mirror of https://github.com/XEphem/XEphem.git
598 lines
20 KiB
HTML
598 lines
20 KiB
HTML
<HTML>
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<HEAD>
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<TITLE>XEphem FAQ</TITLE>
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<LINK REV="made" HREF="MAILTO:ecdowney@ClearSkyInstitute.com">
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</HEAD>
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<BODY background="bg.png" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#004400" VLINK="#004400" ALINK="#000000">
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<center>
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<P>
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<H2>XEphem Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
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</H2>
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<H3>
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Last updated December 29 , 2017
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</H3>
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</center>
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<blockquote>
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<font size="+1"><b>The questions are organized into the follow categories:</b></font>
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<p>
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<table>
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<tr>
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<td width="30">
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<td><a href="#UNIX">UNIX</a>
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<td>getting XEphem up and running well on your UNIX (or Linux, etc) system.
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<tr>
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<td>
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<td><a href="#Mac">Mac</a>
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<td>ditto for MacOS X
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<tr>
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<td>
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<td><a href="#Usage">Usage</a>
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<td>tips, techniques and issues applicable to all platforms.
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<tr>
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<td>
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<td><a href="#bugs">Bugs</a>
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<td>Known bugs in the current release.
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</table>
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<P>
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Can't find your question here? Try the
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<a target="_blank" href="https://groups.io/g/xephem">Forum (off site)</a>
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or send an email to
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<a href="mailto:xephem@ClearSkyInstitute.com?subject=XEphem%20inFAQ">
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xephem@ClearSkyInstitute.com</a>
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<p>
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<! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >
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<HR>
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<font size="+1">
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<a name="UNIX"><b>UNIX Installation Questions</b></a>
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</font>
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<ol>
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<p><li>
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<b>I built from the downloaded source code and I am having problems with
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XEphem GUI operation, such as windows not
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closing properly using the title bar control. Any suggestions?
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</b>
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<p>
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<p><li>
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<b>When I try to use Help I get the message "Error: No running window
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found". I have
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<span style="font-family: monospace;">Help » Configure </span>
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set to mozilla. What's going on?
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</b>
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<p>
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Try using firefox instead as follows:
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<pre>
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firefox --new-tab '%s'
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</pre>
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(contributed by <a href="mailto:nick@ukfsn.org">Nick Warne</a>)
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<p><li>
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<b>
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When I open Sky View I get the message "can not find classicfigs.csf" and
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XEphem dies.
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<br>
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Or when I start XEphem I know there is supposed to be a logo
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at the top but it is missing.
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<br>
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Or I can only find a few database files after I installed the commerical version.
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<br>What's going on??
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</b>
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<p>
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Sounds like there is a problem with the way XEphem support files are
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configured. First some background. XEphem looks for support files in two
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places in order, first XEphem.PrivateDir then XEphem.ShareDir. These terms
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are X Window System resource names that refer to a per-user private
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directory and a system-wide shared directory, respectively. By default
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these are <code>$HOME/.xephem</code> and <code>.</code> (where
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"<code>$HOME</code>" refers to the directory you are in when you first log
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into your system and "dot" is UNIX parlance for the current directory),
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respectively.
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<p>
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You can set a different value for XEphem.PrivateDir in the file named
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<code>$HOME/.xephemrc</code>. For example, to use the directory
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<code>/home/myhome/.myxephem</code>
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for your private files add a line to this file as follows:
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<pre>
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XEphem.PrivateDir: /home/mylogin/.myxephem
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</pre>
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<p>
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You can set a different value for XEphem.ShareDir using the standard X
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Window System resource file mechanism. The default location for the global
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version of this file for XEphem on Linux and MacOS X systems is
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<code>/etc/XEphem</code>, and on other UNIX systems it is often
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<code>/usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/XEphem</code>.
