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SACREP.TXT
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1993-05-24
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SACREP Version 6.0 - The Quick Overview
by A.J. Crayon and Dan Ward
May 24, 1993
SACREP.EXE is a report generator program that can be used against the
SAC60.DBF file. This program is designed as a quick way to generate
observing lists from the SAC60 database for those who are not conversant with
database programs. It can also be used to extract smaller files for use with
database managers, word processing programs, text editors or even spreadsheet
programs. Version 6.0 replaces all earlier versions.
Nine files are included within SACREP.ZIP. This file, SACREP.TXT, provides
some background and simple instructions. The files SAC1REP.FRM, SAC2REP.FRM,
SAC3REP.FRM, SAC4REP.FRM and SAC5REP.FRM are report format files. SACBLK.DBF
is an empty datafile to provide the correct format for converting SAC60 text
files into the DBF format needed by SACREP. The SACPARMS.DBF file is a
parameter file telling the program where to find the data files. The main
program is SACREP.EXE.
SAC 6.0 is distributed with files in a ZIPed status. If you used the
INSTALL.BAT program, it unZips the SAC60B through SAC60E into 24 separate
ASCII files named SAC60-00.ASC through SAC60-23.ASC, which correspond to
hours of right ascension.
The Main Menu
Execute the program by entering SACREP. This will bring up the main menu,
which has nine menu options. The first option produces reports based on
Constellations. The second option generates reports based on a range of
coordinates. Option three creates a database extract for a Constellation.
Option four creates a database extract based on Coordinates. Option five
will append previously extracted small data files into a larger file. The
sixth option will create or update the constellation index file for the
database. Option Seven will display the database entry for a single option.
Option Eight updates the program parameters. Option Nine will convert the
SAC60.TXT file to the DBF file format needed for all the other options.
Option zero is an Exit.
If you have never used SACREP before, the first time you use SACREP, the
SAC60 data files need to be converted to a DBF file. This is Option 9
9 from the main menu of SACREP. Once you have converted the data, you could
delete the SAC60-??.ASC files, but you probably want to maintain your
original set of ZIP files in case you need them in the future.
The program is shipped with SAC60.DBF as the database default and assumes
that the files are in a subdirectory called C:\SAC60. If you have already
installed an earlier version of SACREP, double check menu option 8 to see if
your path and database filename are correct.
Producing Reports
1. To run an observing list based on a Constellation, the user is prompted
to enter the standard three letter abbreviation for the desired
constellation. (See the SACDOC.TXT FILE for a list of those abbreviations.)
The program is not upper/lower case sensitive.
Next, enter a range of magnitudes for brightest magnitude, then dimmest
magnitude. The programs expect a range from -1 to 99.9 magnitude. (Some
objects do not have magnitudes - dark nebulae. These are listed in the
database with a value of 79.9. All other objects have a "normal" catalog
magnitude rating. A few objects with unknown magnitudes are listed
with 99.9 for their magnitude.
Next, indicate whether to route the report to a disk file (d) or a printer
(p), with the printer as a default. The disk file will be an ASCII file
complete with page headings, etc. The next choice is to choose a particular
type of object for the observing list, such as GALXY for galaxies, DRKNB for
Dark Nebula, etc. See the SAC60 note file for the full list of
abbreviations. The default option, ALL__ will provide a complete listing of
all object types that meet the other selection criteria.
There are 5 report formats to choose from. Report type 1 has an 80 column
format, Format 2 is 128 columns; format 3 runs 160 columns, format 4 needs
185 and format 5 runs 245 columns. The first three contain only some of the
database fields, while the last three options contain all of the database
fields. Except for forms 1 and 5, the reports may fold the longest fields.
The program pauses for a printer check. To keep it simple, I did not create
a printer table, so you need to make sure that the printer is already set for
the desired typefont. If you send the report to a disk file, a filename must
be entered. If no file extension is provided, the program will automatically
append the extension of '.txt'. The filename should not be one that is
currently in use.
The last choice is to hit enter to process the report or enter 0 to return
to the main menu.
2. Main Menu Option Two provides reports on a range of coordinates, object
types and magnitudes. The program expects whole numbers between 0 and 24,
for right ascension. It expects whole numbers between -90 and 90 inclusive
for declination. The other choices follow the same format as described for
the Constellation report option. Be sure to enter your desired ranges, as
the default values will give you everything!
3. & 4. Database extracts allow you to extract all of the database
information fields, based on the same type of selection criteria used by the
two report generator options. If the database is used by someone who never
observes objects fainter than 13th magnitude, and never lower than -40
degrees declination, those criteria could be used to create a much smaller
version of the SAC60 database. That database would then be much faster than
using the full blown version. The Database extracts for Coordinates uses
the same selection criteria as the Coordinate report generators - except the
output goes to a file whose name you must supply.
The text file version has all fields delimited with double quotes and
separated by commas. This type of file can be read by most database programs
and can be imported into most spreadsheet software. The DBF extract file
version, is in a standard dBASE file format.
5. Main Menu Option Five can be used to append files with the same format
into the other DBF files. This is an easy way to create a variety of smaller
observing databases. For example, the user could create individual
constellation extracts, then append each file to have a new combined database
such as seasonal databases based on the available constellations. We have
two warnings. FIRST, the program will append one file to another. So if you
create a database based on coordinates, then append a constellation extract
of an constellation within those same coordinates, you would now have
duplicates of some objects. SECOND, if you plan to use the extracts to run
reports, be sure to run the INDEXING option, described below.
