ASCOM-Talk : Messages : 27330-27360 of 29979

The only thing that could really go wrong with that is if you installed
CCDSoft last, it might overwrite the FocusAPI DLL with its own, which is
just a 'stub' implementation. Unfortunately there's no real way of
avoiding that, or warning you about it. Can you suggest how we could do
anything different?
--Tim

-----Original Message-----
From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of drgert1
Sent: 27 April 2012 04:52
To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Install of FocusAPI Re: [ASCOM] ASCOM Focus API fails after
disk imaging

Hi Tim,

Thank you very much for the feedback. So that indicates that the
sequence to install would be:
Ascom
CCDSoft
Optec driver (plus check that the right focusapi.dll is where it's
supportsed to be)


It amazes me that whatever small deviation from the above has caused me
so much wasted effort. And none of the error messages and failures along
my experiments gave any indication what to do or fix.

Sidenote. I have TheSky installed on the laptop. Does that cause any new
grief?

Thanks and Clear Skies,
Gert


--- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Long" <Tim@...> wrote:
>
> Gert, it looks like the new installer puts the DLL directly into the
> system folder - so you no longer have to do the manual installation
> step. That also explains why the readme file is gone.
> --T.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of drgert1
> Sent: 27 April 2012 01:57
> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Install of FocusAPI Re: [ASCOM] ASCOM Focus API fails after
> disk imaging
>
> Hi Tim,
>
> You mentioned something very interesting, which I don't remember doing

> in all my prev. wasted work.
>
>
> ...
> Don't forget that FocusAPI has manual post-installation steps, you
> must manually copy the DLL, if I remember correctly, overwriting the
> default DLL provided by CCDSoft.
> ...
>
>
>
> Can you give some more detail about this?
>
> Which file to copy from ... to ... ?
>
> Thanks and Clear Skies,
> Gert
>
>
> --- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Long" <Tim@> wrote:
> >
> > In general, install software in order of least dependant to most
> > dependant and, all else being equal, use the latest version. I say
> > 'all else being equal' because sometimes there are compatibility
> > issues that mean the latest version can't be used. As far as I'm
> > aware, that's not the case in this scenario so use ASCOM 6.0SP1 and
> > whatever is the latest version of CCDSoft.
> >
> > ASCOM is a Platform so doesn't depend on anything else mentioned, so

> > that gets done first. The Optec driver depends on ASCOM and will
> > refuse to install unless the platform is present. The FocusAPI
> > plugin depends on CCDSoft because it must be installed in CCDSoft's
> > plugin
> directory.
> > So the order I'd assume would be ASCOM, CCDSoft, FocusAPI. Don't
> > forget that FocusAPI has manual post-installation steps, you must
> > manually copy the DLL, if I remember correctly, overwriting the
> > default DLL provided by CCDSoft.
> >
> > Once you get to that stage, if you can't get things working, then we

> > need to start digging into log files and trying to work out what's
> > wrong.
> >
> > --Tim
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com]
> > On Behalf Of drgert1
> > Sent: 26 April 2012 21:40
> > To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Install of FocusAPI Re: [ASCOM] ASCOM Focus API fails after

> > disk imaging
> >
> > Hi Tim,
> >
> > Thank you for your comments. Let's take the disk imaging out of the
> > equation. I'm still interested in using the larger disk. After all
> > the
>
> > messing around with it lets assume for the moment that all astro
> > stuff
>
> > has been removed from it. (step 1 use WinXP remove program screen to

> > delete all of it. Ascom, Optec driver, CCDSoft. step 2 delete all
> > the files & directories that step 1 missed manually)
> >
> > Now what?
> >
> > What to install in what sequence?
> > (Ascom / CCDSoft / Optec driver)
> > Using ascom 5.5 or 6?
> > Using CCDSoft latest version or the one before?
> >
> > It would be a great success for me to get this up and going.
> > As needed I can provide further debug feedback like screen copies &
> > messages.
> >
> > Thanks & Clear Skies,
> > Gert
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Long" <Tim@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Interesting. Presumably your disk imaging software did a
> > > sector-by-sector copy, it would not 'crack open' any files or the
> > > registry, and so in theory it is quite impossible for it to have
> > > any
>
> > > effect on any installed software. I say 'in theory' because I have

> > > no way of knowing what the program actually did. Chances are
> > > though,
>
> > > something else must be in play. There must have been some other
> > change.
> > > The only requirements for the FocusAPI software to work are that
> > > the
>
> > > DLL must be in the correct location. If all you did was
> > > transparently move the partition onto a new drive, I don't see how

> > > that could be
> > disrupted.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The FocusAPI dll itself is loaded into TheSky and makes an
> > > outgoing connection via COM to an ASCOM driver. It does not in
> > > itself make any connection to a serial port. When you say the
> > > connection could not be established, are we talking about the
> > > serial connection or what? What was the exact message? What
> > > program did it come from? - preferably attach a screen shot.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > As you have discovered, uninstalling and reinstalling is usually
> > futile.
> > > We'd need to understand the problem and uncover the root cause. I
> > > know
> >
> > > this is no consolation to you but I say this for other users
> > > reading
> > > this: if you have a problem, don't uninstall/reinstall. First,
> > > understand the problem (if necessary with help from the
developer).
> > > Only then will you know how to fix it.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The fact that it works again after you put the 60Gb drive back in
> > > is
>
> > > interesting though. Unfortunately XP doesn't have the  System
> > > Reliability screen that Windows 7 has - That would have told us if

> > > anything else has been installed/uninstalled after you
> > > transplanted the drive. This is an interesting problem that I
> > > can't explain, I think it unlikely that the disk imaging process
> > > is at fault and I suspect there is some subtle thing going on, but

> > > I don't have enough
>
> > > diagnostic information to see beyond that.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --Tim Long
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > > [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com]
> > > On Behalf Of drgert1
> > > Sent: 26 April 2012 08:12
> > > To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subject: [ASCOM] ASCOM Focus API fails after disk imaging
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hello All,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Using a disk imaging tool from 'Acronis' I mirrored an old 60GB
> > > disk
>
> > > onto a new(er) 120GB disk for my IBM T42 Win XP laptop. All OS and

> > > application programs survived the event nicely. Only ASCOM Focus
> > > API
>
> > > (connecting to Optec TCF-S) inside CCDSoft failed. Connection to
> > > the
>
> > > focuser could not be established.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Even worse, subsequent multiple de-install / install permutations
> > > of
>
> > > ASCOM CCDSoft and Optec driver failed to ever again produce a
> > > working combination. Final symptom is that CCDSoft Focus API
> > > 'Settings' does not get me to the ASCOM focuser 'Choser' but to
> > > the bare Bisque API which then of course does not handle the
Optec.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > In the end I tossed the 120GB disk out of the laptop and put the
> > > 60GB back in (have to make due with less free space for large
> > > image
> > > sets) and now things are working perfectly again.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Any idea what was going on?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > >
> > > Gert
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/
> > > <http://ASCOM-Standards.org/> .
> > >
> > >
> > >
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#27331

From: "Tim Long" <Tim@...>
Date: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:30 am
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

t_p_long

http://www.hristopavlov.net/ASCOM/index.htm

Hristo,

My first thoughts are that this seems to be a very well-reasoned and well-presented proposal. Its excellent how you have presented the reasons for your decisions and I think I agree with all of them. I don’t think you’ve actually published the interface definition though, the document you linked to only contains your notes… J I particularly like the way you have presented the use cases and kept the proposal to the minimum necessary to meet those use cases.

