You should Unzip SKYGATE.ZIP into an empty SkyGate directory. SkyGate will expire after thirty days. To contiune use you should obtain a "KEY" from the address listed below. See SkyGate.Txt for additional information.
Support for SkyGate is provide via CompuServe OS2AVEN forum, section 1 (Other Vendors). Address all comments to Wayne Gary 71640,3466 Telephone support is also available at 817.483.5643.
Because future releases of SkyGate OS/2 will support extened graphics, SkyGate was written to support OS/2 super VGA mode 1024x768. If you are running a different resolution some of the fonts may not display correctly. The SkyGate window may be resized, maximized and minimized without effecting the aspect ratio.
Night vision is controled externally to SkyGate via the OS/2 Scheme Palette. Using ALT drag of a "Night Vision" scheme to the desktop will change the whole machine to night vision, not just SkyGate. NIGHT.SCM may be used as an example.
Online documentation is provided via OS2 IPF facility. At any time the user may press F1 to acquire "Help". There is also a "Help" menu item where the user will find a "Table of Contents" and an "Index".
Files included:
README - This file of instructions.
SKYGATE.TXT - SkyGate general description.
SKYGATE.EXE - SkyGate executable file.
SKYVIEW.EXE - SkyGate Bit Mapped Graphics viewer executable file.
SKYBMG.DLL - SkyGate Bit Mapped Graphics dynamic link library.
SKYGATE.INI - SkyGate initialization file.
DEFAULT.INI - Duplicate of SKYGATE.INI to be used if recovery is necessary.
SKYGATE.HLP - IPF online help.
SKYGATE.NDX - Constellation index.
SKYDATA.DBF - SkyGate main database in dBase IV format.
SKYDATA.MDX - Index to SKYDATA.DBF
SKYDATA.TXT - Documentation to SKYDATA.DBF
SKYLOGF.DBF - SkyGate defualt lof file in dBase IV format.
SKYLOGF.MDX - Index to SKYLOGF.MDX
MAKEICON.CMD - Proceedure to add SkyGate and SkyView icons to desktop.
NIGHT.SCM - Sample settings for night vision scheme palette.
SkyGate will display the LOGO and wait for an "OK" at startup until the user first uses File/Setup to enter his parameters. Afterward, SkyGate will display the LOGO and automatically destroy it after the data files and other threads have been initialized. SkyGate will default to use the SKYLOGF.DBF however you can change this pointer with File/Filenames.
CompuStar users should note the real meaning of View/Mode/Telescope. This mode places the SkyGate window in slave mode from the telescope and has nothing to do with SkyGate's control of the telescope. ie: The telescope is controling SkyGate's view. In this mode the user can operate the CompuStar as normal and SkyGate will act as a slave. SkyGate will control the CompuStar from any mode and it is recomended that Manual mode be used. Use of Telescope mode requires "OPT 0" be flashing on the CpompuStar unit. SkyGate tries to maintain this option switch but it can get out of sync as the CompuStar unit provides no means to interrigate the status of the switch. If the user wishes to use View/Mode/Telescope and the screen is not responding, the user should manually set the switch by pressing "OPT" then "0" then "ENTER" on the CompuStar to set the "0" flashing.
Your commets and suggestions are always more than welcome. Our goal is the make SkyGate the best astronomy system available.
