SkyMap

Jay Respler (jrespler@injersey.com)
Mon, 25 Mar 1996 23:24:56 -0500

>Well, to each his own, I guess.  I had no problem at all getting SkyMap set
>up.  As a matter of fact, I found it to be the easiest to set up of any
>tracking program that I've used.  If you have any questions about it, please
>ask via direct email.  BTW, version 2.0 is in the works, according to the
>author.
 
I'm wondering if we are talking about the same program.  I believe there are 2
programs called SkyMap.  I think 1 is a star map program while the other is
primarily a sat tracking program.  I'm referring to the tracking program by a
Rob Matson.  
The version I'm testing is 5.7, but the included Doc file is for 4.0.
Maybe that's part of the problem.
I was able to set up much of the program, but some things, such as Lighting
Constraints, just don't seem to work right.  
What is the ver 2.0 you are referring to?


>As far as Quicksat is concerned, are we talking about the same program?
>I've used v2.1 on the PC and the need to _manually_ edit an ASCII control
>file whenever the user wishes to change a program parameter seems
>unbelievably archaic (to put it mildly).  This procees would seem to me to
>be far more
>of an obstacle for beginners than any presented by SkyMap's intuitive
>Windows-based user interface.

Yes, it's QUICKSAT V2.10 b, c, or d.  You do  edit the CTL file, but how would
you edit ANY control file if not manually?   For various standard setups, I
have different CTL files set up and just choose the one I want at the time. 
This way I don't have to make any changes.  But editing a file is something
anyone can do.  I don't see that as difficult as trying to figure out unclear
directions.  
Since I don't care for windows and avoid it when possible, I guess that
interface would not be intuitive for me.  Anyway, I don't see that type of
interface in the program.  What windows-like features are you referring to?


>But, like I said, to each his own.

Yes, thanks for your offer of help.  I will ask you for help, and in return,
offer you my help with QUICKSAT.  (and anyone else who wants it)

JRespler@InJersey.com
Jay.Respler@bytewise.org
Freehold, New Jersey