With ICameraV2, one area in particular that I’ve noticed people having issues with is accessing the ImageArray. It would be useful if the proposal could be very clear about data ordering within the array and how this is accessed from various languages, preferably with code snippets. Good candidates are VBScript, Jscript, C# and VB.NET which covers access both from COM and within the .NET Common Language Runtime. I’m sure the community will be happy to help with this if you aren’t familiar with all the languages.

Once you publish your actual interface proposal, I’ll give more feedback.

--Tim Long

From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Hristo Pavlov
Sent: 27 April 2012 11:42
To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

Hi All,

Please find below my initial draft for a new ASCOM interface for controlling video cameras:

Your comments are highly appreciated!

Regards,

Hristo Pavlov

Sydney, Australia

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#27332

From: Hristo Pavlov <hristo_dpavlov@...>
Date: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:01 pm
Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

hristo_dpavlov

http://www.hristopavlov.net/ASCOM/index.htm

Hi Tim,

Try the link at the top of the page. It contains a zip file with both the generated CHM file and the interface defined in a C# file.

Regards,

Hristo Pavlov

Sydney, Australia

From: Tim Long <Tim@...>
To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2012 9:30 PM
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

Hristo,

Once you publish your actual interface proposal, I’ll give more feedback.

--Tim Long

Hi All,

Please find below my initial draft for a new ASCOM interface for controlling video cameras:

Your comments are highly appreciated!

Regards,

Hristo Pavlov

Sydney, Australia

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Before replying, please review our email policy

#27333

From: "Peter Simpson" <peter@...>
Date: Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:23 pm
Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

Hi Tim,

The definition is now in a CHM file link at the end of the first line.

I had to do the usual Show File Properties then click Unblock to properly view the file after download.

Regards, Peter

--- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Long" <Tim@...> wrote:
>
> Hristo,
>
>
>
> My first thoughts are that this seems to be a very well-reasoned and
> well-presented proposal. Its excellent how you have presented the
> reasons for your decisions and I think I agree with all of them. I don't
> think you've actually published the interface definition though, the
> document you linked to only contains your notes... J I particularly like
> the way you have presented the use cases and kept the proposal to the
> minimum necessary to meet those use cases.
>
>
>
> With ICameraV2, one area in particular that I've noticed people having
> issues with is accessing the ImageArray. It would be useful if the
> proposal could be very clear about data ordering within the array and
> how this is accessed from various languages, preferably with code
> snippets. Good candidates are VBScript, Jscript, C# and VB.NET which
> covers access both from COM and within the .NET Common Language Runtime.
> I'm sure the community will be happy to help with this if you aren't
> familiar with all the languages.
>
>
>
> Once you publish your actual interface proposal, I'll give more
> feedback.
>
>
>
> --Tim Long
>
>
>
> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Hristo Pavlov
> Sent: 27 April 2012 11:42
> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi All,
>
>
>
> Please find below my initial draft for a new ASCOM interface for
> controlling video cameras:
>
>
>
> http://www.hristopavlov.net/ASCOM/index.htm
>
>
>
> Your comments are highly appreciated!
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Hristo Pavlov
>
> Sydney, Australia
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> ExchangeDefender Message Security: Click below to verify authenticity
> http://www.exchangedefender.com/verify.asp?id=q3RBUT0r010697&from=tim@...
> Complete email hygiene and business continuity solution available from http://www.tigranetworks.co.uk
>

#27334

From: "drgert1" <drgert1@...>
Date: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:28 am
Subject: Install of FocusAPI Re: [ASCOM] ASCOM Focus API fails after disk imaging

drgert1

Hi Tim,

Thank you for your info.

My suggestion to alert users to the issue would be at the end of installation.
Some pop-up window with big red letters saying.

Warning!! If you install the following software tools after the ASCOMM package
please follow detailed instructions in the below Installation_Repair file.

Tool1
Tool2
Tool3
CCDSoft
Tool4
...

<link to Installation_Repair file>

That would get people's attention.

