you have an ELD file and you want to use it with a lighting design program, you might need to change its name so it ends with .LDT instead of .ELD. After you do this, you can open it with any program that supports LDT files.
One way to look at the information in an ELD file is by using a text editor, like Microsoft Visual Studio Code. This can be helpful if you're curious about what's inside the file or if you need to make a quick change. But to really use the data for lighting design, you'll want to import it into DIALux or a similar program. This lets you see how the light from the fixture will look in a room or another space, which is very useful for people who make or plan lighting installations. Manufacturers of lighting fixtures often create these files and give them to designers to help them make better lighting choices.
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