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For example, to use the directory <code>/usr/local/xephem</code> for your
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shared files add a line as follows:
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<pre>
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XEphem.ShareDir: /usr/local/xephem
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</pre>
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Now, to get back to the opening questions. The missing files in question
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are located in the directories named <code>auxil</code> or
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<code>catalogs</code> under XEphem.ShareDir. So if these directories are
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not set up correctly, such as from a previous installation of XEphem that
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was installed differently or when trying to mix the free and commercial
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versions of XEphem, they will not be found. With this explanation, you
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now know how to check that your private and shared directories are set up
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as desired and then things should work correctly.
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<p><li>
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<b>I am running Linux and I get
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errors about missing motif or X11 stuff. What can I do?
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</b>
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<p>
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In short, you need to install more packages. For example, on Ubuntu 12.10, type
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the following command to install them:
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<pre>
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sudo apt-get install libmotif-dev libx11-dev libxmu-dev libxp-dev libxt-dev x11proto-print-dev
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</pre>
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It's easier on OpenSUSE, because it brings in everything else for you as
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dependencies of openmotif:
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<pre>
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$ sudo zypper install openmotif-devel
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</pre>
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On Fedora 8, it is also just as simple:
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<pre>
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$ sudo yum install openmotif-devel
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</pre>
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On Ubuntu 64 bit, use the package manager to install <b>libmotif4</b>. To install disk2 and disk3,
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install <b>tcsh</b>.
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<p>
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On Ubuntu 16.04, try
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<pre>
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apt-get install libmotif-dev libxmu-dev
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</pre>
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<p>
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On Ubuntu and Debian you may also need to add the PPA for libXp. Further information is
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available <a target="_blank" href="https://launchpad.net/~zeehio/+archive/ubuntu/libxp">here</a>.
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<p>
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If these packages still do not resolve all references, you can try using your
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package management tools to search for the package that defines a missing file.
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For example, on Ubuntu you can get apt-file as follows:
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<pre>
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sudo apt-get install apt-file
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sudo apt-file update
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</pre>
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Then you can search for missing file x using
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<pre>
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apt-file search x
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</pre>
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<p>
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Comparable packages and package management tools are provided on other
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linux flavors.
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<p><li>
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<b>Can I use Google Chrome as the help system browser?
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</b>
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<p>
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Yes. Open Help » Configure help
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then make and select an entry that contains the following:
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<blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: monospace;">
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google-chrome %s
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</span>
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</blockquote>
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Test it. If it works, make it the default using Preferences » Save » Save now.
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</ol>
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<! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >
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<HR>
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<font size="+1">
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<a name="Mac"><b>MacOS X Installation Questions</b></a>
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</font>
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<ol>
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<p><li>
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<b>When I try to run the commercial version on Yosemite, I get an error about some library not being loaded. Any ideas?</b>
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<p>
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Yes. This is because Yosemite moved the location of the X Windows libraries.
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The cure is very simple. Open a Terminal and type the following command and then XEphem will run fine:
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<pre>
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sudo ln -s /opt/X11 /usr
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</pre>
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<p><li>
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<b>When I try to build the free version on Yosemite using the instructions in the INSTALL file, I
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get errors about not finding X11 files. Any ideas?</b>
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<p>
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Yes. The change above will also cure this issue.
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<p><li>
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<b>I am having problems installing on Leopard and Lion. Any ideas?</b>
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<p>
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Follow these steps to install the CD images on Leopard (10.5), Snow
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Leopard (10.6) and Lion (10.7):
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<p></p>
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<table border="1">
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<tr>
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<th>Step<th>Do this<th>Comments
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<tr>
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<td>1<td>Install Disk 1 package<td>If it says it was Successful, proceed to Step 2. If it almost
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completes but then says it failed go to Step 1b.
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<tr>
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<td>1b<td>Start Terminal and type <i>exactly</i> the following at the
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prompt <i>all on one line</i>:
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<br><code>sudo sh -c "echo XEphem.ShareDir:/usr/local/xephem > /etc/XEphem" </code>
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<td>
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This creates a file telling XEphem where its supporting files are
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installed. This must be done as root which the command "sudo" does
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temporarily -- admin is not enough (this is why the install fails).
