. 

Installation
To get Planetarium up and running you need to:
  1. Download the Planetarium archive planet24.zip (if you have not already)
  2. Unzip the files contained in planet24.zip
  3. Decide which files you want to install
  4. Install the files on your PDA device
  5. Start Planetarium and enter the registration code (if you have purchased Planetarium, otherwise the program runs as demo version)
If you upgrade from a previous version:

In previous versions there were two files to install: planet20.prc and PlnStars9096.prc (or PlnStars1600.prc). They are now combined in one single file. This allows to move everything into the memory card or stick. (PlnStars9096 could not be moved to the card). This is why the new file planet24.prc is bigger than planet20.prc, but PlnStars9096 is no longer needed and you can delete it from your PDA to save space:

  • Start the Palm launcher (in case you use a third-party launcher, switch to the Palm-Launcher)
  • Select the menu item "App/Delete..."
  • Look for the entry "PlnStarData.lib" and select it
  • Tap "Delete"
  • Tap "Yes" and "Done"
Then you can install the new file as described farther below.

You may decide not to install these files:

  • PlanetariumDB.pdb - the location list
  • UserObjsDB.pdb - the objects list
  • PlnCometsDB.pdb - comets and asteroids
If you have entered personal locations you should not install the file PlanetariumDB.pdb. If you want to install it, export your personal locations to a memo so that you can reimport them after installing the file. (See the chapter "Databases" for more details.)

If you have entered user objects yourself, you should not install the file UserObjsDB.pdb. If you want to install it, export your personal objects to a memo so that you can reimport them after installing the file. (See the chapter "Databases" for more details.)

If you have entered orbital elements for comets and asteroids you should export your personal entries to a memo so that you can reimport them after installing the file PlnCometsDB.pdb. (See the chapter "Databases" for more details.)

Notes about installing Planetarium on a memory card or memory stick

  • You can install the file planet24.prc and the optional star data base PlanetariumStars.pdb on the memory card.
  • All the other files ( PlanetariumDB.pdb, UserObjsDB.pdb, PlnCometsDB.pdb) must stay in main memory.
Exception to this rule:
You can install the following files into the memory card, if you do NOT intend to add data to them:
  • PlanetariumDB.pdb - Location list
  • UserObjsDB.pdb - Deep Sky Objects
  • PlnCometsDB.pdb - Comets and Asteroids
Explanation: If these files reside on the card and are not present in main memory they will be copied to main memory together with planet24.prc each time you start the application and will be discarded when you stop the application. So if you add new entries, they are discarded as well and the files will be copied again from the card at the next start. (Please note, you need the files from version v2.2 or later. Files from older versions do not get copied along with the application).

This copying takes place only if you don't have the files installed in main memory. If you have them installed both in main memory and on the card, they won't be copied. 

Download Planetarium

You can download Planetarium from the following web site:

http://www.aho.ch/pilotplanets/release.htm

You will also find information about the latest release there and you can join a mailing list to get notified when new versions are available. Current comet data is also posted on this site. 

Unzip the archive

A zip file contains several other files in compressed format. Storing files this way has advantages: a) They are all grouped together. You just download one file and have everything you need. b) They are stored in compressed form and therefore need less download time. c) The zip file contains a checksum. Should there be an error during transmission, you would get notified about it.

To extract the contents of a zip file you need a special program. 
On Windows you could use the StuffIt Expander from http://www.stuffit.com/win/expander/index.html or WinAce from http://www.winace.com or WinZip from http://www.winzip.com. 
If you have a Macintosh you could also use the StuffIt Expander from http://www.stuffit.com/win/expander/index.html or "ZipIt" from http://www.maczipit.com. 
Please read the instructions that come with these programs on how to use them.

