Software Bisque Knowledge Base Article – 1246

CHANGING THESKY‘S SERIAL NUMBER

ISSUE

You may wish to change the serial number used to activate an installation of TheSky Astronomy Software, such as in the following scenarios:

• You upgraded editions from TheSky Student edition or TheSky Serious Astronomer edition, but when activating the new installation, entered the serial number of a different edition.
• You have an already-activated installation of TheSky Professional edition, and now wish to use a new serial number that activates greater functionality (for example, a Paramount Software Suite serial number, as provided with a Paramount Robotic Telescope Mount, or with TheSky Imaging edition, or TheSky Universal).

NOTE: Uninstalling and re-installing TheSky is not a solution, as this does not remove the software activation details or change the serial number.

RESOLUTION

Here are two methods to effect a serial number change for TheSky.

General Method

Advantages:

If your new serial number also provides modules (for example, the new serial number is for the Paramount Software Suite included with the purchase of a Paramount mount), those modules will automatically be activated simultaneously with TheSky.

Disadvantages:

Any customized settings to TheSky (e.g. window and toolbar positions, preferences, Sky documents, device selections, field-of-view indicators, observing lists, custom databases, TPoint data, etc.) will not be transferred.

1. If running, close TheSky.
2. Rename your current TheSky Application Support Files (ASF) folder, such as by adding the word “backup”.
3. Run TheSky and you’ll be prompted to enter your name and (new) serial number.
4. A new ASF folder will be automatically created with default settings.

Surgical Method

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

1. If running, close TheSky.
2. Within your TheSky Application Support Files (ASF) folder, rename the AppSettings.ini file to something like “AppSettings backup.ini”.
3. Open this file in a text editor, such as Notepad on Windows, or TextEdit on Mac (use TextEdit’s Format > Make Plain Text option).
4. Look for the line that begins with APP_qsTheSkyXSerialNumber= and replace the value after the equals sign (=) with your new serial number. Be careful to enter the number correctly, and keep everything else in this file unchanged.
5. Save the modified contents as a new file named AppSettings.ini (in the same ASF folder).
6. Run TheSky and verify your serial number registration information using the Help > About TheSky (Mac: TheSkyX > About TheSkyX) command.  Also, on macOS, click TheSky > Preferences, or Edit > Preferences on Windows and Linux, then click the Advanced graphic.  Verify your serial number by reviewing the Registration information at the top of the window.

APPLIES TO

• TheSky Student edition
• TheSky Serious Astronomer edition
• TheSky Professional edition
• TheSky Imaging edition

KEYWORDS

SBKB; serial number; TheSkyX Serious Astronomer Edition; TheSkyX Professional Edition

• This topic was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 2 years ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.