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Proceed with Step 2.
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<tr>
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<td>2<td>Install Disk 2 package<td>It will say it completed successfully,
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which it did.
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<tr>
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<td>3<td>Install Disk 3 package<td>It will say it completed successfully,
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which it did but along the way it wiped out Disk 2.
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<tr>
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<td>4<td>Install Disk 2 package (yes, again!)<td>It will say it completed
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successfully, which it did and it also did not effect Disk 3.
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</table>
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<p><li>
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<b>I am having problems installing on Mountain Lion. Any ideas?</b>
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<p>
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Follow these steps to install the CD images on Mountain Lion (10.8):
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<p></p>
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<table border="1">
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<tr>
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<th>Step<th>Do this<th>Comments
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<tr>
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<td>
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1
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<td>
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Install Disk 1 package
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<td>
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If it says it was Successful, proceed to Step 2. If it almost
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completes but then says it failed go to Step 1b.
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<tr>
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<td>
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1b
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<td>
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Start Terminal and type <i>exactly</i> the following at the prompt <i>all on one line</i>:
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<br><code>sudo sh -c "echo XEphem.ShareDir:/usr/local/xephem > /etc/XEphem" </code>
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<td>
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This creates a file telling XEphem where its supporting files are
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installed. This must be done as root which the command "sudo" does
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temporarily -- admin is not enough (this is why the install fails).
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Proceed with Step 2.
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<tr>
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<td>
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2
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<td>
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Install Disk 2 package
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<td>
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It will say it completed successfully, which it did.
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<tr>
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<td>
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3
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<td>
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Start a Terminal session and type <i>exactly</i> (or better yet copy/paste):
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<br><code>sudo mv /usr/local/xephem/catalogs/GSC2201/*.xe3 /tmp </code>
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<td>
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This command moves the database files installed from Disk2 to a temporary location so the next
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step does not trash them.
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<tr>
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<td>
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4
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<td>
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Install Disk 3 package
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<td>
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It will say it completed successfully, which it did but if
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Disk2 files had still been in place it would have wiped them out.
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<tr>
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<td>
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5
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<td>
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Again in Terminal type <i>exactly</i>:
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<br><code>sudo mv /tmp/*.xe3 /usr/local/xephem/catalogs/GSC2201</code>
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<td>
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This command moves the database files that came from Disk2 back where they should go.
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</table>
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<p><li>
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<b>How can I get my trackpad or mouse to emulate a three-button mouse?
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</b>
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<p>
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Start XEphem, then click on the big X app in the dock. Open X11 -> Preferences.
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In the Input tab, check on "Emulate three button mouse".
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Now Option-click is like the middle button and Command-click is like the right button.
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<p><li>
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<b>When I build from source I get errors like 'make: Command not found' or
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about missing X11 files. Am I missing something?
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</b>
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<p>
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Yes. You are missing XCode or X11. You can get XCode free from Apple's web site.
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<p>
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Note that as of
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10.8 (Mountain Lion), installing XCode does not install the command line development tools. To
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do that, just start XCode, open Preferences/Components and install the Command Line Tools. Also as
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of Mountain Lion, Apple no longer ships X11. You now get it from
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<a target="_blank" href="https://xquartz.macosforge.org">https://xquartz.macosforge.org</a>.
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<p>
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Now that you have command line tools such as cc and make and X11 installed, read the INSTALL
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file inside the XEphem tarball for the proper way to invoke the
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<b>make</b> command when building on OS X.
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<p><li>
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<b>Can I use my default browser as the help system browser?
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</b>
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<p>
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Yes. To use your default browser for XEphem help on Mac OS X, enter
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and select the following entry in Help » Configure help (contributed
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by <a href="mailto:gavin@umich.edu">Gavin Eadie</a>)
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<blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: monospace;">
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osascript -e 'open location "%s"'
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</span>
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</blockquote>
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<p><li>
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<b>I have created a file (such as a print, plot, list, etc) and would like
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to see it outside XEphem but I can not find it. Where are they stored on OS X?
