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AstroPlanner Beta Testing

Introduction

Anyone is free to download and test the latest beta version of the application. Please note that beta versions of the application have a built-in expiration date that is 120 days after the release date. After that date, you can still use it, but you'll be "nagged" to download a more recent release. This is to prevent bugs being reported on older beta versions that have already been fixed in later releases.

Please discuss beta issues only on the Beta Testers mailing list. Click here to join/leave the list.

Click here for more information on how to report a bug.

V2.4 Notes:

This page last modified: 2023/11/19 10:13 (Pacific time)

Download

VersionRelease DateExpiry Date
2.4b252023/10/26120 days from Release Date

Macintosh

64-bit Application (.dmg)Download159.8MB64-bit version. Intel-based Mac with MacOS 10.14 or later. Apple Silicon-based Mac with MacOS 11 or later.
64-bit Application (.dmg)Download106.3MBSpecial version for MacOS 10.11 through 10.13. Intel-only.

Windows

32-bit Application (.exe)Download155.2MiB32-bit version. Installer. Windows 8.1 or later
32-bit Application (.exe.zip)Download154.7MiB32-bit version. Zipped installer
64-bit Application (.exe)Download143.3MiB64-bit version. Installer. Windows 8.1 or later
64-bit Application (.exe.zip)Download142.8MiB64-bit version. Zipped installer
64-bit Application (.exe.zip)Download143.3MiBSpecial 64-bit version for Windows 7 SP1 through 8.0.
32-bit Application (.exe.zip)Download152.9MiBSpecial 32-bit version for Windows 7 SP1 through 8.0.

Both platforms

User Manual (.pdf.zip)Download82.8MiBV2.4 beta user manual

Note: Beta versions of the application typically do not include the user manual or scripting manual in order to reduce download size.

Release Notes

A list of unresolved bugs can be found here, and feature requests here.

Version: 2.4b26
Release Date: Soon
Fixes: 4, Enhancements: 1

ID:
7708

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/11/19

Black semicircle present in "center coordinate" window

Per attached screenshot: when right clicking the FoV to center a coordinate, there is a black (semi)circle in the coordinate entry window.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7703

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/11/13

FieldDiameterPopupMenu.SelectedFieldDiameter.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 PopupMenu.SelectedRowIndex.Get( int32 ) as int64
2: Function FieldDiameterPopupMenu.SelectedFieldDiameter.Get( int32 ) as FieldDiameter
3: Function FieldDiameterChooser.SelectedFieldDiameter.Get( FieldDiameterChooser, int32 ) as FieldDiameter
4: Function FieldDiameterChooser.SelectedDiameter.Get( FieldDiameterChooser, int32 ) as double
5: Function MainWindow.GetFoVDiameter( MainWindow ) as double
6: Function MainWindow.IsInFoV( MainWindow, EquatorialCoordinates ) as boolean
7: Function ImportSolarSystemObjectDialog.PassesComputedRestrictions( ImportSolarSystemObjectDialog, SolarSystemObject ) as boolean
8: Sub ImportSolarSystemObjectDialog.LoadObjectsThread_Run( ImportSolarSystemObjectDialog, Thread )


User description of above error trace:

Import NEAs from the MPC website
message=A thread has attempted to manipulate a user interface element. This can only be done from the application's main thread.


Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7706

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/11/09

MainWindow.DrawHighlightRect: Out Of Bounds Exception

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.DrawHighlightRect( MainWindow, Graphics, color(), int64, int64, int64 )
2: Sub SiteInfoWidget.HighlightCaption_Paint( SiteInfoWidget, DesktopCanvas, Graphics, Xojo.Rect() )
3: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()


User description of above error trace:

I was loading highlighting presets.


Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7704

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/11/09

ImpExpDialog.CheckImportValues: Nil Object Exception

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub ImpExpDialog.CheckImportValues( ImpExpDialog )
2: Sub ImpExpDialog.ImportChangeTimer_Action( ImpExpDialog, Timer )
3: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()


User description of above error trace:

Was adding / editing field definitions in the export dialog window and this exception popped up.


