AstroPlanner Beta Testing

ID:
8012

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/10/13

FieldDiameterChooser.FieldDiameterChooser.SelectedDiameter.Get: ThreadAccessingUIException

Exception Type: ThreadAccessingUIException
Exception Message: A thread has attempted to manipulate a user interface element. This can only be done from the application's main thread.

1: Function TextField.Value.Get( int32 ) as string
2: Function DoubleField.GetValue() as double
3: Function FieldDiameterChooser.SelectedDiameter.Get( FieldDiameterChooser, int32 ) as double
4: Function MainWindow.GetFoVDiameter( MainWindow ) as double
5: Function MainWindow.IsInFoV( MainWindow, EquatorialCoordinates ) as boolean
6: Function ImportSolarSystemObjectDialog.PassesComputedRestrictions( ImportSolarSystemObjectDialog, SolarSystemObject ) as boolean
7: Sub ImportSolarSystemObjectDialog.LoadObjectsThread_Run( ImportSolarSystemObjectDialog, APThread )
8: Sub APThread.Event_Run()

User description of above error trace:

I'd updated the Comets in MPC data and searched for -5 mag to 18mag, then selected In FoV at current date/time and when I clicked Update it failed.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
8018

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/10/09

Updating Cat Notes does not update Dreyer translation

W.r.t. Refresh Objects from Catalogues:

I refreshed the Catalogue Notes and it updates correctly, but the User Notes
column remains blank, and consequently the description is not decoded.
If I manually upload an NGC object, the User Notes value is updated
correctly.
Refreshing does not.
The Notes column is missing from the refresh list.

Analysis:
You need to update the Catalogue Notes column. This will update the Dreyer Translation.

Workaround: After refreshing, save, close, and reopen the plan document.

Resolution:
Fixed. Bonus: improved some of the Dreyer translations

ID:
8004

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/09/02

Tooltip issue with Chart column

I noticed that a tooltip currently appears for the Chart# column showing the page number in the atlas, which doesn’t seem necessary.

Analysis:
This is for multiple chart sources to avoid wide Chart# columns. However, it appears unnecessary for a single chart source.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7711

Status:
Implemented

Date:
2025/09/02

Object Az./Alt. at time of observation

A very useful addition to the observation database, would be a column for the object's azimuth and altitude at the time of the logged observation. The data is visible when clicking the Object Visibility tab in the observation database, but a dedicated column in the observation database to always have this information available at a glance would be very welcome.

Resolution:
Implemented.

ID:
8000

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/09/01

NSOG Ratings script fails for most objects that don't have a space in the ID field

For example, if the ID is NGC4473, the script does not add the rating to this object. If the ID is changed to NGC 4473, it does work.

The behavior depends on the catalog: Barnard works without space, M, NGC and IC do not work.

Resolution:
Fixed. NSOG Ratings script has been modified. Bonus: it will now download the ratings file from the internet for you where possible.

ID:
7998

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/09/01

Selecting an observation in search results in obs database - session for first observation always displayed

When searching for an observation in the database, when results (observations) are displayed for all observations for that object in the observation database, the session displayed is always the session for the first observation in the list. Screenshot attached.

Attachment: Scherm��afbeelding 2025-08-31 om 14.58.20.jpg

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7999

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/09/01

Refreshing objects from catalog fails if object ID contains a space

For example, the user-contributed plan 500Best_DSO_Don_Pensack has in the ID field NGC 7606 (with space), and all PosAngle are 0, despite the NGC catalogue having, for this object, 145 degrees.
- I try to refresh the object from the catalog and it does nothing.
- I change in the plan the object ID to NGC7606 (without space), refresh from the catalog, and it works, changing the PosAngle to 145.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7909

Status:
Implemented

Date:
2025/08/28

Dreyer translation

Make it possible to include the expanded description of the Dreyer description (in the NGC/IC catalogues, for example) in the Object Notes.

Resolution:
Implemented.
(a) Under Catalogue Notes below the object list, if the object is from the NGC or IC catalogues.
(b) A new object list column (Dreyer Translation) which shows the Dreyer translation into English where applicable.

