Software Bisque Knowledge Base Article – 1248

THESKY HAS LOST ITS SETTINGS

ISSUE

After configuring various settings (site location, chart settings, interfaced equipment, pointing model, etc.), TheSky has unexpectedly returned to default settings.

RESOLUTION

This discussion refers extensively to TheSkyX’s Application Support Files (ASF) folder. Note that this is a description of the folder, not its name!…follow the link for details.

Here is a summary of some reasons TheSky’s settings are not available:

1. Using a different OS user account.
2. Running more than one instance of TheSky.
3. The ASF folder is on an unavailable drive.
4. The ASF folder was moved.
5. The ASF folder was renamed.
6. The ASF folder was deleted.
7. The ASF folder has become corrupt.
8. There is insufficient disk space on the installation drive and/or the computer’s system drive.

Below are possible resolutions for each item listed above.

Using A Different OS User Account
If a different operating system (OS) user account is used than that under which the desired settings were created, by default TheSky will use separate settings for each. If that is not desired, here are some possible resolutions:

• Sign into the OS user account used to create the desired settings, then run TheSky.

–or–

• Move—or make a separate copy of—the ASF folder, per the Transferring TheSkyX‘s Settings article.

–or–

• Configure TheSkyX to share the same ASF folder among user accounts, per the Changing Where TheSky‘s Settings Are Saved article.

Running More Than One Instance of TheSky
TheSky (except for the macOS version) is designed to allow running more than one instance simultaneously. The most intentional way to start an additional instance of TheSky is to launch it while at least one other instance is already running. On Windows only, this can also happen if TheSky is Run As Administrator, and then an automation application or script that is not run as administrator (or vice versa) attempts to access it.

In all of these cases, the user is asked whether or not to start another instance (or copy) of TheSky, as illustrated here:

(The above message may not be noticed, however, as it can appear underneath the window of an automation application.)

This normally* results in using a separate ASF folder for each instance—additional ASF folders have their instance number appended to the folder name, such as “TheSkyX Professional Edition 2”. If an instance’s ASF folder does not already exist, one is created, and—unless starting the additional instance is aborted—populated with default settings. The former settings (used by the primary instance of TheSkyX) are not gone; they remain in the primary ASF folder.

*If TheSkyX has been specially configured to use an explicitly-defined ASF folder, that folder will be used for all instances. We do not recommend using an explicitly-defined ASF folder if you anticipate running more than one instance of TheSky.

The ASF Folder Is On an Unavailable Drive
If the ASF folder is on a network or removable drive, be sure that the drive is available (mapped or connected) when launching and using TheSkyX. On Windows, be sure the drive letter hasn’t changed; if it has, restore it to its former letter, or inform TheSky of the new drive letter per the Transferring TheSky‘s Settings article.

The ASF Folder Was Moved
If the ASF folder was moved, here are some methods to continue using it with TheSky:

• Return the ASF folder to its former location.–or–
• If moved to the default ASF folder location of a different OS user account, see the Transferring TheSky‘s Settings article.–or–
• Configure TheSkyX to use the new location, per the Changing Where TheSky‘s Settings Are Saved article.

The ASF Folder Was Renamed
Renaming a working ASF folder (one that is intended to be used by its new name) is strongly discouraged* as some settings will be sought in a folder by the previous name, which probably no longer exists (though TheSkyX may create one, mostly empty). Newly-defined settings may then be spread between the two ASF folders.

If one insists on renaming a working ASF folder, they should also update the Path= and File= definitions in the various .INI files, per the Transferring TheSky‘s Settings article. For example, unless and until the APP_qsImgSysProfilePath= definition in the AppSettings.ini file is updated, TheSkyX will not be able to access the former Imaging System Profiles.

*It is okay to rename the ASF folder as a means of restoring TheSky‘s Default Settings; should you later wish to return to the former settings, give the renamed folder its original name before using it with TheSky.

The ASF Folder Was Deleted
If the ASF folder with desired settings is deleted, restore it from the recycle bin (Windows), trash (Mac) or a backup copy. If none of these is available, the settings are probably lost and will need to be reconfigured/recreated.

The ASF Folder Has Become Corrupt
If the ASF folder or some of its settings files becomes corrupt, here are some possible resolutions:

• If the drive has errors, it may be possible to repair the files with a disk repair utility.
• Corrupt files (or those with unwanted settings) may be restored from a backup copy, if available.
• It may be necessary to start with fresh, default settings and customize again as desired. See the Restoring TheSky‘s Default Settings article.

Insufficient Drive Space
If the ASF folder or some of its settings files are not where they should be, here are some possible resolutions:

• Make sure your computer has sufficient storage space so that TheSky can be fully installed, and TheSky’s settings files can be saved to the computer’s ASF folder.  For example, before installing TheSky Professional edition, make sure there is at least 8 GB of free storage space on the drive where TheSky is being installed, AND 8 GB free storage on the system drive.

Software Bisque strongly recommends backing up your computer’s data, including TheSky’s settings.  The article below describes how.

APPLIES TO

• TheSky First Light Edition
• TheSky Student Edition
• TheSky Serious Astronomer Edition
• TheSky Professional Edition
• Windows OS, macOS, Linux OS,

• This topic was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 1 year ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 1 year ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 1 year ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 1 year ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.
• This topic was modified 9 months ago by  Daniel R. Bisque.