[APBeta] Observation Sessions

[Paul Kemp]

Well,

I have just logged an observing session 56 objects (see
http://southernsentinel.co.nz/Observing/Observations/OB-09-06-20.htm) and
had no issues. I log after the fact, recording on a dictaphone, then filling
in in Astroplanner.

* (Paul the script works well in general, but needs tweaking. I'll leave it
till you have released APv2)

The clock interface allows me in increment forward on the minutes etc and if
I log objects only, I just power through with the clock at the same time.
The key to this is to have the 'Ask User' selected in the Observation
Settings.

I even sometimes use two plans and log from both as I go.

If I add to a session from months ago, hardly ever do though, I enter the
object, then a dialog prompt we to add to existing session, then the object
gets added to previous session. Easy.

Paul Kemp
13.1" f5 Reflector with Argo Navis & Paracorr
Auckland, New Zealand
36° 55' 09" South, 174° 43' 30" East

--- The Southern Sentinel ---
www.southernsentinel.co.nz

Checkout my Twitter: twitter.com/pulinski


On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 8:30 AM, Steve Barkes <nm_astrnmr at yahoo.com> wrote:

>  Ok I’ve played with this some more.  The Show Observation Database
> functionality gives me what I would expect when looking at previous
> sessions.
>
> But adding an observation after the fact is still too cumbersome.  The
> Calendar/Clock interface doesn’t work well for entering items from several
> weeks or months ago.
>
> Here are some ways it might could work:
>
> How about, from the Observation tab, if you right-click on an object in the
> Object list you get a menu item like Add Observation to Session...  Clicking
> this brings up a list of sessions which you can select form and populates
> the time and general session info.
>
> Or, allow a Fix Date to a Session Time..., so all new observations default
> to the time of the desired session.
>
> Or... Add a + to the observations list in the Observation Database Window
> that would close the Observation Database Window, update the general
> observing session data, and allow you to click on an object from the Object
> list to create a new observations.
>
> Or something else if it works better ;-)
>
> Steve
>
>
>
> On 6/22/09 7:52 AM, "Paul Rodman" <paul at ilanga.com> wrote:
>
>
> On Jun 17, 2009, at 9:14 AM, Steve Barkes wrote:
>
>   Ok, I guess I’m confused.  I’m struggling to try and enter multiple
> observations for a session that I had back in December of last year.
>
>   If I right-click on an object from the observation tab, the Make
> Observation option is always greyed out.  It works from the Objects tab.
>
>
> Sounds like a bug.
>
> If I create an observation from the Observation menu, or by clicking + in
> Observations list, I have no way to select what session to put the
> observation in.  I can only select the “Currently Open Session” which makes
> no sense in that It always has the current date/time.  If the session is
> currently open, I should be able to close it, or change to an existing
> session.  The other options are  create a “New Session” which I don’t want
> to do, and the “Recent Sessions” is always blank and greyed out.  What about
> a All Sessions in addition to Recent Sessions?
>
>
> Check the Observation preferences. At the top-left is the "New Observation
> Date/Time Source" option. I assume you have that set to "Computer". This
> setting assumes you are logging at the telescope and defaults the date/time
> to the current date/time. You probably want the "Ask user" setting, which
> will always ask for a date/time before deciding what session to add the
> observation to.
>
> It appears the only way to move an observation into a particular session is
> to edit the date and time of the observation.  Then I get an option to add
> it to an older session.  But this is way too cumbersome, especially if I’m
> adding a dozen observations.
>
>  Shouldn’t there be a way to Set the current session, possibly to a session
> date/time in the past, and then have all new observations go into that
> session until I change it, or create a new one?
>
>
> See below - all you need to do is change the date/time and the session
> management is automatic.
>
> Shouldn’t I be able to see a list of all my sessions? And shouldn’t it be
> clear looking at the interface that the correct session has been selected?
>  How do I see a list of all objects associated with a particular session?
>
>
> There is no connection between an observation and a session. A session is
> defined as a start and end date/time, and an observation has a date/time. If
> the observation date time falls in the session date/time range it is assumed
> to be part of that session. It is done that way to make session management
> largely automatic.
>
> However, there are some problems in the current implementation, e.g you
> can't have overlapping sessions (e.g. multiple observers using the same
> installation of AP, or a single observer at multiple sites (e.g. multiple
> remote telescopes being used simultaneously). I'll be looking at fixing
> these problems.
>
> Paul R.
>
>
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