Software Bisque Knowledge Base Article – 200

DATABASE OBJECTS ARE CLUSTERED IN SMALL REGION

ISSUE

One or more Sky Databases have all their labels/objects clustered in a small region, or narrow band.

Examples include all the Constellation and Common Star Name labels appearing in a narrow band along the meridian.

RESOLUTION

The user has most likely compiled one, or more databases with incorrect settings. If these are standard databases, the simple solution is to uninstall, and re-install TheSky. An alternative is to check each of the following, until all problems are resolved:

1. Use the Data, Sky Database Manager’s Activate and Deactivate commands to isolate the offending file, or files.
2. Use the Data, Create Sky Database’s Browse command to open the file found in step 1.
3. Use the Compile button to check the sky-distribution of the objects, as plotted in the rectangular field. Most databases will yield an even, or random pattern. Isolated clusters usually represent incorrect data.
4. From the Data, Create Sky Database dialog, confirm that the Horizon Coordinates option is set properly (off for most).
5. Under the Define Fields command, confirm that the fields are defined properly. Pay special attention to the coordinate fields (Ctrl+click on appropriate buttons to check their column definitions).
6. If any of the settings needed to be changed, recompile the database by using the Data, Create Sky Database’s Compile command. (Note that the sky-distribution field is not erased between successive plots.)
7. Repeat above steps for any additional problematic files.

After finishing the above procedure, you may want to check the Data, Sky Database Manager’s Sky Databases list for database duplications.

APPLIES TO

Database

KEYWORDS

SBKB

This article was formerly published under the identifier Q401KB in Software Bisque’s prior knowledge base.

Last Reviewed: 11/24/2004