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AstroHTML 1.1

Exemptionware
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AstroHTML, an astronomy reference in HTML format especially designed for HandHeld PCs running Windows CE and Pocket Internet Explorer.
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Screenshots & Images

Screenshot of Home Screen
Screenshot of Astronomy and Space Links
Screenshot of The Glossary of Astronomical Terms
Screenshot of Sample Legend Screen
Screenshot of Sample Star Chart
Screenshot of Star Chart Index
Screenshot of The Star Atlas Constellation Index
Screenshot of Sample Star Atlas Entries for Cassiopeia
Screenshot of Home Screen

Description

Taking up a little over 320KB of space, AstroHTML packs a tremendous amount of astronomical data into an electronic reference you can take anywhere. Included is:

Detailed data about the 1,000 brightest stars, including stellar magnitude, right ascension and declination;
A set of twelve star charts showing the position of the major constellations throughout the year;
A helpful glossary of astronomical terms; and
175 links to astronomy-related web sites that you can surf via Pocket Internet Explorer.

The Star Atlas Constellation Index

By clicking on the Atlas button, you are immediately transported to an index of the constellations. Just clicking on the constellation name will jump you to the Star Atlas entries for that constellation. Click anywhere on the image below to see the sample entry for Cassiopeia.

Sample Star Atlas Entries for Cassiopeia

1,000 of the brightest stars in the night sky are listed by constellation, complete with name, magnitude, right ascension and declination.

Star Chart Index

Want to see what constellations are visible in the sky tonight? Simply pull up the star chart index, then tap on the date nearest to today. You'll be linked to a detailed star chart

Sample Star Chart

You'll see the outlines of the constellations, which are marked with letters corresponding to a legend which names each constellation. For example, "a" on the star chart is Ursa Minor (tap on the chart below to jump to the sample legend screen).

The Glossary of Astronomical Terms

If you're an amateur astronomer or student, you'll love AstroHTML's glossary! This is a complete listing of terms and their meanings, from "Aberration, Chromatic" to "Zodiac".

Astronomy and Space Links

If you can't find the information you need in AstroHTML, you can connect to the WorldWideWeb and peruse over 170 links to astronomy and space related web sites throughout the world. News, information and graphics are just a click away.

Installation Instructions

Welcome to AstroHTML, the electronic pocket astronomy reference for Windows CE handheld PCs! We know you're probably anxious to start using AstroHTML, but we'd recommend that you spend a few minutes reading this document before you attempt to install the package. Doing so may help you avoid any problems during installation and will make your experience a pleasant one!

By now, you've hopefully saved this file and the Astro.exe file to your hard disk drive. You may wish to make a backup copy of the Astro.exe file onto a floppy disk or other storage medium. Once you've made the backup copy, go to the location where you saved Astro.exe and double-click the Astro.exe icon (note - you may only see the word "Astro" if you've told Windows 95 to hide file extensions. You can always make sure that this is the Astro.exe file by right-clicking the icon and checking the file name under Properties).

A "WinZip Self-Extractor" dialog window for Astro.exe will appear, noting that you need to press the Unzip button to unzip all files in Astro.exe to the specified folder. We strongly suggest that you let WinZip put the files where we recommend - in the C:\Windows\Desktop folder. This will result in a folder named "AstroHTML" appearing on your PC desktop.

Leave the folder there until we're done installing AstroHTML, then feel free to move it elsewhere on your hard drive for safekeeping. A window will appear noting that the files have been unzipped successfully - click the OK button to make that window disappear. Next, click the Close button on the WinZip self-extractor window to get it out of the way.

Now it's time to hook up your HPC to your PC and fire up HPC Explorer. This software came with your Windows CE handheld computer and is used to install new packages, to synchronize data between your desktop or laptop PC and your HPC, and to back up your information. Note that it is always a good idea to perform a full backup of your data before installing any new programs or data on your handheld PC. Although it is unlikely that you will experience any loss of data as a result of installing AstroHTML, we highly recommend that you perform a backup at this time. If you have not used HPC Explorer before this time, please install it and use it before you try to install AstroHTML.

After HPC Explorer has started up, established communications with your HPC, and performed a data synchronization, you will see the traditional HPC Explorer screen, which should show a folder called "My Handheld PC" containing a number of other folders and files:

To perform a full backup of your HPC, click the backup icon, located on the far right of the HPC Explorer toolbar. You can also choose Backup Now from the Tools menu. Regardless of the method you use, within a few minutes your HPC will be backed up and you're ready to roll on the installation of AstroHTML. We recommend that you close or minimize all open windows with the exception of the HPC Explorer for the next step. Move your HPC Explorer window so that the AstroHTML folder is visible on your PC's desktop. Now, click on the "+" sign next to the words "My Handheld PC" on the HPC desktop. This will allow you to explore what's on the HPC. You'll note that there is a folder called "My Documents" in each and every HPC - that's where we want to copy the AstroHTML folder.

