All Release Notes

2.0b76 Release Date: Soon
Implemented
3/8/10
Plan Creation Wizard - Restrict Catalogues Searched
 

It would be nice to be able to select or restrict the catalogues being searched when using the plan creation wizard.

Use Case: When preparing a plan to use at a Star Party, I wanted to generate a plan from only those catalogues built into Meade's AutoStar II database (LX200). This is far easier than looking up RA & Dec coordinates and entering those when 10 people are waiting at the scope!

Also could be used to generate AutoStar tours and, in general, when not using a laptop in the field.

Logical place would be the "Where & When" screen where restrictions on Date/Time and Constellation are entered.

Developer
Analysis

Note that V2 uses a different mechanism from V1, and only certain catalogues are used. However, I think I can give a list of catalogues and filter where necessary.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
3/8/10
MainWindow.Telescope_Change: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.Telescope_Change( MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Sub ResourceChooser.ResourceChooser.rsrc_Change( ResourceChooser.ResourceChooser )
3: Sub ResourcePopup.Event_Change()
4: Sub APPopupMenu.Event_Change()
5: Sub PopupMenu.ListIndex.Set( int32, int32 )
6: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.SetPopupValue( MainWindow.MainWindow, APPopupMenu, string )
7: Sub App.NewPlanCreationWizard( MainWindow.MainWindow )
8: Function App._FilePlanCreationWizard_Action() as boolean
9: Sub Delegate.Invoke()
10: Sub Application._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

User description of above error trace:

Creating a plan using New Plan Wizard

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
3/6/10
SkyChart.DrawAlignmentStars: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub SkyChart.DrawAlignmentStars()
2: Function SkyChart.MakeChart() as Picture

User description of above error trace:

Sky Tab, Options menu on the right screen side, Objects, I checked the Allignement option and AP freezes dislaying this form inmediately. It does every time I performed this action.

Developer
Analysis

This happens if you don't have a telescope selected.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
3/5/10
MainWindow.ResizeStuff: Stack Overflow Exception
 

Exception Type: Stack Overflow Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ResizeStuff( MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.Event_Resized( MainWindow.MainWindow )
3: Sub Window.Width.Set( int32, int32 )

Resolution

Fixed. Hopefully. Third time's the charm...

Fixed
3/2/10
Conditional delete does not seem to work for user-defined fields
 

When I try to do a conditional delete on a user-defined field, APv2b75 asks if I want to delete all 93 objects in the plan.

Conditional delete seems to work properly for AP defined fields.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
3/1/10
SkyComputeThread.Event_Run: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub SkyComputeThread.Event_Run()
2: Sub APThread.Event_Run()

User description of above error trace:

Selected an object in a plan (with three objects) and clicked on the Sky tab and an application exception popped up. The Sky view does eventually come up.

Resolution

Fixed. I hope.

Fixed
3/1/10
ScriptWindow.SetSyntaxHighlighting: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow.SetSyntaxHighlighting( ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow )
2: Sub ScriptPrefsWindow.ScriptPrefsWindow.Event_Close( ScriptPrefsWindow.ScriptPrefsWindow )

User description of above error trace:

Opened script editor window, opened scripting preferences, closed underlying script editor window, closed script editor window.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b75 Release Date: Friday, February 26, 2010
Fixed
2/26/10
Fix problem with catalogue preferences
 

The catalogue preference specifying where to put additional IDs when creating a plan object does not work properly.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
2/26/10
Major slowdown when going from registered to unregistered
 

If the user goes from registered to unregistered status (could happen if the user upgrades from V2 to V3*, or if the user registration info has been flagged as bogus), then there is a massive slowdown at startup time (that eventually clears itself if the app is allowed to continue).

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
2/25/10
script focusstar contains errors
 

The potenially very valuable script Focus Star contains two errors one in line 25 and one in line 210.

Developer
Analysis

This script _requires_ 2.0b73 or after. Hence the errors with 2.0b72 (which you are running). However, I guess there should be some warning.

Resolution

Fixed. Attempting to run a script with a minimum version requirement will elicit an alert before running. Also, any such script in the Download SCripts dialog will be marked in red.

Fixed
2/24/10
Unusual behavior when entering a new object
 

Whenever adding a new object if I just enter the catalog designation and then choose "Best", say Messier (M) and DO NOT add the number, it puts M7. For NGC, it is NGC 185, for IC, it is IC 49. I have not tested this on any other catalogs.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
2/24/10
Scripting Framework Reference window incorrect position
Windows
only

The SFR window always reopens slightly lower than it should. The Debug window reopens exactly where it should. Not sure if the SFR location is being stored incorrectly (in preferences) or an offset is being added for some reason.

Resolution

Fixed. And a few other windows that were similarly positionally-challenged.

Fixed
2/24/10
Script editor PageUp/Down
 

Using PageUp or PageDown does not move the current cursor location (it should). Try using PageDown twice then LineDown once. The displayed text jumps back to where the cursor now is; one line down from its position prior to the two PageDown steps. The cursor should be someplace in the region of text displayed by the second PageDown.

Developer
Analysis

Well, the current behaviour is what virtually every editor (I use) uses. I can make it a preferences option though.

Resolution

Fixed. New script editor setting: "Page up/down moves insertion point". Each time you use the Page Up or Page Down keys, the insertion point is moved to the first visible line.

Fixed
2/24/10
Scripting Framework Reference find results not preserved
 

If the SFR window is refreshed (e.g. by saving a lib_ file) any Find results are not preserved.

To be honest I find this occasionally useful for clearing out the Find results! Maybe a 'ClearFindResults' button :)

Resolution

Fixed. Well, I'm not going to preserve Find results, but I have added a "Clear Find results" command to the right-click menu.

Fixed
2/24/10
Scripting Framework Reference overlapping controls
 

If the SFR window is too narrow the 'Changes' and 'Search' controls overlap. This fault has been around for ages - just got around to reporting it - Sorry!

Resolution

Fixed. Window cannnot be shrunk below a minimum width. Find text field will shrink down to a minimum size.

Fixed
2/23/10
MainWindow.ResizeStuff: Stack Overflow Exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: Stack Overflow Exception

1: Function Utility.WhatScreen( Window ) as int32
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ResizeStuff( MainWindow.MainWindow )
3: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.Event_Resized( MainWindow.MainWindow )

User description of above error trace:

Went through File\Setup Wizard and selected Finish (including download of catalogues)
Note: had blocked connection to Internet when going through wizard. Unblocked and selected catelogue to download. Finished wizard and received this error.

Resolution

Fixed. Hopefully.

Fixed
2/23/10
MainWindow.ResizeStuff: Stack Overflow Exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: Stack Overflow Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ResizeStuff( MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.Event_Resized( MainWindow.MainWindow )

User description of above error trace:

Hit Windows+D to show desktop and crash report appeared.

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, Core i7 920, 6 GB RAM

Resolution

Fixed. Hopefully.

Fixed
2/23/10
MainWindow.ResizeStuff: Stack Overflow Exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: Stack Overflow Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ResizeStuff( MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.Event_Resized( MainWindow.MainWindow )

User description of above error trace:

AP was open for a long time. I was browsing and a lot of other apps are open: maixm dll open office, skype, and firefox etc.
I needed to get back to the desktop because I saw something strange with my icons (a hole row on the second screen, which is weird)
Basically the same problem as I reported for version 72. (I fear continue will not work this time either)

Resolution

Fixed. Hopefully.

Fixed
2/22/10
Crashed when I went fromFoV to Sky
MacOSX
only

Here is the diagnostic report:

Thread 7 Crashed:
0 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x009b802e MainWindow.MainWindow.DrawSkyInRect%%o<MainWindow.MainWindow>bo<Graphics>i4i4i4b + 63391
1 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x00c60e9e MainWindow.MainWindow.DrawSkyStuff%%o<MainWindow.MainWindow> + 10569
2 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x0098b9b9 MainWindow.MainWindow.RedrawSky%%o<MainWindow.MainWindow> + 2089
3 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x025c9e58 SkyComputeThread.Event_Run%%o<SkyComputeThread> + 240
4 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x028c3fec APThread.Event_Run%%o<APThread> + 99

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
2/22/10
Selecting the sky chart for minor planet 4 Vesta crashes 2.0b74
MacOSX
only

Two different crashes when selecting the Sky tab in b74 for minor planet 4 Vesta:

1) NilObjectException, application must be shut down dialog from AP.

2) SIGBUS, crash into apple crash catcher:

Thread 6 Crashed:
0 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x009b802e MainWindow.MainWindow.DrawSkyInRect%%o<MainWindow.MainWindow>bo<Graphics>i4i4i4b + 63391
1 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x00c60e9e MainWindow.MainWindow.DrawSkyStuff%%o<MainWindow.MainWindow> + 10569
2 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x0098b9b9 MainWindow.MainWindow.RedrawSky%%o<MainWindow.MainWindow> + 2089
3 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x025c9e58 SkyComputeThread.Event_Run%%o<SkyComputeThread> + 240
4 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x028c400f APThread.Event_Run%%o<APThread> + 134

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
2/21/10
Script names don't like angle brackets.
 

Select an existing script.
Click the ++ button.
In the New Script Name text box, type "Copy Name > ID".
Click OK.
Unhandled Nil object exception.

Resolution

Fixed. You now should not be able to create/duplicate a script with a name which is not a valid filename on your OS (Windows doesn't like < or >, amongst other characters).

Fixed
2/21/10
Select All doesn't work in Objects tab
 

It's grayed out in the menu.
If you do the command-key-equivalent on Windows (cntrl-A), it selects the first plan object rather than all of them.

(Perhaps this code never got updated from the only-one-object-selected-at-a-time olden days?)

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
2/20/10
Scripting: APCallable Time conversion functions
 

Should APCallable.DoubleToTime and APCallable.TimeToDouble be deprecated to the Date class?

Resolution

Fixed.
DoubleToTime=>Date.ShortTime/LongTime.
TimeToDouble=>Date.ParseTime

Fixed
2/15/10
Third line of text not visible on DSS image window
 

In the Objects, show DSS image at the right of window , if the cursor is placed on a star which has more than 2 lines of text that appears in the description at the bottom of the image , only 2 and about 1/2 lines appears on the screen.

Developer
Analysis

Workaround: Right-click the text and use the "Show in window command".

Resolution

Fixed. Text is now shown in a tooltip underneath the image.

Fixed
2/15/10
Conditional Delete does not work
 

in the Objects screen, in the row that contains "lookup" ..... "sort list", "add special" , "delete"
When delete is selected , most of the delete commands appear to work , but with the "Delete CONDITIONALLY" , the window appears , the first 2 drop down boxes work, but when entering a value in the last box and the "Delete: button is not enabled and therefore it is impossible to perform the delete.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
2/15/10
Scripting: Missing 'Destructor' autocomplete
 

Destructor is missing from the list of autocomplete words. Will do a more systematic check later.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
2/9/10
Allow all fields a choice of Left/Centre/Right justify
 

Just noticed in the plan document that the columns are justified a specific way.

Const is Centre justified whils ID and More Id's are Left justfied. Chart# is centre justified and is hard to read if you have a number of Charts selected.

Perhaps include an option to select the justification for each column individually.

Developer
Analysis

"Generalised" justification will have to wait for a future release.

Resolution

Implemented. Charts is now left-justified.

Fixed
2/9/10
Scripting: File extension showing in SR
 

A partial file extension is being displayed in the Scripting Framework window for a User library. The partial extension being displayed is '.apsc' (see attachment).

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b74 Release Date: Saturday, February 6, 2010
Fixed
2/6/10
image displays
 

image shows: cannot open image xxxx, I tried several images same result.
V73

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
2/6/10
DSS images no longer show up
 

Paul - just loaded b73 and now all my DSS images won't show. In all plans I just get an error in the window saying cannot open image #[number]

They were there in 72

This is with Windows 7 64

Developer
Analysis

This is an internal compiler framework problem (reported). Fortunately, there's a workaround.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
2/5/10
Debugging code left in Focus Star script
 

Executed Focus Star and a window opened re debugging code left in script

2
HR2199

Resolution

Fixed. V1.1 uploaded.

 
2.0b73 Release Date: Friday, February 5, 2010
Implemented
2/5/10
Help system
 

Implement a help system.

Resolution

Implemented. Help→AstroPlanner Help brings up a searchable, context-sensitive help system. It also has "live" links that will perform actions in the application.
Currently there's limited content, but that should change...

Fixed
2/3/10
ObsFilesContainer.Initialise: Stack Overflow Exception
 

Exception Type: Stack Overflow Exception

1: Sub ObsFilesContainer.ObsFilesContainer.Initialise( ObsFilesContainer.ObsFilesContainer )
2: Sub ObsFilesContainer.ObsFilesContainer.Event_Resized( ObsFilesContainer.ObsFilesContainer )
3: Sub Window.Width.Set( int32, int32 )
4: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ResizeStuff( MainWindow.MainWindow )
5: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.Event_Resized( MainWindow.MainWindow )

User description of above error trace:

i did a update to V2.0b72. under Vista 32bits and after that i started atroplanner and i got this error.
When select [Continue] the program stops.
Installing a lower version of astroplanner everthings works ok.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
2/3/10
ObsGeneralContainer.Event_Resized: Stack Overflow Exception
 

Exception Type: Stack Overflow Exception

1: Sub ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer.Event_Resized( ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer )
2: Sub Window.Width.Set( int32, int32 )
3: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ResizeStuff( MainWindow.MainWindow )

User description of above error trace:

I tried to continue after my previous bugreport, but have no luck apparently

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
1/22/10
MainWindow.ResizeStuff: Stack Overflow Exception
 

Exception Type: Stack Overflow Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ResizeStuff( MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.Event_Resized( MainWindow.MainWindow )
3: Sub Window.Width.Set( int32, int32 )


User description of above error trace:

Minimizing the window with Windows Key +M.

In that E-mail I couldn't trace the error, but I was trying to get to the desktop when it happened.


User description of above error trace:

I was opening CCDNavigator 2 in Vista 64


User description of above error trace:

ah, going to the desktop again

Resolution

Fixed. Hopefully.

Fixed
1/19/10
Spelling checker doesn't seem to handle hyphenated words
 

I'm not sure if it doesn't have any in the dictionary, or just not very many. If it doesn't have any, it might be best just to pass them in as two separate words.

Anyway, it's currently tripping up on things such as:

well-condensed
semi-stellar
crown-pleaser
well-defined

(Note that separating the input into two words won't catch where someone uses a hyphen and shouldn't, such as "non-descript". Perhaps you could pass the word in first with the hyphen, and if one of the suggestions is the same text without the hyphen, then present those. If not, then throw out the results and re-run it as two separate words?)

Developer
Analysis

Problem is that I'm using third-party code. However, I will lean on the vendor for this and other fixes (or ways of overriding existing functionality).

Resolution

Fixed. Vendor made change so that hyphenated words are treated as two (or more) separate words. The "non-descript" problem is a trickier one to handle.

 
2.0b72 Release Date: Monday, January 18, 2010
Implemented
1/18/10
Scripting: Random class
 

Access to the Random class. Particularly as the Random class now supercedes the Rnd function.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
1/17/10
Windows 7 Aero Snap on Screen Sides Destroys Layout
Windows
only

If you drag the main window to the left or right sides of the screen in Windows 7, Aero Snap will automatically make the window take half the screen. This currently works on the main Astroplanner window, and it completely destroys the layout. Many fields disappear (can't be accessed), even those that should be visible.

Since you can't change the size of the Astroplanner window below a minimum threshold and shape, I'd guess that Astroplanner is not intended to be used with Aero Snap.

Resolution

Fixed. The minimum width is enforced.

Fixed
1/16/10
Adding double-star object does not work
 

When adding a double-star object (e.g. hj1000) by clicking the [+] button at bottom left, the only possibility is to add empty object. Adding an empty object, then looking up the object you were looking for in the first place does work.

Developer
Analysis

This is because double star observer IDs are not "true" IDs.

Resolution

Fixed. If any of the WDS catalogues are present, and the ID is a valid double star observer ID, then those WDS catalogues will be searched.

Fixed
1/15/10
Slew to park for LX200GPS still not working properly.
 

Slew to park (and disconnect) no longer freezes AP, but it still does not work. When I clicked on it in the Telescope Palette, I got a message saying it could not slew to park position (alt = 0deg, az = 180deg) because it was below the horizon. I then used to handbox to park the scope in that very position.

I am polar mounted. Could that confuse AP2? It does not confuse AP1.6.1.

Developer
Analysis

What is probably happening is that there's a small difference between the lat/long/gmtoffset/date/time for the mount and AP settings. AP computes the RA/Dec for the Alt/Az, but the mount thinks it's below the horizon (probably by a very small amount) and refuses to slew.

Resolution

Fixed. For Meade Autostar and Celestron NexStar mounts I have implemented the "slew to Alt/Az" commands, and these will be used in preference to the "convert to RA/Dec and slew" method. I also "force" the altitude target to be, say, 0.5 degrees as a minimum if the alternative method is used, which should work better.

Fixed
1/14/10
Nexremote export .hct file missing "+" sign.
 

File--export--Nexremote tour... generates a .hct file which I use for my Nexremote software to choose and slew to the selected objects.
But any objects that are located in a "plus" DEC the scope slews somewhere else than the correct target. In V1 the .hct file (via a script) has the DEC printed out as a "+" or a "-"
like the Dec column in Objects. V1 works just fine.
In V 2.0b71 the exported .hct file has a "-" but no "+" in front of the value for DEC.
When I put a "+" in front of a positive value the scope slews to the proper position.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
1/14/10
Can't change parameters in minor planet-orbital data screen
 

When all data from JPL are downloaded (or displayed from the cache), you can choose which parameter you want to change, but you can't enter any values. Upon trying the AP no longer corresponds and turns grey or white. It doesn't crash, but when returned to speaking terms nothing has changed.

Resolution

Fixed. (a) If no magnitude info is available (e.g. JPL COMET) then related display restrictions are removed. (b) A single click will allow editing of the display restriction numeric fields.
Bonus: There's now a "In FoV at current date/time" display restriction that will restrict display to those objects that fall into the current FoV and the current local date/time.

Fixed
1/13/10
Cannot add text into Object notes in Observations tab
 

Cannot add text into Object notes in Observations tab

Developer
Analysis

This is by design (field is read-only), although I suppose it doesn't need to be.

Resolution

Fixed. A help tag has been added to make it clear that this field cannot be changed.

Fixed
1/13/10
Printing Order for Session and Observation Data
 

I have the following sessions:
20091229
20100105
20100108
20100109
20100112

In the Observation Database I select File → Print. The Printing script is Default and the Task is Session and Observation data. When I print this out, I get all the data but it is not in order.

20100109
20100108
20100105
20091229
20100112

Finally, attachments are not being printed.

Resolution

Fixed. Sessions and observations are always ordered by date/time. Attachments (images) will now be printed.

Fixed
1/13/10
Time of Night image suggests all day darkness during summer
 

Changing the x-axis to the Time of Night in the Long Term Visibility Indicator (lovely feature!) produces a black band during the period that in reality there is no astronomical darkness anymore at my site, which would mean all day darkness.

Resolution

Fixed.
Bonus: a. The graphic background is now computed by a thread, so there isn't a 10 second delay during which tha app freezes. b. Fixed some other problems with circumpolar objects, etc.

Fixed
1/12/10
More info on spell checker add-to-dicitonary problem...
 

I reported earlier that clicking the "+" button in the spell checker window effectively ended the spell checking. Turns out this is only true if you have in-line spell checking turned on; without it everything works fine.

Resolution

Fixed. The Check Spelling... feature is removed if in-line checking is enabled. I have reported this to the vendor.

Fixed
1/12/10
MagicSpeller.addWord: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub MagicSpeller.addWord( string )
2: Sub MagicSpellerInterfaceWnd.MagicSpellerInterfaceWnd.addBtn_Action( MagicSpellerInterfaceWnd.MagicSpellerInterfaceWnd )

User description of above error trace:

Added a new word to the spell checker dictionary, then quit app.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
1/11/10
No user images for IDs with spaces in them
 

I think I logged this before, but it was probably in a long list of things, so it may have gotten lost.

Add an object to a plan for C/2007 N3 Lulin. Give it the ID "C/2007 N3" (with a space between the 7 and the N), and the name "Lulin".

Add an observation and a user image. Note that you don't get an image icon in the Objects list.

Change the name to "C/2007N3" (delete the space).

Now you get an image icon.

Switch to Observations tab.

While the list says it still has 1 observation, you don't see it listed in the Observations list. If you put the space back in the name, your observations come back but your image is gone again.

Resolution

Fixed. Cannot reproduce the image problem, but removing the blank from the ID no longer "loses" the observations made on the object.

Fixed
1/11/10
Can't see downloaded images
 

When I download an image I don't see the image in the downloading-window, only later in the objects-window.

Resolution

Fixed. Added a "Show last downloaded image" checkbox to the Status tab of the download window.

Fixed
1/11/10
Image display window and image manager display issue
 

The image display window does not recognise the "invert image colours" contextual menu item. Neither does the image manager window, and does not have the contextual menu item.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
1/11/10
Sharing an installation between two OSes
 

Add the ability to share an AP installation (i.e. resources, images, etc.) between two OSes (in this case either a 32-bit or a 64-bit Windows boot).

Resolution

Implemented. Preferences→Other has a checkbox. Setting that option will ask you to find the Application Data folder of a previously-used instance of AstroPlanner. i.e. if you want to connect instance B to the application data of instance A, then (a) run instance A and use Help→Where's My Stuff to find the location of Application Data, (b) run instance B and use this feature to select instance A's application data.
NOTE: Instance B _must_ have read/write access to instance A's folder. This might be a problem in both Mac OS X or Windows.

Fixed
1/11/10
MagicSpellerTA.Event_ContextualMenuAction: Type Mismatch Exception
 

Exception Type: Type Mismatch Exception

1: Function MagicSpellerTA.Event_ContextualMenuAction( MenuItem ) as boolean
2: Sub Delegate.Invoke()
3: Sub Application._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

User description of above error trace:

a. Trying to cut text from Observation notes and paste into Object notes in Observations tab

b. When trying to do a spell check under Observation Notes under the Observation tab.

