Using the Astrologer's Assistant
Contents
The Astrologer’s Assistant is a powerful task automation feature that allows you to record a list of tasks and then save them for replay at any time. This functionality is also sometimes known elsewhere by names such as Macros or AutoJobs.
Once it is set into record mode, it keeps a record of the tasks that you carry out (this window stays on top whilst you work). When you click the Stop button, you can review and edit certain elements of the task list, and save this list to file for future reuse.
When you click the Play button, it will run through the list of tasks using whatever charts you have currently selected in your "Calculated Charts" list. Some tasks do not require a base chart to run, and others require one or more base charts to be selected. If you have not already selected the required number of charts, then you will be prompted to select them before the task list runs.
For example, you could record a task to print a chart, calculate a progressed chart and transits chart for the current date, display them together in a triwheel and print them, run a dynamic report with one years transits and progressions and then print that out. This set of tasks can then be replayed for any other starting chart at the click of a button.
Tasks which can be recorded and replayed are:
•opening charts from a file
•casting new charts
•generating any types of subsidiary charts
•viewing or printing or copying a page or report
•viewing, generating or printing or copying to clipboard dynamic reports, time maps and graphic ephemerides
•deleting and saving charts
•selecting files of all types (e.g. Displayed Points, Colors, Aspects, Fixed Stars, etc..)
•saving settings and restoring settings
>> To open the Astrologers Assistant ready to record or play task lists
•Select the Astrologers Assistant item from the Utilities menu.
This will display the Astrologer’s Assistant dialog, which is a small dialog with a range of buttons. This dialog remains on top of any other windows until it is closed.
The buttons are as follows...
•Open task list from file – This displays a file open dialog, allowing you to select any pre-existing task lists. When you open a task list, its title (and the number of tasks it contains) appears in the box at the bottom of this dialog.
•Save task list to file – This displays a file save dialog, allowing you to save a task list that you have just recorded or edited. Once saved, it can be re-opened and re-used at any time.
•Start recording tasks – This will put the Astrologer’s Assistant into recording mode. Any tasks that you subsequently perform (which are on the list above) will be added to the list.
•Pause recording – This stops the recording, but leaves the list of tasks ready for additions as soon as the Start button is activated again.
•Stop recording – This stops recording and closes the task list. It is not possible to add any extra tasks to the list after this is done.
•Run tasks – This will execute whatever task list is already open, using whatever chart or charts are currently selected in the list of "Calculated Charts". If the task list requires more than one base charts to be selected, and you have not already highlighted enough charts, then you will be prompted to select the additional charts.
•Edit task list – This displays the editing dialog. Editing of the task list is limited to deleting tasks, and selecting date options to apply (such as using a date based on an offset from the current date for a transits report start date, or using the current date for a new transits chart etc).
•Ellipsis (…) – This will show a popup menu listing up to a maximum of about 30 pre-defined task lists. Selecting an item from this list will open it for running or editing in the same manner as if it was opened from the file open dialog. This is a quicker way of selecting task files than using the file open dialog.