Editing a User Defined Points File
Contents
This section describes how to edit files that contain definitions of additional points to be included in a normal ring within a wheel. These points are in addition to the normal set of individual chart points.
Solar Fire allows for up to 50 user-defined points that can appear on the main wheel along with Sun, Moon, Mercury, and so on. The list of points that can be used is the same list of points used in the Extra Ring but only up to 50 points can be used. Access to the user-defined points is primarily made via the "Chart Options" menu item. Similar to other point files, you can create your own set of user-defined points file. If you want to revert back to using no user-defined points then all you need to do it is select the “None.ptu” file
>> To edit a User-Defined points file
1.In the Chart Options menu click on Displayed User-Defined Points
2.Select the required file from the list of file names (or create a new one)
3.Click on the Edit button. This will display the "User-Defined Points selection" dialog box.
In the "Selected Points" box you will see a list of any points which are already included in the selection. You can remove points from this list, add various new types of points, and edit the abbreviations, glyphs, color and font used when each point is displayed in a wheel or in a page object.
The types of points that may be added are as follows.
•Point – Any of the standard 36 chart points. Normally you would not need to use these, because they can be displayed in any ordinary chart wheel by including them as displayed points. However, you do have the option of adding them to the extra ring if you prefer.
•Midpoint – This is a list of all possible midpoint combinations between the standard 36 chart points.
•Fixed Position – This allows any fixed zodiacal position to be entered into the box to the right of the Add button.
•Fixed Star – This allows the selection of any star or celestial object from the currently selected star file. Alternative star files may be accessed using the Select File button.
•Arabic Part - This allows the selection of any part from the currently selected part file. Alternative part files may be accessed using the Select File button.
•Asteroid - This allows the selection of any asteroid from the currently selected asteroid file. Alternative asteroid files may be accessed using the Select File button.
•Extra Body - This allows the selection of any extra body (defined with orbital elements) from the currently selected extra body file. Alternative extra body files may be accessed using the Select File button.
•Prior Lunar Phase – This allows the selection of various points related to the lunar phases which occurred most recently prior to the chart’s date. The Syzygy points are either a new or full moon – whichever occurred most recently. The “Most Elevated” point is the point which is closest to the Midheaven of the current chart.
•Prior Eclipse - This allows the selection of the position of various eclipse types which occurred most recently before the chart’s date.
•Node – This allows the selection of the Ascending (North) and Descending (South) nodes of various planets and hypothetical bodies.
>> To add a point or multiple points at once
1.Select the Point Type from the list of options
2.Optionally - use the Select File button to choose another file
3.Optionally - enter a fixed position into the edit box
4.Highlight the required point or points in the list of "Available Points"
5.Click on the Add button
>> To delete a point
1.Highlight the required point in the list of "Selected Points"
2.Click on the Delete button
>> To alter the display attributes of a point
1.Highlight the required point in the list of "Selected Points"
2.Edit the Abbr field to change the point’s abbreviated name. The Abbreviation is displayed in the wheel instead of the glyph if you switch on the “Glyph as Text” option in the wheel designer. However, if you do so, then you may find that the text overlaps other items in the chart if there are many extra points.
3.Edit the Glyph/s field to change the point’s displayed glyph (you may choose a special font by clicking on the Font button, and invoke the character map by clicking on the > button). This allows you to choose symbols of various types, such as a star shaped symbol for star, if you wish.
Approx 90 asteroid glyphs are available in a font file called ET Asteroid 1 and ET Asteroid 1a. The design of the glyphs was supplied by Roderick Kidston in Australia, an asteroid expert. Some of the glyphs are in common usage and where there are no glyphs for some asteroids, Roderick’s glyphs are used. See Asteroids.
>> Saving the file, and setting the current user-defined points file
1.Once you have finished selecting points to be included click on the Save button.
This returns you to the "File Management" dialog box, with the file you've just edited highlighted.
2.If you want a different file to the one you've just edited to be the "current" file then click on that other file, otherwise go to step 3.
3.Click on the Select button.
This closes the "File Management" dialog box, and the file you selected in step 2 is now the current user-defined points file (the one whose points are always displayed along with the main planets in charts).
For more info click here.