ID:
7997

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/27

Issue with editing observation attachments

I did create an observation for an object, every thing go well. After that I go into the Observation database. Click on the last observation I juste created to add attachement to the objet (basically I would like to link the Zip file which contain raw data and copy into the database the JPEG processed file). When I close and save, observation database is messed up. The last observation disappear or is replaced with a new observation of current date. The link with the object I was observing is lost and there is no way to recover because I can’t add object to existing observation. I have to remove this two new entry and repeat all operation to create the observation.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7790

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/26

Long-term visibility widget issue

I have turned off the ‘Long term visibility‘ widget as it runs through multiple iterations before finally refreshing. It displays a percentage and then starts again and again. This only happens every so often.

Resolution:
Fixed. Possibly just a mitigation of the effects, since I can't reproduce the issue.

ID:
7884

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/26

Editing Object's Name and a User-Defined Field Causes a Hangup

Open the attached document and do the following to duplicate:
1. Click the pen icon to open the field editor.
2. Select the object with the ID MWSC3539.
3. Paste the value "Elephant Trunk Star Complex, IC1396" in the Name field.
4. Immediately go over and single-click in the Description user-defined field.
5. In the field type "Tr37" and it won't do anything.
6. Click anywhere in the plan object area.

The program will freeze and show an hourglass.

Attachment: Complex Companions (Freezes).apd

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7881

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/26

Utility.CopyTo: I/O Exception

Exception Type: I/O Exception
Exception Number: 112

1: Sub BinaryStream.CheckForError()
2: Sub BinaryStream.Write( string )
3: Function Utility.CopyTo( FolderItem, FolderItem ) as boolean
4: Function Utility.SafeCopyFileTo( extends FolderItem, FolderItem ) as int64
5: Sub DatabaseFile.Save()
6: Function PlanDocument.Save( boolean ) as boolean
7: Function MainWindow.DoFileSave( MainWindow ) as boolean
8: Function MainWindow.DoFileSaveAs( MainWindow, boolean, FolderItem ) as FolderItem
9: Function MainWindow._FileSaveAs_Action( MainWindow ) as boolean
10: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

User description of above error trace:

I noticed that the attached Visible Objects document was suddenly showing no User-Defined field information anymore, so I did a Save As and then this error immediately followed after the Save As completed.

I had previously removed and object from, and then re-saved, the Main Objects document.

number112

Attachment: Visible Objects 2024-01-30.apdAttachment: Main Objects.apd

Analysis:
I/O error 112 on Windows implies the target disk drive is full.

Resolution:
Fixed. Well, this error should no longer cause an exception.

ID:
7922

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/26

MainWindow.GetResults: Nil Object Exception

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.GetResults( MainWindow, boolean, boolean, boolean, string )
2: Sub ResultsWindow.AddSelectedBtn_Pressed( ResultsWindow, APPushButton )
3: Sub APPushButton.Event_Pressed()

User description of above error trace:

I noticed that Spica was returning wrong results for its altitude when I selected it in the Nova, Quasars and UFOs plan (I had recently merged my old Main Objects plan with it to get the object). It was also in the wrong spot on the constellation chart. I think it was from an older version of the Yale catalog. So I clicked the plus sign to add a new object and chose the Yale catalog. When I chose to add it to the object list I saw some message about searching for duplicates and then this exception appeared.

Attachment: 2021-03-31 Novas, Quasars and UFOs.apdAttachment: Main Objects.apd

Analysis:
Can't reproduce, but I have beefed up the relevant code.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7995

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/26

CURLConnection.Get: Nil Object Exception

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function CURLConnection.Get( string, FolderItem, int64 ) as boolean
2: Function Astronomy.IsDoubleStarID( string ) as boolean
3: Function Catalogues.CataloguesContainingID( string, byref string, Dictionary ) as Catalogue()
4: Sub MainWindow.LookupID( MainWindow, string, boolean, boolean, boolean, boolean, string, boolean )
5: Sub MainWindow.LookupName( MainWindow, string, string )
6: Sub MainWindow.LookupNameBtn_Action( MainWindow, APPictureButton, string, int64 )
7: Sub APPictureButton.DoAction( string, int64 )
8: Sub APPictureButton.Event_Pressed()
9: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7996