Cheers,
Gert


--- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Long" <Tim@...> wrote:
>
> The only thing that could really go wrong with that is if you installed
> CCDSoft last, it might overwrite the FocusAPI DLL with its own, which is
> just a 'stub' implementation. Unfortunately there's no real way of
> avoiding that, or warning you about it. Can you suggest how we could do
> anything different?
> --Tim
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of drgert1
> Sent: 27 April 2012 04:52
> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Install of FocusAPI Re: [ASCOM] ASCOM Focus API fails after
> disk imaging
>
> Hi Tim,
>
> Thank you very much for the feedback. So that indicates that the
> sequence to install would be:
> Ascom
> CCDSoft
> Optec driver (plus check that the right focusapi.dll is where it's
> supportsed to be)
>
>
> It amazes me that whatever small deviation from the above has caused me
> so much wasted effort. And none of the error messages and failures along
> my experiments gave any indication what to do or fix.
>
> Sidenote. I have TheSky installed on the laptop. Does that cause any new
> grief?
>
> Thanks and Clear Skies,
> Gert
>
>
> --- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Long" <Tim@> wrote:
> >
> > Gert, it looks like the new installer puts the DLL directly into the
> > system folder - so you no longer have to do the manual installation
> > step. That also explains why the readme file is gone.
> > --T.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com]
> > On Behalf Of drgert1
> > Sent: 27 April 2012 01:57
> > To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Install of FocusAPI Re: [ASCOM] ASCOM Focus API fails after
> > disk imaging
> >
> > Hi Tim,
> >
> > You mentioned something very interesting, which I don't remember doing
>
> > in all my prev. wasted work.
> >
> >
> > ...
> > Don't forget that FocusAPI has manual post-installation steps, you
> > must manually copy the DLL, if I remember correctly, overwriting the
> > default DLL provided by CCDSoft.
> > ...
> >
> >
> >
> > Can you give some more detail about this?
> >
> > Which file to copy from ... to ... ?
> >
> > Thanks and Clear Skies,
> > Gert
> >
> >
> > --- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Long" <Tim@> wrote:
> > >
> > > In general, install software in order of least dependant to most
> > > dependant and, all else being equal, use the latest version. I say
> > > 'all else being equal' because sometimes there are compatibility
> > > issues that mean the latest version can't be used. As far as I'm
> > > aware, that's not the case in this scenario so use ASCOM 6.0SP1 and
> > > whatever is the latest version of CCDSoft.
> > >
> > > ASCOM is a Platform so doesn't depend on anything else mentioned, so
>
> > > that gets done first. The Optec driver depends on ASCOM and will
> > > refuse to install unless the platform is present. The FocusAPI
> > > plugin depends on CCDSoft because it must be installed in CCDSoft's
> > > plugin
> > directory.
> > > So the order I'd assume would be ASCOM, CCDSoft, FocusAPI. Don't
> > > forget that FocusAPI has manual post-installation steps, you must
> > > manually copy the DLL, if I remember correctly, overwriting the
> > > default DLL provided by CCDSoft.
> > >
> > > Once you get to that stage, if you can't get things working, then we
>
> > > need to start digging into log files and trying to work out what's
> > > wrong.
> > >
> > > --Tim
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com]
> > > On Behalf Of drgert1
> > > Sent: 26 April 2012 21:40
> > > To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subject: Install of FocusAPI Re: [ASCOM] ASCOM Focus API fails after
>
> > > disk imaging
> > >
> > > Hi Tim,
> > >
> > > Thank you for your comments. Let's take the disk imaging out of the
> > > equation. I'm still interested in using the larger disk. After all
> > > the
> >
> > > messing around with it lets assume for the moment that all astro
> > > stuff
> >
> > > has been removed from it. (step 1 use WinXP remove program screen to
>
> > > delete all of it. Ascom, Optec driver, CCDSoft. step 2 delete all
> > > the files & directories that step 1 missed manually)
> > >
> > > Now what?
> > >
> > > What to install in what sequence?
> > > (Ascom / CCDSoft / Optec driver)
> > > Using ascom 5.5 or 6?
> > > Using CCDSoft latest version or the one before?
> > >
> > > It would be a great success for me to get this up and going.
> > > As needed I can provide further debug feedback like screen copies &
> > > messages.
> > >
> > > Thanks & Clear Skies,
> > > Gert
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Long" <Tim@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Interesting. Presumably your disk imaging software did a
> > > > sector-by-sector copy, it would not 'crack open' any files or the
> > > > registry, and so in theory it is quite impossible for it to have
> > > > any
> >
> > > > effect on any installed software. I say 'in theory' because I have
>
> > > > no way of knowing what the program actually did. Chances are
> > > > though,
> >
> > > > something else must be in play. There must have been some other
> > > change.
> > > > The only requirements for the FocusAPI software to work are that
> > > > the
> >
> > > > DLL must be in the correct location. If all you did was
> > > > transparently move the partition onto a new drive, I don't see how
>
> > > > that could be
> > > disrupted.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The FocusAPI dll itself is loaded into TheSky and makes an
> > > > outgoing connection via COM to an ASCOM driver. It does not in
> > > > itself make any connection to a serial port. When you say the
> > > > connection could not be established, are we talking about the
> > > > serial connection or what? What was the exact message? What
> > > > program did it come from? - preferably attach a screen shot.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > As you have discovered, uninstalling and reinstalling is usually
> > > futile.
> > > > We'd need to understand the problem and uncover the root cause. I
> > > > know
> > >
> > > > this is no consolation to you but I say this for other users
> > > > reading
> > > > this: if you have a problem, don't uninstall/reinstall. First,
> > > > understand the problem (if necessary with help from the
> developer).
> > > > Only then will you know how to fix it.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The fact that it works again after you put the 60Gb drive back in
> > > > is
> >
> > > > interesting though. Unfortunately XP doesn't have the  System
> > > > Reliability screen that Windows 7 has - That would have told us if
>
> > > > anything else has been installed/uninstalled after you
> > > > transplanted the drive. This is an interesting problem that I
> > > > can't explain, I think it unlikely that the disk imaging process
> > > > is at fault and I suspect there is some subtle thing going on, but
>
> > > > I don't have enough
> >
> > > > diagnostic information to see beyond that.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --Tim Long
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > > > [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com]
> > > > On Behalf Of drgert1
> > > > Sent: 26 April 2012 08:12
> > > > To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Subject: [ASCOM] ASCOM Focus API fails after disk imaging
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hello All,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Using a disk imaging tool from 'Acronis' I mirrored an old 60GB
> > > > disk
> >
> > > > onto a new(er) 120GB disk for my IBM T42 Win XP laptop. All OS and
>
> > > > application programs survived the event nicely. Only ASCOM Focus
> > > > API
> >
> > > > (connecting to Optec TCF-S) inside CCDSoft failed. Connection to
> > > > the
> >
> > > > focuser could not be established.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Even worse, subsequent multiple de-install / install permutations
> > > > of
> >
> > > > ASCOM CCDSoft and Optec driver failed to ever again produce a
> > > > working combination. Final symptom is that CCDSoft Focus API
> > > > 'Settings' does not get me to the ASCOM focuser 'Choser' but to
> > > > the bare Bisque API which then of course does not handle the
> Optec.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > In the end I tossed the 120GB disk out of the laptop and put the
> > > > 60GB back in (have to make due with less free space for large
> > > > image
> > > > sets) and now things are working perfectly again.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Any idea what was going on?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Cheers,
> > > >
> > > > Gert
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/
> > > > <http://ASCOM-Standards.org/> .
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU
>
> > > > USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
> > > >
> > > > ASCOM-Talk-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > > <mailto:ASCOM-Talk-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCOM-Talk/
> > > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCOM-Talk/>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >     Individual Email | Traditional
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCOM-Talk/join
> > > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCOM-Talk/join>
> > > >
> > > >     (Yahoo! ID required)
> > > >
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> > > >
> > > >     ASCOM-Talk-digest@yahoogroups.com
> > > > <mailto:ASCOM-Talk-digest@yahoogroups.com>
> > > >
> > > >     ASCOM-Talk-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
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#27335

From: "chrisdimpfl" <chris.dimpfl@...>
Date: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:26 pm
Subject: Az/El to RA/Dec, and tracking speeds

chrisdimpfl

Hello all,

Two questions:

1. Does ASCOM.Astronomy (or other included library) include utilities for
transforming Az/El to RA/Dec? I've been using the ASCOM.Astronomy.Transform
class to transform RA/Dec to Az/El, but I'd like to use ASCOM-blessed code for
the other direction as well if possible.

2. Does ASCOM provide a way of finding the movement vector of objects for
tracking, or some literature on preferred implementation for tracking? My first
inclination is to generate a vector that an object is moving along and track
along that vector (updating periodically), but I suspect there's a much more
elegant method that I should be taking advantage of.

Thanks,
Chris

Reply | Messages in this Topic (2)

#27336

From: "Peter Simpson" <peter@...>
Date: Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:08 pm
Subject: Re: Az/El to RA/Dec, and tracking speeds

Hi Chris,

Yes, the Platform 6 SP1 Transform component does support Az/El to RA/Dec conversion. This is documented in the Developer help installed with the SP1 developer components. http://www.ascom-standards.org/Downloads/PlatDevComponents.htm

I'm afraid I don't have enough math to answer your second question

Regards, Peter

--- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "chrisdimpfl" <chris.dimpfl@...> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> Two questions:
>
> 1. Does ASCOM.Astronomy (or other included library) include utilities for transforming Az/El to RA/Dec? I've been using the ASCOM.Astronomy.Transform class to transform RA/Dec to Az/El, but I'd like to use ASCOM-blessed code for the other direction as well if possible.
>
> 2. Does ASCOM provide a way of finding the movement vector of objects for tracking, or some literature on preferred implementation for tracking? My first inclination is to generate a vector that an object is moving along and track along that vector (updating periodically), but I suspect there's a much more elegant method that I should be taking advantage of.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>

Reply | Messages in this Topic (2)

#27337

From: "Tim Long" <Tim@...>
Date: Sun Apr 29, 2012 2:10 am
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

t_p_long

http://www.hristopavlov.net/ASCOM/index.htm

Ah now that’s interesting. On the first computer I used, the page background came out the exact same colour as the hyperlink, which is why I didn’t see it. I saw the red text about unblocking the download and was confused by that because there was no obvious file to download. My other computer displays the page differently, with a lighter background colour, so I can see the link.

