How to create an Alignment Stars
SDB (LX-200 alignment star example)
Background
First you must supply an ASCII
text file that contains the data in column form. If the data contains field
delimiters other than spaces (i.e. tabs, semi colons, commas, or otherwise) the data must be
converted into even spaced columns first. This can be done by many programs like
Microsoft Access or Excel.
Here we are using the Meade
Alignment Stars text file as supplied with TheSky and located in the default SDBs
folder.
Note each "record" contains a cross
reference to the known star (ALIAS field), the stellar coordinates, and the assigned Meade alignment
number. See below showing the first 5 records.
1 SAO147420 0.72648056 -17.98638889 Meade #8
2 SAO232481 1.62857222 -57.23697222 Meade #13
3 SAO75151 2.11953611 23.46222222 Meade #17
4 SAO308 2.53069167 89.26436111 Meade #19
5 GSC4693:1144 2.32240833 -2.97750000 Meade #20
....................... and so on.
Only the first 5 records shown.
Compiling this
text data into an SDB
file is quite trivial, especially in this example. You need only to specify what columns hold what data.
This is about a 5 minute procedure and applies to most text files with only
basic information supplied like this example. Basically coordinates, cross
reference field and a star or object name.
Using
TheSky's Data | Import first "Browse"
the text file with the alignment stars by name. In this example the folder for
the SDB files is "D:\TheSky6\User\SDBs\ and the text file is named
"Meade
Alignment Stars.txt". See below demonstrating this.
In order to compile the text into and SDB file you must simply define the columns
that hold the data. The Import dialog makes this quite simple. Press the "Define Fields" button
highlighted above on the Import dialog. There are actually two ways to assign
the fields. If you know the column numbers
for each field just enter the columns in the Columns field highlighted. Often
the field definition can be found in a "header" supplied with the text file, but
not always!
For the first field in our example the "ALIAS" field (cross referenced stars) is
found in columns 19-35. This ALIAS field is not required but allows the data
from the other catalogs to be displayed for the object. If the cross reference
field exists use it this will come in handy!
Typing in the columns for a
field
Assign each field manually
Or
even easier just hold the Left Mouse
button down
then drag the columns
then press the field by name - ALIAS here
Ok next field - drag the columns 37-47 (or
type in Columns)
the press RA Hours to assign Right Ascension
Same for the declination
columns 49-60
Highlight then press Dec Degs (or manually type in 49-60)
Almost done.
Since our SDB is going to be of
object type "Label" the Meade Alignment numbers in columns 63-72 are going to be
assigned the "Label" field. This allows searching the SDB as well as on screen
labeling.
Lastly assign the "Label" field
Drag columns 63-72 (or manually enter them) and
press Label
And this is it in a nutshell. When
you compile the text now into and SDB file you will see the Meade Alignment
stars labeled on TheSky display. See below.
Just press compile now!
Note number of records indicated here
Objects in file = 33
Edit | Find then Expand
Meade Alignment Star under (SDBs)
By checking both Frame Object and
Object Information when you are scrolling down the list of Alignment stars each
one is nicely framed and identified for you.
Frame Object and Object
Information checked
Find the entry you want or enter Meade Alignment #121
Make sure that Star Labels are set
to visible. The data has been compiled as object type "Star".
View | Label Setup
Enable Stellar labeling here
Now as long as the SDB file is an
active SDB loaded in memory the Meade Alignment stars are identified.
When you have taken the time to
specify what columns contain what data it is best to add a header to the text
file that defines the fields automatically. This is not required but doing so
may save extra work later. This is quite easy to do since you have already done
the work!
Shift key + Left Mouse Click
the field Alias
Note the fields assigned are highlighted
and displayed in the Columns field!
Now the columns for the ALIAS
field 19-35 can be added
to the header information as shown. The > character is required.
;Copyright, TheSky
>LABEL 63,72
>ALIAS 19,35 <------Alias columns defined here, 19-35
>SEARCH 63,72
>RAHOURS 37,47
>DECDEGREES 49,60
>CATALOG CLASS=LABELS
>LOADMEMORY <--------Add Load Memory so stars show at all zoom levels
>IDENTIFIER Meade Alignment Star <----SDB name that shows on the list
>OBJECT TYPE 0 <----Object Type "0" stars
Note the other field definitions
here too. Again, just use the SHIFT+Left Mouse Click on any field name and the
defined columns are highlighted and then listed in the Columns field. These are
then the fields to assign in the header.
Once a "HEADER" is part of the
text file you can always just Data | Import then Compile the data. The final
look is as follows below and again I ALWAYS recommend creating the header which
defines the fields in the text for convenience!
;Copyright, TheSky
>LABEL 63,72
>ALIAS 19,35
>SEARCH 63,72
>RAHOURS 37,47
>DECDEGREES 49,60
>CATALOG CLASS=LABELS
>LOADMEMORY
>IDENTIFIER Meade Alignment Star
>OBJECT TYPE 0
1 SAO147420 0.72648056
-17.98638889 Meade #8
2 SAO232481 1.62857222 -57.23697222 Meade #13
3 SAO75151 2.11953611 23.46222222 Meade #17
4 SAO308 2.53069167 89.26436111 Meade #19
5 GSC4693:1144 2.32240833 -2.97750000 Meade #20
....................... and so on.
NOTE: Often times it is
easiest just to spike the above header from the original text file or grab it
here then add it to a NEW dataset making the changes to the fields as necessary.
For fields that are not "standard" you must add a new field as shown here.
In the header this is as follows.
Just use ">PARSE" followed by the field name in quotes then the columns.
>PARSE "My New Field" 1, 10
<---- This means add a new field "My New Field" to columns 1-10
Or as shown on the Define Fields
dialog. Type the new field name in here and then either mouse left drag the
columns OR type them in the Columns field either way.
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