User description of above error trace:

I'm trying to create an object (minor planet) - to find another approach to the JPL import using the catch.
I could create an empty object and past in the ID number, but trying to paste in the name gives this exception


User description of above error trace:

right-click EDIT in Notes don't work

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b71 Release Date: Saturday, January 9, 2010
Fixed
1/9/10
Seeing Custom Scale
Windows
only

I entered the following into the Seeing custom scale.

5 - Excellent
4 - Good
3 - Average
2 - Poor
1 - Bad

The dropdown shows:

Unknown
5 - Excellent4 - Good3 - Average2 - Poor1 - Bad
---

The options I entered are not on individual lines.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
1/8/10
Create new object from coords on clipboard
 

Be able to copy RA/Dec coords (e.g. "13 10 56.5 +11 28 39") from another text document onto the clipboard, and create a new object with those coordinates.

Resolution

Implemented. Clipboard button on the New Object dialog. It will be enabled if the clipboard contains a valid RA/Dec pair.

Fixed
1/4/10
App.LookupIDSynonyms: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Function App.LookupIDSynonyms( PlanObservation ) as string()
2: Function ObservationDatabase.GetGUID( PlanObservation ) as int32
3: Function ObservationDatabase.FixupSynonyms( boolean ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

Selected "Reset Cross-References" in the Observation Settings and let the application run throughout the night. In the morning I found this Exception.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
1/4/10
Image Downloads
 

When I'm downloading a series of images for a plan and then minimize the download window, I would like to be able to see the progress percentage in the minimized bar(?). Then I can continue working on the plan and know when the download is complete without having to go back and keep opening the download window.

Resolution

Implemented. Window title now shows number of remaining images to be downloaded.

Implemented
1/4/10
Improve navigation for print preview
 

Since the print preview window does not use either the horizontal or vertical scrollbars (page images are shrunk to fit the window), get rid of the horizontal scrollbar and use the vertical scrollbar to move between pages, rather than using the annoying page number widget currently used.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
1/3/10
Allow custom reticles to specify a particular telescope
 

When I select Display→Custom Reticles, I see reticles boundary according to selected telescope focal length. I want see reticle boundaries for different focal lengths at one time very often. This is typical situation for Main camera and Guide Camera. You could specify Telescope in the Custom reticles window. If a telescope is specified we use focal length of this telescope. If not specified - assume the main telescope (specified for the FOV chart).

Resolution

Implemented. Added a Telescope chooser for Imager type custom reticles.

Fixed
1/2/10
Custom reticles size troubles.
 

Problem is with decimal separator.
If I use "." all is ok(15.7 →15.7). If I use "," only int part saved (15,7 → 15).
During custom reticles editing all numbers showed with "," like separator.

As result we have:
1.Edit reticle.
2.Input 15.7.
3."Ok"
4.Edit reticle.
5.See 15,7.
6."Ok" (size of reticle on FOV window change)
7.Edit reticle.
8.See 15.

Resolution

Fixed.
Bonus: The confusing dialog-within-a-dialog has been replaced by an all-in-one window. Any changes made are reflected instantly in the FoV chart.

Fixed
1/1/10
UDF script problems
 

Today I have had two occasions where a UDF script has generated an exception error dialogue and an 'APSemaphore' timeout message in the Debugging window. Both occurred during a scheduled Object list redraw ('Re-sort dynamic columns every 30 sec' is checked).

There have also been two other occasions when AP has crashed to desktop with no error messages or logs of any kind.

Resolution

Fixed. I hope.

Fixed
1/1/10
UDF script
 

Still getting 'APSemaphore from UserFieldLock timed out'.

Resolution

Fixed. Hopefully.

Fixed
12/31/09
Picture.Constructor: Out Of Memory Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Memory Exception

1: Sub Picture.Constructor( int32, int32, int32 )
2: Function ImageFITSConversionThread.Convert() as boolean
3: Sub ImageFITSConversionThread.Event_Run()
4: Sub APThread.Event_Run()

Resolution

Fixed. Well, I'm still not sure what the underlying problem is, but it should no longer cause an exception.

Fixed
12/25/09
Exporting a single session not yet working correctly (was Enhancement 3021)
 

Exporting observations in a single session works fine when exporting them as an Excel file. Exporting the session as an AstroPlanner .obs file doesn't. The attached screenshots shows the number of observations in the session which AP plans to export does not match the actual number of observations made in the session.
As the screenshots also shows, I logged observations on both the 15th and 16th of November. Both sessions lasted past midnight. I was able to succesfully export the session of the 15th as there was no session closely preceding it, nor a session following it. Now with a session present for the 16th I am no long able to export the session correctly.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
12/24/09
Be able to create objects from observations
 

Given a set of observations selected in the Observation database window, allow the creation of a new plan containing a set of objects representing those observations.

Resolution

Implemented. Right-click menu on observations list in the Observations database window will create a new plan, or add to an existing (open) one.

Fixed
12/23/09
MainWindow.ObjectList_MenuAction: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ObjectList_MenuAction( MainWindow.MainWindow, string, string )
2: Function StripedListBox.ServiceMenu( MenuItem ) as boolean
3: Sub StripedListBox.MakeContextualMenu( int32, int32 )

User description of above error trace:

While attempting to search a catalog using the context menu item: "Lookup Name" (right-click within the Objects List), this Nil Object Exception was evoked.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/21/09
When Image Manager is open, it does not show in Window list.
 

I'm not sure that this is a bug, but, as I was culling an object list, I opened Image Manager so I could delete images as I deleted the objects from the list. When the plan window was in front, I went up to Window in the main menu to choose the Image Manager, but it was not on the list. I then clicked Image Manager under Image, and it appeared just as I had left it, i.e. open to NGC objects.

By the way, I just found that the same is true for the Bug Report window. Maybe these are special windows that will not show up on the Window list?

Resolution

Fixed. Plus a whole lot of other "neglected" windows.

Fixed
12/21/09
faulty content in displayed column of userfield
 

WEBDA Link and SEDS Link fields were created with the scripts and I had also an E(B-V) field created and displayed as a column in the Objects tab.
When I then changed the order by editing the User Fields, the content of the SEDS Link was displayed in the E(B-V) column.

The problem is corrected by rerunning the SEDS script or by saving the plan, closing and reloading it.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/21/09
AstroPlanner reported to be busy
 

Switched Objects to to FoV tab, got runtime error as per attached screenshot.

Resolution

Fixed. Hopefully. I'm not sure why this is happening, but I have worked around some potential problem areas.

Fixed
12/21/09
Slew to home causes APv2 to freeze and to lock up my computer
 

I put APv2b69 through its telescope control paces on my Meade LX200GPS and everything worked fine, except "Slew to home". When I clicked "Slew to home" my computer locked up, as it has on previous versions.

Resolution

Fixed. If the scope is unable to slew to the home position for any reason, or if the slew times out, a message will be shown and the command aborted.

Fixed
12/21/09
Type upward sorting doesn't work
 

Run a script which generates a list window with the object type in one column. Have the list originally sort on one of the other columns.

Click on the Type column heading. It shows the little up-arrow to show sorting, but doesn't sort. Click on the Type column again, and the down-arrow appears and the list does sort.

It's not just the first click -- clicking on, say, Name sorts the first time. And if you go back and click on Type a 3rd time (back to the up-arrow), it doesn't change the sorting (the rows are still sorted in reverse alphabetical order).

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/21/09
Hard crash when opening script edit window
 

Hard crash when opening script edit window if observation database window is at the front.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/21/09
Observations user-fields
 

V1 User defined fields in the Observations tab are not displayed unless/until a field named identically to the V1 field is added, or when a completely new field is added.

Resolution

Fixed. The original user field names are now imported and new user-field definitions created where applicable.

Implemented
12/20/09
Copy list columns
 

Add ability to copy selected rows in a listbox to the clipboard (as tab-separated text)

Resolution

Implemented. Can copy either all or just the selected rows of any list as tab-separated text.
Bonus: You can export the rows to a tab-separated text file.

 
2.0b70 Release Date: Sunday, December 20, 2009
Fixed
12/20/09
Closing last plan hoses AP
 

I set the option "Closing last plan document Closes other windows and displays a menu."

When I closed the last document, a menu was indeed displayed, but it was inoperable. I had to closing the app and restart it to be able to open another plan.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/20/09
Hard Crash after multiple selections of user plans
 

AP hard crashed after I downloaded multiple (5) user contrib plans and checked check box to close plans after downloading. No AP error report.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/20/09
Quit Unexpectedly
 

Again....
Downloaded the new update (2.0.0b69) through the software - NOT THE WEBSITE

When I closed the application to run the update, received the usual "AP Quit Unexpectedly" with the option to close or reopen. Here were the details that were going to be sent to Apple (although I report stuff like this - maybe I should).

Thread 0 Crashed: Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread
0 ??? 0xd4a58b00 0 + 3567618816
1 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x00174dc4 RuntimeCustomControlDestructor + 56
2 com.ilanga.AstroPlanner 0x001a2d78 BevelButton.__exit%%o<BevelButton> + 56
.....

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/20/09
Listbox.CellTag: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub Listbox.CellTag( int32, int32 )
2: Function UserFieldListBox.Event_DragOver( int32, int32, DragItem, int32 ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

I was cleaning up (deleting files) from my Downloads folder when this "unexpected error condition" dialog popped up on screen. AstroPlanner was, and remains, open, but it was at the time, and contiues to sit idle in the background. Current project not saved. Though I have copied the v2 app from the .dmg, and am running from the hard disk (applications folder), the latter (.dmg) was one of the files placed into the trash. Other apps sharing space in memory with AP include Apple Mail, and Safari.

Developer
Analysis

Happens if you drag stuff from A to B and cross a user-fields list en-route.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/19/09
Adding Minor Planet
 

I went to add a minor planet with new orbital elaments and this debug window appeared.
I copied the datat - here it is


4.9146305 5.7248867
4.9146305 5.7248867
4.9065365 5.6692088
4.9167325 5.7386093
...
4.9146317 5.7248949

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/15/09
Type selection popup always appends
 

On the Objects tab there's a Type textbox down at the bottom. If I click on the little pull-right menu to the right and chose a different type, it appends it so that I now have two types. I almost always want to replace.

Resolution

Fixed. The popup will now always replace, unless the existing type ends with "+", in which case it will append.

Fixed
12/14/09
Odd object list behavior
 

I have been creating an imaging list in APv2b69 and have noticed some odd behavior in the object list. One that seems to be reproducible is the following: When I delete and object from the list, the blue selection highlight moves down to the next object, but all the information in the boxes below below the list (ID, Name, RA, Dec, etc) does not change, i.e. the info for the deleted object remains in the boxes. I checked earlier betas and this behavior occurs in them also.

Another odd behavior is that under certain circumstances an object disappears from the list, and I think the two are connected.

Here is the sequence of actions that gets an object to disappear:
1. Delete an object (note: the info on the object is still in the boxes below the list, i.e. 1st odd behavior)
2. Blue selection highlight moves down to next object.
3. Click on a user defined field and enter a value for that object.
4. Object that was just deleted replaces the highlighted object, i.e. highlighted object disappears and deleted object reappears.

Developer
Analysis

Well spotted. Nasty one.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/14/09
Tooltips not correct for User defined objects
 

In the objects/planner sheet the tooltips for User-defined fields are shown correctly in the user-defined fields area.

However in the actual Objects sheet the default tooltips for the relevant user fields are shown and not the actual user defined tooltips

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/14/09
Got a Debug Window
 

After running AP for about ten minutes yesterday I got a Debug window that opened up. If I closed the window the program itself closed. Attached is the debug text file it generated.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/14/09
PlanObservation.UserTitle: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub Dictionary.Key( int32 )
2: Function PlanObservation.UserTitle( int32 ) as string
3: Sub ObservationWindow.ObservationWindow.ObsFindAndReplace( ObservationWindow.ObservationWindow )

User description of above error trace:

Used "Find and replace" in the observation database for all ("select all") observations in a single session. Chose to replace an empty field ("Seeing", a user defined field) with a value. Since none of the observations logged contained a value in this field AP did not allow me to replace these empty fields with a numerical value, that value being "5". Chose to insert a single space into the field to be replaced. Hit ENTER and got this error condition.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/12/09
Debugging window comes up with title bar off screen
 

It's over to the right with the title bar just above the top of the screen. I can get to the menu, but not to the close box.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/12/09
Listbox.CellTag: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub Listbox.CellTag( int32, int32 )
2: Function UserFieldListBox.Event_DragOver( int32, int32, DragItem, int32 ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

Dragging a group of objects from one plan to another.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b69 Release Date: Friday, December 11, 2009
Implemented
12/11/09
Add SkyFi support
 

Add direct support for Carina's SkyFi (serial over TCP/IP).
(link)

Resolution

Implemented. Untested (no hardware available).
Use the "Use SkyFi WiFi-to-Serial adapter" setting in the telescope mount settings.

Fixed
12/10/09
Scripting: Highlighting code blocks
 

A recent feature, added to the script editor widget, is to highlight code blocks when the cursor is in the gutter. I find this particularly annoying, so a way to switch it off would be nice.

Resolution

Fixed. Added a "Highlight code blocks" setting (default: On).

Fixed
12/10/09
Downloaded DSS image not shown in FoV-images
 

After downloading an image it is not immediately shown in the FoV-image-screen straight away when using the Images button in the FoV tab.
This in contrary to doing it through 'show images' from the context menu (in the Objects tab)

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/10/09
MemoryBlock.UInt32Value: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Version: 2.0b53
Expires: 07/09/2009
Date: 22/08/2009 0:47:39
Debug: DelegatingTimer removalTimer
OS: WinVista

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Function MemoryBlock.UInt32Value( int32 ) as uint32
2: Function ImageDatabase.Image( int32 ) as Picture
3: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.DSSPicture_Paint( MainWindow.MainWindow, Graphics )
4: Sub Delegate.Invoke()
5: Sub Application._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

Developer
Analysis

This appears to be a bad image database record.

Resolution

Fixed. Bad images will no longer cause an exception, but will be reported as such.

Fixed
12/10/09
Cartes du Ciel name issue
Windows
only

The app name is "skychart.exe", not "ciel.exe".

Resolution

Fixed. Bonus:
a. If the standard installation has been done, you won't be asked to find the application.
b. Coordinates sent to CdC are now converted to current epoch, giving a more accurate FoV.
c. If AP launches CdC, then the first request is no longer lost.

Fixed
12/10/09
F3 should do a find-next
Windows
only

The F3 function key doesn't seem to be hooked up to find-next.

Resolution

Fixed. Edit→Find Again now has F3 keyboard shortcut (Mac OS remains Cmd-G).

Fixed
12/10/09
GeneralPreferencesWindow.smtp_Error: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub GeneralPreferencesWindow.GeneralPreferencesWindow.smtp_Error( GeneralPreferencesWindow.GeneralPreferencesWindow, string )
2: Sub APSMTPSocket.Event_Error()
3: Sub Delegate.Invoke()
4: Sub Application._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

User description of above error trace:

Updated web preferences to use smtp port 2525, then clicked test, then exited the prefernces dialog.

Resolution

Fixed. Pending mail send operations are terminated before the window closes.

Fixed
12/10/09
'Show deprecated methods' window
 

With 'Show deprecated methods' checked, but no deprecated methods are found the deprecated methods window should be displayed with text something like 'No deprecated items found'.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/9/09
Compare telescope-Computer settings
 

Get raw item(31) not implemented for telescope driver, similar for (32)
Background AP error screen "APSemaphore from telescopeMount timed out

HEQ5pro ( Celestron NexStar 5/8) mount.

Resolution

Fixed. Also applies to several other mount types.

Fixed
12/9/09
SynScan-based mount not functioning with Nexstar driver
 

SynScan-based mount not functioning with native Nexstar driver (The Orion Synscan option uses the Nexstar driver - ed.)

Resolution

Fixed. A new Synscan-specific native driver has been added.

Fixed
12/9/09
BinaryStream.CheckForError: I/O Exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: I/O Exception

1: Sub BinaryStream.CheckForError()
2: Sub BinaryStream.Position.Set( int32, uint64 )
3: Function Catalogue.GetFieldDataAsString( int32 ) as string
4: Function Catalogue.MakeCatalogueFind( int32 ) as CatalogueFind

User description of above error trace:

a. trying to draw filed of view for object. This is Windows 7 64 bit

b. Download new 67 version. Opened Field of view. Got two error ...something long that had Universal in the description. Options allowed me to hit button CONTINUE which I did. Got Application exception error.

User description of above error trace:

This seems to happen every time I click on the USNO catalog in the FOV tab

Developer
Analysis

This happens when using the USNO catalogue (and probably UCAC2 catalogue). For some reason the bug is only trapped in Windows

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/7/09
User defined tooltips are one row out of sequence or do not work
 

I have noticed the following issues with regard to the user defined tool tips:

On Objects page I have 5 user defined fields and the tool tips are either

i) one above where they should be
ii) one below where they should be, or
ii) do not appear at all

The same problems as above occur for user defined fields for Observations Sessions and Observation Notes

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/7/09
CMMCommon.ConstructContextualMenu: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub CMMCommon.ConstructContextualMenu( MenuItem, CMM() )
2: Function CMMTreeView.Event_ConstructContextualMenu( MenuItem, int32, int32 ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

I just tried to download a script

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/7/09
CMMCommon.ConstructContextualMenu: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub CMMCommon.ConstructContextualMenu( MenuItem, CMM() )
2: Function CMMTreeView.Event_ConstructContextualMenu( MenuItem, int32, int32 ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

Had the "Download User-Contributed Plans" dialog open. Expanded the "My Plans" entry. Right-clicked on one of the plans.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/7/09
Scripting: List column sorting
 

If you put IDs into a List window column and click on the header to sort that column, the order is lexicographical, not numeric. e.g. if the column contains Messier IDs, the the ascending ordering is: M1,M10,M11, etc.

Resolution

Fixed. The ListWindow.Cell(r,c)=s method has been changed to add an optional format command (as with the numerical case). Currently, for strings, all the options available for numeric types are available, and an additional one: "ID". Using:
ListWindow.Cell(r,c,"ID")=s
when assigning an ID will cause that column to be sorted as an ID.

Fixed
12/7/09
Un/Commenting blocks of code
Windows
only

Commenting and uncommenting blocks of code results in that block gaining an extra end-of-line for each line. Steps to reproduce:

1: Highlight a block of text
2: Use Script → Comment/Uncomment to comment the block
3: Use Script → Comment/Uncomment to uncomment the block
4: Save the script
5: Reload the script
6: Block of text has extra blank lines following each line of the original block

I'm not certain where in these steps the extra blank lines are inserted.

Resolution

Fixed.
Bonus: Also Indenting/Outdenting code, which has the same problem.

Implemented
12/7/09
Observation Notes/User Fields splitter
 

In the observations tab include an adjustable width splitter widget between the Observation notes window and the User fields window. There is already a splitter widget between the User fields in the session area and the "Name" window and this works well.

At present the if there is a lot of text in the User fields area it "disappears" at the right side and can't be adjusted.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
12/7/09
Enforcing authorship of scripts/plans
 

Currently it is possible to upload a script or plan with someone else's name as the author. This is a problem, since the named author cannot delete or overwrite the script/plan. The script/plan should have the registered owner's name enforced.

Resolution

Fixed. Authorship of uploaded plans/scripts is now enforced (although plans can be uploaded "anonymously" if desired.

Fixed
12/6/09
Property end set/get auto-indenting
 

Auto-indenting of property 'end set' and 'end get' statements is not working.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b68 Release Date: Friday, December 4, 2009
Fixed
12/4/09
AP window loses focus during startup
 

During startup the AP window loses focus. This happens whilst the object list is being drawn for the first time. The result is that only the first few (8-12) objects are displayed. Then the window loses focus and something in the background stops doing its thing. Once I click on the window (to restore focus) the object list is completed.

Resolution

Fixed. I think. The splash window is now a globally floating window which should ease the problem.

Fixed
12/4/09
UDF to list column conversion
 

Having the UDF access buttons active in the list column for files, URL, etc. would be really, really nice.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
12/4/09
Check for updated scripts
 

Whenever the script window is opened or the scipt download feature is used, check to see if any of the previously downloaded scripts were updated. Possibly add a script preference to determine when this is done.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
12/2/09
ScriptWindow.LoadScript: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow.LoadScript( ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow )
2: Sub ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow.ScriptList_Change( ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow )
3: Sub Listbox.ListIndex.Set( int32, int32 )
4: Sub ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow.Setup( ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow, string )
5: Sub ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow.Event_Open( ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow )
6: Sub Window.Constructor()
7: Function ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow.Get( boolean ) as ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow
8: Function App._ScriptEditScripts_Action() as boolean
9: Sub Delegate.Invoke()
10: Sub Application._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()


User description of above error trace:

Just clicked on the Script menu (after resizing the AP window)???

Developer
Analysis

I think this was caused by having a script file in the scripts folder that didn't have the requisite ".txt" extension. Such script files should not be displayed.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/1/09
Updating multiple framework reference windows
 

Having some fun opening an SFR window, renaming a named prefix file to another named prefix file (e.g. lib_file to prefix_file) and opening another SFR window. This does not cause anything bad to happen. You just end up the first SFR window referencing a file that no longer exists! Perhaps any open SFR windows should be refreshed when a script is renamed or deleted (haven't tried adding - yet!). Personally I wouldn't like to see a restriction of having only one SFR window open at a time. I frequently have two or three open when I'm cross-checking and hunting for stuff.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
12/1/09
SFR: Methods not showing for subclass
 

I have a named prefix file containing two classes, one is a subclass, the other isn't. Methods for the subclassed class do not show in the SFR, methods for the other (non-subclassed) do.

In the attached script, APGraph is subclassed to Canvas and wombat is an ordinary class.





