FAQ: Platform Specific
1. Linux
1.1 Is there or will there be a Linux version?
No, there isn't a Linux version. At present the work required to create and support a Linux version is just too much to contemplate. This is exacerbated by the fact that Linux users are in the minority, and are generally less likely to use software that isn't free or open-source.
2. Mac OS X
2.1 Will there be a Cocoa version of AstroPlanner ?
AstroPlanner is current a Carbon application. It works fine on all Mac OS X systems. The vendor of the development tools used to create AstroPlanner has "promised" a version that will create Cocoa applications. However, don't expect this to happen until mid-2009 at the soonest.
2.2 Will there be a Universal Binary version of AstroPlanner that will run natively on the new Intel-based Macs?
Yes, but not until V2.0 is released (mid 2009, currently). V2.0 is in beta (Mar 2009).
3. Windows
3.1 AstroPlanner doesn't work very well on Windows 98, and keeps freezing. What gives?
V1.5 of AstroPlanner is a resource hog. Early versions of Windows (95/98/ME) have severe problems with applications that use a lot of resources. AstroPlanner runs fine on Windows 2000 and XP (and probably on Vista too). It is possible that a future version of AstroPlanner will reduce this problem.
Meantime, AstroPlanner V1.3.2 is available for those who have to use Windows 98/ME.
3.2 How can I get V3 of Cartes du Ciel to work with AstroPlanner?
AstroPlanner V1.5.8 and after support V3 of Cartes du Ciel. However, CdC V3 was in beta at the time, so keep that in mind. AstroPlanner V2 will be compatible.
3.3 I can't get Cartes du Ciel communication to work on Vista. What gives?
AstroPlanner attempts to install a DLL library file and register that fact in the Registry. If you are not running as Administrator, this will probably fail.
Here is a solution (courtesy Jarek Pillardy):
AstroPlanner asked me first to install VBAastro.dll, but you have to do it as administrator, otherwise it gets copied but somehow permissions are set wrong. So I have run AstroPlanner as admin (right click on AstroPlanner.exe and select "run as admin"), and then allow it to install the DLL (I did it in C:\apps\AstroPlanner where my AstroPlanner application resides). At this point exit the program and start a command line window as administrator (go to "All Program" → Accessories, right click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as Admin"). Now run from this command prompt:
C:\Windows\System32\regsvr32.exe C:\apps\AstroPlanner\VBAstro.dll
It should display a dialog box saying that the DLL was successfully registered.
After that you can launch AstroPlanner and it should work.
3.4 Installing AstroPlanner V1 on Windows Vista
A step-by-step guide to installing AstroPlanner V1 on Windows Vista can be found here:
www.ilangainc.com/astroplanner/VistaInstall/
3.5 The Night Vision mode doesn't work very well under Windows XP. Why not?
AstroPlanner attempts to colour the various parts of the Windows user interface. However, in Windows XP and later, some of the parts of the interface are not coloured using the standard OS parameters. This is a Windows bug.
The work-around is to select the Windows Classic theme from the Display control panel. The UI is not quite as fancy as the standard XP theme, but night vision mode works a lot better.
Other Windows-based astronomy applications have similar problems.