6. Option Six from the main menu will creates index files to provide
reports and extracts sorted by Constellations, RA, Object name or the
othernames fields. If you decide to use database extracts instead of the
main database, you will need to index those new databases with this option.
7. Main Menu Option 7 will provide a listing of the data for a particular
object. You can enter the Name or Other Name of an object. For example, NGC
1068 is also known as M 77. Be sure to use the name format as used in the
SACDOC.TXT documentation file. This program is looking for an exact match.
"BERK58" will not locate "Berk 58." Upper/lower case does not matter, but
spacing is critical.
The Messier Objects were loaded into the Other name field as five characters.
M 101 is an 'M' followed by a blank space, then '101' M 33 is an 'M' followed
by two blank spaces, then '33' and M 1 is an 'M' followed by three blank
spaces followed by '1'. This maintains the ASCII sort order.
You can continue to browse forward in the database from any point by
entering an F, move backwards in the database by entering a B, or use Q
to return to the main menu. This browse forward and backwards makes it
easy to scan through a catalog. For example, you can scan through the
entire Messier catalog by searching on "M" or "M 1" and going Forward.
8. From the Main Menu, option 8 will allow you to modify the program
parameters. Entering an 8 takes you to a screen showing your current
program settings. The first choice displays your current drive:\path. Enter
the new drive:\path if needed; or hit enter to leave it alone.
The next line shows the current database filename. Enter a new name, if
needed, or hit enter to leave it as it is. The last line prompts you for
the display options. There are two color and one black and white
alternative. As this program only displays text, there are no special
graphics considerations.
9. Option 9 is used to convert the distribution database text files to the
DBF format. If you are using a hard disk, INSTALL.BAT will have extracted
the four text files into 24 data files, SAC60-00 through SAC60-23. Option 9
checks your parameters, converts the ASCII files to SAC60.DBF and then
indexes it.
How Do I Stop It?
If you happen to hit the wrong key and start a report you do not want, you
can cancel out an in-progress action by holding down the ALT key and hitting
the letter C. Alt-C is the standard cancel processing command for Clipper
compiled programs. If you are cancelling a printer report, this would not
clear anything you may have already sent into a printer buffer or spooler.
Obviously, you can also power down your computer to stop a process,
but Alt-C is cleaner.
For More Report Options
SACREP will NOT meet all conceivable needs. There are many good database
programs on the market. Most will be able to use or convert the SAC60-??
files or the SAC60.DBF files to a format they can use.
IF You Just HAVE to Know More
The SACREP programs were written in dBASE III plus, and compiled
using Clipper. SACREP.EXE is hereby placed in the Public Domain and may
be freely distributed as is, provided no fees are charged. However,
it must be distributed with all files intact.
The programmers assume NO responsibility or liability for the program's
use or misuse. It is offered solely as a goodwill gesture to help support
those whose astronomical skills exceed their computer programming skills!
You can leave a message for Dan Ward on the AstroForum in CompuServe
(id 72040,3357), where he usually checks in at least once a week.
Database Trivia
We hereby express my sincere thanks to the entire Saguaro Astronomy Club
Database Project team, who gave us advance extracts of SAC60 to help
develop this program. Their dedicated efforts have provided astronomers
with a fantastic observing database! Our limited efforts to prepare
this report generator program and install program are a mere
drop in the bucket, when compared with their work!
Nearly all of the original SAC Deep Sky database team members belong to the
Saguaro Astronomy Club (SAC) in the Metro Phoenix area of Arizona, hence the
name of the database. (A Saguaro is the large variety of cactus often
seen in Western movies and quite common around Phoenix. Saguaros are
massive plants with large upturned arms, and are only found in Arizona
and Mexico.)
A.J. Crayon wrote SPROGS, a series of dBASE programs for the original release
of SAC 4.0. Dan Ward wrote SACREP 4.0. which was also released with SAC 4.0.
We combined forces to create SACREP 5.0, which was a blend of the best of
both. We fixed a minor upper/lower case problem with SACREP 5.1.
SACREP 5.2a fixed a minor glitch by updating a filename in the new version.
SACREP 5.2b was used as a test version by Dan Ward to figure out why some
of the things that worked so well in dBASE did not translate into his
Clipper version. Version 5.2c was a rewrite of version 5.2 and added
faster report generation, the addition of a separate parameters screen, more
formats for the printout reports, and improved individual object searches.
Version 6.0 is an update for the revision of the SAC deepsky database. It
also converts the Othernames and Object indexes to upper case so option 7
is no longer case sensitive. Due to changes in some field sizes, the
elimination of one field and the addition of a new field, SACREP 6.0
is not compatible with earlier versions of the database.
dBASE and dBASE III+ were registered trademarks of ASHTON-TATE. CLIPPER is
a registered trademark of Nantucket Corporation. We hereby recognize
their ownership to said terms throughout this document, and also
respectfully kowtow in their directions for making our lives easier via
the introduction of those stated products!
A.J. Crayon and Dan Ward - May 24, 1993