Attachment: prefix_GraphLib.txt

Resolution

Fixed.
Note: prefix files will now be moved to the top of the hierarchical list, which is probably more convenient.

Fixed
12/1/09
Exception in script when using multi-line StringParameter
 

sub main()
dim d as new Dialog
d.StringParameter (false, "Caption", "v", true) //T = UE, F = OK
call d.Show("Test")
end sub

Changing the multiline boolean to False suppresses the unhandled exception
error.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/30/09
Change "Visual Aid" to "Optical Aid"
 

Since many "Visual Aids" are not really used for visual observing (e.g. Field flatteners, focal length reducers, etc.), change the name of "Visual Aid" to "Optical Aid" throughout the application.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/30/09
Telescope "Edit" Button is relpaced with "Slew to Object" when connection fails
 

When a telescope connection fails the edit button (Pencil) goes away and is replaced with a grayed out "Slew to Object" button.

Since the telescope is not connected the expected behavior would be for the edit button to remain in place so that the user can edit the connection parameters for the telescope. Or that the "Slew to Object" button is only visible when you are successfully connected to a telescope.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/30/09
Bad parsing of declination
 

Pasted the following string: +46°53'56" into the Dec field of a new object, and AP correctly separated out the +46, but stuck all the rest in the minutes field (including the ' and " characters).

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/30/09
Error When Printing Observations
 

I am not sure if this has been reported or not. I receive the following error message when attempting to print the observation database: "Cannot Run Script>Prefix Script Missing Default" Running 2.0b53 under XP/SP3.

Developer
Analysis

Ooops. I haven't implemented a script for that yet.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
11/24/09
Chart numbering for The Great Atlas of the Sky
 

Add chart numbering for the Great Atlas of the Sky.
(link)

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
11/23/09
Topocentric coords for solar system objects
 

Solar system object coordinates are computed as geocentric rather than topocentric. This has little effect for most objects, but the moon position (and rise/set/alt, etc.) can be wrong by as much as a degree.

Resolution

Fixed. Currently for Moon only, since this is the "main culprit".

Fixed
11/23/09
Incorrect pasting of constant from SFR window
 

In a prefix file I have a class (APGraph) that inherits Canvas.

When double-clicking on a Const (declared in this class) in the SFR window I get "APGraph - Subclass of: Canvas.graph_SymbolCircle" inserted in the script editor window. Shouldn't I get something like "APGraph.graph_SymbolCircle"?

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/22/09
Moon data incorrect
 

Your Moon Age is 1 day less than reality
Illumination is 2% less
amd alt is 1degee greater

Rise and set times are correct

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/22/09
Object floating Notes editor
Windows
only

Is the menu bar serving any useful purpose?

Developer
Analysis

Probably not.

Resolution

Fixed. Menu should now be gone.

Fixed
11/22/09
Choosing the constellation in FoV doesn't really work
 

When choosing "Show constellation in FoV" from the Object Menu makes an window pop up with all constellations. No constellation is selected, so it seems the you have to choose one yourself. However in reality the constellation of the selected object will show up in the FoV.

Hence the intermediate window could be skipped or changing your mind about the constellation should be possible

I would have expected the option "Show constellation in FoV" in the context menu (right click on the object) under Others for instance

Maybe if you choose "Show constellation in FoV" from the Object menu the intermediate window and being able to make your chose there would be nice, and the one from the context menu going to the constellation of the selected object immediately would be a nice solution.

Resolution

Fixed.
a. If an object is selected and the "Show constellation in FoV..." menu command is used, the object's constellation will be pre-selected.
b. If an object is selected there will be a "Show xxx in FoV" entry in both the Object and right-click menus, where xxx is the object's constellation. Choosing it will display the constellation in the FoV without an intervening dialog.
c. Bug fixed that caused the selected object to be centred when showing the constellation. Now the constellation is centred as expected.
d. The star magnitude limit is set to 6 to give a better approximation of a naked eye view.

Implemented
11/22/09
Tooltips for user-defined fields
 

Tooltip field for user-defined fields?

Developer
Analysis

Since this is a fairly trivial change, I will add it as my Sunday tea-time treat :^)

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
11/22/09
Orientation of NGC247
 

There does not seem to be a consensus as to the orientation of NGC247. Herschel and Caldwell have it rotated 90deg from how Herschel-I, NGC, and AP DSO have it oriented.

Developer
Analysis

This is because several of those catalogues do not have a position angle defined (and hence use 0 degrees). I suppose I should think about discriminating the non-angle case.

Resolution

Fixed. Galaxies now have a semi-major-axis bar pointing in the direction of the position angle. If no position angle is specified, no bar is drawn.

Fixed
11/21/09
Allow non-checked telescope resources in finderscope list
 

On the telescope resources tab, in the list of resources, there is a checkbox which indicates whether a particular resource should be included in the dropdown list of resources for places where the list is used. One place this is used is to indicate the finderscope for a telescope resource. In order to choose a telescope resource as a finderscope, the checkbox must be checked. But this means the finderscope will also show up as a telescope in the telescope dropdown list on the main window, which I feel unnecessarily clutters this list if you have a finderscope on every telescope.

I request that the checkbox apply only to lists presented outside of the resources dialog, and that within the dialog, every defined resource is listed, regardless of the state of the checkbox. This would allow one to define all finderscopes and use them in other resources, but not have them show up on the main UI.

Developer
Analysis

Changed from enhancement to bug. This is a valid complaint.

Resolution

Fixed. Ditto for finder eyepiece and finder visual aid where applicable.

Fixed
11/21/09
Edit user defined fields for 'Choice'
Windows
only

After entering information one item per line in the user defined fields 'edit' area the choices after you click on them appear as horizontal line and not a vertical choice line.

You cannot select anything because the first choice entered is always the one selected.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/21/09
#3212: User-defined fields with choices
Windows
only

Defined a UDF as:
Title: Test
Type: Choice
Choices: A1
B2
C3

Clicking on the field displays:

A1[]B2[]C3

where [] = square character (probably representing an unprintable character.

A1 is entered into the Value column. Something, possibly B2, appears briefly in blue at the bottom of the Field column.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b67 Release Date: Friday, November 20, 2009
Fixed
11/20/09
Object selection lost
 

1: Select one or more object/s (object highlighted in blue)
2: Edit the list columns (Ctrl-K)
3: Close the list column editor
4: Object selection is lost

Should object selection be retained in this case?

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/19/09
Sequence Numbers
 

When I use a plan with sequence numbers, it opens with numbers in the correct order. However, if I sort on another column and then resort on the Seq# column I'll get a sort like: 1, 10, 100, 101, etc.

Developer
Analysis

The Seq# column should never be displayed. You must have a bad plan. However, I suppose I can get it to sort on that column correctly if it is inadvertently displayed.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/19/09
SkyOptions.SelectNode: Type Mismatch Exception
 

Version: 2.0b46
Expires: 8/9/2009
Date: 7/11/2009 2:44:59 PM
OS: WinVista

Exception Type: Type Mismatch Exception

1: Sub SkyOptions.SkyOptions.SelectNode( SkyOptions.SkyOptions, TreeViewNode )
2: Sub SkyOptions.SkyOptions.tree_SelectionChanged( SkyOptions.SkyOptions )
3: Sub Delegate.Invoke()
4: Sub Application._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()



User description of above error trace:

I was toying with the settings in the Display Options Box. I had turned on the alignment stars, then toggled them off when this box popped up.

Note that this is a fresh Win 7 install, so the problem could be entirely on this end...

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/19/09
Alt-Az graphic incorrect
 

The east and west labels are flipped (east on the right, west on the left) in the Alt/Az graphic -- but the compass needle still points like it used to in 1.6 (e.g., the needle points to the left for 90°).

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/18/09
MacOS hard crash
 

I started up APv2b65, clicked on the Sky Window (worked fine) and then clicked on the FOV window. AP did nothing for a few seconds and then crashed. I will send you the crash report by direct email.

I have not been able to get it to crash again, with the same or any other click sequence, so it could be a fluke.

Resolution

Fixed. I hope.

Fixed
11/18/09
Rotating FoV with images displays dark artifacts
 

Rotating FoV with images displays dark artifacts.

Developer
Analysis

A masking problem with the graphics.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/18/09
Deleting an observation does not delete any attachments
 

Deleting an observation does not delete any (internally stored) attachments to that observation.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/18/09
Observation notes difficult to type
 

It's still pretty difficult to type into the observation notes on the Observations tab. I think the update to the global database is the cause (I have in-line spell checking turned off).

It seems to refresh on every delete (making in-line typing corrections difficult), and otherwise on every word or so. Perhaps it could only update if the keyboard has been quiet for 10 seconds or something?

Resolution

Fixed. No longer updates observation database window if it's in the background, which can cause significant slowdowns for large databases.

Fixed
11/18/09
Annoying selection changes
 

I had the Global Observations window open, and was copying some data from it into a new observation in an open plan document.

However, each time I switched between windows, AP would change the selection in the Global Observations. I started out with all sessions selected, and AP would drop the selection to the oldest session. I then selected just the session I needed, and AP would leave that alone but drop the selection in the Observations list to the first observations of that session.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/18/09
Seeing/Transparency field size
 

The Seeing/Transparency boxes are not wide enough to show all my data (I use the bortle scale with a description for Transparency). Is it possible to have some with adjustment?

Resolution

Fixed. Increasing the vertical size of the session info (using the splitter control underneath) will, once the session group box has reached a certain height, rearrange the fields to take up the space.

Implemented
11/17/09
User-defined fields with choices
 

I would like to have user-defined fields with user-specified drop down menus, sothe I could have, for example, a dropdown for NELM (ZLM) or lunar phase

Resolution

Implemented. Added a new Choice type. Clicking on the field (NOT right-clicking) brings up a menu with the user defined choices in it.

Implemented
11/17/09
Observations/Attachments - new separator bar
 

If possible it would be good to have another adjustable horizontal separator bar between 'File Path' and 'Description'. This would allow the user to shrink the area used by the Attachment list and extend the area for 'Description' and the UDF list.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
11/17/09
Sync button not appearing
 

The telescope Sync to Object button seems to be missing.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
11/16/09
Implement Vixen Star Book mount driver
 

Implement Vixen Star Book mount driver

Resolution

Implemented. Untested. Based on protocol definition as supplied by Vixen. The mount definition requires the IP address of the Star Book to be supplied, if different from the default (169.254.1.1).

Fixed
11/15/09
Tool tips over columns does not seem to be working
Windows
only

Using Windows 7 x64 and AP 2 b66 the tool tips over columns does not seem to be working. I assume this should work for generic columns and you just place your mouse cursor over the column title?

I can hover but see nothing

Developer
Analysis

Turns out the the listbox widget I'm using doesn't show tool tips when the cursor is over the header for Windows. I'll report this and see if it can be fixed. Meantime, if you hover over the first row showing in the list, it will display the tooltip.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/15/09
Alert users to FoV rotation
 

Make it a bit more obvious that the FoV is currently rotated, i.e. the FoV Rotation is non-zero.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b66 Release Date: Friday, November 13, 2009
Fixed
11/13/09
Date/Time font size not changing properly
 

If you change the font face of size using the Preferences, General tab, the font face/size of many UI elements changes immediatedly. However, the textboxes in the Date/Time box (where the "fix Date" checkbox is, I'm not sure what to call that UI element) do not change until the next time AP is restarted.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
11/12/09
Explanation of object list columns
 

Add some explanatory text for the various columns in the object list.

Resolution

Implemented. Hovering the cursor over a column heading will display a tool tip describing the column.

Fixed
11/9/09
New object window
Windows
only

The downarrow symbol next to "Guides " is overlapping it

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/9/09
External catalogues path reset option
 

In the event that external catalogues are not found, give the user the option to ignore the AP request to reset the paths to defaults.

I turned my LAN switch off to move it at just the wrong time - of course!

Much simpler option: Insert clause into licence that AP is not to be used by total dorks!!!

Resolution

Fixed. Now have the Ignore option.

Fixed
11/9/09
Site resource problems
 

I'm fairly certain more fields than just the URL field are not being saved correctly. Seem to have the same problem with the Clock Offset field.

Resolution

Fixed. This is probably a side-effect of a bug in an earlier release, effectively rending the resource database read-only.

Fixed
11/9/09
Background overlapping Telescope & Site dropdown lists (?)
Windows
only

A minor one: Both the Telescope and Site drop downs seems to be overlapped by ("grey window background", for lack of a better description) as per attached screenshot.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/9/09
DSS images in FoV show rotation
 

DSS images in FoV show rotation w.r.t. catalogue stars. This appears to be anywhere up to a degree or two.

Resolution

Fixed. Wherever possible, the effective rotation of the image w.r.t. north is calculated and the image rotated to compensate.

Fixed
11/9/09
Start/End and Name time display
 

If an observation is created using UT should the Start, End and Name times also be UT?

Resolution

Fixed. Observation prefs now has an option for displaying session start/end date/times as UT (Always, Never, If contains any UT observation, If contains ALL UT observations). You might have to rebuild the sessions to get this to work retrospectively.

Fixed
11/9/09
Bad catalogue warning
 

The warning of a bad catalogue only needs to appear once when AP is started. With v2b65 the warning appears several times when using the Catalogue Manager. The may be an argument for keeping one warning when starting the Catalogue Manager - maybe.

Resolution

Fixed. You'll only be asked once per run. Thereafter, whatever action you selected will be performed each time it's applicable.

Implemented
11/9/09
Fixed altitude line on Sky chart
 

Add the ability to draw a line at a given altitude on the Sky chart

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
11/9/09
Altitude line for Air Mass on Sky chart
 

For a given Air Mass (say 2), draw a line at the altitude at which this airmass occurs.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
11/9/09
Telescope reappears when deleted from list
 

When a telescope is deleted from the list of telescopes, it will reappear after a restart of AP.

Resolution

Fixed. This was a bug introduced a few releases ago that accidentally rendered the resource database read-only.

Fixed
11/9/09
Catalogue Manager not recognising USNOA2 installation
 

I have USNO-A2 installed (it appears in the Inventory.txt file) but the Catalogue Manager does not recognise it as installed.

If I put the USNOA2 disk in, start the CatManager, say I have disk in place and select the 'CD/DVD-ROM' radio button I can see that the USNOA2 catalogue files are installed. With the 'On-line' radio button selected, USNOA2*.apcat is shown as not installed.

Resolution

Fixed. If one or more USNOA2 catalogue files are installed, then it will be marked as "Installed". Bonus: Added a few more Alternate Catalogue Folder paths.

Implemented
11/8/09
User-Defined Fields for a plan
 

Having some UDF fields for a Plan document (note: NOT per object) would be useful to me. The biggest problem, I think, would be where to put them. GetInfo dialogue?

Resolution

Implemented. In the File→Plan Info dialog (formerly File→Get Info).
Note: These settings will not be saved in uploaded user-contributed plans.

Implemented
11/6/09
Add Meade LPI camera
 

This is a very popular imager since it's given away for free with most Meade scopes. Details can be found at (link)

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
11/4/09
Add User Image
 

After adding a user image (using Object context menu) the image is not displayed (image area is blank) until the object is re-selected.

I can reliably repeat this with FITS images. With JPG, I can get it to fail by giving bad FoV info.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/4/09
PopupMenu.RowTag: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub PopupMenu.RowTag( int32 )
2: Function MainWindow.MainWindow.DSSPicture_GetPicture( MainWindow.MainWindow ) as Picture

User description of above error trace:

Addition to #3167. Added a user image to an object. Image did not show up in image area. Right-clicked in image area in attempt to get context menu. Crash.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/4/09
Incorrect tooltip text
 

Affects Observers and Imagers tabs. The three buttons (bottom left corner) for adding, deleting or copying a resource, have tooltip text that is the same for the Filters tab.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/3/09
MainWindow.ObjectFindAndReplace: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ObjectFindAndReplace( MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ObjectList_MenuAction( MainWindow.MainWindow, string, string )

User descriptions of above error trace:

a. Find and replace in a user field
Also is it possible to include the ID field as one of the Find/Replace fields

b. Attempting Find/Replace in user field.
Finds OK but exception on replace

Resolution

Fixed. Bonus: ID now included.

Fixed
11/3/09
Mag and FoV for Telescope/Imager combinations
 

Should the Mag and FoV columns show values for Telescope and Imager combinations. These columns are filled in for Telescope and Eyepiece combinations.

The Mag/FoV information for both Telescope/Imager and Telescope/Eyepiece is displayed in the box below the 'Resource Combinations', so this really is a cosmetic issue.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/3/09
Changes in Framework Reference not showing
 

Changes in Framework Reference are not showing (e.g. for 2.0b63)

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/3/09
Sites selected in Resources vs. Observations tab
 

When a site is unchecked in resources, it is removed from any observations logged at that site in the Observations tab. However, the site is retained in the observation database.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
11/2/09
Download user-contributed plan/s as text file/s
 

When downloading one or more user-contributed plan documents, the file is downloaded, automatically opened, and then saved and closed. This is slow. A means to download just the text format plan is requested.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
11/2/09
FITS images displayed dim
 

FITS images are displayed dimmer than expected on the observations attachments tab.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
11/2/09
Object list
 

Show object list row as a vertically-oriented column in a window
Is not Altitude always in deg you mention PM?

Developer
Analysis

This is a first! A bug reported on a feature that hasn't even been released yet...

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
11/2/09
Twilight times
 

Twilight times: would like to see civ/naut/ast twilight times both after sunset and before sunrise.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
11/1/09
Scripting: Way to determine which observation is selected on Observation Tab.
 

A method to give the observation index (from the overall Observation Database) of the currently selected observation.

Developer
Analysis

APPlan.SelectedObservation returns the currently selected APObservation (or nil if nothing is selected).

Resolution

Implemented. APObservation.Index returns the index of the observation in the database.

Implemented
11/1/09
Scripting: Image - Delete
 

Methods for deleting images from the database?

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
11/1/09
Scripting requirements - Requires a plan with a selected object
 

With this option checked AND an object selected in the plan document, the script engine reports the script cannot be run because an object is NOT selected.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
11/1/09
Show object list row as a vertically-oriented column in a window
 

I have now a lot of columns in one line, everyone is important to me. The lines can be very long now.
I think, it would be helpful to a faster overview of the details of one object in the object-window for certain if one could for example see all details of the selected line in a new window one under each other. That could be in the menu which is published with the right click.

Resolution

Implemented. Contextual (right-click) menu has "Show row data in window" when one or more rows of the object list are selected. A window is opened with the data in columnar form. You can open as many of these windows as you like. You can copy the data (Edit→Copy) as a tab-separated table for pasting elsewhere. Note: The data is (currently) static - i.e. if you make changes to the object line, it will not be reflected in the window.
Bonus: Same deal for Sessions and Observations in the observation database window.

 
2.0b65 Release Date: Saturday, October 31, 2009
Implemented
10/30/09
Probability of detection
 

Add probability of visual detection of a star of given magnitude in a given telescope. Based on :
"How Faint Can You See" by Roger N. Clark, Sky and Telescope, April 1994, pages 106-108

Resolution

Implemented. Prob and Prob 2 columns, giving probability of detection of Magnitude and Magnitude 2. e.g. if the probability is 60% then the star will be detectable 60% of the time under ideal conditions.

Implemented
10/30/09
Distance from scope coordinates
 

A column in the object list that shows the angular distance of the object from the current telescope pointing coordinates, when applicable.

Resolution

Implemented. Added TDist column. When the telescope is disconnected this will be blank, otherwise it will show the current angular distance between the object and telescope pointing coordinates.

Implemented
10/30/09
Add Found column to object list
 

The Found status for an object will be true if an object has at least one observation with Found status = TRUE.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
10/30/09
Add Found column to catalogue display window
 

Add Found column to catalogue display window

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
10/29/09
User-defined column scripts
 

The ability to link a script directly to a user-defined column.

Resolution

Implemented. The contextual (right-click) menu for a user-fields list will include any (applicable) user-field scripts. Choosing one of them will automatically create a new entry. However, if the user wants that UF as a column in the object list, he/she will have to use Edit→Columns... to do it.

Fixed
10/29/09
Edit User Dictionary/Add Astro Words
 

The top line of the 'Astro words' list is blank. Should it be?

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/29/09
SFR not showing recent changes
 

'Show changes for version...' only displays changes up to version 2b57.

Developer
Analysis

Oops. Forgot to mark the recent change in the framework code.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/29/09
GnomicTransform class, RADectoPixels method
 

RADectoPixels should be RADecToPixels
The 'to' should be capitalised.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/28/09
Trouble editing name
 

I was using the SIMBAD feature for new objects for the first time (it rocks!), but SIMBAD has this annoying habit of returning the names in all capitals.

If I select the characters after the first and retype them in lowercase (for instaned, ED in RED RECTANGLE to ed), the list doesn't update and my edits don't "take". However, if I type at the end of the name field first, and then recapitalize the other words, it works fine.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
10/28/09
Opening/closing serial ports
 

Some serial ports (Bluetooth in particular) remain "open" after the initial connection (i.e. Bluetooth pairing) and subsequent serial port closing. This causes an error when the serial port is re-opened.
Add an option that (a) does not close the serial port when finished, and (b) reuses the open port upon reconnection, only closing the port when the app quits.

Resolution

Implemented. A new option in the Mount editor: "Leave serial port open when disconnecting". This should allow multiple re-connects to a serial port without closing it.
Note: (a) This is experimental and might, or might not, work as expected
(b) This will (probably) close the port when you quit.

Implemented
10/28/09
WWW icon for Telescope
 

Please include a WWW icon on the Telescope information panel; similar to the one on the Site panel. Will need to include a URL field in the Telescope Resource editor.

Several remote sites have more than one scope, each with it's own web page for controlling them. Having a WWW icon will make logging onto the appropriate scope a lot easier.

Resolution

Implemented. See (link).