Regards,

Tim Long

From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Hristo Pavlov
Sent: 28 April 2012 00:02
To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

Hi Tim,

Try the link at the top of the page. It contains a zip file with both the generated CHM file and the interface defined in a C# file.

Regards,

Hristo Pavlov

Sydney, Australia

From: Tim Long <Tim@...>
To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2012 9:30 PM
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

Hristo,

Once you publish your actual interface proposal, I’ll give more feedback.

--Tim Long

Hi All,

Please find below my initial draft for a new ASCOM interface for controlling video cameras:

Your comments are highly appreciated!

Regards,

Hristo Pavlov

Sydney, Australia

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#27338

From: "Joe" <joe.spracklen@...>
Date: Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:23 pm
Subject: Problems with ASCOM SP1 install.

joe.spracklen

Sorry for starting another topic like this, I've looked at the other recent
similar threads and my issue seems to be different.  I'm upgrading from ASCOM 5
and during the installation everything seems to be going well until the finalize
stage, where errors start flying.  I get a "CLR Error: 80004005, the program
will now terminate" and a notice that "GACInstall has stopped working."  Each of
these alerts pop up at least 5 times.  I've checked to make sure I have .NET
framework v3.5 installed and running.  Any idea what these errors mean and what
the fix might be?  Thanks for your help!

-Spracks

#27339

From: "Mike" <mikerushford@...>
Date: Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:36 pm
Subject: RA and DEC of SUN using NOVAS

mikerushford

Using the
ASCOM Developer Help CODE Example for NOVACOM

I altered these two line

NCPlanet.Name = "Sun" 'Initialise Planet object as Sun
NCPlanet.Number = 10

as I want to get the RA and DEC of the sun.

is this the correct way to get the RA and DEC of the sun from a script?

Thanks

Mike Rushford

#27340

From: "Chris" <chris_group_mail@...>
Date: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:08 pm
Subject: Re: RA and DEC of SUN using NOVAS

scope_sapiens

I'm not sure that's the right way to specify the Sun, it isn't planet 10 and
from what I can see the name isn't used.

One possible way would be the get the heliocentric position of the Earth (from
the Sun) and take the opposite direction as the position of the Sun from the
Earth.
This code at least returns 2 numbers, If you subtract 12 hrs from the RA and
negate the dec they seem about right.

set Utl = CreateObject("ASCOM.Utilities.Util")
'Get current Julian date
JD = Utl.JulianDate
set NCEarth = CreateObject("ASCOM.Astrometry.NOVASCOM.Earth")
NCEarth.SetForTime JD
set HP = NCEarth.HeliocentricPosition
Msgbox "Ra " & HP.RightAscension & ", Dec " & HP.Declination

Chris

--- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Mike" <mikerushford@...> wrote:
>
> Using the
> ASCOM Developer Help CODE Example for NOVACOM
>
> I altered these two line
>
> NCPlanet.Name = "Sun" 'Initialise Planet object as Sun
> NCPlanet.Number = 10
>
> as I want to get the RA and DEC of the sun.
>
> is this the correct way to get the RA and DEC of the sun from a script?
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike Rushford
>

#27341

From: "Peter Simpson" <peter@...>
Date: Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:38 pm
Subject: Re: RA and DEC of SUN using NOVAS

Hi Mike,

I've checked the code and NOVASCOM doesn't support the Sun = Planet10 convention adopted by NOVAS. Hopefully Chris's work-round works for you. I hesitate to recommend using the NOVAS routines directly because I've very recently found that in many instances they are not callable from COM, which you will need if you are using a scripting language.

If you are able to use a .NET language, the NOVAS 3.1 TopoPlanet routine can provide the sun RA and Dec if you call it using Planet number 10.

Regards, Peter

--- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Mike" <mikerushford@...> wrote:
>
> Using the
> ASCOM Developer Help CODE Example for NOVACOM
>
> I altered these two line
>
> NCPlanet.Name = "Sun" 'Initialise Planet object as Sun
> NCPlanet.Number = 10
>
> as I want to get the RA and DEC of the sun.
>
> is this the correct way to get the RA and DEC of the sun from a script?
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike Rushford
>

#27342

From: "Peter Simpson" <peter@...>
Date: Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:42 pm
Subject: Re: Problems with ASCOM SP1 install.

Hi Joe,

Some similar problems in the past have been traced to corrupted installations of the .NET framework. It might be worth uninstalling then reinstalling the .NET framework as well as making sure that you have relevant updates installed from Windows Update.

When I Googled your error code, one entry suggested that having the beta version of the .NET framework installed and then upgrading to production without un-installing the beta first caused a similar error.

Regards, Peter

--- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Joe" <joe.spracklen@...> wrote:
>
> Sorry for starting another topic like this, I've looked at the other recent similar threads and my issue seems to be different. I'm upgrading from ASCOM 5 and during the installation everything seems to be going well until the finalize stage, where errors start flying. I get a "CLR Error: 80004005, the program will now terminate" and a notice that "GACInstall has stopped working." Each of these alerts pop up at least 5 times. I've checked to make sure I have .NET framework v3.5 installed and running. Any idea what these errors mean and what the fix might be? Thanks for your help!
>
> -Spracks
>

#27343

From: "Tim Long" <Tim@...>
Date: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:25 pm
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] Re: Problems with ASCOM SP1 install.

t_p_long

Rather than uninstalling and reinstalling (which can come with its own set of problems) – consider using the .NET Framework Setup Verification Tool available from http://blogs.msdn.com/b/astebner/archive/2008/10/13/8999004.aspx

The .NET Framework setup verification tool is designed to automatically perform a set of steps to verify the installation state of one or more versions of the .NET Framework on a computer. It will verify the presence of files, directories, registry keys and values for the .NET Framework. It will also verify that simple applications that use the .NET Framework can be run correctly.

Peter, if you have too much spare time on your hands (<grin>) you could consider incorporating this tool into the ASCOM setup – it boils down to a single executable and can run from the command line in silent mode (this is documented in the blog post) and will return a simple exit code that tells you whether the installation is good.

Regards,

Tim Long

From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Peter Simpson
Sent: 30 April 2012 22:43
To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ASCOM] Re: Problems with ASCOM SP1 install.

