Contents - Index

Importing Target Lists




CCDAutoPilot is able to import a number of file formats for building the target list.  Select the file format from the Target List/ Import menu, and an Open File dialog will appear.  Select the chosen file and click "OK" to import.  Starting an import automatically clears the existing target list.  When importing a large target list, it is recommended that the Images folder be specified before importing.  For imported lists that don't have an existing exposure plan and a common exposure sequence is planned, that it be set up on the Light Frames page before importing.  This will save editing after the import.


CCDNavigator

Imports a target plan from CCDNavigator.

CSV/Text

Comma Separate Variable (CSV) files are simple text files that can be created in Notepad or with a spreadsheet program.  Each target is represented on a new line in the format: target name, RA coordinate, Dec coordinate, Position angle (optional).  RA and Dec. coordinates are to be specified in J2000 equinox values.  For example:

Crab Nebula, 05 34 54, 22 01 05, 45
M45, 03 46 11, 24 23 19

In this case the first target is the Crab Nebula at a position angle of 45 degrees.  The second target is M45, and since no position angle is specified it will be set at 0.0 degrees.

There is no arbitrary restriction on the number of targets that can be imported into CCDAutoPilot.

Starry Night

Starry Night files are exported by the built-in planner feature of the Starry Night planetarium software.  To export a plan from Starry Night use the features available under the "Planner" tab within Starry Night to create your observing plan and then "Export..." it.

CCDAutoPilot fully supports this format and will import the following information for each target:
  • Target name
  • RA and Dec coordinates

    A position angle of 0.0 is assigned to each target.

    ACP Planner

    ACP Planner files are created by the ACP Planner plug-in for The Sky and Starry Night planetarium software.  CCDAutoPilot fully supports this format and will import the following information for each target:
  • Target name
  • Start time
  • RA and Dec coordinates
  • Position angle
  • Number of exposure sets
  • Exposure filter* 
  • Exposure time
  • Exposure repeats

    *The name of the filter setup in ACP Planner should correspond exactly with the name of the filter setup in CCDSoft or Maxim so that CCDAutoPilot is able to match appropriately

    ACP survey

    ACP survey files are a legacy format in use with supernova and other search teams globally.  CCDAutoPilot fully supports this format and will import the following information for each target:
  • Target name
  • Save folder
  • RA and Dec coordinates

    A position angle of 0.0 is assigned to each target.