The next step is the fun part - drag the AstroHTML folder from your desktop to the "My Documents" folder on the HPC Desktop in HPC Explorer. You'll see your regular arrow cursor turn into a cursor with a "+" sign next to it just as the tip of the arrow goes over the My Documents folder - this is the point where you want to let up on your mouse button and "drop" the AstroHTML folder into the My Documents folder. The copy process will now begin! You may see a dialog window appear with the title "No Converter Selected". It goes on to say that "No converter has been selected for this file type. The file will be copied without conversion."

If you see this, click the "Do not display this message in the future" check box, then click OK. What HPC Explorer is trying to tell you here is that it doesn't have built-in converters for HTML files or GIF files. We're telling it to ignore the type of file and just copy it straight over from your PC to your HPC. You should see a copy and convert going on - this will take a while, since we're copying over 120 files!

Within a few minutes, your files will be copied over to the HPC. Looking in "My Documents" on your HPC, you should now see a folder called "AstroHTML" containing all of the files that make up the package. You can now quit HPC Explorer and unhook the connection cable - we're ready to start using AstroHTML.

USING ASTROHTML

If you're used to "surfing the web", then you already know how to use AstroHTML! That's because we use the Windows CE web browser, Pocket Internet Explorer, to allow for hypertext links between a number of HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) files. The major difference is that for most of the time that you will be using AstroHTML, you will not be connected to the World Wide Web. Instead, your files reside on the HPC in the AstroHTML folder we just moved over from your PC.

To start up AstroHTML, begin by launching Pocket Internet Explorer. If you don't know where it is, go to the Start menu, choose Programs, open the Communications folder by double-tapping on it, and you'll see a shortcut to Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer. Helpful hint - if you don't want to have to dig through these folders to get to Pocket Internet Explorer in the future, tap on the icon for Pocket Internet Explorer, then go to the File Menu and choose "Desktop Shortcut". You'll now have an icon for Pocket Internet Explorer right on your HPC desktop.

Start up Pocket Internet Explorer by double-tapping its icon. Within about 5 to 10 seconds, the Windows CE Pocket Internet Explorer default page will appear. Now go to the File Menu and choose "Open". When the traditional Open dialog box appears, type in the following address:

file:\My Documents\AstroHTML\astrohome.htm

Pocket Internet Explorer is not case-sensitive, so you can use all lower-case letters if you wish. DO remember to put the space between "My" and "Documents" or you will get a "File Not Found" message.

Press the OK button on the Open Dialog Box, and you should be rewarded with the AstroHTML Home Page, which features four buttons - Atlas, Charts, Glossary and Links - which lead to the major segments of AstroHTML. There's also a ? icon, which you can tap on to get additional information on how to use AstroHTML.

One of the first things you'll want to do is make sure that the AstroHTML home page is in your list of "Favorites". This will give you the ability to jump back to the AstroHTML home page with ease, even if you're using Pocket Internet Explorer for some other purpose. To add AstroHTML to the Favorites list, go to the Favorites menu and choose "Add to Favorites". A dialog box will appear, showing that you are going to add a "Favorite" called "AstroHTML Home Page" to your list. Click the OK button, and now "AstroHTML Home Page" will show up under your Favorites menu!
Another way to get to AstroHTML quickly is to go to the Pocket Internet Explorer File menu when you have the AstroHTML home page open. Choose the "Desktop Shortcut" item, and an "AstroHTML Home Page" icon will appear on your HPC desktop. You can just double-tap that icon to jump immediately into AstroHTML.

If you accidentally dragged the AstroHTML folder somewhere other than the My Documents folder, you'll get a "File Not Found" error message when you try opening the "Astrohome.htm" file listed eariler. If this happens, you'll need to search for the AstroHTML folder and change the address you point to. Since Windows CE doesn't currently have a Find function built in, you'll need to open the My Handheld PC icon and then start looking for the AstroHTML folder. Once you've found it, you can start up AstroHTML the first time by opening the folder, then double-tapping the Astrohome.htm icon.

Have fun using AstroHTML and let us know if you have any ideas for additions to the package!

Tags

Exemptionwareastronomy

   
License Exemptionware
The developer has explicity chosen to make available a program that was formerly a commercial product, however is explcitly re-licencing the program (without necessary changing the legal disclaimers within) to remove any and all statements of liability.
   
Website http://pdantic.com/sansoft.htm
This link is no longer available on the World Wide Web and will attempt to load via the WayBack Machine
   
Popularity 1556
Total Downloads  17
   
Submitted By torch
Submitted On 31 October 2022

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