Contents - Index

Version History

3.42.7    June 2, 2008
  • Buf fix: Corrected Maxim Initialization error introduced in 3.42.6.

    3.42.6    June 1, 2008
  • Enhancement: Changes for Maxim v5 compatability.

    3.42.5    April 6, 2008
  • Bug fix: Eliminated occasional unguided series when guided operation was selected
  • Enhancement: Prevented an uninitialized profile from erasing camera control program guide calibration.

    3.42.4    March 9, 2008
  • Enhancement: Workaround for bug in RCOS PIR TCCII code
  • Bug fix: Correct Starry Night import for PC and Mac
  • Bug fix: Correct No Filter operation

    3.42.3    March 2, 2008
  • Bug fix: Corrected PIR wrap timer

    3.42.2    February 9, 2008
  • Improved compatibility with Starfish guider
  • Turn off guider if altitude limit is hit
  • Prevent TheSky6 RPC server unavailability
  • Correct Maxim overrun error

    3.42.1    December 25, 2007
  • Enhancement: Abort session at start if very cloudy/rain reported by Boltwood
  • Bug fix: Turn tracking back on for dithered flats if turned off previously
  • Bug fix: Correct Maxim overrun error management

    3.42.0    December 7, 2007
  • Enhancement: Add PA to plate solve log
  • Enhancement: Prevent guider start fault with FishCamp Starfish guider

    3.41.9    November 26, 2007
  • Enhancement: New meridian tracking value added.  AM Stop Delay is deleted.  See Meridian Flip
  • Enhancement: Explicitly call selected filter in Maxim expose routine
  • Bug fix: Prevent Pyxis position = 360 in additional routines

    3.41.8    November 10, 2007
  • FocusMax/@Focus2 timeout increased to 15 minutes.
  • Added traps for multiple FOVI's, bad characters in description field

    3.41.7    September 29, 2007
  • Enhancement: Added timeout to prevent FocusMax hang
  • Enhancement: AO Recentering when checked now happens at start of each series
  • Bug Fix: Focus Now properly uses the filter specified in the camera control program

    3.41.6    July 15, 2007
  • Enhancement: Improve version checking routine
  • Bug fix: Prevent Pyxis position = 360
  • Bug fix: Make all registrations persistent

    3.41.5    July 9, 2007
  • Bug fix: Wrong build released

    3.41.4    July 8, 2007
  • Ehhancement: Improved error handling and logging
  • Bug fix: Improved international format handling
  • Bug fix: Improved operation with and without filter wheels

    3.41.3    June 21, 2007
  • Enhancement: Version checking incorporated for key controlled applications.  See Software Requirements.
  • Enhancement: Add target name and coordinates to review session and target coordinates to log
  • Bug fix: Corrected slewing errors with non-US environments.

    3.41.2    June 9, 2007
  • Enhancement: Get from File target will not enter unless plate solve is successful.
  • Bug fix: Correct Maxim correction in 3.41.1 to account for dark frame.

    3.41.1    June 4, 2007
  • Enhancement: Improve plate solving with Maxim and exposures greater than 15 sec.
  • Bug fix: Correct Maxim guider start failure with long guide exposures
  • Bug fix: Correct plate solve exposure sub-frame error

    3.41.0    May 29, 2007
  • Enhancement: Added Smart Sub-framing feature.  See Equipment
  • Enhancement: RCOS PIR flash writes minimized
  • Enhancement: Try to park mount in case of cloud sensor abort
  • Ehnancement: Help file search function added
  • Bug fix: Prevent main window page change from interfering with running session

    3.40.7    May 16, 2007
  • Enhancement: PinPoint errors on plate solving now reported directly.
  • Enhancement: Cooler off replaced by Cooler Warmup to 25°C.  See Options
  • Ehnancement: Added retry logic in case Maxim guider doesn't start
  • Bug fix: Wait for focus completion with AcquireStar

    3.40.6    April 21, 2007
  • Bug fix: Eliminate ObjectDispositionException error ("CCDAutoPilot needs to close") on program close

    3.40.5    April 10, 2007
  • Enhancement: Focus deferral is active only if Enable meridian flip is checked.  See Focusing

    3.40.4    April 2, 2007
  • Bug fix: logging error with ASCOM dome selection
  • Bug fix: focusing now works properly with no filter wheel selected.
  • Correction to help file, Focusing topic.