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/25

SkySafari export issue

The SkySafari export feature sometimes puts the Name field contents into the CatalogueNumber line in the exported file, rather than the ID.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7993

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/20

Ctrl-Y keyboard shortcut issue

The Ctrl-Y keyboard shortcut is used both for instigating the Image Manager and for Preferences.

Resolution:
Fixed. On Windows, Preferences is now Ctrl-, (Control-Comma), which also brings it in line with MacOS (Cmd-Comma).

ID:
7990

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/20

Date.SQLDateTime.Set: Unsupported Format Exception

Exception Type: Unsupported Format Exception
Exception Message: Invalid Date format

1: Sub Date.SQLDateTime.Set( int32, string )
2: Sub HighlightingRule.Decode()
3: Sub HighlightingRule.ReadWrite( boolean, MWPreferencesGroup, string )
4: Sub HighlightingRuleDate.ReadWrite( boolean, MWPreferencesGroup, string )
5: Sub HighlightingCollection.ReadWrite( boolean, MWPreferencesGroup, string, int64 )
6: Sub HighlightingRuleSet.ReadWrite( boolean, MWPreferencesGroup, string )
7: Sub MWHighlightPreferences.ReadWrite( boolean, boolean )
8: Sub MWPreferences.ReadWrite( boolean, boolean )
9: Sub MainWindow.OnOpen( MainWindow, FolderItem, boolean )
10: Function App.OpenADocumentFile( FolderItem, byref MainWindow, string, boolean, boolean, int64 ) as boolean
11: Function App.OpenDocuments() as boolean
12: Sub App.Event_Opening()
13: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

User description of above error trace:

Something really wrong with the application and/or planfiles.

Planfile(s) becoming corrupted. Screenshot + 1 planfile attached.

message=Invalid Date format

Attachment: Scherm��afbeelding 2025-08-20 om 16.20.33.jpgAttachment: Orion [5-6].apd

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7988

Status:
Implemented

Date:
2025/08/17

Add descriptions to Image Manager

Add the ability to display descriptions for user images in the image manager.

Resolution:
Implemented. Added a Description column to the image list. Made ID and Description columns optional via checkboxes. Added description to top-right of each displayed image.
BONUS: Many other improvements to the Image Manager have been made.

ID:
7976

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/16

Database.ExecuteSQL: DatabaseException

Exception Type: DatabaseException
Exception Message: attempt to write a readonly database
Exception Number: 8

1: Sub Database.CheckForError()
2: Sub Database.ExecuteSQL( paramarray osA1v )
3: Function SynonymManager.FixupSynonyms( boolean ) as boolean
4: Function ObservationDatabase.FixupSynonyms( boolean ) as boolean
5: Sub ObservationPrefsWindow.ResetSynonymsBtn_Pressed( ObservationPrefsWindow, PDPushButton )
6: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

User description of above error trace:

I have shared database on Dropbox seems link is not working. So I updated path on both computer.
Then once i open Observation database software was empty on both computer, and asked my to rebuild synomyms. When i clicked software crashed

Analysis:
Looks like the application doesn't like to open and update database files on Dropbox and probably other similar shared folder systems.

Resolution:
Fixed. Added an option in Observation Preferences (a checkbox that you should set if you are storing your observation database on a shared folder).

