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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 page last modified: 2025/03/20 16:01 (Pacific time)

Download

VersionRelease DateExpiry Date
2.4.1b32025/02/26120 days from Release Date

Macintosh

64-bit Application (.dmg)Download220.3MB64-bit version. Intel-based Mac with MacOS 10.14 or later. Apple Silicon-based Mac with MacOS 11 or later.
64-bit Application (.dmg)Download164.3MBSpecial version for MacOS 10.11 through 10.13. Intel-only.

Windows

32-bit Application (.exe)Download136MiB32-bit version. Installer. Windows 8.1 or later
32-bit Application (.exe.zip)Download135.6MiB32-bit version. Zipped installer
64-bit Application (.exe)Download132.2MiB64-bit version. Installer. Windows 8.1 or later
64-bit Application (.exe.zip)Download131.8MiB64-bit version. Zipped installer
64-bit Application (.exe.zip)Download187.8MiBSpecial 64-bit version for Windows 7 SP1 through 8.0.
32-bit Application (.exe.zip)Download197MiBSpecial 32-bit version for Windows 7 SP1 through 8.0.

Both platforms

User Manual (.pdf.zip)Download82.8MiBV2.4 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:
7914

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/03/20

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:
Sorry about that, I didn't test it enough on Windows. I guess your only workaround would to use the Edit > Paste menu option.

Resolution:
Fixed. Changed the menu shortcut slightly.

Version: 2.4.1b3
Release Date: 2025/02/26
Fixes: 12, Enhancements: 3

ID:
7879

Status:
Implemented

Date:
2025/02/22

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:
More of a bug than a feature request.

Resolution:
Implemented/fixed. Extended objects (i.e. those with Size > 0) will be selected if the cursor is within the extended object. If more than one object falls into this category then the one whose centre is closest to the cursor is used.

ID:
7905

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/02/22

MainWindow.Event_CancelClosing: Nil Object Exception

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception
Exception Message: @ H

1: Function MainWindow.Event_CancelClosing( MainWindow, boolean ) as boolean
2: Sub DesktopWindow.Close()
3: Function MainWindow._FileClose_Action( MainWindow ) as boolean
4: Sub DesktopApplication.DoEvents( int64 )
5: Sub ObservationWindow.RestoreObsSessionState( ObservationWindow )
6: Sub ObservationWindow.obs_DoublePressed( ObservationWindow, StripedListBox )
7: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()


User description of above error trace:

Editing an object's R.A./Dec. in the observation database.

Analysis:
Interesting one. It looks like the underlying plan document was closed while you were editing. Not sure how.

Resolution:
Fixed. Well, not fixed, since I can't figure out why this occurred. However, if it happens again, the closing of the plan file will be canceled.

ID:
7907

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/02/22

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:
Ouch. Bug basically causes any change to a user-defined field to fail silently.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7908

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/02/22

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:
Fixed.

ID:
7888

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/02/08

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:
Fixed. Stellar objects without magnitudes are now drawn in the FoV with a unique symbol to show they no not have a defined magnitude.

ID:
7896

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/02/06

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:
Fixed.

ID:
7899

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/02/06

MainWindow.Maximise: Nil Object Exception

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Sub MainWindow.Maximise( MainWindow, boolean )
2: Sub MainWindow.MaximiseTimer_Action( MainWindow, Timer )
3: Sub DesktopWindow.ShowModal( DesktopWindow )
4: Function App.Event_UnhandledException( RuntimeException ) as boolean
5: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()
6: Sub REALbasic._RunFrameworkInitialization()


Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7889

Status:
Implemented

Date:
2025/02/02

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:
Implemented. File > Export > Multiple Generic Text, Excel, XML, or JSON files...
This allows you to apply multiple (pre-made) export settings files to the current plan document.

ID:
7891

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/01/30

ObjectListbox.CellTextAt: Out Of Bounds Exception

Exception Type: Out Of Bounds Exception

1: Sub ObjectListbox.CellTextAt( int64, int64, assigns string )
2: Sub MainWindow.NextInlineCell( MainWindow )
3: Sub MainWindow.InlineTimer_Action( MainWindow, Timer )
4: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()


User description of above error trace:

Entered text in a user field, hit the Return key on my keyboard and this exception popped up.


Resolution:
Fixed. I modified the code a bit to make it more robust, and added a bunch of debug stuff that will help next time this happens.

ID:
7900

Status:
Implemented

Date:
2025/01/29

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:
Implemented.

ID:
7901

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/01/29

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:
Fixed. Both defined and undefined user value columns are now displayed.

ID:
7895

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2025/01/01

Bug/Feature/Exception email issue

Fixes a problem introduced in the last beta that "bounces" any messages sent from the application.

Resolution:
Fixed.

ID:
7894

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2024/12/20

Ioptron CEM40 needs baud rate of 115200bps

My mount is an Ioptron CEM40 which requires 115200 bps baud rate
It uses the same commands as the CEM60 and connects ok with NINA or MaximDL

It will not connect to Astroplanner 2.4 as the baudrate is fixed at 9600 when an Ioptron mount is selected.

Resolution:
Fixed. You can now select the bit rate of the serial port with iOptron mounts.

ID:
7886

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2024/12/16

EquatorialCoordinates.Operator_Compare: Nil Object Exception

Exception Type: Nil Object Exception

1: Function EquatorialCoordinates.Operator_Compare( EquatorialCoordinates ) as int64
2: Function GotoDialog.GetRADec( GotoDialog, byref double, byref double ) as boolean
3: Sub MainWindow.CentreFoVAtCoordinates( MainWindow )
4: Sub MainWindow.FoV_MenuAction( MainWindow, CMMCanvas, string, string, string )
5: Function CMMCanvas.Event_ContextualMenuItemSelected( DesktopMenuItem ) as boolean
6: Sub DesktopApplication._CallFunctionWithExceptionHandling()


User description of above error trace:

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:
Fixed. I think.

ID:
7892

Status:
Fixed

Date:
2024/12/16

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).
I have sorted out a workaround of storing the data and time as an SQLDateTime() string and Parsing this to recover it in later reports I generate in the script.

Resolution:
Fixed.

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