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Can't Change Default Location

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kevb8ll
2008-10-03
2012-10-09
  • kevb8ll

    kevb8ll - 2008-10-03

    On the config window, I don't have the option to change my location. Is there an upgrade I need to add?

     
    • LoneHiker

      LoneHiker - 2008-10-10

      I have to agree with 'Astronomy Buff'. You need to open the Location window, not the Configuration window.

      I just installed 0.10.0 Beta for Windows and I have verified that you can set the default location within the program. Here are the steps:

      --Download and install the 0.10.0 Beta from the link at Stellarium.org

      --Run Stellarium and open the Location window (top-left icon; shaped like a compass) or press F6

      --Input the following information exactly:

      Latitude: N 50° 44' 22.95"
      Longitude: W 3° 59' 56.68"
      Altitude: 165m
      Name/City: Okehampton (Devon)
      Country: UnitedKingdom
      Planet: Earth

      Be sure the 'Use as default' checkbox is checked

      --Click the 'Add to list' button

      ==========

      You should see the new location highlighted in the cities list if you've properly followed the above instructions and everything was successful.

      The program will automatically update the location information in config.ini to:

      [init_location]
      location = Okehampton (Devon), UnitedKingdom

      It will also create a 'data' folder and user_locations.txt file in the user's Stellarium application directory (the same location the config.ini file is stored). In a typical Windows XP installation the path is:

      C:\Documents and Settings[your name]\Application Data\Stellarium

      The user_location.txt file contains all the new locations you add to the cities list.

      ==========

      Let me stress that I can only vouch for the Windows XP installation. In other operating systems this may or may not work (it's a beta release, afterall).

      Mike

       
    • barrykgerdes

      barrykgerdes - 2008-10-03

      Hi Kev

      You can edit the base_locations.txt file (in the data folder) to add any place you like in the solar system. Make sure that you follow the syntax exactly.

      Or you can add a new location in the location window. and make it the default. This will put an entry in your config.ini file called New Location. This can be edited to reflect the true name and will be your new start up location.

      I am not sure if this latter can be done in the 0.10.0beta because I have up graded it to build 3756 and that is how it works with the current build.

      Barry

       
    • kevb8ll

      kevb8ll - 2008-10-04

      How can I upgrade to build 3756?

      What I find strange is that everyone can appear to change their location via the gui but I can't. I have had a look at the ini file but I can't work out the syntax for the lat / long numbers.

      If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it. I live in Okehampton Devon.

      Kev

       
    • LoneHiker

      LoneHiker - 2008-10-04

      You didn't say which version of Stellarium you're using. If you're using 0.9.1 you can manually edit the config.ini file to add your city:

      [init_location]
      name = Okehampton, Devon, UK
      latitude = +50d 44'22.9488"
      longitude = -3d 59'56.6772"
      altitude = 165

      In the Windows XP installation there's a shortcut to the config.ini file in Stellarium folder in the Start menu. I don't know how it is with other operating systems.


      If you're using 0.10.0 Beta I assume you should be able to manually add your city using the Location dialog. You just need to input the city name, country, latitude, longitude and altitude and then click on 'Add to list'.

      Okehampton, Devon
      UnitedKingdom
      N50° 44' 22.95"
      W3° 59' 56.68"
      165m

      Let me reiterate I'm not at all sure if the 0.10.0 Beta does all this, btw. :D

      Unless you must have the very latest development version (i.e. a pre-release version) I wouldn't worry about builds. Just use the latest release version--0.10.0 Beta--or 0.9.1 if you have problems with the beta.


      I got the geographic information for Okehampton using Google Maps. After you're centered on your city click on the 'Link' hyperlink and copy-and-paste the URL into a text editor. In the URL the latitude and longitude are listed. I converted the decimal format here:

      http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html

      Stellarium most commonly uses the Degrees Minutes Seconds format. In 0.9.1 north latitudes are denoted by a + (plus sign) before the degree coordinate and a - (minus sign) for south latitudes.

      East longitudes are denoted by a plus sign and west longitudes are denoted by a minus sign.

      The degree coordinate is followed by the letter d.

      Minutes and seconds are denoted by the standard ' (apostrophe sign) and " (quote sign).

      In 0.10.0 Beta the only difference is the default latitude and longitude format in the Location dialog uses a N or S (for latitude) and a E or W (for longitude) instead of a plus or minus sign; instead of the letter d it uses ° (degree sign).

      For the elevation data I used Google Earth.


      I hope this clears up some of the questions you had.

      Mike

       
    • kevb8ll

      kevb8ll - 2008-10-09

      Hi Mike

      Finally got round to trying this. I am now confused. The ini file says I am using 0.9.1 but the gui says it is 0.10.0 beta - but it doesn't have the add a new location tab to add it via the gui.

      Do I have a bad install? Have tried re-installing but no joy. I am VERY frustrated!!

       
    • barrykgerdes

      barrykgerdes - 2008-10-09

      Hi kevb8II

      I think the beta version was released with the version number 0.9.1 in the config.ini file. It has been changed now though. In any case if you already had a config.ini file it would not have been overwritten.

      The new location tab was not operational for the beta version but I think it works now.

      I did not try to edit my location I just selected a location not far away and edited the base_locations.txt file to reflect my actual location. It worked perfectly.

      For an improvement on the beta version download the later stellarium.exe and libstelmain.dll from the site that is listed in one of the current forum topics. I don't remember which. I am not able to check the beta version as I have upgraded to the latest svn version which has fixed a number of bugs in the beta version.

      Barry

       
    • kevb8ll

      kevb8ll - 2008-10-10

      Thanks Barry. I have just tried to find the non beta version, but the link from the main page from the windows button still links to the beta 0.10.0.

      Anyone got a link please to the later version described by Barry?

       
    • barrykgerdes

      barrykgerdes - 2008-10-10

      Hi

      Try this link. download the zip file. unzip the two files and place them in your stellarium folder (save the old versions in case)

      http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mmrumgqjnj2

      Barry

       
    • kevb8ll

      kevb8ll - 2008-10-10

      No Barry that didn't work - still no location tab. :-(

       
    • astronomy buff

      astronomy buff - 2008-10-10

      kevb8ll,
      I think you are confused. You don't change your location in the configuration dialog at all. You do it in the location dialog! That's the button at the top of the left bar. So I think you are just looking in the wrong place.

      Astronomy Buff

       
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