entered or automatically linked to manufacturer 39 s databases the database 100 includes data for generic products as well as manufacturer specific products the user inputs information about a lighting system and the environment in which it will be used the details of which generally fall into three categories 1 the physical attributes 110 of the lighting system 2 environmental factors 120 and 3 user preferences 130 the physical attributes 110 of the lighting system referred to as the user defined lighting system udls include lighting controller s ballast s driver s lamps s luminaires and combination devices the environmental factors 120 include the physical and environmental conditions surrounding the udls the user preferences 130 allow users to interject their personal preferences as criteria in the lsos search criteria the users can also recall data 190 and solutions from previous searches that have been stored in an lsos library 192 the udls 110 inputs can include specific or generic components the component values are retrieved from the database 100 query and the lsos returns the relevant values of the system based on the unique circumstance of the combination of components the branches of output are twofold 1 pathway 111 outputs resultant photometric data based on the combination of controller ballast driver lamps luminaire and combination devices to the light output calculator 140 and 2 pathway 112 enters physical electrical and configuration constraints into the search criteria 150 photometric data and light output includes but is not limited to candlepower distribution luminance distribution lumen output scotopic photopic s p ratios and eve metrics as applicable to the system under consideration the environmental factors 120 inputs include descriptors of the physical space in which the lighting.