home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Space & Astronomy
/
Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso
/
pc
/
programs
/
space
/
jupit.exe
/
lha
/
JUPE.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1991-03-30
|
11KB
|
364 lines
J U P E
Version 2.0
Everything You Need
to Know About
Observing Jupiter
DOCUMENTATION
by
Leonard Abbey
CIS 72277,566
March 30, 1991
Copyright (C) Leonard B. Abbey, 1991
All Rights Reserved
ABBEY INFORMATION SYSTEMS
1002 Citadel Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30324
ABBEY INFORMATION SYSTEMS JUPE 2.
INTRODUCTION
JUPE is intended to provide information needed by the
observer of Jupiter. It is specific for the MS-DOS computer
and requires an EGA or compatible VGA graphics adapter and
display.
JUPE came into existence to fill the needs which the author
had when he began observing Jupiter in 1951. This program
provides information in a form which is not available else-
where.
FILES PROVIDED
The following files are to be found in the self-extracting
archive, JUPIT.EXE:
READ.ME A descriptive file.
JUPE.DOC Documentation for JUPE.EXE
JUPE.EXE The program itself.
JUPE.SLB A compressed screen library.
The following is also required:
JUPE.GXL A graphics library.
It is supplied in two formats: JUPE-E.EXE for EGA monitors,
and JUPE-V.EXE for VGA monitors. Either of these self-
extracting files will produce the file JUPE.GXL which con-
tains screens for the appropriate graphics card. These files
are downloaded separately from CompuServe.
If any of these files are missing, please contact the author.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND LICENSE
JUPE is free. However, it is not in the public domain. This
program, and its accompanying documentation, are copyrighted
under the laws of the United States of America.
ABBEY INFORMATION SYSTEMS JUPE 3.
You are licensed to use this program as follows:
1. You may use JUPE for personal, non-commercial
purposes.
2. You may copy and distribute JUPE for non-
commercial purposes, provided you do not omit
this documentation, or any of the other files
provided in the JUPIT packages. Credit must
be given to the author.
3. You may upload JUPE to bulletin boards pro-
vided you do not omit this documentation, or
any of the other files provided in the
JUPIT.EXE packages. Credit must be given to
the author.
4. You may not alter the program in any way or
charge money for distributing it (other than
minor charges for media).
WARRANTY
This program, and it's accompanying documentation, is without
warranty, express or implied. This includes warranties of
merchantability or suitability for intended purpose. It is
supplied "as is." The author will not be held liable for any
consequental damages.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
JUPE.EXE is written for IBM-standard, MS-DOS computers. It
requires a minimum of 256 K free Random Access Memory to load
and run. MS-DOS version 3.x is recommended.
The program can be run from a floppy-disk drive or from a
hard disk.
JUPE.EXE requires an EGA, Super EGA, or VGA graphics adapter.
ABBEY INFORMATION SYSTEMS JUPE 4.
WHAT THE PROGRAM DOES
JUPE provides the following information:
Nomenclature of the planet's
prominent markings
Central Meridian
Satellite configuration
Miscellaneous physical data
The program is augmented by detailed help and definition
screens.
INSTALLING THE PROGRAM
De-archiving the program.
JUPE is supplied in twp self-extracting archives, JUPIT.EXE;
and either JUPE-E.EXE, or JUPE-V.EXE. These archives were
produced with the LHARC program. To extract the files,
merely type "JUPIT", "JUPE-E" or "JUPE-V" (without the quota-
tion marks). No other software is required to perform the
extraction.
Floppy Disk Installation.
Insert the floppy disk containing the extracted programs into
the disk drive.
Hard Disk Installation.
Copy the extracted program files onto the hard disk. The
SLB, EXE, and GLX files must be available to the program.
WARNING
ONLY ONE OF THE GLX FILES SHOULD BE
UNPACKED. IF BOTH ARE PRESENT, THE PROGRAM
WILL NOT RUN CORRECTLY.
ABBEY INFORMATION SYSTEMS JUPE 5.
Setup.
The program is able to determine its location on a hard disk.
This allows it to determine where to search for the SLB and
GLX files. This feature requires DOS version 3.0 or later.
If your DOS version is earlier than this, the program will
function, but you will have to make the directory in which it
resides the default directory before the program is run.
Daylight Savings Time is NOT adjusted for by this program.
Configuration File
The program will read your time zone from a simple configu-
ration file. You must create the file with a word processor,
and save it in ASCII format under the name "JUPE.CFG". It
must be in the same subdirectory as the main program, and it
can only contain one number, between -12 and +12.
For those few locations with half-hour time zones, the pro-
gram will round off any number in the CFG file to the nearest
half hour.
OPERATION
Running the program.
If the directory (or disk) which contains the program is in
the PATH, type "JUPE" (without the quotation marks). Other-
wise, move to the directory containing the program, and type
"JUPE".
The operation of the program is fully documented by help
screens. These are available from any of the program screens
by pressing F1.
Definitions of Jupiter's various features are shown on the
definition screens, which are available by pressing F3.
In order to calculate the central meridian and satellite the
program asks for the date and time for which the predictions
are desired. If these are not entered, the current date and
time are used. It is therefore important that the system
clock be set before the program is run. Wherever time is
to be entered, it should be in the 24-hour system.
ABBEY INFORMATION SYSTEMS JUPE 6.
Command line switch.
One command line switch has been provided. This switch is a
number which represents your time zone. If your location is
WEST of Greenwich, this number must be NEGATIVE. If Daylight
Savings Time is being observed at your location, ADD 1 to
this number.
* * *
ALL LOCATIONS IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
HAVE NEGATIVE TIME ZONES
* * *
To use the command line switch, run the program as follows:
JUPE /-7
The "7" may be preceded by a "/", or a space (" "). The
example configures the program for Mountain Standard Time.
If Daylight Savings Time were in use, you would use the
following command line:
JUPE /-6
If the time zone is entered through the command line switch,
any value read from a configuration file will be over-ridden.
SUPPORT
In the unlikely event that support is required, the author
may be reached on CompuServe's ASTROFORUM, or at the follow-
ing address:
Leonard B. Abbey
1002 Citadel Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30324
404-633-7446
CIS # 72277,566
Comments and suggestions are welcome.
ABBEY INFORMATION SYSTEMS JUPE 7.
CREDITS
JUPE.EXE was written in Microsoft's BASIC Professional Devel-
opment System, Version 7.1 It employs extensive assembly
language subroutines from MicroHelp's Mach 2 and QB/Pro
libraries. The graphics screens were produced with ZSoft's PC
Paintbrush IV.
The routines for displaying PCX screens are from Genus' PCX
Programmer's Toolkit.
HISTORY
Version 1.0 January 15, 1990 - Original release.
Version 1.1 January 21, 1990 - Corrected error in date
when passing midnight.
Version 2.0 March 30, 1991 - Improved graphics and
EGA support.