Hi Joe,

Regards, Peter

--- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Joe" <joe.spracklen@...> wrote:
>
> Sorry for starting another topic like this, I've looked at the other recent similar threads and my issue seems to be different. I'm upgrading from ASCOM 5 and during the installation everything seems to be going well until the finalize stage, where errors start flying. I get a "CLR Error: 80004005, the program will n! ow terminate" and a notice that "GACInstall has stopped working." Each of these alerts pop up at least 5 times. I've checked to make sure I have .NET framework v3.5 installed and running. Any idea what these errors mean and what the fix might be? Thanks for your help!
>
> -Spracks
>

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#27344

From: Bob Denny <rdenny@...>
Date: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:37 pm
Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

dc3dreamer

Was this Windows 8 Metro? <joking here>

   -- Bob


On Apr 28, 2012, at 19:10, "Tim Long" <Tim@...> wrote:

> Ah now that’s interesting. On the first computer I used, the page background
came out the exact same colour as the hyperlink

#27345

From: "Tim Long" <Tim@...>
Date: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:49 pm
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

t_p_long

Hehe, that's actually quite funny Bob (I think you were referring to Visual
Studio 11, which has been lambasted for its monochrome colour scheme).

Regards,
Tim Long

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-
> Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bob Denny
> Sent: 01 May 2012 00:38
> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments
>
> Was this Windows 8 Metro? <joking here>
>
>   -- Bob
>
>
> On Apr 28, 2012, at 19:10, "Tim Long" <Tim@...> wrote:
>
> > Ah now that’s interesting. On the first computer I used, the page
> background came out the exact same colour as the hyperlink
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/.
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU
> USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
> ASCOM-Talk-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

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#27346

From: Bob Denny <rdenny@...>
Date: Tue May 1, 2012 12:14 am
Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

dc3dreamer

I was referring to Metro in general since your problem was color flattening. How
to throw away years of user interaction research and development and dumb
yourself down to be like a phone.

http://solo.dc3.com/forumimg/w8aol.jpg

   -- Bob


On Apr 30, 2012, at 16:49, "Tim Long" <Tim@...> wrote:

> Hehe, that's actually quite funny Bob (I think you were referring to Visual
Studio 11, which has been lambasted for its monochrome colour scheme).
>
> Regards,
> Tim Long
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-
>> Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bob Denny
>> Sent: 01 May 2012 00:38
>> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
>> Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments
>>
>> Was this Windows 8 Metro? <joking here>
>>
>>  -- Bob
>>
>>
>> On Apr 28, 2012, at 19:10, "Tim Long" <Tim@...> wrote:
>>
>>> Ah now that’s interesting. On the first computer I used, the page
>> background came out the exact same colour as the hyperlink
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/.
>>
>> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU
>> USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
>> ASCOM-Talk-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
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>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/.
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU USED TO
SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
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>
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>
>
>

#27347

From: "Tim Long" <Tim@...>
Date: Tue May 1, 2012 4:26 am
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

t_p_long

I think you’re baiting me now ;-) but Windows 8 still has the regular desktop
in addition to the metro style touch interface. You need that for tablets, and
there will be lots of tablets.

Regards,
Tim Long


> -----Original Message-----
> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-
> Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bob Denny
> Sent: 01 May 2012 01:15
> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments
>
> I was referring to Metro in general since your problem was color flattening.
> How to throw away years of user interaction research and development and
> dumb yourself down to be like a phone.
>
> http://solo.dc3.com/forumimg/w8aol.jpg
>
>   -- Bob
>
>
> On Apr 30, 2012, at 16:49, "Tim Long" <Tim@...> wrote:
>
> > Hehe, that's actually quite funny Bob (I think you were referring to Visual
> Studio 11, which has been lambasted for its monochrome colour scheme).
> >
> > Regards,
> > Tim Long
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-
> Talk@yahoogroups.com]
> >> On Behalf Of Bob Denny
> >> Sent: 01 May 2012 00:38
> >> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> >> Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for
> >> Comments
> >>
> >> Was this Windows 8 Metro? <joking here>
> >>
> >>  -- Bob
> >>
> >>
> >> On Apr 28, 2012, at 19:10, "Tim Long" <Tim@...> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Ah now that’s interesting. On the first computer I used, the page
> >> background came out the exact same colour as the hyperlink
> >>
> >>
> >> ------------------------------------
> >>
> >> For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/.
> >>
> >> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU
> >> USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
> >> ASCOM-Talk-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >>
> >> Yahoo! Groups Links
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
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> >
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>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
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>
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#27349

From: "Ray Gralak" <groups1@...>
Date: Tue May 1, 2012 12:31 pm
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

raygralak

> I think you’re baiting me now ;-) but Windows 8 still has the regular
desktop in addition to the metro style touch
> interface. You need that for tablets, and there will be lots of tablets.

Yes, but they'll probably be largely Apple tablets. Maybe I'll think differently
after trying Windows 8 but something seems wrong about the Metro UI. I think
they should have continued evolving the desktop UI and also made a separate,
lighter weight version of Windows for tablets. Microsoft seems to be going
backwards instead of forwards in regards to UI design. To me, the Metro
interface is reminiscent of the Ribbon interface that people love to hate. I
guess in a few years we'll see if this is true or not.

-Ray Gralak
Author of Astro-Physics Command Center (APCC)
Author of PEMPro:  http://www.ccdware.com
Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver: http://www.gralak.com/apdriver
Author of PulseGuide: http://www.pulseguide.com
Author of Sigma: http://www.gralak.com/sigma


> -----Original Message-----
> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Tim Long
> Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 9:27 PM
> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments
>
>
>
> I think you’re baiting me now ;-) but Windows 8 still has the regular
desktop in addition to the metro style touch
> interface. You need that for tablets, and there will be lots of tablets.
>
> Regards,
> Tim Long
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:ASCOM-Talk%40yahoogroups.com> 
[mailto:ASCOM-
> > Talk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:Talk%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of Bob
Denny
> > Sent: 01 May 2012 01:15
> > To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:ASCOM-Talk%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments
> >
> > I was referring to Metro in general since your problem was color flattening.
> > How to throw away years of user interaction research and development and
> > dumb yourself down to be like a phone.
> >
> > http://solo.dc3.com/forumimg/w8aol.jpg
> >
> > -- Bob
> >
> >
> > On Apr 30, 2012, at 16:49, "Tim Long" <Tim@...
<mailto:Tim%40tigranetworks.co.uk> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hehe, that's actually quite funny Bob (I think you were referring to
Visual
> > Studio 11, which has been lambasted for its monochrome colour scheme).
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Tim Long
> > >
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:ASCOM-Talk%40yahoogroups.com> 
[mailto:ASCOM-
> > Talk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:Talk%40yahoogroups.com> ]
> > >> On Behalf Of Bob Denny
> > >> Sent: 01 May 2012 00:38
> > >> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:ASCOM-Talk%40yahoogroups.com>
> > >> Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for
> > >> Comments
> > >>
> > >> Was this Windows 8 Metro? <joking here>
> > >>
> > >> -- Bob
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Apr 28, 2012, at 19:10, "Tim Long" <Tim@...
<mailto:Tim%40tigranetworks.co.uk> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Ah now that’s interesting. On the first computer I used, the page
> > >> background came out the exact same colour as the hyperlink
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> ------------------------------------
> > >>
> > >> For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/.
> > >>
> > >> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU
> > >> USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
> > >> ASCOM-Talk-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:ASCOM-Talk-unsubscribe%40yahoogroups.com>
> > >>
> > >> Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > > --
> > > ExchangeDefender Message Security: Click below to verify authenticity
> > >
> > http://www.exchangedefender.com/verify.asp?id=q3UNoA73020504&from
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> > > solution available from http://www.tigranetworks.co.uk
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> > > For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/.
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU
> > USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
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> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
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> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU
> > USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
> > ASCOM-Talk-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
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> >
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> >
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>
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>
>

#27350

From: "bretm151" <bretm@...>
Date: Tue May 1, 2012 1:01 pm
Subject: Re: Where to put new API proposal?

bretm151

Hristo:

Very ice job putting the proposal together. A couple thoughts in response to
some of your questions:

1.  I wouldn't think so. If it is version 1, it should return a 1 but it doesn't
really matter - it isn't like you are going to run out of version numbers.