Implemented
10/28/09
Add URLs for all resource types
 

Currently, only site resources have associated URLs. Extend this to all resource types.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
10/27/09
Observation Date/Time entry - hitting ENTER
Windows
only

I'm almost happy with the Date/Time entry window... however: after entering an observation time, hitting enter causes the current date and time to be used for the observation ("Now" button). As you just entered a date and time different from the current time, it would make sense for the enter key to function as the "OK" button instead of the "Now" button.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/27/09
UDF Folder type
 

Could this be made to open an Explorer window showing the contents of the referenced folder?

At present (on Windows) the UDF Reveal button opens an Explorer window showing the contents of the parent folder. The default behaviour on double-clicking the referenced folder (shown in the Explorer window) is to open a second Explorer showing the contents.

Resolution

Fixed.
Note: Mac only. If the folder contains no (visible) files it will not be opened, but will, as before, be highlighted in the parent folder.

Fixed
10/26/09
Deleting a session
 

(empty / 0 observation) session will not delete when the [-] button is used. It looks like it does initially, but after a restart the empty session is back. A "rebuild sessions" works as this removes all empty sessions. Have not tried it on a session that does have observations, but for empty session the [-] button is not working.

Developer
Analysis

The database is not being marked as "dirty" when sessions are deleted.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/26/09
Listbox.RowTag: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub Listbox.RowTag( int32 )
2: Sub ObservationWindow.ObservationWindow.EditSessionBtn_Action( ObservationWindow.ObservationWindow, string )

User description of above error trace:

Clicked on the "pencil button" next to the + and - buttons under the session window in the Observation Database.

Resolution

Fixed. Buttons are now disabled when no sessions are selected.

Implemented
10/26/09
Attachment(s) available from Observation Database View
 

<<< Feature Request >>>
If you add an attachment to an observation through the plan (Observation/Attachment) there is no way to view the attachment(s) through the Observation Database (either the database view (no space !!) or the observation details dialog from this view). It would be nice to be able to add and view attachments through the observation database view.

Of course you can do it by opening the original plan from the observation database view then going to the attachment from there. However, this requires you to keep the original plan documents and that attachment is related to the Onservation not the plan (i.e. it is under the "Observations" tab).

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
10/26/09
Hard crash in the "Sky Tab" windows with "Fix Date" Active
 

When you select a date and then automatic turn on the field "Fix Date" and enter in the "Sky" windows the application crashes.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/26/09
Hangs when selecting SKY tab
 

Installed b64 over b62. Not always but frequently hangs when selecting the SKY tab and in one occasion the field of view tab. Rolled back to b62 and no more problem. Looks the same problem as a few versions ago.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/26/09
App.AdjustForV2Conversion: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function App.AdjustForV2Conversion() as boolean
2: Sub App.Event_Open()

User description of above error trace:

a. Attempted for transfer files to old laptop after new(...) one crashed and needs repair. Copied all files from "Roaming" folder. Transfer was from Vista 64x to XP computer.

b. Opened AP and got the 'Unable to open/locate the DSSImageCache' error, followed by the Application Exeception report.

This happened because I'd been playing around with my daughter's USB DVD-RAM drive on my machine. When I plugged my AP USB stick in I didn't notice that Windows had changed the USB drive letters (it does that sometimes).

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b64 Release Date: Friday, October 23, 2009
Fixed
10/23/09
NVBevelButton.Event_Action: Out Of Bounds Exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub NVBevelButton.Event_Action()

User description of above error trace:

a. Installed b63.
At the end of the install, let installer open AP.
AP opened with the last plan I was looking at. It opened on the objects tab, with a picture of the currently selected object also displayed.
Clicked on the button to toggle image display.
Got this exception.

b. Working in FOV tab and clicked the FOV prefs button to change something and got this exception.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b63 Release Date: Friday, October 23, 2009
Fixed
10/23/09
MainWindow.SetMWInfo: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.SetMWInfo( MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Function MainWindow.MainWindow.Event_CancelClose( MainWindow.MainWindow, boolean ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

Closing a plan document.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/23/09
Typing observation notes
 

The screen keeps flashing as I am typing in Observation notes. This is because the program is saving as I type. This is very annoying.

Resolution

Fixed. Changes will only be registered when you stop typing for more than 1 sec, or leave the text editing field.

Fixed
10/23/09
TelescopeMount.GetRADec: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function TelescopeMount.GetRADec( boolean, boolean ) as ReturnValue
2: Sub MountThread.Event_Run()
3: Sub APThread.Event_Run()

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/23/09
The night bar and the year bar flashing
Windows
only

Whenever I run my cursor over the night and year bars they flash. I am guessing that you are redrawing them each time the cursor moves to a new date/time to display the magnitude.
How about this - don't redraw them and just have the magnitudes show up in a tool-tip box when the cursor stops (on the year bar you currently do this for the day and time - just add the magnitude)

Developer
Analysis

Currently I am unable to do the tool-tip thing (but it might be possible in the future).

Resolution

Fixed. To mitigate this behaviour, the graphics are now only updated when the mouse stops moving.

Fixed
10/22/09
Session Management
 

I set up this scenario:

Assume observation is in a session if date/time is within 8 hours (I want my sessions to be all night)

As I am entering my observations I decide at 1:00 a.m. that I want to start a new session. I check the End box for the current session. I add a new observation and create a new session.
Note: the Name field is not updated with the new session info (date and time)

My observation is now added to the new session AND is also added to the all night session.
So now I have the observation listed in both sessions.

Is this the way it is supposed to work?

Developer
Analysis

No. This is a bug.

Resolution

Fixed. If you create a new observation that might cause an overlap of sessions you'll be asked whether you want to truncate/remove/etc. existing sessions to avoid the above situation occurring.

Fixed
10/22/09
UDF script error abort
 

There should be a way to abort a failed UDF script on the first error report.

Resolution

Fixed. If a syntax error or logic error in a script causes a user-defined field script to fail, it will be disabled after displaying the error message and will not activate again until the offending script is edited and saved.
Bonus: The "APSemaphore timed out" problem is also fixed.

Implemented
10/21/09
Set date/time for all open planfiles
 

While making a list of object transit times per object category per constellation, I have to enter the time and date on which I base the list for every single open planfile. It would be a nice feature if the Date/Time window had a checkbox or button to set the date and time entered in all open planfiles.

Resolution

Implemented. When the date is fixed on a plan document, an "All" button appears. Clicking this button will set the local date/time of all other open plan documents to the same as the frontmost one.

Implemented
10/21/09
Add disk-based USNO B1.0 support
 

Add the ability to do disk-based USNO B1.0 support, for those who have access to the B1.0 database on hard disk.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
10/20/09
Window splitter changes in the observation tab
 

If I change the various splitter widgets in the Observations tab I would like the program to save these so they are the same when the program is opened the next time.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/20/09
Cannot add attachment
 

The context menu items for adding attachments (Observations/Attachments) is not working. Click one of the context menu items, the menu disappears but no file selection dialogue appears.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/19/09
MainWindow.GetSiteStuff: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.GetSiteStuff( MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Function MainWindow.MainWindow.GetLatitude( MainWindow.MainWindow ) as double
3: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ChangeFoVCentre( MainWindow.MainWindow )
4: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.FoVRA.Set( MainWindow.MainWindow, int32, double )
5: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.SetFoVRADec( MainWindow.MainWindow, double, double )
6: Sub MWFoVPreferences.ReadWrite( boolean, boolean )
7: Sub MWPreferences.ReadWrite( boolean, boolean )
8: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.OnOpen( MainWindow.MainWindow, FolderItem, boolean )
9: Function App.OpenADocumentFile( FolderItem, byref MainWindow.MainWindow, string, boolean, boolean ) as boolean
10: Sub App.Event_OpenDocument( FolderItem )
11: Sub Window.ShowModal()
12: Sub App.Event_Open()

User description of above error trace:

launching app

Developer
Analysis

This appears to be happening when a plan document is double-clicked while the app is starting up (or perhaps dropped onto the app icon).

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/19/09
App.DoWarning: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function App.DoWarning( string ) as boolean
2: Function App.OKCancel( string, int32, uint0, int0, int0, int0, nType, string, boolean, string, string ) as boolean
3: Function App.YesNo( string, int32, uint0, int0, int0, int0, nType, string, boolean ) as boolean
4: Sub ExceptionDialog.ExceptionDialog.ContinueBtn_Action( ExceptionDialog.ExceptionDialog )
5: Sub Window.ShowModal()
6: Function App.Event_UnhandledException( RuntimeException ) as boolean

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/19/09
DatabaseStuff.DropTableFields: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub DatabaseStuff.DropTableFields( REALSQLDatabase, string, string() )
2: Sub ObservationDatabase.FixupDatabase()
3: Sub ObservationDatabase.OpenDB()

User descriptions of above error trace:

a. After my last Error Log reported 10/11/2009, I was just checking to see if AP v2.0.0.61 would start or continue after an Exception. It would do neither, so I checked to see if the error report was the same as before. The error condition was exactly the same and therefore repeatable.
b. Following installation, I was attempting to start up the AP program on my Windows XP Professional machine. The error log is listed here.
c. I had a problem with the V2.0b58 install were the resorces window could not be displayed. It was in the Windows tab listing and on the Taskbar but I could not get it visable. I had all other windows minimised and sill could not get the resorces window to be visable. I uninstalled Astroplanner and tried to reinstall it many times. Every time I ran the new installation it would hang at "Checking Observation Databaase". I finally got a new installation to run by removing the resorce, data, and obs database then running with create new files. Now this error is what I got when I tried to run the Converter from V1 to V2. I must have a corrupted file.
d. Downloaded V2 and was in the process of installing!

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
10/19/09
Canvas class - coordinate additions
 

For the purposes of image annotation and small drawings/charts (FOV to Constellation size) it would be useful to have RA/Dec origin and scale (pixel/degree) properties. A gnomic projection conversion method would also be required.

A 'nice-to-have' would be a method for drawing celestial grids on a canvas.

Resolution

Implemented. Class GnomicTransform. Celestial grids is left as an exercise to the reader.

Fixed
10/19/09
FoV Position angle and separation labels
 

When displayed the labels for Position Angle and Separation, the labels show magnitude-separation-position angle. I believe a more logical sequence would be magnitude-position angle-separation. This is how most double star books display the data and how I believe most folks read and interpret double star data.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/19/09
Printing preferences
 

The Print margin settings set under Preferences/Printing are not transfereed to File/Page Setup.

Under File/Page Setup the margins have to be setup again.

In my case I have set Preferences/Printing margins to 5mm but under File/Page Setup they show as 25mm.

Resolution

Actually this is a feature rather than a bug. However, I have attempted to make it clearer in Preferences→Printing. i.e. if you set the printer margins all to zero in Preferences→Printing then only the Page Setup margins will be used.

Fixed
10/19/09
Alignment star Alphekka
 

In the skychart is the alignment star Alphekka, gamma CrB. (user catalogue)
A magnitude 2.2 is given, but in reality is has magnitude 3.8

I think that the proper one should be Alphekka (or Alphecca), alpha CrB, that indeed has a magnitude of 2.2.

A little mistake, probably due to fuzzy search, since Alphekka is also called Gemma, that could have caused the mixup with gamma

Resolution

Fixed. Dates back to a bug in the list of alignment stars for the LX200 Classic.

Fixed
10/19/09
Improve access to user-defined fields
 

User-defined fields (particularly File and URL fields) do not edit consistently, require modifier keys, etc. Something should be done to improve matters. Also tool tips tend to get in the way when clicking.

Resolution

Clicking the contents will edit the value. The File reference now has a small "Open" button that will launch an application to open the file, A Folder reference now has a "Reveal" button that will reveal the folder's location in the Finder/Windows Explorer. The URL reference has a "Show" button that will open the URL in the browser.
Tool tips are now shown in a better place.

Implemented
10/19/09
UDF type addition
 

A User-defined field type to reference a folder.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
10/19/09
Ethos 10 mm eyepiece
 

Went to update my eyepiece list and notice Televue's Ethos 10 mm eyepiece not included.

Resolution

Fixed. It has been added. If you go to Resources→Eyepieces→Select from List... and click the Update button, you can get instant gratification...

Fixed
10/16/09
Changing observation date/time does not honour "GMT" flag
 

When changing the date/time of an observation, entering the new date/time as UT gives bogus results.

Resolution

Fixed.
Bonus: Duplicating an observation had the same problem and has been fixed.

Fixed
10/16/09
Observations/Attachments tab - display control column
 

A fourth column (after the Description column) to control whether or not the attachment image is displayed (the square box to the right of the Attachments pane).

I have some large(ish) FITS and text files that cause an annoying delay when mistakenly selected. The attachments are present because I want to be able to right-click on them and load the appropriate editor or analysis program.

Resolution

Fixed. Rather than adding complexity, the images are now loaded by a background thread.

Fixed
10/15/09
Visibility of N, S, E, W letters
 

With a DSO image displayed in the FoV tab, the letters indicating cardinal directions are often difficult to see due to the gray color and the brightness of the DSO image. White letters (or bright yellow, or any other contrasting color) would be much easier to see.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
10/15/09
Astronomical word list for spell checker
 

Optionally add a list of astronomical words to the user dictionary for the spell checker.

Resolution

Implemented. "Edit User Dictionary..." button in Preferences→General→Spelling Checker allows editing of the user word dictionary. There's also a button that will add a long list of astronomically-related words (courtesy Robin Lauryssen-Mitchell).

Implemented
10/14/09
Find and replace for objects
 

Include a find and replace feature in the Objects/Plan window. Particularly useful when importing plans and trying to tidy them up in AP

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
10/14/09
Get spell checking running again
 

Get spell checking running again. It was removed awaiting vendor updates.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
10/13/09
Find-and-replace for observations
 

Add a feature that does find-and-replace on selected observations in the Observations database window. You can specify what fields are to be considered (Notes, Telescope, eyepiece, etc.).

Resolution

Implemented. Right-click menu item for observations list allows find-and-replace on the displayed observations (selected text fields).
Bonus: Sessions too.

 
2.0b62 Release Date: Monday, October 12, 2009
Fixed
10/12/09
Clicking in Observation Time chart doesn't account for GMT offset
 

Click the + for a new observation. Make sure the GMT checkbox is checked.

Click in the chart at the top. The white line does move, but to a spot displaced by an hour to the right (for me, where GMT is one hour ahead of local in the summer).

Resolution

Fixed. Clicking the chart when the GMT checkbox is set now does the expected thing.

Fixed
10/12/09
PEC on/off buttons don't work.
 

The PEC on and off buttons on the Telescope Control palette stay grayed out even when the RA and Dec PEC boxes are checked.

Telescope: LX200ACF
Operating system: MacOS 10.5.8

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
10/12/09
Exporting a single session
 

It seems as if it is not possible to export a single session using "File - Export - Observations/Sessions". When observations were logged two nights in a row it is only possible to export the observations for both session. Screenshot included.
(the export to Excel is working though!)

Resolution

Implemented. Changed the defination for a given date to be from 12:00pm on that date to 12:00pm on the following date (i.e. all observations on the given night). Hence using the same from and to date will give you all sessions for that night only.

Fixed
10/12/09
right click on night bar and year bar ends program
 

If I right-click on either the night graphic or the year graphic a window comes up that says a problem has ben encountered a problem and the needs to close. I click OK but the program does not close. I have to use windows task manager to shut down the program.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/11/09
Unable to change mount Home positions
 

Unable to change the Home position Alt/Az values in the telescope mount edit dialog.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/11/09
User-defined field - Internet URL misbehaving
 

This particular example uses Resources → Telescope, but I think this happens anywhere.

1: Create a new User-defined Field
2: Set the field type to 'Internet URL'
3: Click on 'OK'
4: Click the appropriate Value box to enter a value
5: An Explorer window for C:\ is displayed !?!??? :)

Seems only to be a problem when the field type is Internet URL and the Value field is empty.
Set the field type to Character String, enter a valid URL, then change the field type to Internet URL. Clicking on the Value box works as expected.

Resolution

Fixed. Note: for an URL field, if the field is empty then clicking it will alow you to enter a value. If it's non-empty then Shift-click is required to edit. A single click will open the URL in your browser.

Fixed
10/11/09
System crashes: pressing the right mouse button on the image (es.M33)
 

In the Windows "Object Tab", if you press the right mouse button on the image (es.M33), the system crashes.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/11/09
Right click crash
 

Just installed 61 and found out when I right click on an item in the objects list, AP crashes. I just sent you a note that the same thing happens in the Sky tab page.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/11/09
Sky Tab crash
 

In the Sky tab page, I right clicked (don't really know why) and immediately AP closed. Not sure of this bug is significant or not. Just thought you ought to know.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/11/09
Hard Windows Crash with ap 2.0b61
 

If I right click on any object in a plan using 2.0b61, I get a hard crash. There is no AP debug, just a Windows (XP/SP3) error log which is attached.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/11/09
another APPCRASH
 

This one is not as bad as the v058 ones
In the Objects tab, when I try to create a User-defined Field by a right-click and my mouse is on the User-defined Fields area, the crash is immediate (the MS Windows message appears)

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b61 Release Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009
Fixed
10/10/09
User-defined fields too small to see/use
 

Resource editor, Sites tab:
The User-defined Fields are too small to see or use properly.

Resolution

Fixed. Resource window rearranged to put comments and user fields into wider tabbed areas.

Fixed
10/10/09
ImageDatabase.BuildDatabaseFromDSSCache: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function ImageDatabase.BuildDatabaseFromDSSCache() as boolean
2: Sub App.Event_Open()

User description of above error trace:

a. As the Ver is a Beta I added a "V2 on to the end of the directory name to keep both seperate on my disk.
When I was converting, I did not change any checks but just clicked ok.

b. This time I removed Ver 1.6 and installed Beta V2. above is the error when I started the program after I uninstalled V2 and then reInstalled V2.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/9/09
Cannot download DSS images
 

When I try to download a DSS image, the download and conversion seem to go fine, but instead of an image I get a black field with the statement "Cannot open image" on it.

Resolution

Fixed. I think.

Implemented
10/9/09
"Not Found" objects in FoV
 

it would be convenient to add another color that highlights the object in the "Field Of View":
_ Green Color: Object Observed
_ Red Color : Object Not Observed
_ ??? Color : Object Observed but "Not Found"

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
10/9/09
Plan conversion V1 to V2 does not work
 

When I tried to open a V1 document, the messages said it was converting, but the resulting document was empty

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/9/09
Scroll Bar in Objects Tab has odd Behavior
 

I am attaching two jpgs showing the offending actions of the scroll bar arrows. Moving from any tab to the Objects Tab creates a single scroll bar error that doesn;t do anything until AP repaints the screen and changes the scroll bar arrow in to two separate working arrows. First image shows problem arrow behavior and Image 2 shows how it they should be and they both work correctly.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/9/09
Comet_MP_SN_Functionality.DoCometMinorPlanetImport: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub Comet_MP_SN_Functionality.DoCometMinorPlanetImport()
2: Function MainWindow.MainWindow._ImportCometMinorPlanetData_Action( MainWindow.MainWindow ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

I was loading COMET.DAT, but couldn't find file. I cancelled out of the file browser.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b60 Release Date: Friday, October 9, 2009
Fixed
10/9/09
Text file open/create problem
 

A change in the way text files are opened/created (which happens a lot within AP) might cause an exception in 2.0b59

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/9/09
I/O Exception
 

Exception Type: Unknown Type Exception

1: Function TextInputStream.Open( FolderItem ) as TextInputStream
2: Sub Preferences.ReadData( boolean )
3: Sub Preferences.Constructor( FolderItem, boolean )

User description of above error trace:

Startede for the first time.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/9/09
While in FOV clicking SkyView causes hard crash
 

Working in the Objects tab and right click with mouse for popup menu and choose Show Object in FOV. In FOV then choose Sky tab and Microsoft Send Report pops up and app hard crashes. Tried several different object plans from about 30 items to less that 10 and hard crash every time.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/9/09
Plan that Crashes AP when clicking the Sky tab
 

Try this plan when trying to recreate the crash when clicking the Sky tab. Open plan and selesct an object then click on the Sky tab.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/9/09
Application freezes when switching to the Sky tab
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.DrawSkyInRect( MainWindow.MainWindow, boolean, Graphics, int32, int32, int32, boolean )
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.DrawSkyStuff( MainWindow.MainWindow )
3: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.RedrawSky( MainWindow.MainWindow )
4: Sub SkyComputeThread.Event_Run()
5: Sub APThread.Event_Run()

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/9/09
Choosing Sky tab causes hangin/crash (Vista Home Premium SP1)
 

Choosing Sky tab causes hangin/crash

Repeatable problem (sometimes happens also when changing to other tabs - but it somehow has to do with the Sky Tab)
It does not always happen the first time when going to the Sky tab, especially not when you go there right after opening the plan.

Following Event:
I went to FoV and choose (after my previous report about the selected catalogue exception) the All Sky catalogue

Then went to the Sky Tab and heared the 'error ting' sound and the application hangs completely

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/9/09
AppHangB1 crash Vista happened, but seems to stay away
 

AP crashed a several times as soon as I hitted the Sky tab.

However,
I have two screens
I started AP again and dragged it to the second screen.
Now I could go to the sky screen.
I've now exited and restarted AP several times without any issues.
Fingers crossed!
I haven't had the APPCRASH crash with v059 either

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/9/09
APPCRASH and AppHangB1 freezing/crashes reappear frequently
 

opened full screen
to sky tab
in skytab to smaller screen
AP freezes
exit through right mouseclick on icon on taskbar
warning This application doesnt react
exit now - button
then MS-Windows message that the app will be closed:

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/9/09
Database update problem
 

Undocumentated change for compiler framework means that some database updates will fail.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b59 Release Date: Thursday, October 8, 2009
Developer
Note

WARNING: This release has serious problems. We recommend that you wait for V2.0b60. Release date: 9 Oct 2009

Implemented
10/8/09
Centre FoV at particular RA/Dec coordinates
 

Be able to centre FoV at particular RA/Dec coordinates (as with V1.6).

Resolution

Implemented. Right-click menu now has "Centre FoV at coordinates..." command.

Implemented
10/8/09
FoV Tab: Clickable catalogs
 

Would it be possible to allow the catalogs in the FoV tab to be opened by double clicking them?