Which files to install

planet24.zip contains the following files:

  • Planet24.prc - The main executable application file. 
  • PlanetariumStars.pdb - An optional star data base with additional stars down to m7. 
  • PlanetariumDB.pdb - A list of 600 Major cities. 
  • UserObjsDB.pdb - A list of about 200 deep sky objects. 
  • PlnCometsDB.pdb - A list of some comets and asteroids. 
You need to install at least the file Planet24.prc. If you install PlanetariumStars.pdb, you have stars down to m7. Without this file you have stars down to about m6. You can download larger star data bases from the Planetarium for PalmOS website (see below). All the other files are optional, but it is recommended to install them to have some initial data in the program. The data base files correspond with the following lists in the program:
  • PlanetariumDB.pdb - The Location Pick list (Menu item "Options / Set Location", then tap the "Pick" button)
  • UserObjsDB.pdb - The Objects list (Menu item "Options / Objects")
  • PlnCometsDB.pdb - The Comets and Asteroids list (Menu Item "Options / Comets and Asteroids")
The data in these lists is backed up during HotSync every time you have made changes or entered new data. To fill some or all of these lists with initial data you can install the corresponding .pdb files from planet24.zip. They contain:
  • PlanetariumDB.pdb - About 600 major cities from all over the world.
  • UserObjsDB.pdb - 110 Messier objects and 110 Caldwell objects.
  • PlnCometsDB.pdb - Some comets and asteroids.
If you have a GPS and a cable to connect it to your Palm, Planetarium can get the current location directly from the GPS. To enable this feature, you'll need to download and install the file GPSNMEA.prc. You can read more about this on the page "Connecting a GPS"

If you have a computer controlled telescope and a cable to connect it to your Palm, Planetarium can show you the sky section where the telescope is pointing at or steer the telescope to a given object. To enable this feature, you'll need to download and install the appropriate plug-in file. You can read more about this on the page "Connecting a Telescope".

Additional star data bases

On the download page there are additional star data base files available in different sizes and with different numbers of stars.

First select one of the star data base files that you would like to install. Note: You need only one of these files. For example, if you want stars down to m9, you download and install the file for m9 (and not m7 + m8 + m9). After unzipping the downloaded file you get a file called PlanetariumStars.pdb that you install.

This file can either be installed in RAM or on a memory card. Especially for the larger files it is recommendedable to install them on the memory card.

  • To install the file in RAM install it like any other file via Hotsync. This is a good option for the smaller files if your PDA does not have a card slot.
  • To install it on the memory card, you could also install it via Hotsync by selecting the card as destination, but we do not recommend this, as this process is VERY SLOW! For the largest files, it can take up to several hours, depending on the device and card you have. It is feasible for the smaller files, but for the large files there are alternatives:
    • Use a memory card reader. This is a device that can read and write the memory card that you connect via USB with your PC.
    • Use the "Card Export" software from Softick (http://www.softick.com). This is a cool program that lets your PDA work like a memory card reader when it is placed into the docking station.
    Both ways, you get an additional disk drive on your PC to view the memory card. To install the file copy it into a specific folder onto the card. The Planetarium star data base file needs to be at: \PALM\Launcher\PlanetariumStars.pdb

To change the star data base file, just repeat this procedure with another file.

You can also install a large star data base file on the card and a small one into RAM. Then the program will automatically select the file on the card if the card is present, and if no card is present, it will use the file in RAM.

Installing the files on the PDA

To install these files onto your PDA, please have a look at your documentation that came with your device. There should be a chapter explaining how applications are installed. 

For very novice users, this is a little bit more detailed (I cannot give you completely detailed instructions on this here because it depends on the device and brand, but in general it works like this): 

  1. Start the Palm Desktop Application on the PC or Mac.
  2. Select the "Install" function.
  3. Select one or more .prc and .pdb files and prepare them for installation.
  4. During the next HotSync they get transferred to your Device. 

Entering the registration code

If you have purchased Planetarium you should have received a registration code. If you don't have this registration code, Planetarium just runs as demo version. When you enter the registation code, Planetarium will get converted into the full version.

To enter the registration code you got, select the menu item "Info / Register" or press the "Enter Key" button on the startup screen.

Enter the registration code without any blanks or quotes.

Tap on the "OK" button. If you have entered the key correctly, you will get a confirmation.

Planetarium runs as full version which you can convince yourself of in the About screen (menu item "Info / About")


 

For very novice users: To select a menu item you tap on the lower left silk screen button just at the left of the graffiti area. Then you should see the menu bar at the top of the display. You now select with the pen one of the items from this menu.

Deinstallation

If you wish to deinstall Planetarium, please delete the following items from your Palm:
 

  • Planetarium - The Planetarium main executable and the data bases
  • PlnStarDataLib.lib - The star database
  • PlnGPS.lib - If you have installed the GPS connection feature
  • PlnTelescope.lib - If you have installed the Telescope connection feature