    3.40.3    March 21, 2007
  • Bug fix: Close error on single core processors fixed.

    3.40.2    March 20, 2007
  • Enhancement: Insensitive to localization in coordinate edits
  • Enhancement: Added programmable cooler wait delay.  See Options
  • Enhancement: Focus prevented within 10 minutes east of meridian.  See Focusing
  • Bug fix: AO guide box size programming fixed
  • Bug fix: IndexOutOfRange error trapped
  • Bug fix: Eliminate interaction between Cloud Sensor and run pause function.

    3.40.1    Not publicly released

    3.40.0    February 16, 2007
    Important notes:  The web update facility cannot be used to upgrade to this version.  Download and install the complete package from http://www.ccdware.com/downloads/.  After installing this version, future web updates will function as in the past.  CCDStack users: Installing CCDAutoPilot version 3.40 or greater may require re-entering your license information in CCDStack.
  • Vista compatibility.  Default location for Images, System Profiles and Target Lists is moved to My Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot3 (XP and Prior) and Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot3 (Vista).  Existing license(s) will need to be re-entered.  You will no longer need to install CCDAutoPilot2 for an upgrade but you will need to enter the license info.  See the Licensing topic for details.  During web update with User Account Control enabled (Vista only), you may be asked to approve Updater operation for web updates.  As an added bonus, the trial period is reset to 60 days.
  • Enhancement: Improved meridian efficiency.  See PM Tracking
  • Enhancement: Trace and reset functions not part of the Help menu. See Troubleshooting 
  • Bug fix: Manual guide star acquisition after flip now works as documented

    3.31.1    January 28, 2007
  • Insure dithering after off-target focus return and meridian flip

    3.31.0    January 24, 2007
  • Enhancement: Eliminate redundant guider start after meridian flip
  • Enhancement: Start guider with full autodetect after off-target focus return and meridian flip
  • Bug fix: Prevent exception when no filter wheel is selected

    3.30.9    January, 19, 2007
  • Bug fix: Start times corrected for year mis-match
  • Clarified target coordinate equinox requirement.  See Target Entry and Edit

    3.30.8    January 15, 2007
  • Enhancement: Eliminated cardinal point limitation.  Can now calibrate at any angle.
  • Enhancement: Max flat exposure time increased to 999 sec.
  • Bug fix: Maxim now calibrates properly during initialization
  • Bug fix: Prevent unrecoverable minimized status window

    3.30.7    January 10, 2007
  • Bug fix: Internal error

    3.30.6    January 9, 2007
  • Bug fix: ":" is replaced by "_" when target is from Guide Star Catalog to prevent file name exception
  • Bug fix: Restored Az/Alt info to FITS header when Insert WCS is selected
  • Bug fix: Target times are now properly reset after an aborted run
  • Bug fix: Promulgated CCDSOft bug fix to all instances of guide exposure setting.
  • Bug fix: Properly account for exposure delay times in time estimates
  • Enhancement: Added "Planning Mode" to main window title as a reminder.
  • Enhancement: Planning function improved for ASCOM and further described.  See Planning

    3.30.5    December 31, 2006
  • New feature: Guide exposure and whether to guide can be set on a per series and per target basis.  See Light Frames
  • New feature: Post-focus offset focusing for minimizing the effect of field curvature.  See Focusing
  • New feature: Focus Now function added. See Focusing
  • New feature: Darks Now function added.  See Dark Frames
  • New feature: Direct programming of min. move, max move, aggreessiveness in Maxim now supported.  See Guiding
  • New feature: Diffraction Limited (Boltwood) Cloud Sensor version I and version II now supported.  See Software and Boltwood Cloud Sensor
  • New feature: WCS data can be optionally inserted in the FITS header of light frames.  See Professional Applications
  • New feature: Plan mode added to make target planning easier.  See Software
  • New Feature: Spectroscopy binning.  See Professional Applications
  • Change: A default entry on the Target page will no longer be generated.  If there is no target entry on the targets page, no light frames will be acquired.
  • Bug fix: AO now works with Maxim.  See Equipment Setup under cameras for important information.
  • Bug fix: Improved CCDSoft exposure abort logic.
  • Bug fix: Resolved index out of bounds exception in Review setup
  • Workaround: For CCDSoft guide exposure setting bug
  • Enhancement: Added delays for ASCOM dome control response to close shutter command.
  • Enhancement: Mount now backs away from any limits when east if the meridian before parking.