2. I would add them.  All the other drivers have them, and it is very for each
to return a not implemented exception if the current camera can make use of
them, but does allow the flexibility to use them if a need arises without having
to update the interface. Their purpose is to let an application ask the device
to do things that by definition are outside the boundaries of the ASCOM spec. 
(call it futureproofing)

7. The sub frame and binning elements might be useful if there is (ever) a
camera that supports them.  Leaving them in, and setting MaxBinX and MaxBinY to
1 seems pretty cheap compared to wishing the interface supported sub frames or
binning at some point in the future (see note at end)  Also, it seems like the
temperature related functions might be useful.

10. I would leave them (see below)

I appreciate your desire to simply the interface as much as possible, but I
would recommend not cutting quite as much as you have.  Many of the functions
that you are excluding might be useful for a different kind of "video" camera.

For instance, one interesting possibility opened up by your proposal is that a
person could write a video driver for a ccd camera if they wanted.  For example,
Metaguide only works with video cameras, and I have Lodestar (a still CCD
camera) that I guide with. At some date in the future, after your standard is in
place and supported by Metaguide, I could write a video driver for the Lodestar
(it will do something like 7 fps full frame and much higher binned) where many
of the functions you proposed cutting would be potentially useful.


Bret

#27351

From: "Mike" <mikerushford@...>
Date: Wed May 2, 2012 3:28 am
Subject: Re: RA and DEC of SUN using NOVAS

mikerushford

Chris and others who helped

I found another older post that calculated the RA and DEC of the sun. The
translation to python is placed in the files folder <mikerushford EOTS> as file
"sun RA and Dec.pdf". In that file you see the RA and DEC I see in Spyder, POTH,
SiTech and SkyChart. Notice the RA and DEC from the Spyder python code printed
to the right side box is not exactly the same as that in SkyChart, the graphic
shows the offset. I think the error was less this morning rather than at the end
of the day, might this be due to my location from the center of the earth?

Thanks for your help.

I also added a file called "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT ASCOM.py" containing all the
wincom32 classes I found in registry under ASCOM. Just part of my learning
procedure other might find useful.

Mike Rushford

--- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <chris_group_mail@...> wrote:
>
> I'm not sure that's the right way to specify the Sun, it isn't planet 10 and
from what I can see the name isn't used.
>
> One possible way would be the get the heliocentric position of the Earth (from
the Sun) and take the opposite direction as the position of the Sun from the
Earth.
> This code at least returns 2 numbers, If you subtract 12 hrs from the RA and
negate the dec they seem about right.
>
> set Utl = CreateObject("ASCOM.Utilities.Util")
> 'Get current Julian date
> JD = Utl.JulianDate
> set NCEarth = CreateObject("ASCOM.Astrometry.NOVASCOM.Earth")
> NCEarth.SetForTime JD
> set HP = NCEarth.HeliocentricPosition
> Msgbox "Ra " & HP.RightAscension & ", Dec " & HP.Declination
>
> Chris
>
>
> --- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "Mike" <mikerushford@> wrote:
> >
> > Using the
> > ASCOM Developer Help CODE Example for NOVACOM
> >
> > I altered these two line
> >
> > NCPlanet.Name = "Sun" 'Initialise Planet object as Sun
> > NCPlanet.Number = 10
> >
> > as I want to get the RA and DEC of the sun.
> >
> > is this the correct way to get the RA and DEC of the sun from a script?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Mike Rushford
> >
>

#27352

From: "peschman2001" <eschman@...>
Date: Wed May 2, 2012 3:01 pm
Subject: Platform 6 SP1, bug in Inno template generator

peschman2001

I just found a bug in the Inno template generator included with Platform 6 SP1.
The template generates this line:
if (U.IsMinimumRequiredVersion(6.0)) then // this will work in all locales

where the decimal must be changed to comma, as in:
  if (U.IsMinimumRequiredVersion(6,0)) then // this will work in all locales

Otherwise, Platform 6 is not detected properly.  I ran the template generator
using Platform 6 SP1 Developer Tools "Driver Install Script Generator"

Thanks,
Peter E.
ServoCAT driver

#27353

From: "Chris" <chris_group_mail@...>
Date: Wed May 2, 2012 3:48 pm
Subject: Re: Platform 6 SP1, bug in Inno template generator

scope_sapiens

Thanks for pointing this out Peter,

I noticed this a few weeks ago and it's fixed in the sources but there hasn't
been a new build of the platform released yet.

Chris

--- In ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, "peschman2001" <eschman@...> wrote:
>
> I just found a bug in the Inno template generator included with Platform 6
SP1.
> The template generates this line:
> if (U.IsMinimumRequiredVersion(6.0)) then // this will work in all locales
>
> where the decimal must be changed to comma, as in:
>  if (U.IsMinimumRequiredVersion(6,0)) then // this will work in all locales
>
> Otherwise, Platform 6 is not detected properly.  I ran the template generator
> using Platform 6 SP1 Developer Tools "Driver Install Script Generator"
>
> Thanks,
> Peter E.
> ServoCAT driver
>

#27354

From: "Tim Long" <Tim@...>
Date: Wed May 2, 2012 8:57 pm
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

t_p_long

Ray, I tend to agree. I think MS is making a lot of mistakes at the moment.
Cutting its partners out of the loop in the "cloud rush"; trying to look like
too much like Apple; I could write a long list. I actually quite like the ribbon
though ;-) It's part of Microsoft's corporate vision to continually reinvent
itself, they are going to do these things whatever you or I think of it. I'm
used to it now, it's just life with Windows, so I just try to focus on the
positives (there _are_ a lot of positives).