Resolution

Implemented. Double clicking the catalogue name will open the catalogue. Double-clicking in the Label column toggles the Label value, as before.

Implemented
10/8/09
Catalogue visibility search using site horizon
 

Currently the catalogue search on Visibility does not take into account the user-defined site horizon if there is one. The main reason for this is the enormous computational complexity of determining visibility over a range of time. If the visibility is only required for a single point in time, then the site horizon could be taken into account. Make this an option.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
10/7/09
Telescope "mimic" option doesn't work
 

Using the telescope "mimic" option for a (real, not emulated) telescope mount does not show the mimic window.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/7/09
File→Merge should merge user-defined object fields
 

File→Merge should merge user-defined object field definitions, possibly as an option.

Resolution

Fixed. Added a checkbox.

Implemented
10/7/09
Cosmetic: Size of left window
 

Compared to the Observations tab, the left window in Resources (for all tabs except "combinations" is a fixed size. Would be useful if the size of this window to be user adjustable.
(the window I mean is the one containing the names of the actual resources)

Resolution

Implemented. Increasing the window width, increases the width of the resource list/s.

Implemented
10/6/09
Update to new proxy server system
 

The new compiler framework includes better built-in support for proxy servers. Toss the old code and replace it with the new (and more comprehensive) code.

Resolution

Implemented. Untested.

Implemented
10/6/09
Slew to previous targets
 

After slewing to a target, keep that target in a list and allow slewing to any target in that list.

Resolution

Implemented. On the plan window, catalogue window and search results window, the slew button now has a popup list next to it. When you slew to an object using the button, the object you slewed to is remembered and added to the list.
Note: (a) if a previously slewed-to object is no longer visible, it will not appear in the list.; (b) the list only lasts for the duration of the current run; (c) the list is global within the app; and (d) the last slewed-to object is at the top of the list.

Fixed
10/6/09
Scripting: Autoindentation problem with ELSE and ELSEIF
 

The line after ELSE and ELSEIF statements is not indented

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/5/09
Unhandled Exception: Stack Overflow Exception
 

Exception Type: Stack Overflow Exception

1: Function _VariantInt32.Operator_Convert() as int32
2: Function Dictionary.HasKey() as boolean
...
24: Sub App.Event_Open()

User description of above error trace:

a. The situation is the following:
- my last time using astro planner I received the notification that 2.0B54 had timed out. I waited the 30 seconds and proceeded to use astro planner to log my observations. I just got back to the computer now and downloaded and installed 2.0B58. Astroplanner now fails to start. It is doing a long check on the obersvation database and then crashes out with this report. I re-intalled 2.0B54 and again waited the 30 seconds and yes I can get back into astroplanner and continue with usage. I reinstalled 2.0B58 again and yes it fails again on checking the observation database. I guess I'm going to be forced to use N54 and have to wait for the 30second timeout announcement

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/5/09
Unhandled Exception: Stack Overflow Exception
 

Exception Type: Stack Overflow Exception

1: Function _VariantInt32.Operator_Convert() as int32
2: Function Dictionary.HasKey() as boolean
3: Function Paths.GetPath( int32, string(), string() ) as FolderItem
...
23: Function ObservationDatabase.db.Get() as ObservationDatabase
24: Sub App.Event_Open()

User description of above error trace:

a. This was after a clean install. I had just logged an obervation, closed, then re-opened the application. Hung up checking the observation database.

b. Saving changes to plan ie. shutting down with save enabled.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/5/09
Resolve freezing problem with digital settings circles
 

Resolve freezing problem with some digital settings circle mounts (e.g. the built-in emulated DSC mount).

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/5/09
Unhandled Exception: Stack Overflow Exception
 

Exception Type: Stack Overflow Exception

1: Function _VariantInt32.Operator_Convert() as int32
2: Function Dictionary.HasKey() as boolean
...
24: Sub App.Event_Open()

User description of above error trace:

b57 was installed and loaded OK. After it expired, I installed b58. Now it does not load observation plan and hangs until this page comes up. Continue does not start the program.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/4/09
Edit Observation window Notes field
 

Resizing the "Edit Observation" window (opened from the Observation database) causes the "Notes" field to wander around.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/4/09
Caldwell catalogue anomaly
 

Objects in the Caldwell catalog are displayed in the wrong constellation(s).

Developer
Analysis

This was caused by a bad catalogue construction. Note that this should not affect anything except the displayed catalogue constellation values. If a Caldwell catalogue entry is added to a plan, the constellation will be OK.

Resolution

Fixed. Download the revised catalogue.

Implemented
10/4/09
Open telescope control palette upon connect
 

Add an option to open the telescope control palette automatically upon connect (where applicable)

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
10/4/09
Meade telescope lat/long retrieval
 

Latitudes and longitudes are being retrieved from Meade telescopes with degree and minute precision only. Autostar-powered scopes (at least with recent firmware) supply degrees, minutes and seconds.

Developer
Analysis

This appears to be a documentation omission/bug in the Meade protocol description document.

Resolution

Fixed. Seconds are now recognised if present.

Fixed
10/4/09
Compare Computer/Telescope dialog problem
 

The Compare Computer/Telescope dialog reports bogus values for Alt/Az (as computed from the telescope's current RA and Dec)

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/4/09
Telescope control palette problem
 

The Telescope Control Palette is completely nonfunctional for me. When connected to the mount successfully, enabling the palette causes B53 to freeze. No response to any input, no serial port traffic, and I can't even move the windows around anymore. I let it sit like that for 15 minutes just in case it was something in a bad loop that might work itself out.. no joy. Had to force quit the app.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
10/4/09
Observation counts
 

In the left Sessions window, is it possible to displayed along with or instead of the observations, the nr. of individual objects observed? AP counts multiple magnifications used on a single object as multiple observations.

Developer
Analysis

This is probably a result of importing V1 observations (where these were separate by design). A script could be devised to combine the individual observations into a single observation with multiple resource combination entries.
Possibly a "merge" command that will merge multiple observations of the same object, in the same session, into a single observation with multiple resource combination entries.

Resolution

Implemented. Right-click menu item allows combining of multiple observations of the same object in the same session. The resource combinations are combined into the first observation, and any notes are combined (together with a summary of the resource combination entry referring to those notes.

Implemented
10/4/09
Ability to save observation coverage charts
 

Add the ability to copy or save the coverage chart image from the Observation database window's Locations tab.

Resolution

Implemented. Edit→Copy copies to clipboard, right-click→Save Image... allows export of image in multiple formats. Ditto for File→Export→Image...

Fixed
10/3/09
USNO B1 stars NOT drawn behind all other objects
 

Moved to version2.0b58 and no longer get crash when using USNO B.1 downloaded stars with the box "Draw behind other objects checked". That appears fixed from version 57.
BUT
Using just USNOA2.0 in the apcat catalogs and the USNOB1 downloaded info...
the B1 stars are drawn on top of the A2 stars (even though I said draw behind) so if I move my pointer over some stars - the B1 data comes up and NOT the A2 data. Whereas if I turn the B1 external catalogue OFF, the USNOA2 star reders in the same spot and if I move a pointer over it - this time the correct USNO A2 data for the star appears..

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/1/09
Observation(s) matched to incorrect object
 

I reported a bug similar to this one about a month ago.
This time I entered an observation for the galaxy NGC7753 in the constellation of Pegasus. The observation was matched to the galaxy but also to the (unobserved) planetary nebula Minkowski 1-1 (M1-1) in the constellation Andromeda.
A "change of object" by replacing the planetary nebula with a synonym from another catalog has no result: the galaxy's observation remains matched to the planetary nebula.
I have included the planfiles for both Pegasus and Andromeda.

Developer
Analysis

This is a similar problem to that of Bug #2971. NGC7753 is cross-indexed via the VV Interacting Galaxy catalogue to VV5, which is cross-referenced via the Strasbourg catalogue to Min1-1, which is cross-references to M1-1 via the Galactic Planetray Neb Catalogue.

Resolution

Fixed. The cross-referencing system now also looks at the distance between the main ID and any cross-referenced IDs, and if the distance between them is more than 0.2 degree, they will be rejected.
You will need to reset your cross-references for this to come into play for previously-determined cross-references. You can do that via the Reset button on the Settings tab of the Observation database window, or via the observation preferences window.

Fixed
10/1/09
Edit Annotations List
 

In the Edit Annotations, M100 appears before M17. Would it be possible to have numbered objects appear in human order rather than computer order?

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/1/09
FoVCatalogueList.FoVCatalogueList.LoadCatalogues: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub FoVCatalogueList.FoVCatalogueList.LoadCatalogues( FoVCatalogueList.FoVCatalogueList, int32 )

User description of above error trace:

I was looking at the FoV to M56 and noticed a (new?) nice feature: the possibility to sort the list of Catalogues by Type Id and Selected.
I chose Selected. The Catalogue area (or list) was empty. Probably there were no catalogues selected yet.
I clicked the Selected radio button again and this exception window showed up. I don't know if the second click on the Selected radiobutton has anything to do with the exception.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
10/1/09
Can not get the time offset to work in the sort feature for transit time
 

I try to sort a plan (ghost hunt for oct 2009) by the transit time with an offset of 8 pm but all I get is the default start time of 12 pm.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/30/09
User defined observation fields (file link)
 

From Observations database view, double click on an observation to display the observation editing dialog. In bottom right (User Fields), right click and create a new user field (e.g. Image(1)) as a file reference. New field appears in the list ok. Click on vale part of field and file selector appears. Select file and "Open" and file path appears in value are of user field. Select Save button (to save changes) and everything looks good. Go back into observation editing dialog and the created user defined field is there but the value (file path) is now blank. If you have more than one user defined file reference field then the same happens of all of them.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/30/09
Observation for an object duplicated for an object nearby
 

Entered an observation for the galaxy NGC7240 in the constellation Lacerta. Very close to this object (83") is another galaxy, IC1441. AstroPlanner duplicates the NGC7240 observation for IC1441 (where I would like to enter a separate observation).

Developer
Analysis

This happens because there's an object in some catalogue that associates the two IDs as belonging to the same object (in this case it would appear to be the SAC DSO catalogue). A workaround is to uninstall the offending catalogue and reset the synonyms (via observation preferences).

Resolution

Fixed. The observation database window settings tab now has a field that can contain pairs of non-synonym IDs. This will stop the pairs of IDs from being associated.

Fixed
9/29/09
ObsGeneralContainer.ResourceCombo: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer.ResourceCombo( ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer )

User description of above error trace:

Working with my Obs tab and right click on General tab to add observation without an object being selected in the objects tab created this exception. The right click menu has the add entry available but should be available since no object was selected.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b58 Release Date: Friday, September 25, 2009
Fixed
9/25/09
Overlapping image issue
 

Add the Twin Quasar (QAGN20471) and NGC3079 to a plan (or even to two separate plans). Download 30'x30' DSS images for both.

Click back and forth, and you'll get the same image for both, even though their positions are offset.

Delete the Twin Quasar image, and you'll still get NGC3079's image when you click on the Twin Quasar.

(I changed the ID of the Twin Quasar to "QSO B0957+561A", which I doubt is a factor, but might be.)

Developer
Analysis

All images containing the selected image are shown. In this case the two objects appear in each other's 30'x30' images. The objects are typically ordered by their position in the database. Hence the same image is first in the list in each case.

Resolution

Fixed. The images are now ordered by the distance of the object (ra,dec) from the centre of the image. Hence images with the image centred should appear before other images containing the object off-centre.

Fixed
9/24/09
Download to Argo Navis: Nil Object Exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function MainWindow.MainWindow._TelescopeDownloadPlantoArgoNavis_Action( MainWindow.MainWindow ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

Exiting from the Argo Navis Catalog Load Screen.

Developer
Analysis

Caused if you click the window close widget, rather than using the Close button.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
9/22/09
Make latitude/longitude errors easier to see
 

Occasionally one puts in E instead of W or N instead of S when creating a site resource. It can be frustrating trying to resolve the problems this causes. Ditto for the sign on the GMT Offset. Any way of making the problem settings more obvious would help.

Resolution

Implemented. Rather than having the map of the world in a separate dialog, it's now part of the Sites tab. This should make the actual lat/long/offset position more obvious.

Implemented
9/21/09
UCAC3 disk support
 

Add direct UCAC3 support (i.e. non-AP catalogue support) of the UCAC3 DVD-ROM.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
9/19/09
Enhance external catalogue support
 

Enhance external catalogue support (i.e. the use of USNO A2.0, UCAC2, etc.) so that:
a. More than one catalogue can be set up and used at once.
b. Move the settings from General preferences to FoV preferences.
c. Make it easier to add new external catalogues (e.g. UCAC3, etc.)
d. Streamline the selection of the desired file/s on CD/DVD-ROM (by reducing the dialogs from 2 to 1 and allowing the selection of the disk volume rather than a specific file).

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
9/18/09
Template file not working
 

I have set a specific template file under Prefs/General/Creating New Plans.

When I Open the default template (attached) via the File/Open command, all columns are correct and in the right order and the moon is correct for SH observers.

However, when I go File/New the plan column setting appears to be the original AP2 default (and are not the saved as template column settings ) and the moon is now shown from a NH observer perspective?

Resolution

Fixed. User reports bug has gone away. However, the app now checks the template plan file path at startup and reports if it no longer exists. Also, when you create a new plan (File→New...), the dialog will show the template file name to be used, where applicable.

Fixed
9/15/09
Observation database window takes forever to open
 

Observation database window takes forever to open. Even if it's unavoidable, give the user some feedback.

Resolution

Fixed. Slow stuff is now done in the background.

Implemented
9/15/09
Move the 'Script checked - No errors found' message
 

If possible please move this message to the area where messages would be displayed in the event script errors are found.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
9/15/09
Observation Notes text entry issue with Observation database window open at same time
 

If you add an object to a plan, then on the Observations tab create a new observation and in the dialog, start typing Observation Notes, then provided you type reasonably fast the typed text is entered OK. Pause for a moment and the text entry cursor disappears and types text is not entered. This ONLY happens if you have the Observation database list open in another window (ie. menubar, Observations/Show Observation Database ...). The same does NOT happen if doing the same from the observation list editing an existing observation. Looks a bit like a timer on the changes is updating the database which is causing the Observation database view to update and the input focus is moving elsewhere (a complete guess based on my Windows s/w development experience)

Developer
Analysis

Your guess was spot on. Feel free to guess as much as you like :^)

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/15/09
When deleting an object from a plan ...
 

the confirmation dialog ask to confirm a "Replace" rather than "Delete". This is trivial so can be ignored or corrected if you are picky. Your choice but you can only make a choice if you are aware of it - so just delete this report is you consider it irrelevant.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/15/09
Trivial UI issue
 

From the menu, select Observation/New Session and in that dialog the Observer drop list contains Sites (resources) exactly the same as the "Site" drop list.

Developer
Analysis

That's what happens when you do a copy-and-paste... :^(

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/15/09
Stack Overflow Exception
 

Exception Type: Stack Overflow Exception

1: Function Astronomy.JulianDate( int32, int32, double ) as double
2: Function Astronomy.JulianDate( int32, int32, int32, int32, int32, int32 ) as double
.....
23: Function ObservationDatabase.db.Get() as ObservationDatabase
24: Sub App.Event_Open()
25: Sub Application._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()
26: Sub REALbasic._RunFrameworkInitialization()

User description of above error trace:

Sorry, I dont know, why.. but I cannot start AP

User description of above error trace:

1. Started the program using a Quick Launch
2. AstroPlanner splash screen appears
3. Seems to hang up while "Checking Observation Database"
4. Stack Overflow exception

I've been using the AAVSO observation feature

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b57 Release Date: Friday, September 11, 2009
Implemented
9/11/09
Add additional info to scope data log
 

Add an additional column to the scope data flow log file, showing the hexadecimal representation of the bytes of data returned from the telescope mount.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
9/10/09
Check for errors
 

For scripts named with a prefix allow 'Check for Errors' to ignore the 'Script must contain a (global) main() method.'

If this is possible it would allow library scripts to be checked for errors without having to temporarily uncomment a 'fake' main() method.

Resolution

Implemented. Check For Errors no longer checks for sub main(). The check only occurs when the script is actually run. Hence any script can be error-checked.

Fixed
9/10/09
ScopeControl: Autodetect does not work
 

The Autodetect... function at the bottom of the Computerised Mounts list does not work.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/10/09
PlanObject.Position: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function PlanObject.Position( double, boolean ) as ReturnValue
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.UpdateVisibility( MainWindow.MainWindow, PlanObject, boolean )

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/10/09
MainWindow.Event_CancelClose: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function MainWindow.MainWindow.Event_CancelClose( MainWindow.MainWindow, boolean ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

Downloading user contributed plans

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
9/10/09
Fast lookup of comets and minor planets
 

In the new object dialog (using the "+" button under the object list), recognise comet and minor planet IDs and allow fast lookup in the caches.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
9/8/09
Scripting Framework Reference
 

If the selected class or module in the SFR is the script loaded in the Script Editor then holding down a modifier key (control, alt, whatever) whilst clicking on an item in that class/module (e.g. a constant or a method name) will move the Script Editor edit point to that item.

Resolution

Implemented. Right-click menu has "Go to source line" entry.

Fixed
9/7/09
Scripting: Adding a user-field programmatically
 

Adding a user-field programmatically does not make that field available as a list column (via Edit→List Columns...).

Developer
Analysis

Workaround: If you edit the user-defined fields and click OK, then the problem goes away.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/7/09
List sorting anomalies
 

Open the Observation Database (one with lots of sessions and observations).
Click the Session Start column till it has the down arrow (sorting from most recent to most historical).
Click on a session.
Delete an observation in the session.

Note that the Session list is now sorted most historical to most recent.

Merge two sessions.

Note that Session list resorts correclty.

Delete another observation.

Session list sorted backwards again....

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/7/09
User-defined observing session field values do not appear in observation data printouts
 

I have two user-defined observation session fields defined: "temperature" (a double number), and "limiting magnitude" (a string). I entered values into these fields for all my observing sessions, and they correctly appear in the Observations tab when a particular session is queried/viewed.

When I print observations using the builtin print code (not using one of the downloadable scripts available), and I select the two user-defined fields for printing, I get empty boxes in the printout below the headings for the two user-defined fields. The boxes are there, and at the right place specified in the print setup, but nothing is printed inside them. Values for predefined observing session-specific fields print out correctly in their respective boxes (e.g. Name, Notes, Site, Transparency, etc.)

Setup: AP2Beta55, WinXP SP3

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/7/09
Changes to a session do not get saved
 

Changes to an existing session do not get changed unless observation changes are made too.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
9/7/09
Scripting: Method to draw a Canvas in a Dialog
 

There are several places I'd like to draw some stuff (such as an image) and also have some controls associated with it.

Resolution

Implemented. Dialog.CanvasParameter.
Bonus: You can now assign an Image to a Table cell.

Fixed
9/7/09
Scripting: Resource.All returns empty array
 

Resource.All returns empty array, rather than an array of active resources.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
9/6/09
Snow Leopard Compatibility Check / Fixes
MacOSX
only

Not the most pressing issue, but thought this might present some problems going forward.

Resolution

Implemented. I'm not sure what you are referring to in particular. However, if Rosetta is not installed and you attempt to do a V1 document conversion, you'll be given a warning.

Fixed
9/5/09
"New Observation" does not respect "Fix Date" settings
 

If "fix date" is set, and a new observation is created, it (and the session it attaches to) gets the current time, not the "fix date" time.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/5/09
"Show Catalogue" pane columns don't sort.
 

Selecting "Show Catalogue" and browsing a catalogue, the columns (type, constellation, mag, size) don't sort in ascending/descending order by clicking on the column heading, although the column headings do indicate they've been selected.

Developer
Analysis

In order to show the entire catalogue in a single list, sorting is not possible in this case. However, the header action is confusing.

Resolution

Fixed. The column headings are no longer clickable.

Implemented
9/5/09
Update script editor to latest version
 

Update script editor to latest version (1.6.2).

Resolution

Implemented. Now much faster at loading large scripts (e.g. loading the framework script 11,000+ lines takes <1 sec as opposed to 20 sec with previous version). Now shows changed lines, etc.

Fixed
9/5/09
Closing the telescope data flow window reopens window
 

When closing the telescope data flow window (in my case "LX90 data flow") the window reopens. I'm using this window during the setup of the telescope but after that it should disappear.
The telescope mimic window cannot be minimized, closed?

Resolution

Fixed. Both the data flow and mimic/emulator windows now can be closed (they will need a disconnect/reconnect to re-open them).

Implemented
9/4/09
Scripting: Images in dialogs
 

Show images in dialogs

Resolution

Implemented. Dialog.ImageParameter(img as Image,...)

Fixed
9/4/09
Misleading doc for Canvas.DrawImage
 

I suspect the "n" parameter in DrawImage is to specify the n'th image of the object that's been targeted. However, with the new Image class, it could be easily misconstrued to be the n'th image globally.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
9/4/09
Method to draw a global image to the canvas
 

Now that we've got the Image class and a way to iterate through the global images, it would be nice to be able to draw one from there. (Particularly useful for user images attached to comets and planets which don't have fixed RA/Dec.)

Resolution

Implemented. Canvas.DrawImage(img as Image,...)

Fixed
9/4/09
Something wrong with Dialog properties in the Framework Reference
 

In the scripting framework reference, the Choice and Options entries for Dialog.Properties are malformed.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/4/09
Bad Dec coord formatting
 

If you set a plan's list columns to display the Dec as DD:MM.M you actually get the minutes and seconds rounded up or down to the nearest whole minute with the decimal place always 0.

(Note: I don't actually use this format, I just happened to notice on an old plan -- so it's possible it was 1.6-converter-specific or something. Let me know if you need the plan.)

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
9/4/09
Unexpectedly long running script
 

The attached script takes ~8 minutes 20 seconds to run (average of three runs). Not sure why it is taking so long. The image database contains 1405 images. CPU usage is between 85 and 100% with AP taking between 25 and 45%. Background CPU usage is around 15-20%; I have NASA-TV running in Media Player and RB running most of the time :). I'll play around with the script varying some parameters and see if anything signficant happens.

