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 version requires a larger minimum screen size: 1280 x 720 pixels (2560 x 1440 pixels for Retina/HiDPI).
- This version might not be fully backwards-compatible with V2.3, so backup before trying it, especially the Image and Observation databases.
- As of V2.4a11, the Mac version will run natively on M1-based Macs.
- As of V2.4b6, the Mac and Windows-64 versions are compiled with "aggressive" optimisation switched on. This should make the application perform a bit faster. However it makes the code file a lot bigger, and it takes forever to compile (not your problem).
- As of V2.4b14, the minimum OS requirements for running the application are: MacOS 10.14 or later, Windows 8.1 or later. For the present, betas that run with MacOS 10.11 - 10.13, and Windows 7 SP1 - 8.0 are included below.
- Note that only the 64-bit, non-special versions of the application have been optimised for speed. However, you won't notice much of a difference in real life.
This page last modified: 2025/03/20 16:01 (Pacific time)
Download
Version | Release Date | Expiry Date |
2.4.1b3 | 2025/02/26 | 120 days from Release Date |
Macintosh
64-bit Application (.dmg) | Download | 220.3MB | 64-bit version. Intel-based Mac with MacOS 10.14 or later. Apple Silicon-based Mac with MacOS 11 or later. |
64-bit Application (.dmg) | Download | 164.3MB | Special version for MacOS 10.11 through 10.13. Intel-only. |
Windows
32-bit Application (.exe) | Download | 136MiB | 32-bit version. Installer. Windows 8.1 or later |
32-bit Application (.exe.zip) | Download | 135.6MiB | 32-bit version. Zipped installer |
64-bit Application (.exe) | Download | 132.2MiB | 64-bit version. Installer. Windows 8.1 or later |
64-bit Application (.exe.zip) | Download | 131.8MiB | 64-bit version. Zipped installer |
64-bit Application (.exe.zip) | Download | 187.8MiB | Special 64-bit version for Windows 7 SP1 through 8.0. |
32-bit Application (.exe.zip) | Download | 197MiB | Special 32-bit version for Windows 7 SP1 through 8.0. |
Both platforms
User Manual (.pdf.zip) | Download | 82.8MiB | V2.4 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: 2.4.1b4 | Release Date: Soon | Fixes: 1, Enhancements: 0 |
ID: Status: Date: |
CTRL+V opens Export Screen When using the keyboard shortcut CTRL+V to paste text into the Observation Notes under the Observations Tab, the dialog box for Export to Multiple Formats now pop up. This behavior is new with 2.4.1b3. Attachment: AP Bug.jpg Analysis: Resolution: |
Version: 2.4.1b3 | Release Date: 2025/02/26 | Fixes: 12, Enhancements: 3 |
ID: Status: Date: |
Finding the centerpoint of large extended objects When, in the FoV, trying to find the centerpoint of a large, extended object such as nebulae, open clusters, etc., in order to right click the object to display catalog data and/or its synonyms or to add it to a planfile, it can be difficult to find that centerpoint. Perhaps it would be possible to add the right-click option to an object's label, too. Analysis: Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
MainWindow.Event_CancelClosing: Nil Object Exception Exception Type: Nil Object Exception 1: Function MainWindow.Event_CancelClosing( MainWindow, boolean ) as boolean
Editing an object's R.A./Dec. in the observation database. Analysis: Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
Object Find & Replace fields not filling When trying to populate user fields in a plan file by means of "Object Find & Replace", empty fields will not populate. Analysis: Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
Selecting all sessions in obs database by means of Cmd+A In the observation database, using Cmd+A to select all session does not work. Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
FoV and objects that lack data Don't know whether to send this as a bug or as a feature request: My workflow consists of adding double stars from the WDS catalog to AstroPlanner, using that data to filter out all I need for my observations using Excel, then import single lines for each object back into a new AstroPlanner planfile. By doing so I have an observing guide (after a bunch of macros in Word), a tourfile for my Autostar controller and a nice and clean planfile for all of the doubles without any duplicates. When importing the data back into AstroPlanner, the lines contain an ID, a Name, R.A. & Declination and Type. No more, as that is all that I need for the planfile. That means all other fields are empty. The result is that these objects' labels (Name, ID) do not show in the FoV, nor is the object (the star in this case) colored to the color value set under preferences. When I add a magnitude value, they do display with the set color. Long story short: can a feature be added to make objects always display in the FoV, even when there is no further data for them in the planfile, such as a blank magnitude field? Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
Image Manager - Edit User Image Attributes I added a new User Image to an object and checked it displayed in the Object and Field of View tab. I then went into the Image Manager and edited the description of the image and pressed save. The image remained in the Object tab but failed to display in the Field of View tab. Going back into the Edit User Attributes revealed that the Image Size parameters were missing. It looks like the Image Size information is not being preserved on an edit. If I repeated the procedure, but when editing the Image description I also re-entered the Image Size info (even though the dialog was still showing the correct data) then all was well. Please find attached a screenshot of before and after editing the user image description. Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
MainWindow.Maximise: Nil Object Exception Exception Type: Nil Object Exception 1: Sub MainWindow.Maximise( MainWindow, boolean ) Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
Exporting - use multiple settings Currently, exporting data from AstroPlanner can be done using a self created preset, selected in the exporting dialogue window under "Settings - Load". Would be very useful if multiple user settings could be selected, instead of only one, to batch export data in varying format simultaneously. Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
ObjectListbox.CellTextAt: Out Of Bounds Exception Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception 1: Sub ObjectListbox.CellTextAt( int64, int64, assigns string )
Entered text in a user field, hit the Return key on my keyboard and this exception popped up. Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
Show session user-defined field values under the session list Show any session user-defined field values for a selected session under the session list in the observation database window. Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
Only user-defined session definitions with at least one actual value are displayed in the session list as a column Only user-defined session definitions with at least one actual value are displayed in the observation database window session list as a column. Otherwise the column is not displayed. Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
Bug/Feature/Exception email issue Fixes a problem introduced in the last beta that "bounces" any messages sent from the application. Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
Ioptron CEM40 needs baud rate of 115200bps My mount is an Ioptron CEM40 which requires 115200 bps baud rate It will not connect to Astroplanner 2.4 as the baudrate is fixed at 9600 when an Ioptron mount is selected. Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
EquatorialCoordinates.Operator_Compare: Nil Object Exception Exception Type: Nil Object Exception 1: Function EquatorialCoordinates.Operator_Compare( EquatorialCoordinates ) as int64
Attempting to center a position by entering a B1950 R.A./Dec. in the FoV. This exception pops up and the position entered is not centered. Resolution: |
ID: Status: Date: |
User Defined Date/Time field problem Done some more research and it appears that the only user field I use which defined as a Date time field when displayed in the object list as a column has the time element of the value from NOW - the script is loading it with full date and time of the next setting time for the object (with adjustments). Resolution: |