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</b>
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<p>
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They are stored wherever your XEphem.PrivateDir resource is set. By default,
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on OS X this is ~/Library/XEphem. Note you can see the Library folder
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within Finder by clicking on the Go menu while holding down the Option key.
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</ol>
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<! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >
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<HR>
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<font size="+1">
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<a name="Usage"><b>Usage Questions (applicable to all platforms)</b></a>
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</font>
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<ol>
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<! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >
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<p>
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<li><b>What's wrong with Help?</b>
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<p>
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It's probably not configured correctly. XEphem uses your Internet browser to
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display help, so it has to know how to talk to it.
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<p>
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Off the Main window, open
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<span style="font-family: monospace;">Help » Configure help</span>.
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Look through the choices for your browser. If you find it, just click the
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button on the left and test with any XEphem Help entry. Note that some of
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these commands assume the browser is already open and do not work otherwise, so
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if the line for your browser is listed and activated but Help still does not
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work, try opening your browser first and trying again.
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<p>
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If Help still does not work, you'll have to figure out the command to issue to
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your browser to open a local file. The table entry is passed to a shell so you
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can do whatever you need to, but don't forget to quote sensitive characters.
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Enter your new command in any line of the table, using %s where the local file
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name should go, then click to activate the line and test again.
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<p>
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After you have it working, be sure to save the new configuration using
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<span style="font-family: monospace;">Preferences » Save</span> or
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you'll have to do it again each time you start XEphem.
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<p>
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We researched several browsers but there are certainly more we didn't try, and
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there might well be better ways to talk to them than we found. Please send
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your suggested commands to us at
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<a href="mailto:xephem@clearskyinstitute.com">xephem@clearskyinstitute.com</a>
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and we will post here for others to find.
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<p>
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<p>
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<li><b>Why does the Sky View Grid toolbar button act so weird?</b>
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<p>
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Perhaps the logic is only obvious to me! The Sky View uses
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two coordinate systems: RA/Dec and Alt/Az.
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The coordinate system for Display orientation is independent of that for the
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Grid. The rules for the control buttons are as follows:
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<table>
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<tr valign="middle">
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<td size="100"></td>
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<td><img width="26" height="26" src="coordsysbutton.gif"></td>
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<td>
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toggles Display coordinate system between RA/Dec and Alt/Az, but
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never changes the coordinate system for the Grid.
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</tr>
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<tr valign="middle">
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<td></td>
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<td><img width="26" height="26" src="gridbutton.gif"></td>
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<td>
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turns the Grid off and on, <em> and when
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it turns it on always sets the Grid coordinate system to match that
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currently used for Display</em>.
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</tr>
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</table>
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In this way 6 combinations of coordinate systems
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(2 for Display [RA/Dec + Alt/Az] X 3 for Grid [RA/Dec + Alt/Az + off])
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can be controlled with just 2 buttons
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(although
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one can not switch among them in an arbitrary order).
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<p>
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<li><b>Why do Sky View grid lines have a small bump to them sometimes?</b>
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<p>
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Because of atmospheric refraction. Refraction raises everything to a greater
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extent as you look lower and lower, increasing rapidly near the end to about
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32' at horizontal. This effect is evident when displaying in one (ideal)
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coordinate system and overlaying (refracted) grid lines in the opposite
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coordinate system.
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<p>
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Suppose you are pointing near the horizon, are using Alt-Az display mode and
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are displaying RA-Dec grid lines. When projected onto the celestial sphere
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<em>as seen from your location under all that air</em>, this has the effect of
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curving the grid lines a little higher in the vicinity of the horizon than
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one would see without refraction. Indeed, because of refraction you actually
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see about 32' more than 90° down from the zenith -- bonus!
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<p>
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Demonstrate this to yourself by going to the Main window and setting an
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Air Pressure value of 0 to effectively eliminate refraction. You will see the
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grid lines straighten out, and objects that were visible slightly above the
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horizon will drop below and go out of site.