We should probably take this off list now... ;-)

Regards,
Tim Long


> -----Original Message-----
> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-
> Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ray Gralak
> Sent: 01 May 2012 13:32
> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments
>
> > I think you’re baiting me now ;-) but Windows 8 still has the regular
> > desktop in addition to the metro style touch interface. You need that for
> tablets, and there will be lots of tablets.
>
> Yes, but they'll probably be largely Apple tablets. Maybe I'll think
differently
> after trying Windows 8 but something seems wrong about the Metro UI. I
> think they should have continued evolving the desktop UI and also made a
> separate, lighter weight version of Windows for tablets. Microsoft seems to
> be going backwards instead of forwards in regards to UI design. To me, the
> Metro interface is reminiscent of the Ribbon interface that people love to
> hate. I guess in a few years we'll see if this is true or not.
>
> -Ray Gralak
> Author of Astro-Physics Command Center (APCC) Author of PEMPro:
> http://www.ccdware.com Author of Astro-Physics V2 ASCOM Driver:
> http://www.gralak.com/apdriver Author of PulseGuide:
> http://www.pulseguide.com Author of Sigma:
> http://www.gralak.com/sigma
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-
> Talk@yahoogroups.com]
> > On Behalf Of Tim Long
> > Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 9:27 PM
> > To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for
> > Comments
> >
> >
> >
> > I think you’re baiting me now ;-) but Windows 8 still has the regular
> > desktop in addition to the metro style touch interface. You need that for
> tablets, and there will be lots of tablets.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Tim Long
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > > <mailto:ASCOM-Talk%40yahoogroups.com>  [mailto:ASCOM-
> > > Talk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:Talk%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf
> Of
> > > Bob Denny
> > > Sent: 01 May 2012 01:15
> > > To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:ASCOM-
> Talk%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for
> > > Comments
> > >
> > > I was referring to Metro in general since your problem was color
> flattening.
> > > How to throw away years of user interaction research and development
> > > and dumb yourself down to be like a phone.
> > >
> > > http://solo.dc3.com/forumimg/w8aol.jpg
> > >
> > > -- Bob
> > >
> > >
> > > On Apr 30, 2012, at 16:49, "Tim Long" <Tim@...
> <mailto:Tim%40tigranetworks.co.uk> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hehe, that's actually quite funny Bob (I think you were referring
> > > > to Visual
> > > Studio 11, which has been lambasted for its monochrome colour
> scheme).
> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > > Tim Long
> > > >
> > > >> -----Original Message-----
> > > >> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > > >> <mailto:ASCOM-Talk%40yahoogroups.com>  [mailto:ASCOM-
> > > Talk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:Talk%40yahoogroups.com> ]
> > > >> On Behalf Of Bob Denny
> > > >> Sent: 01 May 2012 00:38
> > > >> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > > >> <mailto:ASCOM-Talk%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > >> Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for
> > > >> Comments
> > > >>
> > > >> Was this Windows 8 Metro? <joking here>
> > > >>
> > > >> -- Bob
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> On Apr 28, 2012, at 19:10, "Tim Long" <Tim@...
> <mailto:Tim%40tigranetworks.co.uk> > wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>> Ah now that’s interesting. On the first computer I used, the
> > > >>> page
> > > >> background came out the exact same colour as the hyperlink
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> ------------------------------------
> > > >>
> > > >> For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/.
> > > >>
> > > >> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT
> > > >> YOU USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
> > > >> ASCOM-Talk-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > >> <mailto:ASCOM-Talk-unsubscribe%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > >>
> > > >> Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > > --
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> > > >
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> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------
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> > > > For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/.
> > > >
> > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT
> YOU
> > > USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
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> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > > For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/.
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU
> > > USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
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>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU
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#27355

From: Mike C <mike@...>
Date: Wed May 2, 2012 10:01 pm
Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

tmb_mike

> Yes, but they'll probably be largely Apple tablets.

For a couple years? Statistically long run I would think they will largely be Android tablets.

#27356

From: "Tim Long" <Tim@...>
Date: Wed May 2, 2012 10:10 pm
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] Re: Where to put new API proposal?

t_p_long

I rather like the simplicity, I think it is a solid virtue. My instinct is always to simplify and not include stuff "just in case". The usual counter argument is that we should try to put as much as possible in the interface now to avoid having to change it in the future – it’s a seductive argument that provides an easy glide slope to creeping featurism. There will always be need to change based on experience, I very much doubt whether the interface will stop at “V1.0” and a bloated interface up front is more harmful in the long run. Once something is added, its baggage that has to be carried forever. I urge liberal application of the YAGNI (You Ain't Gonna Need It) principle. This means, in essence, "Always implement things when you actually need them, never when you just foresee that you need them." The Wikipedia article is _very_ short, and I hope people will weigh up the points it makes carefully before giving in to the temptation to make additions.

Regarding the Command*** methods, I would have thought they could be safely omitted in favour of the newer SupportedActions/Action methods. These are less tied to the assumption of a serial link and don’t require the application to have any knowledge of the device’s communications protocol. In fact, the Action/SupportedActions methods provide enough flexibility that there is really no need to add anything “just in case” – it can always be added to a driver as a ‘supported action’. Indeed, one of the ideas behind that pair of methods was to enable extensions to the interface without the need to change the interface itself, providing a proving ground for new facilities prior to inclusion in a later interface version.

Regards,

Tim Long

> -----Original Message-----

> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-

> Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of bretm151

> Sent: 01 May 2012 14:01

> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com

> Subject: [ASCOM] Re: Where to put new API proposal?

> Hristo:

> Very ice job putting the proposal together. A couple thoughts in response to

> some of your questions:

> 1. I wouldn't think so. If it is version 1, it should return a 1 but it doesn't

> really matter - it isn't like you are going to run out of version numbers.

> 2. I would add them. All the other drivers have them, and it is very for each

> to return a not implemented exception if the current camera can make use

> of them, but does allow the flexibility to use them if a need arises without

> having to update the interface. Their purpose is to let an application ask the

> device to do things that by definition are outside the boundaries of the

> ASCOM spec. (call it futureproofing)

> 7. The sub frame and binning elements might be useful if there is (ever) a

> camera that supports them. Leaving them in, and setting MaxBinX and

> MaxBinY to 1 seems pretty cheap compared to wishing the interface

> supported sub frames or binning at some point in the future (see note at end)

> Also, it seems like the temperature related functions might be useful.

> 10. I would leave them (see below)

> I appreciate your desire to simply the interface as much as possible, but I

> would recommend not cutting quite as much as you have. Many of the

> functions that you are excluding might be useful for a different kind of

> "video" camera.

> For instance, one interesting possibility opened up by your proposal is that a

> person could write a video driver for a ccd camera if they wanted. For

> example, Metaguide only works with video cameras, and I have Lodestar (a

> still CCD camera) that I guide with. At some date in the future, after your

> standard is in place and supported by Metaguide, I could write a video driver

> for the Lodestar (it will do something like 7 fps full frame and much higher

> binned) where many of the functions you proposed cutting would be

> potentially useful.

> Bret

> ------------------------------------

> For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/.

> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU

> USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:

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#27357

From: "Tim Long" <Tim@...>
Date: Wed May 2, 2012 10:18 pm
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] Platform 6 SP1, bug in Inno template generator

t_p_long

Ah the irony! That method (IsMinimumRequiredVersion) was added to
prevent people having problems with language-sensitive decimal points
;-)

Regards,
Tim Long


> -----Original Message-----
> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-
> Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of peschman2001
> Sent: 02 May 2012 16:02
> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [ASCOM] Platform 6 SP1, bug in Inno template generator
>
> I just found a bug in the Inno template generator included with
Platform 6
> SP1.
> The template generates this line:
> if (U.IsMinimumRequiredVersion(6.0)) then // this will work in all
locales
>
> where the decimal must be changed to comma, as in:
>  if (U.IsMinimumRequiredVersion(6,0)) then // this will work in all
locales
>
> Otherwise, Platform 6 is not detected properly.  I ran the template
generator
> using Platform 6 SP1 Developer Tools "Driver Install Script Generator"
>
> Thanks,
> Peter E.
> ServoCAT driver
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> For more information see http://ASCOM-Standards.org/.
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email FROM THE ACCOUNT YOU
> USED TO SUBSCRIBE(!) to:
> ASCOM-Talk-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

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#27358

From: "Tim Long" <Tim@...>
Date: Wed May 2, 2012 10:21 pm
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

t_p_long

Yeah, especially now it’s been ported to C# ;-) Seriously!

http://blog.xamarin.com/2012/05/01/android-in-c-sharp/

Regards,

Tim Long

From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mike C
Sent: 02 May 2012 23:01
To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

> Yes, but they'll probably be largely Apple tablets.

For a couple years? Statistically long run I would think they will largely be Android tablets.

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#27359

From: Hristo Pavlov <hristo_dpavlov@...>
Date: Thu May 3, 2012 1:22 am
Subject: Re: [ASCOM] Re: Where to put new API proposal?

hristo_dpavlov

Software engineering methodologies and best practices have changed a number of times in the part 15 years. We hope that this is for good but I am sure there will be people that will disagree.

Getting into an argument of what is better - fewer members for simplicity or more members to allow for future uses is a difficult one without a context. And to be able to get a context one needs to think about the qualities we are after. After all we want to build something good but the question is what will make it good?

There are couple of things to my mind that will make the interface good. First of all a good interface is one that is being used. So the number one thing is for the interface to fit its designed purpose and be easy to implement and use in the scenarious where video is needed. And we really have to think about this in the context of separation of functionality and responsibility of the various interfaces and devices. For example it is not impossible to make a video camera to behave like a CCD and a CCD to behave like a video camera, but this doesn't mean that we should create ICameraV3 and add a bunch of methods that will make it possible a CCD camera to do video. The same way we should refrain from adding a bunch of methods in the IVideoCamera interface that will make it work as a CCD. The sole reason of creating a new IViewCamera interace rather than extending the ICameraV2 is to avoid complexity. Because complexity creates problems, requires us to think a lot more on the problems, which means we need to spend more time working on a given project (i.e. implement a CCD or Video caemra driver or software) and as an end result we have achieved less or wasted time or both. These are NOT things I consider good so we should try to aviod them by avoiding complexity and keeping things simple.

Things like extensibility and maintanability are also important. And as Tim said we have the SupportedActions/Action combination that gives as great extensibility to add those super specific and super cool features that only one or two video camera support. More importantly keeping less members in the interface makes it also easier to maintain as we are less tied to backwards compatibility of features that very few cameras need. So by having a simple interafce, by cutting what is not needed for our usecases, we actually
improve the maintanability.

I am sure that in the next 15 years people will surely want to use video cameras for other things or in other ways. And if we keep thinking about what could come up in future we will never finish our project - creating the interafce. So I am certainly in favour of agreeing on a simple interface sonner, see what people want to do with it and then eventually extend it. And again the best way to do this is to provide a very simple interface with generic extensibility via SupportedACtions/Action and consider adding commonly used Actions into the main interface in its future versions.

Having said all that I do acknowledge that this discussion may have a certain amount of religion into it and I hope that I managed to explain my position without looking like a preacher or looking like defending myself.

I also want to add a few things about binning and temperature. In fact the PointGrey video cameras do support both of those things. However from what I have seen video to be used for those features are not useful. Of course what limits my vew is the number of very limited applications of video cameras in astronomy that I know about - timing events such as occultations. So may be a better question for discussion will be:

What have you used a video camera in Astronomy for or what have you heard of people using a video camera in Astronomy for and does the current IVideoCamera interface fits into this?

Lastly one type of cameras that I haven't considered at all are web cameras. Some time ago they were popular for doing planetary imaging. If there is anyone here that has experience with web cameras I would love to hear their comments about the IVideoCamera interface.

Kind Regards,
Hristo Pavlov
Sydney, Australia

From: Tim Long <Tim@...>
To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2012 8:10 AM
Subject: RE: [ASCOM] Re: Where to put new API proposal?

&n bsp;

Regards,

Tim Long

> -----Original Message-----

> From: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ASCOM-

> Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of bretm151

> Sent: 01 May 2012 14:01

> To: ASCOM-Talk@yahoogroups.com

> Subject: [ASCOM] Re: Where to put new API proposal?

> Hristo:

> Very ice job putting the proposal together. A couple thoughts in response to

> some of your questions:

> 1. I wouldn't think so. If it is version 1, it should return a 1 but it doesn't

> really matter - it isn't like you are going to run out of version numbers.

> 2. I would add them. All the other drivers have them, and it is very for each

> to return a not implemented exception if the current camera can make use

> of them, but does allow the flexibility to use them if a need arises without

> having to update the interface. Their purpose is to let an application ask the

> device to do things that by definition are outside the boundaries of the

> ASCOM spec. (call it futureproofing)

> 7. The sub frame and binning elements might be useful if there is (ever) a

> camera that supports them. Leaving them in, and setting MaxBinX and

> MaxBinY to 1 seems pretty cheap compared to wishing the interface

> supported sub frames or binning at some point in the future (see note at end)

> Also, it seems like the temperature related functions might be useful.

> 10. I would leave them (see below)

> I appreciate your desire to simply the interface as much as possible, but I

> would recommend not cutting quite as much as you have. Many of the

> functions that you are excluding might be useful for a different kind of

> "video" camera.

> For instance, one interesting possibility opened up by your proposal is that a

> person could write a video driver for a ccd camera if they wanted. For

> example, Metaguide only works with video cameras, and I have Lodestar (a

> still CCD camera) that I guide with. At some date in the future, after your

> standard is in place and supported by Metaguide, I could write a video driver

> for the Lodestar (it will do something like 7 fps full frame and much higher

> binned) where many of the functions you proposed cutting would be

> potentially useful.

> Bret

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#27360

From: Bob Denny <rdenny@...>
Date: Thu May 3, 2012 1:26 am
Subject: Re: [ASCOM] New IVideoCamera (Draft V1) - Request for Comments

dc3dreamer

I read this article and it's reeeeally impressive. I used Mono on a cross-platform set of VOEvent tools which I call Dakota. It was a joy to work with, even on the slightly shaky MonoDevelop IDE on Mac OSX. In the end, I was able to build to both Windows and Mono targets in VS2008 with a very light sprinkling of conditionals for environmental differences. Dakota runs on Win, Mac, and Linux (well, a few of the 'distros' I tested, who knows about the other hundred+).

http://voevent.dc3.com/

Used to transport/relay messages about transient astronomical events.

-- Bob

On May 2, 2012, at 15:21, "Tim Long" <Tim@...> wrote:

Yeah, especially now [Android has] been ported to C# ;-) Seriously!
http://blog.xamarin.com/2012/05/01/android-in-c-sharp/