AstroLogEx page

Home

Introduction

Features

Revision history

Download - Office XP version is ready.

Links

Introduction

The AstroLogEx is a Microsoft Excel form, with main purpose to log the observations on site. It is distributed in form of Add-In.
Keeping in mind that it is difficult to use the keyboard in the dark, and cold, the solution would be to provide user interface that allows data input with minimal use of keyboard. At the same token, the interface should drive Cartes du Ciel, and be able to acquire data from it.
You can also use AstroLogEx for preparation of observing list. It makes possible to rehearse the observing list before heading to the observing site.

Why Microsoft Excel - it is very popular and very powerful spreadsheet program. Almost everyone has been using it at some point in time. Finally, the spreadsheet is the most efficient way of presenting large amount of data in the small space.

As you may guess from above the AstroLogEx can communicate with Cartes du Ciel via Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE).

Cartes du Ciel is very powerful software and it is completely free for download.
For complete documentation, description and much more follow the link below:
http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/index.html

Many thanks to Patrick Chevalley author of Cartes du Ciel, for giving me encouragement and support while I was developing AstroLogEx.

As for AstroLogEx you may download it here free, provided you accept License Agreement.
Installation instructions and requirements are in AstroLogEx.txt that is inside the ZIP file.
Make sure to read requirements.

Screen shot

At present, I consider it feature complete. Nevertheless, it needs testing.
I am waiting for your input, on enhancements, bugs, and whatever you may thing would be useful: michaeldaj@comcast.net

For the future, I plan to research other Charting programs that are available commercially, and if it is possible make AstroLogEx to communicate with them as well.
The idea is to provide common user interface, and cut down the frustrations caused by the fact that every program has its own interface different from others.

Therefore, I do consider the AstroLogEx as my creation and reserve all copyrights to it.

Top

Features

The AstroLogEx form is very compact.
Its size is just 301x356 pixels, it translates to about 22% of 800x600 and less than 14% of 1024x768 desktop area.
Small size of the form makes possible to make use of 'Cartes du Ciel' window when it is behind.
The user interface provides convenient popup menu. This reduces further the form size.
You can load the form through easily accessible menu.
The form is modal. This means that you can size and edit main Excel window without exiting the form.
AstroLogEx does support multiple Spreadsheets and multiple Workbooks open at the same session.
User interface provides support for wheelmouse. This feature reduces need to use keyboard input.
The form is fitted with 'pick from list', similar to the one provided in Excel.
This feature reduces further need to use keyboard.
With couple of mouse clicks, AstroLogEx can issue Find command to Cartes du Ciel for pre-entered objects.
You can zoom to current object, eyepiece or Telrad's 4deg circle.
AstroLogEx calculated for you magnification and FOV (field of view) based on your systems focal length and selected eyepiece.
The form has complete on-line and context sensitive help in HTML format.

There is much more features but this is for you to find out.

Top

Revision history

release 1.1 Go to download page

Same as release 1.0 but saved in Office XP (2002) format.

release 1.0 Go to download page

Invalid procedure call or argument (Error 5) upon loading the form on non English system (issue #74).
Update Data tab screen shot in the help file (issue #73).
Update Issues section in the Help file and read me.

beta02

Can enter planets by catalogue name e.g. PL 1 or by name Mercury.
'DDE Connect' will attempt to open once more 'Cartes du Ciel'.
'Zoom if can not find object' doesn't have effect.

Top