pStarE Manual

 

Welcome to pStarE manual page.

I'm making this page, not finish.

Apr. 4, 2002 (start)
Jan. 20, 2003(cont.)
Apr. 29, 2004(cont.)


Contents

Installation

After Installation

Option Setting

Color Setting

Menu bar

Toolbar

Telescope

Constellation text

Messier JPEG

User's TAP

Add In


Installation

BE-300

PocketPC 2002

BE-300

There are two way of installation. One is "Using installer". Another is "Copy files".

Using Installer

There are two installers. One is for program (executable). Another is for data.
Please download them from my web page (Click Here!)

1.Extract them (downloaded files). setup.exe (each zip file) will be appeared.
2.Connect BE-300 to PC.  Invoke the Synchronize-program on your PC.
3. Invoke setup.exe (for program and for data)

This way sometime make a error (It's not enough memory). If you encounter this, please use "Copy file".

Copy files

 There are two files. One is for program (executable). Another is for data.
Please download them from my web page (Click Here!)

1. Extract it (data zip file) into "My Documents\pStar" folder in your PC.
2. Connect BE-300 to PC. Invoke the Synchronize-program on your PC.
3. Copy the pStarE.exe into "Program files\PIE\" folder in your BE-300.
4. Copy the "My Documents\pStar\*.*" into "My Documents\pStar\" in your BE-300.

PocketPC2002

Please download program (Click Here!).

Please download data file (Click Here!) as simpledata.zip

Please refer above "Copy files" in BE-300 installation.

Please make the short-cut-link of  pStarE.exe, and copy into \Windows\Start menu\.
 


After Installation

Invoke pStarE.exe

The constellation chart screen with planets only is appeared.

After a few seconds, the share-ware dialogue is appeared.

After a few seconds. the message box is appeared ( "Select the Data file").
Push OK. Then the file-selection-dialogue is appeared.  You must select "pStar" (pStar.be3).
If you can not find it, you did not install the data file under "My Documents" folder. ==> To Exit.

The message box is appeared " Please exit program, once". Push "OK".

On share-ware dialogue, push "agree" button.

The LIC-KEY dialogue is appeared.

push "close" button.

The message box is appeared " The LIC-KEY was canceled. Do you try this program ?".
Push "NO"  button.

The pStarE is terminated.

Please re-invoke pStarE.exe

---------------- following steps will be appeared on each invoking until entering the LIC-KEY.

The constellation chart screen with all stars is appeared.

The share-ware dialogue is appeared.

Push "agree" button.

The LIC-KEY dialogue is appeared.

Push "close" button.

The message box is appeared "The LIC-KEY was canceled. Do you try this program ?".

Push "Yes" button.

---------------

Please set your region and local time.

Select MENU-set-Area

The Area-setting dialogue is appeared.

 Enter "Your city or Area name"

Select latitude, longitude and local-time. (not supported summer-time).

You can seek your latitude and longitude at

   http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/resources/uwebsites.htm
                       {by Will (Fairbanks Alaska)}

Push "OK"

Select MENU-tool-Set Now

The constellation chart board view is updated on current time.

The position of Sun and/or Moon is OK ? (Sun is white circle, Moon is green circle)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I recommend follows settings, first.

Use the extend tool bar. Select the "MENU-set-add tool bar". See Tool bar

Set Option, see Option Setting.

Set color setting see Color Setting.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To Exit

Push "Cancel" button on the file-selection-dialogue. Then the message box is appeared ("Retry ?").
Please push 'NO' button.

On share-ware dialogue. Push "agree". Then LIC-KEY dialogue is appeared. Push "close" button.

The message box is appeared, "The LIC-KEY was canceled. Do you try this program ?".
Push "NO" button.

Then exiting program.


Option Setting

Select MENU-set-Option

Almost parameters and settings can change in tool bar and/or extend tool bar.

No tool bar item ===> * mark

Option 1

constellation name (show constellation name)

Mag.3 (show magnitude 3 or more)

Sft (Drawing shift parameter for  magnitude 1/10 unit) e.g. -10     4.5Mag => 3.5Mag

*wide (Drawing expand parameter  10 is 1.0) e.g. 13 => 130% wide.

font (Drawing font size 75 is 7.5 points)

*no sand-clock (Not show sand-clock while drawing)

*remember last screen

*Use action key menu ( If you push "Enter" key or Action-Key, the menu will be appeared)

square view ( for direction view, show square to horizon)

*no area name (usually, area name is shown in left-low screen)

*not use 90 mode ( don't use full direction view =  only use High, Middle and Low)

*stretch for JPEG picture ( For the Messier catalog JPEG, fit to your screen or not, the stretch function is not good in the Windows CE.)

