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ScopeDriver 3.0 Released 02 November 2006 (to read the highlights of version 3.0, click here)

New Features and Enhancements

Macintosh

• Universal Binary introduced. The expanded Macintosh application is much larger, but runs on either the PowerPC or Intel architecture.

Windows

• Observing Lists may now be opened from Windows Explorer.
• ScopeDriver now registers the Observing List extension in the Windows Registry when first launched.
• Uninstaller now provided to remove Registry associations if desired.
• Opening multiple instances of ScopeDriver is now prevented, unless the ALT key is held down.

Automated Observing Runs (New!)

• An Automated Observing Run is a means by which you may instruct ScopeDriver to slew to various objects at specified times, and optionally perform follow-up actions after slewing. This is useful for observing patrols, for using ScopeDriver with automated equipment, and for a variety of other applications.
• You may elect to start an Observing Run manually, or set ScopeDriver to start an Observing Run at a specified time.
• Start an Observing Run at the beginning of an Observing List, or start the Observing Run with a selected object by holding down the SHIFT key while clicking the Start Now button.
• Pause an Observing Run, move forward and backward, and manually stop the Observing Run.
• Pointing errors do not interrupt the Observing Run. Instead, the next object will be activated in 10 seconds.

Interpolated Tracking (New!)

• Interpolated Tracking allows you to set Meade tracking values to greater precision than the standard 0.1 Hz. Interpolated Tracking automatically adjusts tracking values on a periodic basis, creating the desired frequency to an accuracy of 0.001 Hz.
• Adjust in increments of 0.01 Hz by clicking the appropriate little arrows control. Adjust in increments of 0.001 Hz by holding down SHIFT, CONTROL, ALT/OPTION, or COMMAND while clicking the adjustment control.
• A display appears below the Interpolated Tracking adjustment controls, consisting of two numbers, separated by a slash (“/”). The lower frequency (at the nearest 0.1 Hz below the desired tracking rate) appears first, followed by the length of time in seconds that the lower frequency will be utilized. The higher frequency (at the nearest 0.1 Hz above the desired tracking rate) appears next, followed by the length of time in seconds that the higher frequency will be in effect.
• Tracking Rate Display in Main Window shows the desired interpolated tracking rate in Hz, preceded by a “=” character to indicate Interpolated Tracking. The display appears with an underline when your instrument is operating at the higher frequency, and without an underline when your instrument is operating at the lower frequency.
• To improve accuracy of Interpolated Tracking, calls to determine telescope’s position are suspended for 1.0 seconds preceding a tracking frequency change.

Observing Lists

• Times of transit, rise, and set have been added to Observing Lists, for objects identified by right ascension/declination or by orbital elements. For fast-moving orbiting bodies, the times should be accurate to several minutes. These times may also be printed. Lists sort Rise, Set, and Transit Times starting at 12 noon, so that objects with times crossing the midnight hour are not separated in the List.
• Added ability to reorder List columns and change their visibility. Access the Column Display Preferences Window by right-clicking (Mac: CONTROL-click) in an Observing List Window and select Column Display Preferences... from the contextual menu.
• Multiple Database Objects may now be added to a List by making multiple selections in the “found objects” listing.
• Full Screen Observing List Mode: Errors are now handled more gracefully, appearing in the comments section of the object, instead of in a dialog.
• Saved Observing Lists are now much smaller, and may still be opened by previous versions of ScopeDriver.
• Drag and drop to and from desktop now supported.
• Listing now displays altitude and azimuth for objects defined by those coordinates.
• Undo/Redo enhancements:
  • Menu items now contain text of Undo/Redo behavior (i.e., Undo Modify Object).
  • Now applies to After Slewing action.
  • Now applies to resizing columns.
  • Now applies to changing UTC Display color.
  • Now applies to Observing Run start time.
  • Now applies to changing List Printing Options.
  • Now applies to setting List Save Options.
  • Now applies to Reset Column Widths to Defaults.
  • Now restores scroll position of Object Listing.
• Observing Lists now save sorted column, and reopen with sorted column highlighted.
• Added Edit button to Observing List Window, which allows you to edit a list object. You may still double-click to edit an object.
• Go To Selected Object no longer selects the following Observing List object unless the ALT/OPTION key is held down while clicking.
• Catalog objects may now be added to User Objects.
• Print Options Window now selects appropriate default typeface when none has been previously selected, or when the previously-selected typeface cannot be found.

Find Object Window and Add to Observing List Window

• Rise, Set, and Transit times now display in Find Object Windows.
• Added pop-up menu to control display of objects from your telescope’s internal database (if any). These windows may now sort telescope database objects first, sort these objects last, or not display telescope objects at all

Observing Log

• Columns may now be reordered and their visibility toggled. Right-click (Mac: CONTROL-click) in the Log Window and select Column Display Preferences... to access the Observing Log Column Display Preferences Window.
• Observing Log now automatically scrolls listing horizontally to reveal the text that is being edited.
• Log Print Settings Window now selects appropriate default typeface when none has been previously selected, or when the previously-selected typeface cannot be found.

New Keyboard Shortcuts

• List/Log Printing Options: COMMAND/CONTROL + OPTION/ALT + SHIFT + P
• Save As...: COMMAND/CONTROL + OPTION/ALT + S
• Show/Hide Navigation Palette: F1 (Windows: ALT + F1)
• Show/Hide Global Control Palette: F2
• Configure Global Control Palette: COMMAND/CONTROL + F2
• Park Telescope: F3
• Previous Tour Object: COMMAND/CONTROL + LEFT ARROW
• Next Tour Object: COMMAND/CONTROL + RIGHT ARROW
• ScopeDriver User Guide: HELP (Windows: F1)

Site Information and Edit Site Windows

• Site Information Window: Edit -> Clear now supported for Site Listing.
• Site Information Window and Edit Site Window now automatically convert lowercase entries to uppercase instead of presenting a warning dialog.
• Site Information Window and Edit Site Window now allow spaces as part of a telescope’s Stored Site name.
• Edit Site Window: Adding a new Site now selects the new Site in the listing.