ID:
7984

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/15

ObservationWindow.RestoreObsSessionState: Nil Object Exception

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub _CallLaterTimer.Event_Action()
2: Sub DesktopApplication.DoEvents( int64 )
3: Sub ObservationWindow.RestoreObsSessionState( ObservationWindow )
4: Sub ObservationWindow.obs_DoublePressed( ObservationWindow, StripedListBox )
5: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

User description of above error trace:

Closed the observation database window and switched to the objects window.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7987

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/15

NewObservationEditDialog.Constructor: Out Of Bounds Exception

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub NewObservationEditDialog.Constructor( NewObservationEditDialog, PlanObservation(), int64, string )
2: Function ObservationWindow.EditObservation( ObservationWindow ) as boolean
3: Sub ObservationWindow.obs_DoublePressed( ObservationWindow, StripedListBox )
4: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()

User description of above error trace:

On Observations screen.
Created a new session
Clicked on blank ID field

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7983

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/15

PlanWizardDatabase.UpdateCatalogueEntry: DatabaseException

Exception Type: DatabaseException
Exception Message: cannot start a transaction within a transaction
Exception Number: 1

1: Sub Database.CheckForError()
2: Sub Database.BeginTransaction()
3: Sub PlanWizardDatabase.UpdateCatalogueEntry( Catalogue, int64, boolean )
4: Sub PlanWizardThread.Event_Run()
5: Sub APThread.Event_Run()

User description of above error trace:

Just checking newly installed AP software, and starting a new plan wizard, software has an error and stopped running.
Also, not able to connect to my Mesu 2 mount so using CDC instead for telescope control. It would be good to have a method to copy the object catalogue name from the observing generated list, however the name is truncated and also not able to copy just the object name to paste in CDC...if that makes sense?
number=1
message=cannot start a transaction within a transaction

Resolution:
Fixed. I think.

ID:
7986

Status:
Implemented

Date:
2025/08/14

Adding optional tooltips for user notes, etc.

Since there’s currently no setting for showing tooltips for User Notes, perhaps it could be added to the Object List Preferences. That way, users could decide per plan whether or not to enable it — which might be a flexible solution that works for everyone.

Resolution:
Implemented. There's now an option in Object List Preferences for displaying tooltips for User Notes, Catalogue Notes, and Name (which are the most likely fields to need it).

ID:
7982

Status:
Implemented

Date:
2025/08/06

Converting user notes to plain text

When you paste text copied from elsewhere into the User Notes editor, it can carry over style info, such as Font, bold, size, etc. This is not straightforward to remove.

Resolution:
Implemented. Right-click menu for all styled text field editors has a "Convert to Plain Text" entry. For the User Notes editor only, it also has a "Convert ALL User Notes to Plain Text..." (with a suitable warning).

ID:
7981

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/06

Text in user notes slows down object list scrolling

Excessive amounts of text in user notes slows down object list scrolling.

Resolution:
Fixed. Well, greatly improved...

ID:
7980

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/08/05

Editing Object List Columns changes column width

AP 2.4.1b6 issue:

Editing Object List Columns changes column width.

I opened an AP plan and proceeded to edit the object list columns by selecting the "Edit List Columns" menu item.

In the "Edit Object List Columns" window I turned off the display of the "SB" column.

I then clicked the "OK" button.

The plan then showed no "SB" column (as expected) but unexpectedly showed modified spacing of the columns to the right (i.e. the "Transit" column and the "User Notes" column) of where the "SB" column had been displayed.

It seems as if, in the post-edit plan, the "Transit" column that was immediately to the right of the newly hidden "SB" column has taken on the width of the hidden "SB" column. Likewise, the "User Notes" column has taken on the pre-edited width of the column to its left, i.e the "Transit" column.

Attached please find screenshots of the plan window both before and after editing. I've reproduced this issue in a few different plans.

AP 2.4.1b6

Mac Studio, macOS 15.5
Issue also reproduced on MacBook Air (M2), macOS 15.6

Resolution:
Fixed. Added code to keep the widths of existing columns stable (unless you have the "Adjust column widths to fit text" checkbox checked).

ID:
7979

Status:
Implemented

Date:
2025/08/02

Add Import text modifier to select from a list

Sometimes a field in an import text file might contain, say, a list of IDs separated by commas, and you want to import just the first ID. Can the Text Modifier option have extra rules to allow this?

Resolution:
Implemented. Options added to select text before or after a specified separator, between two specified separators, or the n-th field in a list.