*Enable cursor key ( If your PDA has cursor button, Please check on)

*right arrow is make to left ( If you checked on "Enable cursor key", please check on too.)

Option 2

*not show const. in chart mode ( don't draw the constellation picture line in the chart mode)

*up to 2Mg in chart mode (draw stars up to 2 magnitude in the chart mode)

color moon ( Please check off)

Waning moon (Please check on)

No Sun and no moon (Please check off)

No Planet (If you want)

tap-Planet JPEG picture (If you prepare the JPEG file for the planet as "Jupitor.jpg", please check on)

show planet name (If you want)

show bright star name (If you want)

show messier num (Show Messier Number)

tap-Messier JPEG picture( If you want)

 

Option 3

Tap User's Text (See User's Tap)

Tap Execute User's pos. (See User's Tap)

No confirm after find dialogue (Please check on)

Zoom: Auto Enter key (Please check on)

Zoom: Tap is navigation bar (Please check on)

Zoom: Use Center mark (Please check on)

Full Screen (no need this time)

Allocate memory for line buffer ( 5% decrease for drawing time, but need much memory)

tapping-font 130% (I think no need in English version)

not red wall (See red-view)

graduation color sky (Please check on)

 

400 ( Zooming size)

Mag.5 ( up to 5 magnitude)

-40 (shift refer above : sft)

500 (default zooming size)


Color Setting

Select "MENU-clr-color selection" or (tool bar button)

Operation procedure.

1. Select the color item name.

2. Change the color by R,G,B bar. It shows the new color to the right half area in sample color box.

3. Push "Update" button. (Don't miss it)

4. Select another color item name.

--------------------

Item name Comments
conste. Pict constellation picture line color
Messier Messier display color
day light (night) In the chart, night sky color
day light (dark) In the chart, dark sky color
day light (day) In the chart, day sky color
text general text color
planet text planet text color
gradation1 direction view top of the sky
gradation2 direction view middle of the sky
gradation3 direction view bottom of the sky
gradation4 direction view horizon of the sky
equatorial coordinate  
horizontal coordinate  
conste. name constellation name text color
star name star name text color
direction direction text color
polar mark polar mark X color
basic wall In the chart wall color
Sun text Sun text color
planet text planet color
conste. line constellation line color
add-in line add-in line color
star name star name color
moon moon color
ecliptic coordinate  
tracer telescope tracer color
User's tap text user's tap registration mark color
1,2,3  
milkey way milkey way color
NGC IC NGC IC add-in color
   

 

 


Tool bar

Normal Tool bar

Extend tool bar

 

Tool bar control (select or next)

Tool bar control (next, prev.)

coordinate (horizontal)

constellation chart view

  always display (constellation name, line, picture line)

  "tap" display (constellation name, line, picture line)

  "tap" display (messier JPEG picture)

"tap" menu on

no direction change when "tap". If you not check, move to screen when you tapped in the screen.

shift the magnitude => increase, decrease.

large display (star)

bright display (star), check on "reflect type LCD", check off "transparent type LCD".

text font size change, large<=>small

city lights change

display level magnitude change

open color dialogue

waning moon

show Moon/Sun

show planets

show planets by text

show star name

show messier name

show center mark

show day light

change to red-screen

change to black/white

change to white/ black

enable blue color

select direction

select High, Middle, Low sky

horizontal display ( ground line is straight or ellipse)

display the "User's tap" see "USER_TAP_POPUP_MENU"

show messier mark

draw equatorial coordinate

move view position

Zoom control

Zoom navigator

Into Zoom mode

Find a star

telescope popup menu

tap popup menu

telescope dialogue

today's info.

planet screen

polar adjustment screen

direction screen

top of the sky screen

setting longitude, latitude

setting new time

select constellation showing

to enter location

set now (PDA time)

auto update (by 1 min.)

start timer update (by setting time)

open setting time dialog

one hour later

one hour ago

10 min. later

10 min. ago

start telescope control. you must select auto update mode

to left telescope

to right telescope

to up telescope

to down telescope

high speed telescope

low speed telescope

 


Telescope

Sorry, this program can control "Auto Star" that is made by Vixsen telescope only.

How to open this dialog...

 1. Select tool bar button
     You can operate "High", "Middle", "Slow", "Up", "left", "right", "down" to telescope via "Auto Star".

2. Select tool bar button , and then select "Open TSC" menu that appeared by tap and hold a star.
    You can operate all button in above dialog.

High: same

Slow: same

Left: same to left telescope

Right : same to right telescope

Up: same to up telescope

Down: same to down telescope

Keep mind, while using telescope control, please check (auto update) mode, because the telescope can not slew to the star in under ground.


