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QUIKSTRT.DOC
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1994-02-08
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Quick Start Guide
Sometimes it is difficult to know where to begin when
first trying a new software package. This is true of
any package, no matter how simple or how complicated.
There always is some sort of learning curve associated
with it. The goal of this document is to "level out"
that learning curve by getting you focused on the most
important items of the program. This will assist you
in your evaluation of the product prior to
registration.
Ready To Run
PC-Track is extremely versatile, and has many options
that are changeable by the user. But it is configured
to be essentially "ready to go" when you load it on
your computer. Only a few minor things need to be setup
prior to using the program. Once you are up to speed on
the basic operation, then you can explore more of the
deeper features of the program and see how powerful it
really is.
Eight Basic Steps
There are eight basic steps to getting familiar with
the product:
1 Get familiar with the basics
2 Select and Configure printer
3 Select Parameter File
4 Configure System Settings
5 Select Active Sites
6 Track in Graphics Mode
7 Track in Text Mode
8 Scan for available passes
Step One - Get Familiar With The Basics - F1
While PC-TRACK has been written to use many convenient
methods of displaying and controlling the information
available, it would be beneficial to you to review the
help screens dealing with the various parts of the
program (windows, dialog boxes, scroll bars, etc.) to
become familiar with how they work. Once you gain that
familiarity, it will be much easier for you to navigate
your way through the program and understand the various
terms and phrases used. Press the F1 key for help
anywhere in the program.
You are also encouraged to read the User Guide
(USRGUIDE.DOC) chapter entitled "The User Interface."
Step Two - Set Up the Printer
A major thing you want to do is to select the printer
that you will be using (assuming you have a printer).
First, select the "Options" option from the main menu.
Then select the "Select Printer" option. You will now
see a list of printers that is available for use. Find
your printer, or one that your printer emulates (acts
like) and then press the "Select" button, (or double
click on it).
You should then select the "Options" main menu option,
and then "Page Setup" option. Set the desired page
settings with this dialog box.
You will then be ready to do most of the basic printing
available in PC-Track.
Step Three - Select A Parameter File
PC-Track allows you to have different parameter files.
Each parameter file contains all of the parameters that
define what PC-Track is configured to do. All
attributes, colors, paths, active sites and satellites,
times, views, etc. are contained in the parameter
files.
Several different sample parameter files are provided
for you to see how flexible PC-Track is. Examples of
parameter files provided are:
AMATEUR.PRM : Configured to display some amateur radio
satellites
WEATHER.PRM : Configured to display some weather
satellites
GPS.PRM : Configured to display some global
positioning satellites
To select a sample parameter file, select the File main
menu option, then select the Open option. You will see
a list of *.PRM files in the file selection box. Press
the TAB key to move the cursor to the files list box.
Highlight the one you wish to try. When highlighted
(make sure it also appears in the input line at the top
of the dialog box), press the RETURN key. The
parameters will be loaded and you will be ready to
proceed.
Step Four - Configure System Settings
It will be important to configure PC-TRACK for the
proper time zone, and to display dates and distances
the way you wish. This is done using the System Config
dialog box.
First, select the "Options" option from the main menu.
Then select the "System Config" option. You will now
see the System Configuration dialog box. This is where
you can set up the date format, time frame, and time
zone. It is particularly important to make sure the
time zone is correct, so that predictions will be
correct. Remember that the number entered here is the
number of hours that UTC time is AHEAD of you. For
example, Eastern Standard Time for the US would require
a 5.
You can ignore the image path for now, it should already
be correct.
Step Five - Select Primary, Secondary, and Active Sites
PC-Track maintains a large database of sites for use
(up to 200). From this database, you may select up to
200 "active" sites, along with a "Primary" and a
"Secondary" site.
Active sites are the ones that will appear in the
graphics tracking option. If the Line Of Site attribute
is enabled, these sites display Line Of Site lines to
satellites that are visible to them.
The Primary and Secondary sites are special sites used
in graphics tracking and the Mutual Pass Scan option.
Active sites are selected from the Select Active Sites
dialog box. This is accessible using the "Active"
button. Now with the > and < keys (or by doubleclicking
the mouse on the desired site names) you can select the
desired active sites. When finished with this, press
the Done button. Then press the Done button again to
close the Edit Sites dialog box.
