Contents - Index

File Settings






Folders

The folder structure consists of a base folder and individual folders which can be customized for different frame types.  If the field is blank, the default settings are used. If you want to clear a folder's path, hit the button and then select Cancel when the window opens.  If the base folder entry is blank, the default base folder is
(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Images\
If the light frame folder is entry blank, the light frames folder is
<base folder>\yyyymmdd_<target name>\Data Files
If any of the bias, dark or flat folder entries are blank, all calibration files will be placed into
<base folder>yyyymmdd_<target name>\Calibration Files
If the log folder entry is blank, the default log folder will be 
<base folder>\CCDAutoPilot_Logs

See Data Organization for some example folder structures.

File Names

If the description field on any series on the Session page is not blank, then the file name will be defined by that Description, followed by a 5 digit sequence number, followed by an extension, typically .fit. 

If the Description field on the Session page is blank, then the file names are defined by the appropriate template, followed by a 5 digit sequence number, followed by an extension, typically .fit.  File name templates can be used for each frame type.  A '%' character is not legal as part of a file name but a '%' character followed by a letter will replace the '%' character and the following character by specific information as defined below:
  • %a enters the exposure starting dAte/time as part of the file name. See Date Format below
  • %b enters the Binning for the specific exposure
  • %c enters the imager's Cooler temperature for the specific exposure
  • %d enters the target position angle Degrees for the specific exposure
  • %e enters the exposure time in sEconds for the specific exposure
  • %f enters the Filter name for the specific exposure
  • %g enters the session starting date as part of the file name
  • %i enters the Image type: Bias, Dark, Flat, Light for the specific exposure
  • %l enters the target Loop count index
  • %m enters the exposure time in Minutes for the specific exposure
  • %o enters the readOut mode for the specific exposure (Maxim only)
  • %r enters the Rotation type: PAEast, PAWest, Rotator for the specific exposure.  This is applicable to flat frames only
  • %s enters the Side of the meridian: E for east or W for west. for the specific exposure
  • %t enters the Target name for the specific exposure. This variable is not recommended for calibration frames as dusk flats and darks taken before the light frames will have a null entry for the target and darks after light frames and dawn flats will have the last target acquired as the target name.
  • %n prevents a serial Number from being entered.  Caution: this is used in very special situations and should not generally be used as subsequent exposures will overwrite the previous one.


    If any text is entered in a template that is not preceded by a '%' character or after the first character after the '%' character, it will be entered exactly as entered for all file names for the given frame type.

    If the backslash character, '\' is entered, a new folder will be created whose name is the text preceding the backslash.

    You can experiment with different templates by entering the text in the space for each frame type and hovering the mouse over the space.  You will see a sample file name in the tool tip window.  This way you can check out the file templates before committing them to a session.

    Date Format: This new feature allows further customization of date and time for the file/folder name for %a above. Whatever date/time string entered here will ba applied wherever %a is called above. Allowable letters are y for year, M for month, d for day, H for hour, m for minute and s for second. For example entering "yyyyMMMdd HHmmss" will result for (US) "2014May23 132744". Enter '%a' in one of the file name boxes, enter different combinations here and hover over the file name box with the %a and see the resulting format. Note that the time entered here is not as precise as the FITS Keyword DATE-OBS for the start of the exposure. It is an approximation only.
  • Starting Sequence Number: This represents the starting sequence number that will be used for a session.  There is no need normally to reset this for each session but it certainly can be reset if desired.
  • File Name Extension: This normally ".fit" but can be changed if needed by your processing application.



    FITS Keywords

    These keywords are entered in the FITS header for every frame.  If the INSTRUME keyword is left blank, the camera server will enter the name of the driver used. TELESCOP is usually used to describe the telescope. OBSERVER is usually used to name the observer. OBSERVAT is usually used to name the observatory.
  • Standard Keywords: is checked, the FITS Keyword IMAGETYP will use professional standards for light frame, dark frame, bias frame and flat frame - LIGHT, DARK, BIAS and Flat, respectively.  If cleared, the SBIG standard will be used, Light Frame, Dark Frame, Bias Frame and Flat Field respectively.  It is recommended that the Standard keywords be used.
  • Weather Info FITS Header: When checked, weather info will be inserted as described below

    Cloud Sensor I:AMBTEMP  and SKYTEMP will be added as ambient temperature and sky temperature respectively, as reported by the cloud sensor in the units (F or C) for which the sensor is set.

    Cloud Sensor II: WINDSPD and HUMIDITY will be added as wind speed and humidity respectively, as reported by the cloud sensor in the units for which the sensor is set. 

    If the TI/AAG CloudWatcher and associated WeatherCenter software is on the local PC, additional fits keywords will be added for DEWPOINT (dew point), WINDDIR (wind direction, compass azimuth) and WXSENSOR (name and version of Cloud Center software).