Analysis:
Some internal changes render some older import/export definitions no longer valid. Sorry.

Resolution:
Fixed. Some of the definitions are now corrected. Others will alert the user and allow for them to be changed.

ID:
7702

Status:
Implemented

Date:
2023/11/03

Observation database Location Chart: selected session(s) not displayed

When selecting the Location Chart in the observation database, observations for the selected session(s) are displayed, but what sessions are selected is not displayed anywhere. Would be a useful addition.


Analysis:
I'm tired of trying to fix non-reproducible bugs, so I'll let this enhancement through.

Resolution:
Implemented. The Location tab now has a list of sessions as well as a way to display selected sessions, etc. Bonus: some code optimizations were made that improve the speed of the observation database in some areas.

Version: 2.4b25
Release Date: 2023/10/26
Fixes: 15, Enhancements: 1

ID:
7701

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/26

ID Field: text within brackets is only text displayed in label in FoV

Don't whether this is a bug or perhaps a feature that I don't know about, but when using [brackets] in an object ID, only the text within the brackets is displayed in the FoV object label.

For example, an ID set to: "[object]123" causes the label to be displayed as "[object]. Remove the second bracket and no label is generated at all. Remove the first bracket and a label is displayed as intended (with the second bracket).


Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7688

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/25

Custom Highlighting - decimal setting not retained

When setting a separation value of 0.7" in a custom highlighting rule, the setting is not retained but reverts to 0 after closing the highlighting dialog window.

Attachment: VAvW 2023-09-11 om 17.03.58.jpg

Analysis:
Huh. The "Predefined Scenarios" listbox is missing from your screenshot of the dialog. Perhaps this is the issue (i.e. the "Custom Default" entry in that list isn't selected). Otherwise I can't reproduce this issue, even with European decimal comma settings.

Resolution:
Fixed. Perhaps. I have modified the code to make sure the "Predefined Scenarios" list always appears.

ID:
7700

Status:
Implemented

Date:
2023/10/20

Improve syncing via cloud services

If syncing is done via cloud services, sometimes the files being synced can trigger a cloud sync before an AstroPlanner sync has finished. This can cause issues.

Resolution:
Implemented. Added a feature that (for cloud-driven services) writes files to a temporary folder first, and then does an "atomic" copy of the affected files at the end of the process.

ID:
7697

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/20

Cannot use emojis in notes fields

Using emojis in styled notes fields doesn't work.

Analysis:
Unfortunately, the RTF data used here doesn't support emojis.

Resolution:
Fixed. Rather than causing an unhandled exception, any changes involving emojis are ignored.

ID:
7698

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/20

User field list row height

User field list row height seems excessively small. Changing it via Right-click > Appearance only applies change temporarily.

Resolution:
Fixed. Now uses Appearance row height settings. BONUS: empty user field lists now auto-resize the columns (where desired).

ID:
7686

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/20

MWSearchPreferences.ReadWrite: Nil Object Exception

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MWSearchPreferences.ReadWrite( boolean, boolean )
2: Sub MWPreferences.ReadWrite( boolean, boolean )
3: Sub MainWindow.OnOpen( MainWindow, FolderItem, boolean )
4: Function App.OpenADocumentFile( FolderItem, byref MainWindow, string, boolean, boolean, int64 ) as boolean
5: Function App.OpenDocuments() as boolean
6: Sub App.Event_Opening()
7: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()
8: Sub REALbasic._RunFrameworkInitialization()


Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7684

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/20

Show files for all observations duplicates files in list

I added a single image file to two different objects and each of the attachments lists showed a single entry on the attachment list, with multiple observations listed logged. When I selected the "Show files for all observations" box, the attachment list duplicated the single file name to match the number of observations listed as opposed to just showing the single entry for each observation.

Analysis:
I'm not sure what you're requesting here. I can reproduce the "problem" here, but I'm not really sure why it is an issue. I could, I guess, mark the entries as "duplicate" if they are pointing to the same file on disk.

Resolution:
Fixed. Duplicate files are now shown in blue, with a suitable legend below the list.