The primary and secondary sites are selected from the
Edit Sites dialog box. You can access this dialog box
by selecting the "Edit" main menu option then the
select the "Sites" sub option. Pressing the F5 hot key
from the main screen will also bring up the Edit Sites
dialog box. Select a primary site in the "Primary Site"
and "Secondary Site"input line.
Step Six - Track in Graphics Mode
To access the Graphics Tracking Mode, select the "View"
main menu option, and then the "Track(Graphics)"
option. You may also access this by pressing the F2 hot
key from the main screen. The graphics tracking mode
will then be activated. For details on options
available in graphics track mode, see the chapter
dealing with that mode. You may also press the F1 key
for a list of available options.
NOTE:
PC-TRACK makes use of pre-drawn globe views
and maps to speed graphics displays while at
the same time providing versatility in the
viewpoints available to the user. The
unregistered release of PC-TRACK provides you
with 4 globe views and one world mercator
views. The colors and geographic features are
pre- determined by Acme Workshops as those
that would best serve as trial displays. They
are intended to allow an adequate
demonstration the capabilities of PC-TRACK
prior to registration.
The registered package, however, includes a
utility program that allows you to develop
your own globe views and mercator projection
world map. With this utility, you have the
capability of defining the viewpoint (point
in space from which the globe is viewed),
offset (point on the screen where the center
of the earth is), colors and geographical
features (coasts, islands, lakes, rivers,
country boundaries, and state boundaries) of
the views. You can define multiple sets of
globe views, each with up to 30 different
views. PC- TRACK can load and make available
up to 30 views at a time.
Please consider these items when evaluating
PC-TRACK, and realize that the 4 views of the
globe that you get with the pre-registration
copy is only the beginning.
Step Seven - Track in Text Mode
To access the text track mode, select the "View" main
menu option, and the "Track(Text)" option. You may also
access this mode by pressing the F3 hot key from the
main screen. This mode displays current or future
position data for the Primary Satellite and the Primary
and Secondary Sites.
Step Eight - Scan for mutually visible passes
To access the scan mode, select the "View" main menu
option, and the "Scan(Text)" option. You may also
access this mode by pressing the F4 hot key from the
main screen. This mode allows you to can for satellite
passes that are mutually visible between the Primary
and Secondary sites. All active satellites are scanned.
Additional Experiment:
Select Other Primary and Active Satellites
PC-Track maintains a large database of satellites for
use (up to 200). From this database, you may select up
to 200 "Active" satellites to track and visualize,
along with a "Primary" satellite.
Active satellites are the ones for which positions will
be computed and will appear on the graphics track
screen. They are also the ones that will be scanned in
the Mutual Visibility Pass Scan option (see below).
The Primary satellite is used in the text tracking mode
as the satellite that will be analyzed.
Active satellites are selected from the Select Active
Satellites dialog box. This is accessible using the
"Active" button. Now with the > and < keys (or by
doubleclicking the mouse on the desired satellite
names) you can select the desired active satellites.
When finished with this, press the Done button. Then
press the Done button again to close the Edit
Satellites dialog box.
The primary satellite is selected from the Edit
Satellites dialog box. You can access this dialog box
by selecting the "Edit" main menu option then the
select the "Satellites" sub option. Pressing the F5 hot
key from the main screen will also bring up the Edit
Satellites dialog box. Select a primary satellite in
the "Primary Satellite" input line.
Register
If you decide to continue to use PC-Track after the
trial period, you will need to register your copy of
PC-Track. When you register, you will receive many
benefits, as well as additional software that will make
PC-Track even more flexible and powerful.
See REGISTER.DOC for information on registering.
You can easily fill out your registration form using
the on-line form. To access the on-line form, press the
ALT and F9 keys together.
Enjoy!
You should now have enough of an introduction into PC-
Track to begin using it with confidence. Remember to
use the F1 key when in doubt about anything. Complete
help is available on all parts of the program. And now
that you've got a feel for how PC-Track works, it might
be a good time to read the rest of The PC-Track User
Guide. For a more detailed information about the
features and capabilities of PC-Track, read the PC-
Track Reference. (Provided in the registered user
package).
NOTE:
Remember that the satellite data provided
with PC-TRACK was fresh when packaged, but
most likely will not be when you receive it.
It is important to get fresh satellite data
in order to have accurate predictions since
most satellites undergo periodic maneuvers to
maintain proper orbits. See the chapter
called Data Sources for information on how to
obtain the latest satellite data for your
predictions.
