The World of Computer Software/World_Of_Computer_Software-02-387-Vol-3of3.iso/s/sop9314u.zip/STSPLUS.NEW

Text File | 1993-03-29 | 10KB | 164 lines

STSORBIT PLUS Revision History
------------------------------

      Each released version of STSPLUS uses a four digit revision code such
as 9314. The first two digits indicate the year and the second two digits
indicate the week of the year. In some cases, an additional letter suffix
is added to distinguish changes occurring within the same week or to
identify special versions. A partial week at the beginning or end of the
year is counted as a full week. Using this method, a year will typically
have 53 weeks although it is possible to have 54 weeks in a leap year (1972
is an example). The current year-week revision code is shown on the Julian
Date display, Display Mode 7, in my program ASTROCLK.
     This file records the revision history of program STSPLUS through all
of the minor twists and turns that usually accompany the evolution of such
a complex program. It illustrates the tortuous process of maintaining and
refining a program as ideas and problems are reported from every quarter.
These notes may also be helpful to users who are upgrading from one version
to another to find out what has changed.

                                              David H. Ransom, Jr.


Version 9314 -- March 1993
--------------------------
-This is a MINOR UPDATE to correct several problems. Except for these
notes, the documentation is essentially unchanged.
-Corrected a bug with F6 on the Main Menu. Switching between MET and T+E
using F6 changed the label but NOT the data. (F5 worked correctly when the
ground track is displayed.) Thanks to Paul Ferrante for reporting the bug.
-Corrected (again!) a format error in file STSPLUS.OBS which is created for
use with TRAKSTAR. For names shorter than 20 characters, the numerical data
was shifted left. Thanks to Michael Simmons for helping track down the bug!
-Corrected the CPU identification displayed for 386 processors to "80386DX
or 80386SX". Due to a typo, the SX processor was shown as "80387SX".
-Corrected the spelling of Yarragadee, Australia. Thanks to Elwood Marshall
for the correction.


Version 9311 -- March 1993
--------------------------
-This is a FULL RELEASE with updated documentation, and includes all
changes listed here as well as those made in Preliminary Versions 9307
through 9310. Please see the update notes below for details.
-Added F1 to the Main Menu, Convert Keplerian Elements to 2-Line Format,
which incorporates the features formerly provided separately in my program
MAK2LINE. See new text for discussion and for a form which may be used to
transcribe data received by voice or modem.
-Repaired a bug which caused the Location Map isocontours to be drawn at
the wrong location when a second location was enabled in orthographic mode.
Thanks to Paul Ferrante for reporting the problem!
-Added Function Key F9 to the Time and Date Menu (F8 from the Main Menu) to
show the last system TIMESET and the current RIGHTIME corrections. This
menu item will not appear if program RIGHTIME is not detected.
-Added additional code to maintain the prior state of RIGHTIME per Tom
Becker. Thanks, Tom!
-Various minor cosmetic changes.
-Documentation updated.


Version 9310 -- March 1993
--------------------------
-This is a MAINTENANCE UPDATE and also includes several improvements to
Version 9309. Users updating from Version 9250 should also read the notes
for Version 9309 below.
-In my rush to release Version 9309 of STSPLUS prior to STS-55, I neglected
to finish updating the code for F2 (Read 2-line elements). Hopefully, that
code has now been repaired correctly ... sorry!
-STSPLUS is now "aware" of program RighTime by Tom Becker. Audible alarms
in prior versions would perform unpredictably when RighTime was active
because MS BASIC uses the hardware clock's timer functions for "music"
(which RighTime also uses). STSPLUS now detects RighTime and temporarily
disables RighTime while an audible alarm is being generated and then re-
enables RighTime after the alarm has completed, restoring precise
timekeeping. With RighTime active, alarms are generated in foreground,
which may cause a slight delay in screen updating.
-CAUTION: STSPLUS expects RighTime Version 2.5+; performance with prior
versions of RighTime may yield unpredictable results. If using a prior
version of RighTime, do NOT enable audible alarms!
-If RighTime is not present or is not detected, the audible alarms are
generated in background as in prior versions. This usually causes the loss
of several clock ticks in the DOS software clock for each audible alarm.
Although the time loss per audible alarm is very small, the cumulative
error may become significant over extended time periods.
-Added the flashing message "calculating ..." during Pass Prediction
calculations so that users with slow computers (especially those without a
math coprocessor) will know that the process is continuing. Users with 286
computers and no math coprocessor report delays up to tens of minutes for
satellites with low mean motions!