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<P>
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What happens below the horizon? This is a bit problematic. In accord with
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standard models, XEphem gradually reduces refraction so that at about 5°
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below the airless horizon the effect is gone and the grids return to their
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airless paths.
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<p>
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<li><b>What is the meaning of the red circles drawn on my sky chart at a
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certain point on the ecliptic?</b>
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<p>
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The anti-solar point is marked with a small open circle. The edges of
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the umbral and penumbral Earth shadow are marked with larger open circles. If
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<span style="font-family: monospace;">Preferences » Equatorial</span>
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is set to Topocentric, the projection is at the current distance of the Moon
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and corrected for parallax; if set to Geocentric the projection is at infinity.
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<p>
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If the moon is within the small circle you have a total lunar-eclipse; try
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|
2003-11-09 @ 01:00:00 UTC.
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|
|
|
<p>
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|
<li><b>May I use screen shots, Postscript files, listings or other stuff made
|
|
using XEphem on my web site or publications?</b>
|
|
<p>
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|
Regarding web sites, yes you may provided the following bit of HTML is
|
|
placed somewhere on each such page:
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|
<p>
|
|
<pre>
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|
<a target="csiwin" href="https://xephem.github.io/XEphem/Site/xephem.html">Created using <b>XEphem</b></a>
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|
</pre>
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|
<p>
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|
It should look and work like this:
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|
<a target="csiwin" href="https://xephem.github.io/XEphem/Site/xephem.html">
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|
Created using <b>XEphem</b></a>.
|
|
<p>
|
|
Regarding publications, the Postscript files generated by XEphem already
|
|
contain sufficient boilerplate with regards to giving us due credit. If
|
|
these files are used intact as generated by XEphem, no further credits
|
|
are required.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
What you may <em>not</em> do is cite isolated numbers that you pulled
|
|
off XEphem in your publications. There are too many contextual
|
|
circumstances surrounding astrometric quantities to make fair
|
|
representation of all that XEphem considered in its computation of
|
|
displayed values.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<li><b>Why do you use Motif? Will you ever change to something else?</b>
|
|
<p>
|
|
I suspect XEphem will forever be written in Motif for the following reasons:
|
|
|
|
<ol>
|
|
<li> First and foremost, I very deliberately make the decision to
|
|
focus my time and energy on features and accuracy, not aesthetics
|
|
because, frankly, it's the aspect of the project I enjoy the most. I
|
|
still have a long list of features to add in the coming years; this
|
|
effort, and my enjoyment, would be drastically diluted by a major
|
|
effort to change the L&F.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<li> The effort to change widget sets would be large.
|
|
Not only is it "just" a matter of changing widgets in roughly 100k
|
|
lines of GUI code, but I make deep use of Motif-specific functionality
|
|
(after all, I was involved in creating Motif in the 80s) that do not
|
|
map well to other toolkits.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<li> I know the entire API of Motif (about 3000 functions) completely
|
|
by heart and am very efficient using it. When adding a new window, I
|
|
see right through the widgets straight into the science. I am *almost*
|
|
this proficient with Qt and Java Swing but see #2 and #4.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<li> I must have no inherent artistic or aesthetic sense of my own
|
|
because, really, Motif still looks fine to me. To my mind, all buttons
|
|
look alike and drag-and-drop is silly. I have no personal appreciation
|
|
whatsoever of why one would pick one toolkit over another. I lived
|
|
through the great SunView/OpenLook/Motif GUI wars of the late 80s
|
|
wondering all along what the fuss was about.
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<li> I feel no compulsion to compete or otherwise compare XEphem with
|
|
any other software. It is my own labor of love which I am happy to
|
|
share, it is not my intention to make it "successful" by any external
|
|
measure. I do hope you find XEphem useful, even if you find it ugly.
|
|
</ol>
|
|
|
|
|
|
</ol>
|
|
|
|
<! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >
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<HR>
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<font size="+1">
|
|
<a name="bugs"><b>Known bugs</b></a>
|
|
</font>
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|
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|
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