    3.25.6    November 18, 2006
  • Bug fix: restore AutomaDome code to prior working version
  • Bug fix: insure guide exposure is properly set when not dithering

    3.25.5    November 16, 2006
  • Bug fix - guider not being restarted after a focus run

    3.25.4    November 15, 2006
  • If dithering = 0, guider will not be stopped between exposures.  See Guided Operation
  • Initialization will be aborted if plate solve fails
  • Added target ephemeris to log file
  • Import | XML changed to Import | CCDNavigator
  • Bug fix: Corrected wrong location for failed SyncImages

    3.25.3    November 6, 2006
  • Added open and close dome test buttons.  See Options
  • Improved AutomaDome reliability
  • Prevent dis-allowed characters in the target portion of the default file name.
  • Bug fix: Rotator does no longer rotates crossing the meridian with fork mounts.

    3.25.2    (not released)

    3.25.1    October 22, 2006
  • Added support for TheSky6, Japanese version
  • Improved meridian flip with Gemini and similar mounts by Safety Slew.  See Meridian Flip topic

    3.24.5    October 9, 2006
  • Bug fix: Focus occasionally being skipped
  • Increased web searh timeout a bit
  • Added PinPoint LE error checking

    3.24.4   October 8, 2006
  • Added XML import facility
  • Added Center TheSky function.  See Target Entry and Edit topic

    3.24.3   October 2, 2006
  • Increased Internet connection timeout before Retrying
  • Check for Updates check state now properly reported
  • Added Update Now menu selection.  See Updates
  • Added Updates topic to the help system.
  • Added delay for FocusMax reporting succes or fail focus result for slow systems

    3.24.2   September 30, 2006
  • Maintain checked state of menu item Check for Updates
  • Corrected help file on initialization topic

    3.24.1   September 29, 2006
  • Added automatic updating via the Internet. See the Help menu section of the User Interface
  • Added new information to the Troubleshooting topic.
  • Added warning to Setup Review about taking flats after closing dome shutter
  • Further changes to AutomaDome control for Meridian Controls
  • Bug fix: invalid path upon Flats Now
  • Bug fix: Tracking On button

    3.23     September 25, 2006
  • "Object not found" bug fix.  Can occasionally occur with certain locations in TheSky6.

    3.22     September 23, 2006
  • Added SkyStar capability when using @Focus2.  This permits centering the focus star and magnitude range selection.
  • When using TheSky, any target that is slewed to will be displayed in TheSky, along with the FOVI's Position Angle.
  • Bug fix for getting a GSC star's coordinates, AutomaDome alignment to telescope.  Improved shutter control reliability

    3.21     September 17, 2006
  • Bug fix for TAKometer rotation direction.  

    3.20     September 16, 2006
  • Migrate to .NET 2.0 framework.  See new Software Requirements
  • CCDSoft @Focus2 focusing method is now supported.  See Focusing
  • Focuser temperature compensation is now performed completely in CCDAutoPilot.  See Focusing
  • Astrodon TAKometer rotator is now supported
  • Added minimum altitude limit.  See Options
  • Extended Pyxis com port to COM16
  • For dome users, if the shutter is commanded to open and doesn't, the run will abort.  See Options
  • Any applications to be run on the Options page must complete and close before the session continues.  See Options
  • Improved diagnostics and error messaging
  • Added Equipment Setup to aid in hardware setup.

