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Constellation Abbreviations
 


Constellations adding
Abbreviations

Orion

Ori

Let's say you want to have the three letter constellation abbreviations like Ori - Orion shown in addition to the constellation names. This page shows how.

Four easy steps

  • 1) Copy the file "Constellation Labels.txt" to "Constellation Abbreviations.txt"

  • 2) Re-assign the "Label" field to columns 67-69

  • 3) Change the IDENTIFIER accordingly i.e. Constellation Abbreviations

  • 4) Press "Compile"

Yes it is that easy!

Even easier or for the faint at heart, just download the precompiled SDB and add it to your active list.
 

Because the original data in the supplied "Constellation Labels.txt" already has the abbreviations making an abbreviations labeling SDB is trivial. Just make a copy of the text file first named "Constellation Abbreviations" then change the label field, Identifier, and press compile.

Can't I just download the SDB?

If you are not interested in how the abbreviations labeling SDB was created you can simply download the pre-compiled SDB and accompanying text. Then just "add" the "Constellation Abbreviations.SDB" to your active list using TheSky's Data | Sky Database Manager.

 

Download the "ABBREVIATIONS.ZIP" file and EXTRACT the contents into the \My Documents\Software Bisque\TheSky6\SDB's folder. Then just "add" the SDB file to the active list as shown.

Adding the SDB after Extracting it

The Abbreviations will now show <-- Click Here!

Edit the Header to redefine fields

It is best to EDIT the HEADER found in the text file accordingly, that is after making a copy of the original "Constellation Labels.txt". There are only two changes needed in order to display the 3 letter abbreviations. The "Label" field is re-assigned to columns 67-69 and the IDENTIFIER is changed to "Constellation Abbreviations". That is it.
 

Here is the untouched header found in the original "Constellation Labels.txt"

>LABEL 1,30
>ALIAS 32,32
>RAHOURS 45,53
>DECDEGREES 54,64
>CATALOG CLASS = LABELS
>LOADMEMORY
>IDENTIFIER Constellation
>OBJECT TYPE 45
>PARSE "Abbreviation" 67,69 
>PARSE "Genitive Form" 72,94 
>PARSE "Description" 96,130 
>PARSE "Pronunciation" 131,165 
>PARSE "Genitive Pronunciation" 166,200

The following changes are made to the copy of the file "Constellation Abbreviations.txt" and the text is then compiled.


Changes to make are highlighted and italicized,

>LABEL 67,69 <---------------------------- Change the label field to use columns 67,69
>ALIAS 32,32
>RAHOURS 45,53
>DECDEGREES 54,64
>CATALOG CLASS = LABELS
>LOADMEMORY
>IDENTIFIER Constellation Abbreviations <-- Change the Identifier
>OBJECT TYPE 45
>PARSE "Abbreviation" 67,69 
>PARSE "Genitive Form" 72,94 
>PARSE "Description" 96,130 
>PARSE "Pronunciation" 131,165 
>PARSE "Genitive Pronunciation" 166,200 
Andromeda 1       0.540000  38.540000 (And) Andromedae Andromeda, the Princess of Ethiopia an DRAHM' ee duh an DRAHM' ee dee

After making the changes to the header FILE Save the text. Then just COMPILE the text into an SDB.

 

NOTE: The highlighted field above "(And)" is found in columns 66 through 70. So re-assigning the "Label" field to columns 67 through 69 will show just the three letter abbreviation. Ignore the parenthesis "( )" around the abbreviation.

Note Columns 67-69 ignores parenthesis

New Label field assignment

Data | Import

After creating a "COPY" of the default constellation labeling text file use Data | Import then "Browse" for the copy you made, i.e. "Constellation Abbreviations.txt" located in the \TheSky6\Data\Auxiliary Files folder. See below.

Data | Import then Browse the text file

Assuming you changed the header just Compile

Better yet provided you have changed the header in the text already you only need to press COMPILE.

Define Fields - Manually assigning the Label field

To manually assign the Label field before compiling use the Data | Import dialog and use the right/left scroll bar highlighted below to move to the right until you see columns 67-69.

Highlight columns and press field name to assign

Left Mouse button down and drag over to the right

OR

Just mouse click Columns and enter 67-69

New field assignment by pressing Label
Columns 67 through 69

HINT: To double check field assignment use the keyboard "SHIFT" key and Left Mouse button on the field name. This highlights the columns assigned to the field for a reality check.

Shift + Left Mouse Click on "Label"

Fields assigned are highlighted!

If the columns aren't correct just change them and press the Label field. Better yet EDIT the header text accordingly.

Compile - The last step

Now just re-compile for the change to take affect. Press the Compile button highlighted below.

Compile into an SDB

Done!

Add the SDB

to the list

How do I TURN OFF the abbreviations?

If you don't want the abbreviations to show rather then removing the SDB from the active list just disable it using View | Display Explorer then remove the check next to Constellation Abbreviations located under the Sky Databases (SDBs) as shown below.

View | Display Explorer

 Toggle Abbreviations on or off

Sample Screen Shot - Showing both the constellation name and abbreviation

The Little Dipper - Ursa Minor

UMi  - Abbreviation shown in addition to Ursa Major