A long time ago I created an application called PhotomCap. The name was a contraction of "Photometry Capture".
The purpose of the app was to take AAVSO VSP comp star photometry and convert it into a text format file compatible with AIPWin.
AIPWin is an awesome photometry app. And it is still used by many. But it had an awkwardness for the entry of comp star data that PhotomCap addressed.
PhotomCap started as a screen scrapping application: you would display the VSP photometry for your target and Ctrl-A grab it all and throw it into PhotomCap and it would output a file that AIPwin could digest. It evolved so it could take an AAVSO chartid and do the same. But now this new secure internet world with its https requirements have isolated it: It no longer works. It was written with a stack (BCB5) that cannot work with https.
So, the question is: Who still wants to use it? Should it be ported to the new world?
Please respond if it is important to you. I can share the source code or create a modern version of the application.
Tell me if its worth the effort.
George
Hi George.
I have used your software for many years but admit that I haven't used it recently so did not realise it doesn't work anymore. AIP4WIN is still a well used program. Recently it has become a free program due to Richard Berry releasing it after the demise of the company that it was licenced to.
It would be good to have a working version of photomcap bundled with AIP4WIN
Cheers
Terry
George,
I would use updated software.
Thanks,
Roy
George, with only two responses (one of them mine) in nearly a week to your question, I have to say that I would not expect you to go to the trouble of updating software because of my potential interest.
Roy
Roy,
I should be able to port this code to VBNet in about a week. Richard Berry is going to keep AIPwin alive, so I want to show support by keeping PhotomCap ready to help.
Cheers,
George
George, that's great if you're keen. I use AIP4Win all the time now.
Roy
I'm trying to port Photomcap to VBNet and just realized that I don't have any examples of the .star file output. :(
Roy, or anyone else, please send a couple examples of your .star files. I'm going to need them to test the new code.
Thx,
George
SGEO@GASilvis.net
Hi George,
As an occasional user of Photomcap, I should be grateful for an update. I have alerted the AIP4WIN user group to your question.
Best wishes,
Geoff
Hi George,
Here is a link to the .star file associated with M67 so it has many stars listed.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/54ockjt05hqpitb/AAD-YucNuyOSuklA_Bvb92pda?dl=0
I hope this is useful for your testing.
Geoff
Hi George, I would use PhotomCap. I am re-starting variable star observation after a few years.
Thanks and best regards
I've ported the application to VBNet and it is ready for download at:
https://github.com/gasilvis/photomcap/releases
Please be my testers! Report any problems to me at Photomcap@gasilvis.net
Enjoy!
George
As you may know, Willmann-Bell, the publisher of The Handbook of Astronomical Image Processing and AIP4Win, has closed. Because they required users of AIP4Win to register the program on Willmann-Bell's server, their closing left users of my software high and dry with no way to register the program. It also meant there is no way to buy the book, although it is possible that the AAS/S&T may take over Willmann-Bell's operation.
So I created a new version of AIP4Win that does not require registration. and a new installation program for the new version. I also created AIP4Win@Groups.IO to distribute the new version and support AIP4Win. The new version is called AIPv2.4.10.NonReg. The download is open to all members of AIP4Win@Groups.IO, and the group is open to all. It appears to install without problems on most computers, and that includes Win 10 computers. This version is functionally identical to AIP4Win v2.4.8 except for a few minor bugfixes.
Doing those things was an emergency response. Further work is on hold because my home, shop, and barn burned in the Oregon's Beachie Creek wildfire on September 8, 2020. As we get into Spring 2021, I will revisit that immediate release and its installation program. In the meantime, if you're an AIP4Win user, you may wish to join the group and install the new non-registration version. And, if you're an experienced user, please help out as newbies begin to use it.
Thank you
Richard