Communications Window

• Added ability to edit History Markers in the Communications Window.
• Communications Window now uses the text “/ds” to represent the degree symbol in telescope communications. This symbol is obtained from the telescope, and in many cases it is unprintable.
• History Markers now also add markers to Communications Window.
• History Markers may now be added via the Communication Window’s pop-up menu.
• Communications Window now includes firmware version in window and copied reports.

Other Features and Enhancements

• ScopeDriver now comes as an installer, to help prevent duplicate ScopeDriver Folders from accumulating on one’s hard disk. Installer moves previous ScopeDriver applications to a dedicated folder named “Previous ScopeDriver Versions,” which contains a Read Me file explaining the purpose of the folder, and how to use the older versions without reinstalling.
• ScopeDriver now performs a quick check at startup to check for duplicate ScopeDriver folders. If one is found, a window appears explaining the situation and offering recommendations.
• The Paused Connection Window may now be minimized, and remembers its size and position on screen.
• When pausing a connection, the warning dialog may now be suppressed.
• Telescope Preferences: Auto-Select Tracking for Sun/Moon now works on all models, and restores the tracking rate to what was previously in effect before slewing to the Sun or Moon.
• Improved precision and speed of ecliptic obliquity calculation, which further improves ScopeDriver’s accuracy in calculating the orbits of comets, asteroids, and other orbiting bodies. Also improves positioning to the Sun.
• Slew Progress Window now shows progress for each axis regardless of telescope model selected.
• Graphics throughout program have been updated.
• Switching from Connect Window to Remote Connect Window (and back) is now much faster. Dismissing the Remote Connect Warning is now smoother. Connect Window displays more rapidly after a disconnect or failed connection.
• Handling of longitude and latitude has been rewritten throughout ScopeDriver. ScopeDriver now accesses these parameters when connecting, enabling calculation of sidereal time, rise/set/transit times, etc.
• Enabled Alt-Az Coordinates for all instruments with sufficient firmware capabilities in the Go-To Coordinates Window.
• Added ability for Internet Update Check to handle Mac OS X disk images.
• Internet Update Window is now wider by default.
• ScopeDriver now sets a Meade’s Tracking Rate to its last known value when connecting, since that value cannot be read from the instrument.
• Improved method by which ScopeDriver sets and gets Gemini Tracking Rate.
• Slew Rate Window keyboard shortcuts have been changed from S, M, and F to 1, 2, and 3, since the letters may differ in various languages.
• Changed polar-parking language to indicate that the instrument is pointing to the meridian instead of to due south, to improve accuracy for southern hemisphere observers.
• When an LX200 Classic is in Polar Mode, selecting Park Telescope now slews to due south (RA = current sidereal time) and zero degrees declination.
• Increased standard command timeout from 0.5 seconds to 1.5 seconds, to accommodate slow telescope responses in some unusual cases. Remote connection short timeout extended from 2.0 seconds to 3.0 seconds. Long timeout mode increased from 2.0 seconds to 3.0 seconds standard / from 3.3 seconds to 4 seconds remote. Degree symbol timeout increased from 0.25 seconds to 1.5 seconds.
• Global Control Palette icons now made universal.
• Global Control Palette: Slew to Next Object button is now cancelable by sliding cursor off of the button before releasing the mouse button.
• Inter-Application Communication commands are low logged in the Communications Window and ScopeDriver History.
• New Miscellaneous Objects now offer RA/Dec as the default Identifier.
• Preferences are now written to disk when Preference Window is closed.
• LX200 Classic: Reduced number of right ascension and declination telescope queries at idle time.
• Navigation Palette appears in a more suitable location on first launch.
• Updated documentation.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed bug that could lead to an unexpected error when writing the Preferences file on some systems, mainly certain Windows XP installations.
• Text of Insert History Marker Window is now selected when it first shows.
• Slew Rate controls now disable when the instrument does not support the slew rate command. These include the Telescope -> Slew Rate... menu, the Slew Rate display in the Main Window, and access to the Slew Rate Window.
• Fixed bug where connecting could take an extremely long time and commands could time out if no Slew Rate had ever been specified.
• Fixed issue where NGC, IC, and M objects would not appear in the Find Object Window if they were added as User Objects, and if a space appeared in the Object Name between the catalog designator (i.e., “NGC”) and the catalog number.
• Find Object Window now clears the object listing when the selection is cleared in the “find text” field.
• Fixed error with graphics handling in About Window, which caused no error but should reduce memory usage at startup slightly.
• Help tags now display properly in controls on Windows XP when they are embedded in group boxes.
• Fixed error in Windows ME where Coordinates Window could sometimes appear behind the Main Window.
• Adding Log entries as a slew follow-up action now works more reliably on non-LX200 telescopes.
• Added several missing help tags to controls throughout ScopeDriver.
• Fixed “cancel button” keyboard assignment in the Configure Global Control Palette Window.
• Fixed bug where invoking Insert History Marker window could disconnect the telescope.
• Selecting Define Current Coordinates as Fixed User Object... from the Global Control Palette’s contextual menu now correctly clears the palette’s warning flag when the Add Object Window is closed.
• Fixed printing hang that could occur when including all columns on Log or List printouts, when some fields contained a substantial amount of text.
• Fixed issue where Slew Progress Window could appear when the preference was set to suppress it.

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