Attachment: ImageData.txt

Developer
Analysis

Well, if you "cache" the image object:

dim img as Image = Image.Get(i)

and use img, that might speed things up.

Try that and report back.

Also note that some properties of Image take longer than others to retrieve (i.e. they are not internally cached and must be accessed via a database read from disk).

Resolution

Fixed. The current image is now cached, so if you repeatedly call Image.Get(n) with the same value of n, it will no longer slow down.

Fixed
9/3/09
Displaying images in FoV removes other objects
 

If an image's centre coordinates are coincident with the coordinates of a catalogue object, then the catalogue object will be removed as a "duplicate" (if that option is selected). This should not happen.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/31/09
MainWindow.EliminateDuplicates: Nil Object Exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.EliminateDuplicates( MainWindow.MainWindow )

User description of above error trace:

I had used the wizrd to create a plan and was removing duplicates. Initial duplicate removal worked but some remained (presumably triplicates and quadruplicates) - the fault occurred when I attempted to remove duplicates a second time.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/31/09
LookupMultipleDialog.DoubleStarIDsBtn_Action: Nil Object Exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub LookupMultipleDialog.LookupMultipleDialog.DoubleStarIDsBtn_Action( LookupMultipleDialog.LookupMultipleDialog )

User description of above error trace:

Searching for Epsilion Aurigae by name.
Making a new plan to observe E Aurigae and other variables.
I had tried other searches and when box checked to stop at first object APv2 would work good.
When box checked to find all objects.....APv2 would stop responding.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/31/09
Scripting: Comment/Uncomment
Windows
only

The script comment/uncomment menu items are never enabled.

Developer
Analysis

Also affects the indenting/outdenting Script menu items.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
8/31/09
Scripting: Property to return index of resource
 

Many of my scripts use a CheckListParameter, most often tied to some resource list:

dim siteFlags() as boolean
options.CheckListParameter("Whatever", siteFlags, SiteResource.All)

However, once I have the flags array returned, I need to know the index of a particular resource so that I can look it up in the array. I usually just write a function along the lines of:

function SiteIndex(siteName as string) as integer
dim i as integer
for i = 1 to SiteResource.Count(false)
if SiteResource.Get(i, false).Name = siteName then
return i
end if
next
return 1
end function

so that I can access the array:

if siteFlags(SiteIndex(session.Site)-1) then
// do something
end if

but I've recently noticed that I have about 10 of these functions scattered through 8 scripts.

It'd be nice if I could just say:

myAPResource.index(false /* include inactive */)

and be done with it.

Resolution

Implemented. function IndexOf().

 
2.0b56 Release Date: Friday, August 28, 2009
Fixed
8/28/09
Issues with native telescope drivers
 

Various issues with native telescope drivers.

Resolution

Fixed. There are still a number of issues to resolve, but on the whole, the app should behave better. Please report any remaining issues.

Fixed
8/28/09
Assorted tweaks to ASCOM support
 

Various tweaks to improve ASCOM support on AP.

Resolution

Fixed. There are still some issues with Editing features in the Resources window, but actual operation should be improved.

Implemented
8/28/09
High-Precision slewing over short distances
 

If the slew distance is less than a given distance, override high-precision slewing and slew directly to target.

Resolution

Implemented. Added an option within the High-precision slewing window. If the option is checked and the slew is less than the angular distance specified, then the slew will be direct (and the H-P window will not be displayed).

Fixed
8/28/09
Scope Control: Not possible to control LX200ACF from AP2/29
 

When I connect LX200 to AP2/29, I get the extra scope displays but after that AP freezes.
With AP1.6 scope control works perfect

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/28/09
Telescope connection does not work
 

V2b35 scope connection does not work ,message incorrect mount etc. I did the test with ETX105 and did choose the correct mount of course.
V161 scope connection woks correct on the same computer.

Everytime I start V2b35 I have to devine all the standard papameters ,scope ,site eypiece etc.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/27/09
Show data flow missing for ASCOM computerized mount
 

When setting up a computerized mount, I started with a Nexstar-i. In the Edit window, I was able to check the box "Show data flow to and from telescope". When I change the Computerized mount to ASCOM, the "Show data flow to and from telescope" is missing. If I left it turned on when using the Nextar-i, then the data flow window pops up when I connect to the ASCOM mount. If I want to turn off the data flow window, I have to set the mount back to Nexstar-i

Resolution

Fixed. ASCOM connections now have "Show data flow..." capabilities, as with native drivers.

Implemented
8/26/09
Messy download of lots of user-contributed plans
 

When downloading user-contributed plans why not just download the txt files instead of generating an apd file. I downloaded 10 plans - boy, what a bowl of spaghetti!
The user can then open them as he needs them.

Resolution

Implemented. Added a "Close plans after downloading" option to the "Download to folder" option. This will resolve the spaghetti problem.

Fixed
8/26/09
Setting Julian Date
 

If I delete the Julian date (why would I do that?- dummy) the program freezes.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/26/09
Big fonts also in Set Observation Date/Time
 

Similar to the other bug report I logged dealing with the Date/Time controls in the Fix Date/Time box.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/26/09
Changed GUI font in preferences and Fix Date/Time controls got really big
 

Go to Preferences / General. Change GUI font to Tahoma, 11 pt (both big and small).

Close AP.

Re-open a plan. Note that the numbers inside the Date and Time boxes in the Fix Date/Time section are quite large (maybe 18pt or so).

The Julian date is the correct size, but only gets an edit box when you mouse-over (perhaps that's correct and I've just never noticed before).

Developer
Analysis

The Julian date thing is a "feature", designed to reduce flicker on Win XP.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/26/09
"Fix Date" lost through save - exit - open sequence
 

This bug existed in early versions of V2 beta, but was corrected. It seems thast is has again reared its ugly head. I click on the "Fix date" box, set the date to a desired date, and the time to a desired time (almost always in the future). After I edit the plan however I wish, then save it, the next time I open it it has the current date and time in those boxes, rather than the date/time I had set.

Resolution

Fixed. At least I suspect it is fixed (as a side-effect of another bug fix).

Fixed
8/26/09
UT checkbox in Fix Date/Time box (at top of plan window) doesn't seem to work
 

Open a plan. Make sure UT is unchecked.
Click the Observations tab.
Select an Observation

(I've got my observations in UT, so the time says 00:10:36 UT.)

Click the "C" button under the observations list.

Fix Date/Time box's time control shows 1:10:36 (correct; DST puts UT 1 hour off during summer).

Click the UT checkbox on.

Time doesn't change. (It should change to 00:10:36.)

Select another observation and click the "C" button.

Time box is still reading 1 hour off, even though UT is checked.

Resolution

Fixed. A number of problems were tracked down and eliminated.

Fixed
8/25/09
Catalogue/Results Name and Description column widths
 

When opening an object in its catalog or looking for synonyms, the resulting list columns are too narrow and do not display all data available. I would find it of great help if the "Name" and "Description" columns were larger as a standard.

Resolution

Fixed. A new maximum of 1500 pixels in width has been instituted.

Fixed
8/25/09
Having trouble with APPlan.SelectedObservation
 

When you change an object in the Objects list, the previously selected observation is still returned.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/25/09
ObsGeneralContainer.DisplayObjectRecord: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer.DisplayObjectRecord( ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer, PlanObject )

User description of above error trace:

Same as before. Previously the resources screen was open, but that makes no difference

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
8/25/09
Provide scripting access to the image database
 

It'd be nice to be able to read/write the inverted flag, color flag, size fields, DSS/user flag, ID field and description field, as well as generate statistics, etc.

Developer
Analysis

Well, I dunno about writing to some of these. I suppose I could allow it with caveats about messing up your data.

Resolution

Implemented. Image class.

Fixed
8/25/09
ObjectListbox.Number: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function ObjectListbox.Number( int32 ) as int32

User description of above error trace:

I deleted all items from a plan, to reimport the starlist (instead of closing the plan without saving and create a new one)

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
8/24/09
Provide script access to inactive resources
 

Currently the resources array accessible from scripting only includes the active ones. The app itself can still get to the inactive ones (to calculate magnifications, etc.); it would be nice to have access from script as well.

Resolution

Implemented. Various resource functions can specify Active resources only, or Inactive resources.

Fixed
8/24/09
Fonts not saved in Observation Database window
 

Right click to change the font of the Notes box (and the Selected Observation Details box and the Equipment Combinations box).

Close the Observation Database window.

Re-open the window: fonts have reverted back to MS Sans Serif.

Resolution

Fixed. (Hopefully). Bonus: more controls and edit fields can now have their fonts changed, and you can now also make the fonts bold, italic and/or underlined.

Fixed
8/24/09
Creating new observation causes ASCOM to become active
Windows
only

If your current telescope uses ASCOM, and is not connected, then the action of creating a new observation and asking the user for the date/time will cause ASCOM to be initiated unneccessarily.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/24/09
Numbers in imagers resource "select from list" sort incorrectly
 

What the bug is:

In the imagers resource "select from list" dialog box, the columns do not sort properly. For example, if sorting by "Pixel W (um)" in ascending order, the e2v technologies 26um shows up just before the starlight XPress 3.13um.

It appears they may be getting sorted as text values instead of decimal values.

When/where:

Imagers resource "select from list".

Reproduce by:

Edit → Resources → Imagers (tab) → Select from List → Pixel W (um)

Scroll down to "e2v technologies", note 26um before 3.13um when 26 > 3.13

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/23/09
Provide script access to resource meta-data
 

For instance, I'd like to be able to access a telescope's Configuration (SCT, DK, etc.) and cleanliness.

(Or perhaps they could be exposed through the current User-defined field mechanism....)

Resolution

Fixed. Added these, and a few other missing properties.

 
2.0b55 Release Date: Friday, August 21, 2009
Implemented
8/21/09
SIMBAD support
 

Allow use of SIMBAD for object lookup

Resolution

Implemented. SIMBAD button on New Object and Lookup dialogs allows lookup of the ID/s in the on-line SIMBAD database. Note: (a) only for registered users, (b) returns a lot of information, some of which might need to be edited out of the Notes field.

Fixed
8/20/09
MainWindow.BGPaint: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function MainWindow.MainWindow.BGPaint( MainWindow.MainWindow, Graphics, int32, int32 ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

I am in a plan-Window without objects and I want to open my big plan with about 1300 objects and 7000 images. When I open my big plan at first, it will start, but it doesn`t start when I open it with FILES\OPEN.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/20/09
"red LED" information display in main status bar disappears
 

Not sure how to reproduce, but on setting up last night, I noticed that the "red LED" information display bar had disappeared. I had left the application running, and the laptop had been through several sleep/wake cycles. It might
get confused when there is a large time-delta.

Resolution

Fixed. I'm not sure how this happens. However, if the LEDBar has vanished for more than 10 seconds, it will be forced back on. Note: it is hidden when a message is displayed at the top of the window - it's possible that such a message is not being erased properly.

Implemented
8/20/09
Search catalogue/s by visibility
 

In the Search catalogue/s by visibility feature, initialise the Site to the current site, and the date to the current local date.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
8/19/09
Global observation scroll bars
 

Open a plan.
Bring up the Global Observations window.
Click the All button
(There should be at least enough observations to get both horizontal and vertical scroll bars).
Note that the down arrow of the vertical scroll bar and the right arrow of the horizontal scroll bar are on top of each other. Neither one works.

Resizing the Global Observations window fixes it.

Developer
Analysis

This is a problem with the vendor-supplied list widget.

Resolution

Fixed. Or rather a workaround has been put in place to correct for the problem. The problem itself has been reported to the vendor.

Fixed
8/19/09
More scrollbar problems in Observation Database window
 

The scrollbar on the site properties isn't active. (I think it's all grayed out because I didn't click the Edit button, but I should still be able to scroll through the properties.)

The scrollbar for the Session Notes section works, but it displays the I-beam cursor over it.

Resolution

Fixed. The first problem is fixed (not that you can also right-click and change the row height to fit better). The second problem is one with the framework object over which I have no direct control.

Implemented
8/19/09
Means to merge observations
 

A means to merge observations from, say, a field laptop to a desktop computer.

Resolution

Implemented. Added File→Export→Observations/Sessions... and File→Import→Observations/Sessions... which allows you to export observations/sessions to a file, and import them on another computer. Note: duplicate observations/sessions are ignored.

Implemented
8/18/09
Simple way to add a comet or minor planet
 

Simple way to add a comet or minor planet. Going through File→Export→etc. is a pain.

Resolution

Implemented. If you use the Add Special popup to add a comet or minor planet, it will display the contents of any cached downloaded data and let you choose from there.

Fixed
8/18/09
Empty plan consumes CPU cycles
 

When AP starts up and opens an "Untitled-1" plan, AP uses significant CPU resources (45-50%) for several seconds. In my case this lasts as long as 2 minutes on a Core2 Duo Processor at 2.0 GHz and 2G of RAM. If an item is added to the empty plan, the CPU resources return to normal. If AP opens an existing plan, this behavior does not happen.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
8/18/09
Check for new version redux
 

Rather than checking for new version 30 seconds after app launch, do it 30 seconds after the first time the user actually accesses the Internet successfully (e.g. to download images, user-contributed stuff, etc.). This is less likely to cause angst.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
8/17/09
Printing issue
 

When printing a plan it doesn't fill the page. I can send a PDF to demonstrate the problem.

Developer
Analysis

This appears to be a problem with AP not displaying margins setup in Page Setup.

Resolution

Fixed. The displayed print preview now shows the entire page, including any printer margins. There is a "Show margins" checkbox that will draw the margins as a grey rectangle.

Fixed
8/17/09
Observation Time Issue
 

Not sure if this is an issue or not, but if I add observations to the same session in the Observation Database, the Observation Time is not updated to reflect the actual time observed. It remains at the session start time. I use the New Observation Button on the Objects Screen.

Resolution

Fixed. Date/Time dialog for new observations now has a "Remember date/time" checkbox. If set, it will recall the last observation's date/time. If cleared, the current date/time will be the initial value.

Fixed
8/17/09
Sorting by Visibility
 

If I save a sort sequence of Visibility/Constellation/ID in the Sort List, it does not work. If I do the same sort from Sort List>Sort By (not using the saved sequence) it does work.

Developer
Analysis

Turns out that _all_ of the popup buttons of the same type do nothing if the last item in the list is selected. Workaround (in this case) add another redundant sort to the list, enabling the previous last item.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
8/16/09
Add a Dreyer's Description Dialog
 

I think a nice "extra" feature, especially for those with terrible memory (like me), would be to somehow add a Dreyer's Description dialog button near the notes section so novices and those who can't remember can easily decipher some information about the NGC / IC objects. When the button is clicked, some sort of small dialog box would appear in the forground (not to obfuscate the code) so that folks can quickly decipher the codes in the notes section. Alternatively, the current Dreyer's code could be copied to the dialog and have the codes visible below it.

Resolution

Implemented. Object notes fields have a right-click menu item that displays a floating Dreyer key, and will do rough translations for you (rough as in the Dreyer descriptions are not in any coherent and repeatable format and have many, many exceptions). Also, if you display an NGC or IC catalogue, an extra column is added with the "rough" translation.

Fixed
8/16/09
ResourcesWindow.CheckASCOMInfo: Illegal Cast Exception
 

Exception Type: Illegal Cast Exception

1: Sub ResourcesWindow.ResourcesWindow.CheckASCOMInfo( ResourcesWindow.ResourcesWindow )
2: Sub ResourcesWindow.ResourcesWindow.TelescopeMountType_Change( ResourcesWindow.ResourcesWindow )
3: Sub Delegate.Invoke()
4: Sub Application._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()


User description of above error trace:

a. Selecting the Ascom option on the Computerised Mount selection.

b. Attempting to set up a new "Ascom Telescope".... selected + button and then attempted to choose Ascom Driver.

c. FYI, on the existing Ascom Driver choice created with previous version I still get a run time error when I attempt to edit the "Mount type" within the Ascom driver Windown and then choose "Select".... "Failed to open/create root registry (key 5)......

d. tried to open & use Ascom driver


User description of above error trace:

I was trying to adjust mount configuration to turn off data flow monitor. Using ASCOM: EQMOD 5/6 driver

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/14/09
Observer popup contains Site values
 

Creating a new Observing Session, the "Observer:" dropdown is populated with the
Site values, not the Observer values.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/13/09
MountCollection.DestroyMounts: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MountCollection.DestroyMounts()
2: Sub App.Event_Close()

a. Installed new release and played around with the plan that was opened at startup. When I used File>Exit the attached file was created.

b. Opened AP with empty plan, closed AP, got exception, I am closing AP using the X in the upper right corner of the screen. This exception is problematic. It happens sometimes and not at other times. If I open AP with an existing plan and then close AP using the File>Exit function-no problem.

c. On closing AP on the winXP laptop, everything appeared to work fine, until I closed the program, and an error.txt
appeared on the desktop. It is attached.

d. I just updated AstroPlanner to version 2.0b54. Now whenever I exit the application, a log file is created on the desktop with the information below. I don't know what to make of the log file, but I hope you will find it helpful. By the way, I had three plans open at the time, one of which was a fairly big plan with a list of all the G2V stars. I used the File/Exit command to exit the application.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/13/09
NexTours vs. regional settings
 

The NexTours AP produces have comma's "," in the R.A. part of the coordinates. I suspect this to be due to my regional setting (Dutch). NexTours won't work if there is a comma present in a coordinate.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b54 Release Date: Thursday, August 13, 2009
Fixed
8/13/09
Telescope mimic window
 

The telescope Mimic window displays a fixed set of numbers. The Azmith is always 00 and the alt is alts 45. Slewing the scope produces no change in the numbers.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/13/09
DownloadPlanWindow.openTimer_Action Nil Object Exception
 

Version: 2.0b53
Expires: 07/09/2009
Date: 09/08/2009 22:51:38
Debug: DelegatingTimer removalTimer
Debug: DelegatingTimer VisibilityUpdateTimer
OS: WinVista

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub DownloadPlanWindow.DownloadPlanWindow.openTimer_Action( DownloadPlanWindow.DownloadPlanWindow )
2: Sub Delegate.Invoke()
3: Sub Application._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/13/09
SelfLoadingPopup.Event_Action: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub SelfLoadingPopup.Event_Action()

User description of above error trace:

I connected the telescope (Sphinx mount via ASCOM). When slewing the mount with its control box, Telescope RA changes in AstroPlanner. I tried to add Mars to the Objects list, when this window popped up. I have had the program simply disappear when I click one of the objects, the the hope of sending the telescope to it.
Just for the record, StellariumScope also uses the Sphinx ASCOM driver and it works.

Resolution

Fixed. Note: this is not really an ASCOM problem at all, but a timing problem elsewhere that was exacerbated by the scope being connected and hence slowing things down.

Fixed
8/13/09
NexRemote tour export not working for "selected" objects
 

The NexRemote export works fine for all / highlighted objects. No object or objects are exported when the "selected object/s" option is used and an empty .hct file is created.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
8/13/09
Make font face/size for object list a separate preference
 

Presently, when you change the "GUI Interface Font" face and/or size on the preferences, general tab, a sizable number of features of the GUI are affected, including the face/size of the text in the Objects list. It would be helpful to have a preference specifically for the Objects list so that the object information could be made more easily readable under dim light (and red filter) conditions without affecting the rest of the interface.

Resolution

Implemented. All lists in the application should now have a right-click "Appearance..." entry at the end (replacing "Fonts..." in some of them). This allows you to change the appearance of each list separately, or if you desire, all lists in the application (via the "Apply to all lists" option.

Implemented
8/12/09
"Lookup synonyms" button or menu functionality
 

Would be nice if the buttons low on the page in the objects tab included one for "Lookup Synonyms". Also -though I realize I might very well be the only one to whine for this- it would find it very useful for the first item in the right-click menu to be Lookup Synonyms (now Create New Object).

Developer
Analysis

There is a keyboard shortcut for this: Ctrl/Cmd - Shift - M

Resolution

Implemented. Best I'm prepared to do is raise the entry in the contextual menu to the start of the list for the selected object.

Implemented
8/11/09
Auto check for new versions
 

Rather than leaving it up to the user to check for new versions, do the checking automatically, if there's an Internet connection available.

Resolution

Implemented. If you have an Internet connection, then about 30 secs after the application starts it will do a brief check for a newer version, and if found you will be notified that it is available. This will only happen once for each version released, so you can happily ignore it if you wish. No information about the user is transmitted, and a very small file (a few bytes) is retrieved.

Fixed
8/11/09
ASCOM reimplementation
 

Reimplement ASCOM to enhance functionality and reliability

Resolution

Fixed. Although there is still some work to be done (telescope movement, for example), the key elements are in place.

Implemented
8/10/09
Keep retrying telescope connection
 

Rather than stopping if the original connection does not work, have an option to retry continuously until a connection is established, or a given number of retries have been attempted.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
8/10/09
Beep when telescope connection is made
 

Option to beep when the telescope connection is successfully made.

Resolution

Implemented. Added a mount option.

Fixed
8/10/09
Problem with (native) Nexstar/Synscan drivers
 

Problem with (native) Nexstar/Synscan drivers. They do not connect correctly.

Resolution

Fixed. Untested.

Implemented
8/10/09
Copy user fields from previous observation
 

Option to copy user-fields from the previous observation in the current session, where applicable.

Resolution

Implemented. Options in Observation preferences to copy Notes, User Fields and/or Resource Combinations from the previous observation when creating a new one.

Implemented
8/9/09
Allow more fields to be replaced in Cross-Reference Objects to ID
 

In the Object→Cross-Reference Objects to ID... dialog, allow more object fields to be replaced than just RA, Dec and Magnitude. This is useful, for example, to add fields such as Position Angle to objects in a plan "after the fact".

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
8/9/09
Keep telescope and eyepiece/imager info for FoV tab
 

In the upper left, fixed part of the screen, I selected the telescope. It would be convenient if that telescope was the default when opening FoV tab. It would also be convenient if the last selected Eyepiece/Imager was recalled, even from previous sessions. (There may be other things to keep too, and other tabs to keep them for.)