Constellation text

There are ".p91" files in "My Documents\pStar".

 It's constellation text. It's a text file, but extension is not ".txt".
You can change it easier on your PC by notepad.exe.

Please keep mind follows.

1. Do not include CR, LF code
2. File name is constellation name + ".p91"
e.g. and.p91, ant.p91, aps.p91, ...
3. Can not display too big size (Only one screen, no paging)

 


Messier JPEG

There are ".jpg" files in  "My Documents\pStar"

You can replace these "jpeg" file.

Please keep mind follows.

1. File name is "Mn.JPG", n is messier catalog number.
e.g. M1.JPG, M100.JPG, ...

---------------------------------

About Planet JPEG

If you want to replace the planet jpeg file, you can replace "My Documents\pStar\xxxx.JPG", xxx means planet name.
e.g. "Jupiter.jpg", "mars.jpg", etc.

 

You can replace easy, use the Internet, searching the jpeg file by search engine, browsing a jpeg file, save the jpeg file as "xxxx.jpg", and then move to "My Documents\pStar" folder in your Pocket PC.

But I recommend to use photo processing application program, please stretch jpeg size (WxH = 240x260)


User's TAP

How to open this dialog? See "USER_TAP_POPUP_MENU".

You can register the tap point. We call "User's Tap" point. "User's tap" point has "comment" and "action". You can select "action" of "Show JPEG", "Execute Program", "Show Add in" or "Show Text". Please select , then show the "User's tap" point, and you can tap it, pStar will do "action".

action

    "Show jpeg" : push "ref" button in the dialog, select a jpeg file (extension is ".JPG")
    "Show Add in" : push "ref" button in the dialog, select a ".p91" file ( ASCII text file)
    "Show Text" : no meaning, that text will be appeared with "User's tap" position.

Import and Export function is enabled by "register" mode, disabled by "change/delete" mode.  I missed to disable the buttons.

Import : Load "User's tap info".  (please select register in the menu)

Export : Save "User's tap Info".  (please select register in the menu)

This point information keeps equatorial coordinate only.

 


Add in

We prepared add in data files.

add in files have ".pxx" extension. So, constellation text file is ".p91" file. It's one of the "add in" data file.

procedure

1. select menu "tool" > "add in"

2. check "show", for enable "add", "delete" button.

3.select ".pxx" file, but do not select ".p91" constellation text.
e.g. winter_tri, summer_tri, springt_tri, poler_cas
Milkey.p92 is milkeyway data.

4. Push OK, then close the dialog.

After selecting the "add in" data file, the pStar will be display the data on your PocketPC.
(Sorry, the text data may be Japanese)


Menu bar

tool

scr (Screen)

dir (Direction)

set (Setting)

view

clr (Color)

 

TOOL MENU

MENU-tool-add-in

see Add-In.

MENU-tool-find

The object list will be appeared, please select object, and push OK.
The pStar will be show that in zooming view.

MENU-tool-Use TSC, Stop TSC

Use TSC : (Telescope controller is disabled)
Stop TSC : (Telescope controller is enabled)

MENU-tool-Open TSC

Open the Telescope Controller dialogue. See Telescope.

MENU-tool-SetNow

Set pStar time to now.
you can change the time which you want.
see MENU-set-Date,Time

MENU-tool-auto clock

If you checked this item, you can not change the time.
The pStar will update the time from Windows CE clock automatically.

MENU-tool-Select interval

If you select this item, the interval-time dialogue will be appeared.
You can select a interval timer value which is shown in combo-box.

MENU-tool- ? +

? is selected in the interval-time dialogue.
If you select this item, the pStar time is increase ? minutes/seconds/hours

MENU-tool- ? Tick interval

? is selected in the interval-time dialogue.
If you select this item (check on),  the pStar will start ticking the interval timer.
If you want to stop ticking, please re-select this item. (check off)

MENU-tool-overwrite

You select this item (check on),
And then you select ' MENU-tool- ? Tick interval'
The pStar will draw the stars without refresh screen.
Then, you can see tracks of the star. (recommend set interval to 3min.)

SCREEN MENU

MENU-scr

Select the screen (view) mode.

MENU-scr-Zoom , Zooming

(check on)=>Change to Zoom mode.

MENU-scr-top of the sky

(check on)=>Change to Top of the sky view

MENU-scr-direction screen

(check on)=>change to direction view.

MENU-scr-chart screen

(check on)=> change to constellation chart view.

MENU-scr-poler screen

(check on)=> change to polar view.
The telescope must be adjusted to polar-point.
This view is zoom-up the polar and specular mode.