    3.19     July 18, 2006
  • Added target list Export function - see the User Interface menu section
  • AO centering now occurs before focusing to insure accurate SkyStar target return
  • Spurious prompt to save an unchanged target file on exit has been eliminated.
  • Unguided realign now times properly

    3.18     June 26, 2006
  • Factored in calibration time for DirectGuide
  • Handle exceeding slew limits more gracefully
  • Added AO centering option - see the Guided Operation topic
  • Added debug facility - see the Troubleshooting topic

    3.17     June 1, 2006
  • New trouble shooting section added to the Help system. 
  • CCDAutoPilot Reset Tool added for troubleshooting
  • Enhanced monitoring thread reliability
  • Corrected negative filter offset move bug introduced in 3.16
  • Corrected unhandled exception with temp comp enabled with some focusers
  • Factored in number of light sets into target time duration and total lights time

    3.16     May 26, 2006
  • Bug fix for TCC Focuser

    3.15     May 22, 2006
  • Corrected target run start time change detection
  • Added CCDSoft support for SBIG Remote Guide Head
  • Customization to support RCOS TCC temperature compensation - see new  Software Requirements
  • Fixed AO guider start bug with Maxim
  • Stopped guider if running during run abort due to Cloudy/Very Cloudy.

    3.14     May 5, 2006
  • Expanded explanation of Initialize
  • Corrected Dome find home timeout to 4 minutes (was 2 minutes).  Changed thread states.
  • Improved error trapping for bad initialization inputs, incompatible system profiles and missing FOVI in TheSky

    3.13     May 1, 2006
  • Fixed bad guiding with certain equipment combinations
  • Added focus position and temperature logging for focuser temperature compensation
  • Flat field min exposure now .01 sec and max exposure now .02 sec. for shutterless cameras

    3.12     April 28, 2006
  • Limited guider filter change upon guider start to self-guided configurations.
  • Resolved ASCOM telescope exception.
  • Corrected estimated start and end times.
  • Added timeouts and retry logic for Tracking On, Tracking Off and some CCDSoft activities.
  • Corrected Initialize button enable with some control program settings.

    3.11     April 14, 2006
  • Corrected CCDSoft/TheSky plate solve bug introduced in 3.10

    3.10     April 12, 2006
    New features added.
  • When using AutomaDome, a separate thread is used launched to maintain dome slit to telescope alignment.  This eliminates the need for any high resource loading tracking script.  AutomaDome support now requires AutomaDome version 1.00.011 or later.
  • Added support for the Boltwood Cloud Sensor via an independent thread.
  • Manual camera rotation without recalibrating is now provided.
  • Guide Calculator with CCDSoft programming option added.
  • Optional actions to turn tracking off and/or park the scope while waiting for a target start time
  • The session start time is now user-settable for delayed start based on time or sunset after the run is initiated.

    Bug fixes for always opening the dome on run start, failure to reload profiles when focuser temperature compensation was checked,some flat states not being saved, exposure delay not working, target lookup without defined FOVI, improved PIR position reporting of TCC application, focus on flip not working, licensing bug for standard to pro upgrade.  Dome rotation test increased to 15° for domes with large deadbands.  Some log entries enhanced or added.  Note: If you are using a profile created under a previous version of CCDAP, check the entries on the Flat Frames page for Sun Elevation.  Enter defaults of 0.5 for dusk and - 8.0 for dawn and then save the profile to insure proper sky flat defaults are entered.

    3.04     March 6, 2006
  • Added code to support slow responding peripherals such as the TCC focuser and the Meade DSI imager.  
  • Improved UI responsiveness while focusing.  FocusMax 3.3.15 is required.  
  • Expanded help file on Initializing

    3.03     February 20, 2006
    New features added: 
  • Centering of focus star and selectable focus star magnitude ranges in SkyStar.  
    Bug fixes for dawn abort, flats now slewing when it shouldn't, force filter change to sync filter at run start, temp comp being enabled for flats when not specified.

    3.02     February 15, 2006
  • Filter offset/filter change bug fixed.  
  • Additional bad user input trapping.  
  • Initialized guide exposure to sync filter.

    3.01     February 13, 2006
  • Added workaround for TheSky6 international issue, other international issues resolved, Dome Open enabled for Automadome users.  
  • Dome close now works correctly.  
  • Background colors now follow themes.  
  • Fixed filter changing during periodic focusing.  
  • Fixed temperature compensation logic.

    3.00      February 6, 2006
  • Initial release