Resolution

Implemented. If/when you change the Telescope setting (top left), it will change the FoV telescope setting to the same scope (but not v.v.). Note that the Eyepiece/Imager is already saved (assuming you elect to save changes to the plan when closing).

Fixed
8/9/09
AltAz indicator
 

Azimuth pointer does not change direction when N/S or E/W is changed. Also text is drawn on the wrong hemisphere of the indicator.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/9/09
Sun twilight data
 

Sun twilight indicator reads "Evening Starts" or "Morning Ends", rather than the correct "Evening Ends" or "Morning Starts".

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/9/09
FoV magnification problem
 

After starting AP, the first time you switch to the "Field Of View" tab, you are not shown the magnification in the text above the chart. The magnification only appears after changing one of these values: "Telescope", "Visual Aid" or "Eyepiece ..."

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b53 Release Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009
Fixed
8/8/09
ChartNumbering.GetChart: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function ChartNumbering.GetChart( double, double ) as string
2: Sub ComputeChart.Data( MainWindow.MainWindow, int32 )
3: Sub PlanObject.Data( MainWindow.MainWindow, int32 )
4: Function PlanObject.DataFormatted( MainWindow.MainWindow, int32 ) as string
5: Function MainWindow.MainWindow.ComputeVisibility( MainWindow.MainWindow, PlanObject ) as VisibilityUpdate

User description of above error trace:

This happened as I was adding U2000 1st Ed, U2000 Vol1 and U2000 Vol2 for my chart/atlases for chart # column in the Object List Preferences.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
8/8/09
Sun/Moon altitude
 

Would like to see how low the sun is below the horizon at any given time, useful for areas that do not reach astronomical twilight in summer (like the Netherlands). Same would be useful for the position of the moon.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
8/8/09
Cannot connect to Orion EQ-G mount
 

I am having difficulty connecting to the Orion Atlas EQ-G mount. I am using the Orion: SynScan GoTo (Nexstar 5/8) protocol. I am using the Keyspan USB to RS232 adapter over the serial port "KeySerial1". This combination works successfully with Starry Night, but I cannot convince AstroPlanner to connect.

Developer
Analysis

Turns out that I was using the wrong protocol. Workaround: use the NextStar GPS mount instead.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/8/09
ObjectListbox.Event_Close: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ObjectListbox.Event_Close()
2: Sub Window.Close()
3: Function MainWindow.MainWindow._FileClose_Action( MainWindow.MainWindow ) as boolean
4: Sub Delegate.Invoke()
5: Sub Application._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

User description of above error trace:

Installed version 2.0b52. Opened up with my last plan I used. I hit the close menu to close the plan and this window popped up.

Whenever I exit I also get a Exception Type: Nil Object Exception message.


User description of above error trace:

Opened AP after several crashes, closed a blank plan in order to open the plan I was working on when app crashed, then app crashed after the plan closed.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/8/09
ObjectListbox.Event_Close: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ObjectListbox.Event_Close()
2: Sub Window.Close()
3: Function App.OpenADocumentFile( FolderItem, byref MainWindow.MainWindow, string, boolean, boolean ) as boolean
4: Function App._OpenRef_Action( int32 ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

a. After installation started 2.0b52. AP opened an empty planfile normally. From empty planfile I opened an existing planfile, which lead to this condition.

b. Started AP - Loaded plan - Received Exception


User description of above error trace:

I simply opened a observation plan with 10 objects


User description of above error trace:

I started up the app after it shut down from its last crash.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b52 Release Date: Friday, August 7, 2009
Implemented
8/7/09
"Lookup Synonyms" - Field constellation not present
 

In the "lookup synonyms" window the "con" (constellation) field is missing.

Resolution

Implemented. For all search results.

Fixed
8/7/09
Delegate.Invoke: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub Delegate.Invoke()
2: Sub DelegatingTimer.Event_Action()
3: Sub Window.ShowModal()
4: Sub App.Event_Open()
5: Sub Application._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()
6: Sub REALbasic._RunFrameworkInitialization()


User description of above error trace:

Initial AP V2.0b51 installation, immediately after entering registration data the application (installation...) crashed.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/7/09
On shutdown
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.UpdateVisibilityTimer( MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Sub Delegate.IM_Invoke()
3: Sub DelegatingTimer.Event_Action()
4: Sub REALbasic.MsgBox( string )
5: Sub App.Event_Close()

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
8/7/09
ASCOM POTH connection sequence
 

ASCOM connectivity only works if AP is the first app to connect to the POTH.

Developer
Analysis

This is because AP is creating a new POTH object rather than connecting to the existing one.

Resolution

Fixed. Note that this does not fix other potential ASCOM problems. That will come in the next release (2.0b53 probably).

Implemented
8/2/09
Magnification/FoV for resource combinations
 

Add (computed) columns in the observation resource combinations for magnification and actual FoV (where applicable).

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
8/2/09
"Best Pair" not working
 

When using the Best Pair feature in the Sky tab, nothing happens. The text "At least 2 stars required" is displayed. Choosing the alignment alignment algorithm makes no difference.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
8/1/09
Objects "without magnitude"
 

Plenty of objects have no magnitude mentioned in their catalog. Especially PGC galaxies can be a nuisance in the FOV, as many are displayed which are far too faint to ever observe. If there is an option (Display Options) to "Hide Objects without Magnitude" this would greatly declutter the FOV.

Resolution

Implemented. Added "Display→Objects with magnitude only" display option.

Fixed
8/1/09
When control key is held down, "Center reticles here" does not work.
 

I think that is all you need. "Center FoV here" and "Create object centered here" do seem to work.

Developer
Analysis

This feature only works for custom reticles, not for eyepiece/image reticles, which are always centred.

Resolution

Fixed. Changed the wording to "Centre custom reticles here" to be more specific.

Implemented
8/1/09
Selecting first observation of a session
 

When opening a session, the individual observations displayed in the right window, is it possible to have the first observation of that session automatically selected?

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
8/1/09
Alt/Az indicator in Objects tab
 

Possible to reverse North / South in the Alt/Az indicator?

Resolution

Implemented. Alt/Az indicator now has its own "flip" right-click menu items for both N/S and E/W.

Implemented
8/1/09
Printing magnification, etc. for observations
 

Soon I will be attempting to use AstroPlanner (2.0) to print my observations for the Astronomical League clubs. One of the fields in the AL requirements is power (or magnification). The observation tab has a rather nice interface for adding various combinations of equipment. Despite this, when I attempt to print the "observation data", I do not see a way to have this information displayed on the print out. The scope and EP combos are there, just not calculated data. I can certainly add this manually, after the fact, but it is mildly painful for hundreds of observations.

Resolution

Implemented. "Magnification" now available for observations. Bonus: so is "Actual FoV".

Implemented
8/1/09
Enhance image contrast directly on Objects tab
 

Add ability to enhance image contrast directly from the Objects tab of a plan.

Resolution

Implemented. Right-clicking the image shows a menu item to do this.

 
2.0b51 Release Date: Friday, July 31, 2009
Fixed
7/31/09
Date Time Bar Across Top
Windows
only

When scroll bar is used in the Objects view, the date time bar will blink on and off.
Also I have noticed that in the Sky view, no alignment stars are showing in the table.
This is using wnXP SP3, and version 2.0b50

Developer
Analysis

This flickering is an on-going problem on Win XP. I guess I'll have to try yet another strategy to get it to stop flickering. The problem is that XP uses unbuffered graphics.

Resolution

Fixed. Although not perfect (on XP), I believe it's a lot better.

Fixed
7/31/09
Quitting via File→Exit causes exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub VisibilityThread.Event_Run()
2: Sub APThread.Event_Run()

On quitting via File→Exit

Developer
Analysis

Workaround: close the app via closing all plan documents.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/31/09
Closed AP and Crashed
Windows
only

I looked at a plan and updated the FOV tab with the catalogs I wanted. BTW I thought this was done before and AP didn't remember it.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/31/09
AP not saving FOV tabs Catalogs
Windows
only

After choosing several catalogs and then closing AP, AP crashes and the next time I open AP the catalogs are not saved.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/31/09
ObsGeneralContainer.Initialise: Nil Object Exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer.Initialise( ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer )
2: Sub ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer.Event_Resized( ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer )

This is on Windows Vista 64 SP2

It seems to start up again fine but every time it closes I get this.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/31/09
Minimising plan window causes havoc on Observing tab
Windows
only

Minimising plan window causes havoc on Observing tab when the window is restored.

Developer
Analysis

This occurs only when using the Show Desktop button on the Windows status bar.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b50 Release Date: Thursday, July 30, 2009
Implemented
7/30/09
Scripting: Computed properties
 

Add recognition of computed properties to the Framework Reference. Maybe add computed properties to the scripting manual?

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
7/29/09
Delete multiple images
 

Add ability to delete multiple images via the Image Manager.

Developer
Analysis

Actually, the Delete button will do this, but a right-click option might also be convenient.

Resolution

Implemented. Right-click menu option will delete selected images.

Fixed
7/29/09
Duplicate DSS images when downloaded for a plan
 

When I download images for either the selected object or the entire plan, as I scroll through the list on the Objects tab, all the images seem to be a duplicate of the first one that gets downloaded.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/29/09
Scripting: FR underline C?
 

The 'red box underline C' key is not displayed in the Key list. There are three of these symbols used for different descriptions, and two more with the deprecation suffix.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
7/29/09
Scripting: FR refresh
 

Provide a way to 'refresh' the contents of the FR without having to close/reopen it. Automatically on saving a script with one of the defined prefixes would be ideal. Button or keyboard shortcut would do.

Resolution

Implemented. If a script with the defined prefix is saved or deleted, any open framework reference windows will be refreshed. Also, there's now a right-click menu with "Reload".

Fixed
7/28/09
Flickering LED problem
Windows
only

The "LED" clock/date display widgets flicker.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/26/09
Window splitter does not adjust when window is resized
 

Window splitters (most prominently in the plan window Observing tab, and in the Observations window) do not automatically adjust their position when the window containing them shrinks in size.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/26/09
Increase the maximum time a session observing over 60 minutes
 

You can increase the maximum time a session observing over 60 minutes?
Observation Setting→ finish Session Time ... (with no limit or at least 4-5 hours).
In the database Observation, by changing the timing of the observation eg. 21:30 / 23:30 application automatically changes the values in 21:30 / 22:30 (1:00 h).

Developer
Analysis

I think this has been fixed as a consequence of (link).

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/26/09
Window is too close to the top of the screen
Windows
only

I had two plans open the last time I used AstroPlanner. Today when it started, it brought up the first window fine. It takes up most of the screen, which is the way I like it. Then it opened the second window. At first the window was smaller than I expected, but at least it was in the center of the screen. But before long, AstroPlanner had moved the window to the top of the screen. In fact, it is so high that the title bar, menu bar, and close box are off the top of the screen. Therefore there's no way for me to move the window back on screen, and there's no way for me to close it. So this one plan is pretty much unusable now.

Resolution

Fixed. Whenever a plan window is activated, it's position will be adjusted if the top of the window is hidden, and the height will be adjusted if it's too big.

Fixed
7/26/09
UT Radio Button Doesn't Work
 

In the new release (v2.0b49) the radio button for UT time does not work.
Greyed out. Check the preferences and stuff to see if there was a change
on how this functions. Tried using forced 24 hour, but it made no difference.

Resolution

Fixed. This is actually a feature - not a bug. The UT option is not available unless a site is defined (since only then will the UT/GMT offset from local time be known). However, to make this clearer, I have added a tool tip to the disabled UT checkbox.

Fixed
7/24/09
More info on session appending
 

I just had it ask me again if I wanted to append an observation to an existing session, and this time it wasn't across midnight (the two observations were 22:40 and 23:00 MT).

I did notice this time that the first was logged in one plan and the second in another. Perhaps that triggers the dialog?

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/24/09
Session appending doesn't like crossing midnight
 

I logged an observation at 7/22/2009 23:40 mountain time, and then one at 7/23/2009 00:00, and AP asked me if I wanted to add the second to the existing session. I have my Assume observation is within same session.... setting set to 1 hour, so it shouldn't have asked.

Developer
Analysis

The end-of-session slop is/was not being taken into account.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/24/09
Indexing errors in Global Observations
 

Open Global Observations window.
Select an observation which includes a user field.
Note that in the Selected Observation Details window, the value of Found: is listed as the user field's name, and the field name after that is the user field's value, with the value of the next user field name.

For instance:

ID: Jupiter Date/Time: 5/25/2005 22:00
Name: Jupiter Type: Planet
RA: 00h 00m 00s Dec: +00°00.0'
Plan: Solar_System.apd Const: Psc
Found: Altitude: 31°: Size:

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/24/09
Missing calculated details
 

Open the Global Observations window.
Double-click on an observation.
The Edit Observation window comes up; no equipment combinations are selected and so the info box doesn't show a magnification, etc.

It'd be nice if the first combination was selected (particularly if there is only one).

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/24/09
Redraw of Observation Notes tab
 

Select an object with several observations logged.
Click back and forth between the observations.
Note that each time, the Observation Notes/Object Notes/Object Annotations tabs draw first right under the +/-/++/arrow buttons, and then farther down under the info box.

Resolution

Fixed. Tabs no longer attempt to resize to fill the available space.

Fixed
7/24/09
Found column in Observations/Resource combinations a bit wide
 

It'd be nice if it pegged to a max width, rather than growing with the window width.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/24/09
Altitude doesn't update with Set Date/Time to Observation
 

Click the "C" button at the bottom of the Observations tab. Altitude doesn't update (atlhough it did after I opened the bug report and then switched back to the plan window).

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/24/09
A different way of signifying observation "Found" status
 

If the field "Found" is not selected, in the "Observation" means the date/time are rightly red, but if the date time will be selected (eg. last observation..), the color is always white writing on a blue background .

Developer
Analysis

I chose not to colour the text red if the item was selected in case the user had set up the line selection colour to be red. However, this seems unlikely in retrospect, so perhaps I'll consider another method of showing the status. Also this might not be optimal for colour-blind folk.

Resolution

Fixed. Changed to a black F with the "universal" symbol for "not" (a red circle with a diagonal line) superimposed.

Fixed
7/24/09
In the printer observation report does not appear the fields "Visual Aid"
 

In the printer observation report does not appear the fields "Visual Aid"

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
7/23/09
Enhance multiple images
 

Add the ability to enhance multiple images in the image database.

Resolution

Implemented. If multiple images are being displayed, they can all be enhanced at once, via the Enhance All... button. Note that this is not undoable.

Fixed
7/23/09
Problems with user-fields in V1 documents
 

When V1 documents with user fields are opened,
a. The user field values are repeated from previous objects where they should be empty.
b. It is not possible to enable the user-defined columns in the converted plan via Edit→List Columns.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/23/09
Importing same V1 plan doc twice causes hangup
 

Importing same V1 plan doc twice causes hangup

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b49 Release Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Fixed
7/22/09
No Display Aperture with Display Images
 

Don't know if this is new or not, but the Display/Aperture checkbox under Display Options in the Field of View tab isn't effective if the Display/Images checkbox is also checked.

(In case this is object/image specific, I was using a 30'x30' 1st Gen All Sky image of M62.)

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/22/09
Object Data in Field of View broken if I turn off plan object display
 

If I go into Field of View Preferences and turn on Observed and Unobserved Plan Objects, and then hover the pointer over the center of the target in the Field of View tab I get something like this below the Field of View drawing:

M70 (M70, NGC6681) Mag: 9.00 Pos Angle: 0° Size 7.8' [Globular] SB:22.1 etc.

However, if I turn off Observed and Unobserved Plan Objects (which I now tend to do since they obscure some of the detail in the DSS images drawn in the background), then hovering over the center of the object shows only:

Mag: 0.0

Resolution

Fixed. If you point at the centre of an image, details about the image are shown.

Fixed
7/22/09
Too much flicker to use FoV Rotation effectively
 

The amount of redraw flicker makes the FoV Rotation control hard to use without Display Options: Display/Images checked. With it checked, it's almost impossible to use.

Developer
Analysis

This is mainly because scaling, rotating and rendering the image/s takes a non-trivial amount of time.

Resolution

Fixed. Sort-of. The image/s will be replaced by drawn rectangles during the rotation process and then rendered at the end (i.e. when the user stops moving the slider). This doesn't allow for easy orientation based on the image, but is the best I can do under the circumstances.

Fixed
7/22/09
Annotations showing up in the wrong place
 

I'm using the S&G11 plan and went to make an annotation for NGC4216. When I click on the "+" sign to start the annotation, NGC4216 appears in the left hand box. However a former annotation (for NGC3877 but not associated with this plan) also showsd up in the left hand box. I could erase it by hitting the "-" button but if I do, it will erase that annotation (for NGC3877) for all the other plans it is connected to. This does not happen all the time but is quite frequent. Merely annoying but still needs to be corrected.

Resolution

Fixed.
Note: the annotations database will be fixed the first time you run 2.0b49 or later.

Fixed
7/22/09
Annotations
 

Still having a problem with the annotations even though I thought I had it solved. When I create a new annotation, sometimes two annotations are created: one is correct, the other is a random object that also has an annotation. If I erase the stray ID, both new ones disappear. When I do another add, only the correct ID appears and all appears well. Except -- the random object no longer has an annotation attached to in any of the plans so it is lost.

I hope you can recreate this problem because it really interferes with an otherwise great idea. As I mentioned above this does not always happen. I haven't been able to see a pattern yet.

Resolution

Fixed.
Note: the annotations database will be fixed the first time you run 2.0b49 or later.

Fixed
7/22/09
Annotation "crosstalk"
 

I completed an annotation of all the objects in one plan and when I go to annotate another plan, some of the annotations show up in the second plan but they refer to a different object in the first plan. Example: I have an annotation for Barnard86 in the first plan. The second plan includes the object NGC6531 (M21). This object already shows an annotation but it is for Barnard86 which is not one of the objects in the second plan. To make matters worse, when I try to make the corrections in the second plan, AP sometimes will crash and shut down.

Further Info:

It's possible I may have discovered the problem. It seems this "crosstalk" only occurred when I had more than one plan open at the same time. I have annotated several more plans with no other plans open and the problem has not appeared.

May also explain Bug 2542.

Resolution

Fixed.
Note: the annotations database will be fixed the first time you run 2.0b49 or later.

Fixed
7/21/09
Paths.GetPath: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function Paths.GetPath( int32, string(), string() ) as FolderItem
2: Function App.AdjustForV2Conversion() as boolean
3: Sub App.Event_Open()

User description of above error trace:

I downloaded the latest beta version of V2 and reinstalled over the older beta version. I launched AstroPlanner and this screen immediately popped up. AstroPlanner V2 will not launch.

Resolution

Fixed. It's not clear what the problem is here. However, I have added some warning msg alerts to try and narrow it down.

Fixed
7/21/09
No refresh from fix date or site change
 

Neither changing the Site popup nor changing the Fix Date (ie: to Evening Civil twilight end) redraws the Sky chart.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/21/09
Flickering GUI
 

Flickering GUI problems.

Developer
Analysis

This is apparent with smaller plans, especially if all the plan objects fit on the object list.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/20/09
Making click on the Short- and Long-Term Indicators does not Update Data and Graphs
 

Making double clicking or using the right mouse button and selecting "Fix Date / Time ..." on the Short- and Long-Term Indicators, the application does not update the data and graphs.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b48 Release Date: Sunday, July 19, 2009
Implemented
7/19/09
Add Found highlighting rule for objects
 

Add Found highlighting rule for objects (will be true if an object has at least one observation with Found status = TRUE).

Resolution

Implemented. Bonus: also for text/Excel Export.

Fixed
7/19/09
More fixes to visibility updates
 

Revise the clunky visibility update mechanism.

Resolution

Fixed. Many of the shortcomings of the visibility update mechanism have been removed. In particular, the visibility update can no longer be manual, the Object menu item has gone, and there are no delays while visibility is recalculated (it's all done behind the scenes).

Fixed
7/19/09
Recalculation text with empty document
 

I have an empty plan that is opened by AP on startup. The 'Recalculating...' text is not removed until one of the plan tabs (Objects, Observations, Field of View or Sky) is used.

Resolution

Fixed. The whole visibility mechanism has been updated (and simplified).

Fixed
7/19/09
GenericTextFunctionality.DoImportExport: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub GenericTextFunctionality.DoImportExport( boolean )
2: Function MainWindow.MainWindow._ExportGenericTextFile_Action( MainWindow.MainWindow ) as boolean

User description of above error trace:

Attempted to close an import/export window generated from the File drop down menu.
The task I wanted to abort was an export to an .xls file for all highlighted (observed) objects under the Main Window or Objects tab.

Resolution

Fixed. See (link)

Fixed
7/19/09
ObservationWindow.EditSession: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function ObservationWindow.ObservationWindow.EditSession( ObservationWindow.ObservationWindow, PlanSession ) as boolean
2: Sub ObservationWindow.ObservationWindow.sessions_DoubleClick( ObservationWindow.ObservationWindow )

Resolution

Fixed. See (link)

Fixed
7/18/09
Change name of "Observed" feature
 

Change the name of the recently-introduced "Observed" feature, since it is easily confused with the already existing "Obs" (# of observations) feature. Change it to one of "Detected", "Seen", "Found", etc.

Resolution

Fixed. All references changed to "Found".

Fixed
7/18/09
Closing dialogs causes exceptions
Windows
only

Closing a dialog via the "X" at the top right rather than via the Cancel button can cause a Nil Object Exception

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/18/09
TelescopeMount.Edit: Nil Object Exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function TelescopeMount.Edit( string ) as boolean
2: Sub ResourcesWindow.ResourcesWindow.EditMount( ResourcesWindow.ResourcesWindow )

User description of above error trace:

connecting to LX200ACF not possible

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b47 Release Date: Friday, July 17, 2009
Fixed
7/17/09
App.CopyToTempFolder: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function App.CopyToTempFolder( FolderItem ) as FolderItem
2: Sub App.Event_Open()

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/17/09
Date Time Above is UT doesn't work
 

1) Open a plan a switch to the Observations tab
2) Click on object and click + to add a new observation
3) In the Observation Date/Time dialog, click the Date/Time Above is GMT/UT
4) Type in a Date/Time in UT

Bug 1: note that the darkness graphic displays the time-line without converting from UT to local.

