This is pre-release software, and as such can have various bugs and may wipe out your hard drive, cause you to actually believe there were weapons of mass destruction, develop a rash, etc..
That much said, the software itself is pretty stable, and I very much welcome feedback on it. If you're the type who is good at giving constructive criticism and likes playing with software that still has a few rough edges, by all means, give it a try. This project is a group effort, and that includes people trying it out and reporting how it worked for them so that it can be improved.
Documentation?! Glad you asked. How would you like to write some after you give it a try? The stuff below is all we have so far.
Download the latest! (512KB zip file)
Includes Macdob application, Servo Config Utility, Starry Night plug-in, read me file and a couple of example object files.
Oh, you want Applescripts too? Download this file.
June 2005 Dan Gray has released firmware version 1.5 for the servo controller. Download the Servo Config Utility compatible file here.
1.0d8, Sept 5 2004
New Features:
Fun with Opacity Features: Control the opacity of the main window, background and text independently. NOTE: It seems to be necessary to set the Main Window Opacity to a value slightly less than 1.00 in order for the transparency of the other two to be adjusted to values less than 1.00.
NOTE: You won't see the full effect of the "background" opacity (or lack thereof) until you bring another application into the foreground and then bring the Macdob app into the foreground again. There is also a rendering bug in Panther that doesn't redraw the shadows around the text on a clear background more than once, so you will see a persistent incorrect shadow, especially on the "big display" numbers unless the Macdob app is against a dark background.
This version brings integration of most of the "Servo Config Utility" into the Preferences window. After making changes, go up to the "Scope" menu to either Save Values to controller and/or Reset Module as necessary. When moving or tracking things with the telescope, the servo and encoder values in the Servo Settings I pane are continuously updated.
In the "Still more settings" pane in the Prefs window, you can choose a default guide star list to be opened upon launching.
The motor positions will be adjusted to the encoder positions if they drift more than 0.1% away from the encoder values (0.36 degrees). NOTE: This can sometimes have the effect of stopping a slew before it completes.
The main window's position, size and floating status are saved in the prefs file so it will open up in the same state upon re-launch.
When using Salling Clicker, sometimes it seems a logjam of commands can get created, with annoying and interesting results, such as making the scope go crazy. Best advice is- when using Salling Clicker, if the Macdob app does not respond in a couple of seconds to a command, don't give it more commands with the clicker! Test out the Macdob app and/or scope with the Servo Config Utility.
New Features:
Opening and saving object list files. Plug in and app now can get and transfer object magnitude, size, constellation and type in addition to name, ra and dec Added "Speed" menu to allow for user selection of tracking speeds.
Caveats:
1. You can't double click an observing list file and have it open in macdob- yet. Use Open and Save from the File menu. If the main window is set to "float", the open dialog can be obscured by it...
2. You can add and delete objects manually from any current observing list by going to the Edit menu>Guide Stars>Add or Delete. Right now you can only delete one object at a time. I'm going to add functionality to allow multiple selections so you can delete a bunch at once. Right now, I have it set up as Shift-Command-D as well, and this can make fast work of a lot of stuff.
3. I wouldn't delete the Moon from any observing list...it might cause things to crash (maybe not, but I'd be surprised if it didn't crash). I'll work on making sure this is kosher. Also, the moon is a pretty dynamic object, as are all solar system objects, so saving these things (planets, comets, sun) will only create a static position for them...not very useful...
4. You can make the macdob window as big as you please, to better see huge observing lists.
5. You can type in and edit fields in the observing list (such as to change the name of an object to something more familiar), but changing the RA values for the time being is impossible(will probably crash). This will be fixed. Saving the list will save your changes to it.
1.0d6, June 27 2004
First version to use Dan and Mel's Sidereal Technology Servo Controller