Version 9309 -- February 1993
-----------------------------
-This is a PRELIMINARY RELEASE of a major update for STSPLUS and the first
public release since Version 9250. This version is being released as an
UPDATE ONLY for Versions 9250 and 9307; the full version will be released
shortly, complete with full documentation, pending the results of testing
for this preliminary release. See also the update notes for Version 9307
below. Comments and suggestions are invited, particularly with respect to
the new Data Output and Pass Prediction features.
-Function Key F3 on the Main Menu, Pass Predictions and Data Output, has
been rewritten and improved.
-Added Line-of-Sight Pass Predictions for the current satellite. Use F3
from the Main Menu and select Data Format 9. Pass predictions are made for
48-hour blocks and for up to 99 passes. Users may immediately display a
listed pass by entering the pass number. STSPLUS then automatically sets
SIMULATED TIME to the middle of the pass and switches to the ground track
display. See the section "Pass Predictions and Data Output" for additional
information. The capability to use TRAKSTAR or other external tabular pass
prediction software has been retained for those who prefer that technique.
-Improved and refined the Data Output capabilities introduced in Beta
Version 9307. Added FILE Data Output to file STSPLUS.LOG, and PRINTER Data
Output to printer LPT1:.
-Modified F2 on the Main Menu (Read 2-line Elements) to require the "#"
symbol when entering the NORAD number; enter the NORAD number as "#20580".
This now permits satellite names such as "1993 012A" to be found correctly;
prior versions would treat such an entry as a NORAD number and the search
would fail.
-Entering a full drive and path specification in addition to a filename
with F2 on the Main Menu (Read 2-line Elements) will now correctly set the
path without the need to use F7 (Set Paths and Filenames). Root directories
("C:\") are now processed correctly. Press ESC to cancel.
-Added text section titled "Time and the Personal Computer" which offers
information on setting and maintaining the PC clocks over long periods of
time. Includes information on programs TIMESET and RIGHTIME.


Version 9307 -- February 1993
-----------------------------
-This is a BETA TEST VERSION, not released publicly.
-Added Function Key F3 to the Main Menu. This provides data output on the
selected COM port with specified data items. Three different data formats
have been implemented so far.
-Removed the original Function Key F3 (Read .INI file) from the Main Menu.
Use F2 to read 2-line elements and/or set file names. In Version 9250, the
satellite data was not being read when the .INI file was changed. This was
caused by logic changes to speed up initialization of the program. Also,
reading "foreign" .INI files sometimes caused problems.
-Corrected a bug which caused a new launch time/date NOT to be added to
file STSPLUS.LTD if the curret satellite's NORAD number was less than the
last NORAD number in the file.
-In response to a request by Maj. T.S. Kelso, USAF, who prepares the 2-line
orbital elements which I post on my RPV ASTRONOMY BBS, I have changed the
name of that file from "NASAnnn.TXT" to "TLEnnn.TXT". The default file
which STSPLUS looks for has been similarly changed. Since the orbital data
in the file does NOT come from NASA but from US Space Command, the use of
"NASA" in the filename was confusing and did not give credit where it was
due.
-Corrected a minor bug which caused five pixels to be restored incorrectly
under the starbord (right) wing of the space shuttle icon.
-Modified the operation of Function Key F5 from the Main Menu to ADD or
UPDATE new launch time and date in file STSPLUS.LTD rather than to append
the new data at the end of the file. This assures that the satellite is
included only once in the file and that the new or updated information is
always read correctly. Prior versions required the user to manually edit
the file to remove multiple entries.
-Adjusted the maximum angle displayed for the isocontours (concentric
circles of satellite visibility) on the Location Map in orthographic mode
to take satellite altitude into account.
-Corrected the STSPLUS.OBS file format for use with TRAKSTAR. The data was
correct but the spacing caused TRAKSTAR to sometimes read the data
incorrectly. Thanks to Michael Simmons for reporting the problem!
-Corrected the latitude of Sao Paulo, Brazil in file STSPLUS.LOC. It was
one degree off to the South and wound up in the Atlantic Ocean ...