ID:
7661

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/20

StripedListBox.Event_CellAction: Nil Object Exception

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub StripedListBox.Event_CellAction( int64, int64 )


User description of above error trace:

Editing Observation Preferences


Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7691

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/19

Editing observation in obs database, application scrolls

When editing an observation from within the observation database, then saving the edited observation(s), the list of sessions scrolls to the bottom and the top observation is selected for the session that is selected.


Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7692

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/19

Editing the value of user field, value not saved but ported to next observation

Per attached screenshot: when editing an observation from within the observation database and changing the value of a user field, the changed value is not retained when clicking "Next observation". However, the entered value is ported to the next observation and the value is retained for that following observation.

Attachment: VAvW 2023-09-16 om 12.07.15.jpg

Analysis:
This happens if the user doesn't type return/enter to complete the change, or click elsewhere in the window (other than buttons).

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7694

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/18

Paths.GetPath: Nil Object Exception

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception
Exception Message: U: GetPath(9, ). fldr = C:UsersmfwelDesktop

1: Function Paths.GetPath( int64, string(), string() ) as FolderItem
2: Sub App.ReadWrite( boolean )
3: Sub App.Event_Opening()
4: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()
5: Sub REALbasic._RunFrameworkInitialization()


User description of above error trace:

Follow on from last submission. Have installed the 64 bit V2.4 beta and the problem is still there.

Application runs OK on my Windows 10 desktop PC, but not on my Windows 11 laptop.
message=U: GetPath(9, ). fldr = C:UsersmfwelDesktop


Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7690

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/18

Generic text export - application adds an unwanted [space]

When exporting one or more objects as a generic textfile, and the option is set to "separator" (which, for the export, is no separator, just leaving the field blank), the application automatically adds an unwanted single space. When removing that space, the export works as intended. However, when exiting and restarting the application, the unwanted space returns again.

When saving export settings, having removed the unwanted space, the result is the same after restarting the application: the unwanted space is back.

Resolution:
Fixed. Also, if the separator is empty, a warning will be shown.

ID:
7687

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/18

WDS Catalog notes displayed in Chinese

Per attached screenshot. WDS catalog is 2023.08.

Analysis:
Encodings issue.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7685

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/18

DatabaseExtensions.TableHasRecords: DatabaseException

Exception Type: DatabaseException
Exception Message: no such table: ObsTables
Exception Number: 1

1: Sub Database.CheckForError()
2: Function Database.SelectSQL( osA1v ) as RowSet
3: Function DatabaseExtensions.TableHasRecords( extends SQLiteDatabase, string ) as boolean
4: Sub ObservationDatabase.FixupDatabase()
5: Sub ObservationDatabase.OpenDB()
6: Sub ObservationDatabase.Initialise()
7: Function ObservationDatabase.!db.Get() as ObservationDatabase
8: Sub App.Event_Opening()
9: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()
10: Sub REALbasic._RunFrameworkInitialization()


User description of above error trace:

Tried to copy old backup of observation database to new install of Astroplanner
number=1
message=no such table: ObsTables


Analysis:
Not sure why this happened, but I have beefed up the code a bit to avoid it happening again.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7681

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/18

Error when exiting app

Closed down AstroPlanner and the following error was reported in the AstroPlanner Error Log.

Version: 2.4b24

Expires: 01/01/2024
Date: 05/09/2023 09:27:24 BST
OS: Windows 11.0.22621 (X86)

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: Sub Control.__Exit()
2: Function VisibilityThread.Event_ThreadDescription() as string
3: Sub APThread.LogThreadStart()
4: Sub APThread.Event_Run()


Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7679

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2023/10/18

Two catalogs selected to be displayed in FoV - selection not retained

When selecting the AAVSO (2023.03) and/or the WDS catalog (2023.03) in the FoV tab, to be displayed in the FoV, the selection is not retained when exiting the planfile, even though the planfile is saved and closed normally.

Analysis:
I can't reproduce this. However, this would be seen if you had updated the AAVSO or WDS catalogues since the plan doc was last saved, because a comparison is done on the catalogue description.

Resolution:
Fixed. If you update WDS or AAVSO catalogues, it should select the same (?) catalogue, even though the description has changed.

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