5) Click OK.

Bug 2: the time is converted backwards to UT for the observation.

In my example I used 4:40 UT, which was 22:40 local time. The bar in the darkness graph was placed at 4:40 (instead of 22:40), and when I clicked OK the observation was logged as 10:40 UT (instead of 4:40).

Resolution

Fixed. Bonus: Added UT time scale to sky darkness graphic.

Implemented
7/17/09
Custom seeing scale
 

Allow user-defined seeing scale (in addition to Pickering, etc.)

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
7/17/09
Image download freeze
 

Problem #1: I just downloaded the LSOH plan. Not sure if the size is causing the problem or not. When I try to download 1 image or many the program freezes -- not only the plan but also AstroPlanner and sometimes even the computer. When the mouse freezes all I can do is hit the power off button.

Problem #2: When I try to use the default List Columns in a newly opened plan, the plan does not revert to the default unless I do it a second time. Then the plan seems to go to the default.

Developer
Analysis

Problem #2 was already fixed for V2.0b47: (link)

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/17/09
Revise visibility thread code to make it more stable
 

Revise visibility thread code to make it more stable

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/16/09
MainWindow.CloseMainWindow: Nil Object Exception
Windows
only

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.CloseMainWindow( MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.Event_Close( MainWindow.MainWindow )

User description of above error trace:

Had three windows open:
1) the main window
2) the observations (global) window, and
3) the images manager window.
I was attempting to close the app from the main window when the bug occurred.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/16/09
AstroPlanner keeps asking to save changes
 

When I quit out of AstroPlanner (V2.0B46), it asks me if I want to save changes. If I select "never save changes" and click the "no" button, I expect that AstroPlanner won't save the changes to the current session, and to never ask again. But in fact it keeps asking.

On the other hand, if I select "never save changes" and click the "yes" button, AstroPlanner changes saves the current plan but the never asks again. On the plus side, I don't want AP to ask again, so that's working right. On the minus side, I don't think I should have to save the changes this time just to get AP to never save the changes in the future.

Developer
Analysis

Involves a nasty "chicken/egg" problem.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/16/09
Save column settings not updating
 

1) Open plan A
2) Select Edit > List Columns...
3) Click Save above settings as default checkbox
4) Click OK.
Bug 1: note that altitude, obs and rating columns are now blank. Recalc obj visibilities fixes this.

5) Open plan B
6) Select Edit > List Columns...
7) Click Set to Saved Default
Bug 2: note that columns are not changed

8) Select Edit > List Columns...
Interestingly, the columns in the dialog ARE the ones from plan A, and clicking OK does update the columns in plan B (although you still have to recalc visibilities due to bug #1).

Resolution

Fixed. (both problems)

Fixed
7/16/09
Rating average seems to skip foreign observations
 

It used to be that you could set whether your average rating was computed over local observations or global observations. The setting has gone away (now that they're all global), but the computation seems to be stuck on local-only.

Developer
Analysis

The average rating mechanism is ignoring any observations that have the lowest rating.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
7/15/09
Show no. of objects in observation window title
 

Show no. of objects in observation window title (i.e. number of unique objects represented by the displayed observations).

Resolution

Implemented. Note: database totals appear in the window title. Displayed totals now appear in the text above the observations list.

Implemented
7/15/09
Display apparent magnitude on short/long-term indicators
 

Display apparent magnitude on short/long-term indicators. i.e. take into account atmospheric extinction when displaying the magnitude value on the displays. Also, make it clear what's being displayed.

Resolution

Implemented. It's now an option in the list preferences (Actual mag vs. Apparent mag).

Fixed
7/14/09
Imported observations not appearing
 

Observations imported with the SkyMapPro Import script are not being displayed on the Observation tab, nor on the Observations database window.

Developer
Analysis

This, I suspect, has something to do with blanks in the imported IDs.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
7/14/09
Scripting: Opening V1 plan documents
 

Make the opening of V1 plan documents happen without user-interaction required.

Resolution

Implemented. APPlan.OpenPlan now has an optional "silent" parameter.

Implemented
7/14/09
Get local observations from V1 plan documents
 

When V1 plan documents are opened, allow the option of moving local observations to the observation database. A convenience for V1 users who did not use the global observation database feature.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
7/14/09
Scripting: add the ability to recursively scan folders
 

Add the ability to recursively scan folders and return a list of files found therein.

Resolution

Implemented. APFile.ScanFolder.

Fixed
7/13/09
Editing mount while telescope is connected
 

Editing mount resources while the corresponding telescope is connected should be disallowed.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/13/09
Revise dialog OK/Cancel buttons
 

Dialog OK/Cancel buttons are not consistent. Their sizes and positions vary. Some dialogs (Windows) have them the wrong way around (horizontally), and their default status (which button is "clicked" via the Enter key) is inconsistent. Also, not all dialogs are cancelled by the Esc key.

Resolution

Fixed. Refactored the code for consistency (well, 99% anyway).

Implemented
7/13/09
Sorting
 

Will there be an option to sort by User-defined Fields?

Developer
Analysis

This is already doable. However, it's not clear that in order to sort on a user-field (or any other field for that matter), the associated column must be visible in the object list (i.e. via Edit→Columns...).

Resolution

Added a note at the top of the Sort dialog.

 
2.0b46 Release Date: Friday, July 10, 2009
Fixed
7/10/09
DatabaseStuff.DatabaseHasTable: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function DatabaseStuff.DatabaseHasTable( REALSQLDatabase, string ) as boolean
2: Sub ObservationDatabase.FixupDatabase()

User description of above error trace:

Everything seemed to convert and run ok except there were no observations in the converted plans. While trying to figure out what happend, I may have moved and or duplicated the Observation data base. I now have three. One of whche shows a real basic icon, the others show the old AP icon. I switched back to 1.6 to make sure the observation were still there (they were). I exported a text file for back-up. When I came back to AP2.0 I started getting this error message. I am going to clean everyting out and re-install.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
ObjectListbox.GetEditColumnsList: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ObjectListbox.GetEditColumnsList( Listbox )
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.EditListColumns( MainWindow.MainWindow )

User description of above error trace:

reordering columns

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
MainWindow.ObjectList_CellAction: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.ObjectList_CellAction( MainWindow.MainWindow, int32, int32 )

User description of above error trace:

I was looking for Ceres via the LookUp button

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
DatabaseStuff.DatabaseHasTable: Nil Object Exception
 

Version: 2.0b17
Expires: 4/29/2009
Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function DatabaseStuff.DatabaseHasTable( REALSQLDatabase, string ) as boolean
2: Sub ObservationDatabase.FixupDatabase()

User description of above error trace:

Was attempting to install AstroPlanner.exe in the Program Files folder when the process stopped.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
Command-W not always implemented
 

The preferences window and the Bug Report/Feature Request window don't handle the Command-W key command event to close the window.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
Catalogue.GetFieldDataAsDouble: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Function Catalogue.GetFieldDataAsDouble( int32 ) as double
2: Sub CatalogueManagerWindow.CatalogueManagerWindow.SkyCoverage( CatalogueManagerWindow.CatalogueManagerWindow, Aitoff, Graphics )

User description of above error trace:

looking at catalogue coverage of new Bedford catalogue

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
Scripted NewObservations not in the database
 

New observations created via scripting (see attached sample) are not appearing in the Observation database. The nObservations value increases by one each time this script is run, so something is being recorded somewhere.

Developer
Analysis

This is tricky, and is to do with the fact that creating a new observation via a script is not creating a session record. Restarting the app makes the records appear, but not in a sensible way. I will need to rethink this.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
AAVSOClass.GetChartList: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function AAVSOClass.GetChartList( APHTTPSocket, byref FolderItem ) as FolderItem

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
AAVSOChartSelectWindow.vsphttp_Connected: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub AAVSOChartSelectWindow.AAVSOChartSelectWindow.vsphttp_Connected( AAVSOChartSelectWindow.AAVSOChartSelectWindow )

User description of above error trace:

Tried to retrieve the VSP chart for DQ HER. Cancelled the request after 30 seconds. Tried running it under 1.6 and it retrieved the chart in a few seconds.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
ResourcePopup.Load: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ResourcePopup.Load()
2: Sub ResourcePopup.Event_Open()

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
ScriptCanvasWindow.Print: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ScriptCanvasWindow.ScriptCanvasWindow.Print( ScriptCanvasWindow.ScriptCanvasWindow )

User description of above error trace:

Printing a list of objects from a plan document. 48 items, compressed printing, a subset of fields selected. 3 page printout, AP crashed right after page 1 reached the printer.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
ObjectListbox.GetList: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub ObjectListbox.GetList()
2: Sub ObjectListbox.ReadWrite( MWPreferencesGroup, boolean )

User descriptions of above error trace:

a. Downloaded LSOH.txt to v2.b41 just fine, but when I tried to set columns to "saved to set default," it failed. So far settings the columns in AP has created numerous problems.
b. I have configured the columns of the object plan. After there was many blanks in the columns and someone were missing. The exception appeared when I closed the plan.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
ObjectListbox.GetList: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub ObjectListbox.GetList()
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.AdjustColumnsToFit( MainWindow.MainWindow, int32 )

User description of above error trace:

Set up columns that I wanted to display. Then click on adjust columns to fit. When I did that, this error box came up. I noticed some of the columns were also blank after I selected which ones I wanted to display (e.g. Azimuth, Altitude, Constellation). Some of the columns I did NOT want displayed showed up also, but were also blank.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
Scope Control: TelescopeMount.Connect: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub TelescopeMount.Connect( string, MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.OnlineValueChange( MainWindow.MainWindow )

User descriptions of above error trace:

a. clicked off the "connect to telescope" check box.
b. Trying to connect to ascom telescope simulator
c. I was trying to connect Astroplanner to my AP1200GTO through ASCOM.
d. Connect to telescope

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
7/10/09
Autodetect HTTP Proxy settings on Mac OS X
MacOSX
only

Autodetect HTTP Proxy settings on Mac OS X. Currently they can only be detected manually.

Resolution

Implemented. (see Preferences→Web)

Fixed
7/10/09
TelescopeMount.SetTarget: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub TelescopeMount.SetTarget( double, double )
2: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.OnlineValueChange( MainWindow.MainWindow )

User description of above error trace:

Closed Resources window (upper right X)

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
MainWindow.GetSelectedODMInfo: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function MainWindow.MainWindow.GetSelectedODMInfo( MainWindow.MainWindow ) as string
2: Sub ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer.DisplayObjectRecord( ObsGeneralContainer.ObsGeneralContainer, PlanObject )

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
MainWindow.SetMWInfo: Nil Object Exception
 

Error occurred on exit.

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.MainWindow.SetMWInfo( MainWindow.MainWindow )
2: Function MainWindow.MainWindow.Event_CancelClose( MainWindow.MainWindow, boolean ) as boolean

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
ScriptWindow.LoadScript: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow.LoadScript( ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow )
2: Sub ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow.ScriptList_Change( ScriptWindow.ScriptWindow )

User description of above error trace:

I had just started AP 2.0b35 and opened a recent plan file.
I clicked on the scripts tab, then edit/run script and this error occured

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
Paths.GetPath: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function Paths.GetPath( int32, string(), string() ) as FolderItem
2: Function App.AdjustForV2Conversion() as boolean

User descriptions of above error trace:

a. This happened the first time I tried to start the app after installing v2.0b28 on Windows 7 build 7000.
b. Starting up without USB drive in place - my bad!

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/10/09
Paths.GetPath: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function Paths.GetPath( int32, string(), string() ) as FolderItem
2: Function App.AdjustForV2Conversion() as boolean
3: Sub App.Event_Open()

User description of above error trace:

a. Tried to start AP and it just sits there trying to open Visualglobulars.apd
b. Attempting to restart AP after last crash.
c. First time opening V2.0b28.
d. Whoops! Forgot to put the USB stick in.


User description of above error trace:

Opening new install

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/9/09
Moving observation database
 

Moving the observation database between computers causes annoying demands to resolve plan origin paths, sometimes causing an indefinite loop.

Resolution

Fixed. The startup check has been removed.

Fixed
7/9/09
NotificationHub.UnregisterInt: Out Of Bounds Exception
 

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub NotificationHub.UnregisterInt( string )
2: Sub NotificationHub.RegisterInt( string, NotificationHub.Post )
3: Sub NotificationHub.Register( string, NotificationHub.Post )

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
7/9/09
Search Catalogue/s falls over for circumpolar objects
 

The Search Catalogue/s feature falls over for circumpolar objects when the Limit to Visibility option is used. All circumpolar objects are being selected, regardless of their altitude.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
7/8/09
Telescope info when editing observations
 

It'd be nice if the observation edit dialog had the information box (with magnification limits, focal length, etc.) as found on the observations tab.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
7/8/09
Create a new plan based on the frontmost one
 

If File→New is selected and a plan is open and at the front, offer the option to create the new plan based on the open plan (i.e. all objects copies, selected objects, highlighted objects, etc.).

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
7/6/09
Need a new property in the Observation record
 

I like to record an "observation" of an object, even when I don't detect it. (Happens to me fairly frequently...) I record the relevant conditions and then begin the comments with "Not detected."

It would be great to have a boolean property named something like "NotDetected" that could be checked to make it easier to filter observations for actual successes (or failures.)

You could of course do this with a user-defined field, but is there a way to default to creating a specific user-defined field in every observation?

Developer
Analysis

See also #2558.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
7/6/09
Observation "not observed"
 

Currently, if I look for an object but don't find it, I just don't enter an observation. But then there is no record that the observation was attempted and when I look at previous sessions and objects, it just appears to be an object that I never even tried to find - even if I actually did try several times. Spending time attempting to locate an object IS part of an observing session, but there is no way to record that for an object.

I tried to create my own setting for this by making the lowest "Rating" popup setting be "Not Found". The problem then is that it shows up as being observed when it actually has not. In the object listing it may show several observations when none were actually made.

I'd especially like to be able to look back at my observation history for an object and see which nights I found it which nights I didn't and compare that to the conditions for the different nights. That gives me the ability to understand the minimum conditions needed for that object to be observed from a particular location.

You might consider putting a permanent (non editable) addition to the Rating popup with the label "Not Found" or perhaps a separate checkbox somewhere. The more difficult question is how to represent the not-found observations in the rest of the UI. They certainly should not show up as highlighted items when the user has selected highlight observed. Neither should they contribute to the observation count.

But, in the Observations list in the lower left corner of the Observations pane, I think it would make sense for them to show up, but with some indication that they were not found - perhaps red text or an asterisk or maybe "NF" after the date/time. They should show up similarly in the Observation database.

Developer
Analysis

See also #1731

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
7/6/09
Observation changes not being saved
 

Observation changes not being saved if they were not originally made from the currently-open plan document.

Developer
Analysis

Some left-over code from V1 is causing this.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b45 Release Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009
Implemented
7/5/09
V1-to-V2 conversion "built-in" to app
 

V1-to-V2 conversion "built-in" to app, rather than a separate app, causing confusion, etc.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
7/5/09
Change to RB2009r3 compiler
 

Change to RB2009r3 compiler. This will resolve some issues (scripting memory leaks, for example), and possibly create new ones :^(

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
7/5/09
Built-in conversion of V1 plan documents
 

Add ability to convert and open V1 plan documents directly from the main app.

Developer
Analysis

This will require running an "invisible" console application to do the dirty work.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
7/1/09
Complete the Save Default list columns feature
 

Get the Save Default list columns feature working.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
6/30/09
Printing enhancement 2
 

Why is there no image for Saturn? When I'm looking at the Objects screen, I see a nice graphic of Saturn and it's moons. I'd love to see that printed on the observing sheet in black on white with the names of the moons next to the moon images. That would be VERY useful in the field.

Resolution

Implemented. There's now a printing option to a satellite graphics to printed reports/forms (currently only for Jupiter and Saturn).
Scripters: Warning. Several Canvas methods now have an extra boolean parameter to allow for this option.

Implemented
6/29/09
Provide a way to merge image databases
 

For people who use AP on both a desktop and a laptop, it seems probable that the image databases would quickly diverge. In order to avoid having to download images multiple times, it would be handy to be able to merge two image databases. This could possibly be a separate, stand-alone program. The idea would be to create an output database that is the union of two input db's.

Resolution

Implemented. Merge... button in Image Preferences.

Fixed
6/28/09
ImageManagementWindow.CollectImagesThread_Run: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ImageManagementWindow.ImageManagementWindow.CollectImagesThread_Run( ImageManagementWindow.ImageManagementWindow )
2: Sub APThread.Event_Run()

User description of above error trace:

From Image Manager, I wanted to select one of 335 images displayed By Source. Because it took too long to render
a display of objects to select from, I tried to display images By ID when the Application Exception occurred.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
6/28/09
Disabling FoV/Sky display option "groups"
 

Why not put a checkbox next to each of the main sections in the Display Options box, such as next to Constellations, Display, Labels, etc. Then if you unchecked the checkbox, ALL the items beneath it would go off and become grayed. They would retain their individual checkbox conditions so when you check the main heading box, the ones you had previously selected would come back on.

Resolution

Implemented.

Fixed
6/28/09
Highlighting rules on multiple strings
 

I have just played around with the highlighting and still think is seems wrong.

If I select;
Does not contain any of; "2009","2008"
nothing is selected.

If I select;
Does not contain all of; "2009","2008"
everything except dates with 2009 or 2008 are selected.

Is seems completely round the wrong way to me.....but I may be interpreting this wrong.

To me Does not contain any of; "2009","2008" should mean;
If 2009 is present in any field, do not mark, if 2008 is present in any field, do not mark.

Does not contain all of; "2009","2008" should mean;
If 2009 and 2008 exist in the one field, do not mark.

Except what happens is completely in reverse.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b44 Release Date: Friday, June 26, 2009
Fixed
6/26/09
FOV settings "star style" issue
 

In the FOV settings dialog, under "Star style (display)", the picture of example stars for the first setting doesn't display. It appears to work fine, you just don't get the picture.

Resolution

Fixed.

Implemented
6/25/09
Add regular expression matching to highlighting rules
 

Allow matching on regular expressions in highlighting rules.

Resolution

Implemented.

Implemented
6/25/09
Make multi-string highlighting rules easier to comprehend
 

Make multi-string highlighting rules easier to comprehend. Having to mess with "&" and "+" is not intuitive.

Resolution

Implemented. A more easily-understood way of doing things has been implemented.

Implemented
6/25/09
Improved method for observation time entry
 

Improve ease of entry of date/time for observations.

Resolution

Implemented. Observation date/time dialog now has a chart showing the selected night, showing the object altitude, the selected time, and any sessions/observations already present for that night. Clicking in the chart will set the date/time fields.

Implemented
6/24/09
Selection of Displayed Image
 

It would be nice if the image displayed for an object in a plan was the image that was downloaded for the plan rather another image that contains the object somewhere not close to the center. If not downloaded, the image with the object closest to the center of the image..

Developer
Analysis

Since the image database does not store information as to which plan document was used to download which image. However, there are some other options that can be used...

Resolution

Implemented. Image Display option in FoV Preferences. Can choose to display all images that overlap the FoV, just the largest image centred on the FoV coordinates, or the image selected in the Objects tab (where applicable).

Implemented
6/23/09
Print column widths
 

Is there anyway to control print column width in V2? If I print the "Name" column, the column takes up half of the width of the page and doesn't allow but just a few of the other columns to print. I can control this on the display but on paper it takes up to much width. I prefer not to use the "Multi-Line" option in the print dialog.

Resolution

Implemented. Added a "Maximum column width" option that will force an upper limit on column width as a percentage of page width. Also added a "Use abbreviated headings" option that will further reduce column width in many cases.

Implemented
6/22/09
Create obs sessions manually
 

Add ability to add a new session (with all its parameters and date/time range) manually, as an option.

Resolution

Implemented. Observation→New Session... or right-clicking the Observations list.

Fixed
6/22/09
Another stab at fixing images without IDs
 

The previous attempt to fix images without IDs was faulty and had little or no effect (unless it was a Messier object). Try again.

Resolution

Fixed. Background thread will run and fix blank IDs when this version is launched.

Fixed
6/22/09
No recalculate from Set date/time/etc. to match obs
 

I clicked the "C" button in the observations tab to set the date/time to the observation date/time. It did that correctly, and redrew the Object list, but didn't update the altitude column (and perhaps others).

A Refresh Object Visibilities refreshed the Object list and showed the correct altitude.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
6/22/09
Make observation from Observation tab
 

If I right-click on an object from the observation tab, the Make Observation option is always greyed out. It works from the Objects tab.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
6/16/09
Dates/Times in non-Roman OS system encodings
 

Dates/Times in non-Roman OS system encodings are not working properly. In particular, Greek localisation.

Developer
Analysis

The localised time/date strings are being returned with an unrecognisable text encoding. This is probably a bug in the compiler framework. However, there are workarounds.

Resolution

Fixed.

 
2.0b43 Release Date: Monday, June 15, 2009
Fixed
6/15/09
version b42 has issues on Visat 64
 

Paul
I am trying to load the b42 version from Friday but first of all it reports all the catalogues are corrupted and then when it starts it just hangs when it shows recalculating. b41 (which is what I am using here works fine) although aftre using b42 it has to rebuild its image database.

This is on a Windows Vista 64 SP2 machine

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
6/15/09
Greek symbols in FoV
Windows
only

Greek symbols in FoV being shown as *.

Resolution

Fixed.

Fixed
6/15/09
ObservationDatabase.ReadObservations: Nil Object Exception
 

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ObservationDatabase.ReadObservations()

User description of above error trace:

The problem happens in the following circustances:
I register user.
I have had some problems whe