[APBeta] Observations Feature Questions

[Jeff Young]

Greg --

I think many of us record after-the-fact, so you're not alone there.

I haven't recorded any observations yet in V2 (it's not dark here yet), but it does sound like there are some kinks to work out.

I'd like to see most of the session stuff handled automatically.  If an observation is made within, say, 2 hours of another observation at the same site, then it'd be nice if they defaulted to the same session (and didn't require me to click OK to said default).  In other words, I should have to do something to make it _not_ go into that session.

It'd be cool if the V1 -> V2 conversion tool used a similar algorithm.

Merging sessions is more of a tough one.  Let's say that I record an observation at 14:00 and another at 17:00, so it makes two sessions.  If I then record one at 15:00, then all three should go in the same session according to the algorithm.  But the two sessions are already created, and at that point it probably needs an OK by the user to join them.

I suspect the defaulting of the aids and filters is just a bug.

Anyway, just a few thoughts while we're waiting for Paul to weigh in....

Cheers,
-- Jeff.


From: apbeta-bounces at lists.astroplanner.net [mailto:apbeta-bounces at lists.astroplanner.net] On Behalf Of Greg Paine
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 8:28 PM
To: apbeta at lists.astroplanner.net
Subject: [APBeta] Observations Feature Questions

I have some questions regarding the entry of observations and the best method for accomplishing this task. Typically I record my observations after the actual observation session, not during. I'm not sure if there is a better, more efficient method then what I've been doing. This is going to be a long, detailed message but that will help Paul understand the steps I took and hopefully others will learn from my experience.

I began by creating a 3 object plan then I selected the Obs tab (I have not saved the plan yet). I selected the 1st object I observed then clicked the + in the lower left corner, entered the date & time then OK. Site, telescope, EP, visual aid and filter were auto populated.

Was the site, telescope and EP auto populated because they are selected as the default in resources?

How do I prevent visual aid and filter from automatically populating my Barlow and UIC filter? Neither are selected as the default in resources.

I selected the 2nd object I observed then clicked the + in the lower left corner, entered the date & time then OK. The "add observation to session" window appeared with 3 options: 1) add to current session: untitled (which was grayed out) 2) add to recent session: site: TBird, Start: yesterday at 9:00 pm and 3) start new session (which was selected as the default option).

Shouldn't it have been option 1 or 2 by default?

I selected option 2; add to recent session. Site, telescope, EP, visual aid and filter were auto populated. I selected the 3rd object I observed then clicked the + in the lower left corner, entered the date & time then OK. The "add observation to session" window appeared exactly like the prior time; I again selected option 2; add to recent session. Site, telescope, EP, visual aid and filter were auto populated.

I chose 15 minutes between each observation so the start and end time in the obs session data shows 9:00 - 9:30 (#1 at 9:00, #2 at 9:15 & #3 at 9:30).

How do I enter the fact that I observed #3 for 15 minutes and the session ended at 9:45?

What is the "end" checkbox for and how is it used?

I'd like to see the general / resources area made larger. Currently I only see 2.5 lines without scrolling.

I'd like to see military time as an option in the obs settings window.

Do you have plans for allowing access to the obs settings as a tab from the preferences menu item? Seems like a logical place to find them.

Opening the obs database displays, my obs session displays with a duration of (:30). Each obs entry shows the plan as Untitled-1.

Should I have saved the plan before starting to enter my obs? Can that be corrected now? The edit global obs window doesn't display the plan name.

Is there a way to name sessions? Or would you just use the notes field?

Would it be beneficial to include the other obs session fields (seeing, trans, observer & notes) in the obs sessions window?

Does anyone see a need for a duplicate session button? My last two sessions were showing friends the same objects so that would have helped me but I don't know how often that would really be a benefit.

Thanks in advance for your patience.

Greg

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