MENU-scr-Planet screen

(check on)=> change to planet view.
For seeing the planet, the pStar do not draw the planet's size in the screen. Please confirm the planet is far or not far from the Earth.
And the pStar do not draw correct distance to the Sun in this screen.

MENU-scr-Today

Show the Sun, Moon and planets information. e.g. sun-set time, sun-rise time, etc.

MENU-scr-Save screen as JPEG

Save the screen as JPEG-file into your BE-300.
Copy screen to JPEG file.
 

DIRECTION MENU

MENU-dir-30

draw the low position of the sky.

MENU-dir-45

draw the middle position of the sky.

MENU-dir-60

draw the high position of the sky.

MENU-dir-90

draw the sky from 0 deg( horizon) to 90 deg( top).

MENU-dir-North

draw the North side.

MENU-dir-West

draw the West side.

MENU-dir-South

draw the South side.

MENU-dir-East

draw the East side.

SETTING MENU

MENU-set-Area

Select the region (area) which you are standing.
Needs latitude and longitude.

MENU-set-Date,Time

Select the date-time which you want.
If you want to set Date and Time, you must check off MENU-tool-auto clock item.
To restore to PocketPC's time, please click  .

MENU-set-option...

see Option Setting.

MENU-set-add tool bar

(check on) the pStar will show the new tool bar.
I recommend check on.

MENU-set-day light

(check on) the pStar will draw the day-light as wall color.

MENU-set-no tap direction

(check on) you can tap in the view, not moving direction.
(check off) If you tap in the view side, the view will move.

MENU-set- tap-conste.pict.

(check on) If you tap the star, the constellation picture line included it will be appeared.
After 5 seconds, it will be disappeared.

MENU-set- tap-conste.line

(check on) If you tap the star, the constellation line included it will be appeared.
After 5 seconds, it will be disappeared.

MENU-set tap-const.name

same as above, the constellation name will be appeared.

MENU-set tap-menu:view

(check on) If you tap and hold in the view, the VIEW-POPUP-MENU is appeared.

MENU-set tap-menu:User's

(check on) If you tap and hold in the view, the USER'S-POPUP-MENU is appeared. see User's Tap.

MENU-set tap-menu:telescope

(check on) If you tap and hold in the view, the TELESCOPE-POPUP-MENU is appeared. see Telescope.

 

VIEW MENU

select teh always draw item.

MENU-view-User's tap

draw the User's TAP item.User's TAP

MENU-view-Messier

draw the Messier catalog.

MENU-view-conste.name

draw the constellation name.

MENU-view-const.pict

draw the constellation picture line.

MENU-view-const.line

draw the constellation line.

MENU-view-polar

draw the polar star as X mark.

MENU-view-zoom navigator

show the zoom navigator in zoom-mode( view).

MENU-view horizontal coordinate

draw it.

MENU-view equatorial coordinate

draw it.

MENU-view-ecliptic coordinate

draw it.

MENU-view-milky way

draw it (needs milkey.p92 file)

COLOR MENU

color setting

MENU-clr-Red view

draw red-view

MENU-clr-BW view

draw Black/White mode.

MENU-clr-WB view

draw White/Black mode.

MENU-clr-Color

color star or white star.

MENU-clr-increase size

The star size will be large.
Which mode do you like ?

MENU-clr-increase brightness

The star bright level be brightness.
Which mode do you like ?

MENU-clr-validate blue

pStar can not show blue-color-star. If you want to see the blue-light, please check on. But your eye can not see the blue-light-star, blue-light is reflect to photograph only.

MENU-clr-color selection

show the color selection dialogue.
Please select the color which the pStar used.
You can customized the colors.  (excluding star color).
Please change any color which you want.
Don't forget "push Update button each selection".

 


VIEW-POPUP-MENU

Almost item is same as normal MENU. And please guess the function.

 

USER'S-POPUP-MENU

How to show this menu ? MENU-set-"tap-menu:User's", and then tap and hold any position.

register: Open "User's tap" dialog, see User's Tap.

You can change/delete your "User's tap" point. Please tap and hold a "User's tap" point, the menu will be appeared, select change/delete.

1,2,3: it will show a square character.

Draw 1, 2, 3 mark on the view, These are used by marking (memo).

 

TELESCOPE-POPUP-MENU

Slew

Control the telescope into the "tap & hold position" before showing this menu.

Trace

Check the telescope position, the pStarE will draw the telescope position mark.

Open TSC

Open the telescope controller dialogue. See Telescope

Others

Same as normal menu.

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Copyright (c) 2002-2003 P.I.E. Ltd. JAPAN