Return Options

The Return Options screen allows you to enter all the relevant details for Solar Writer to calculate a specific Return chart for the currently opened chart. Which return will be generated depends on which kind of Return report is currently selected. If you wish to generate more Return reports after the first one, you only need to change the Year in the "Date" field on this screen each time.

Note: If you have calculated a Solar or Lunar Return chart within Solar Fire, or have opened a saved Solar or Lunar Return chart either in Solar Fire or Solar Writer then this Return Options screen will not be displayed because all of the relevant information for the Solar or Lunar Return is already contained in the opened Return chart itself.

The items displayed on the Return Options screen are:

•Date - Enter the date for the chart. Most normally used date formats are acceptable. See Entering Dates for a description of valid date formats.

•Time - Currently, this field is disabled (greyed out) but it does display the current time you opened this options screen.

•Place - Enter the name of the place for the chart. Alternatively you can click on the place button to access the Atlas module. See Using The Solar Writer Atlas for instructions on using the Atlas. After entering the Place and Country, you may optionally use the Lookup button to get the required place details, including the latitude, longitude and timezone, from the Atlas.

•Country - Enter the name of the country or state in which the place exists. If you are using the ACS PC Atlas, then you should enter the State name or two-letter state abbreviation for places in the USA, or the country name for places in all other countries.

•Zone - Enter a timezone abbreviation and/or time difference. See Entering Time Zones for a description of valid timezone formats.

•Latitude - Enter the latitude of the chart location. See Entering Latitudes and Longitudes for a description of valid latitude formats.

•Longitude - Enter the longitude of the chart location. See Entering Latitudes and Longitudes for a description of valid longitude formats.

The buttons may be used as follows:

•Now - Fills in the Date and Time fields according to the computer’s internal clock. If the computer’s clock is not accurately set, then you can use the control panel’s Date/Time icon to reset it.

•Place - Displays the Place Database screen from which place details may be selected or edited. See Using The Solar Writer Atlas for a full description of these features.

•Zone - Displays the Time Zone Selection screen from which a timezone may be selected. See Entering Time Zones for more details.

•Lookup - Looks up the currently entered place and country details using the selected atlas type, and if that place is found, updates the latitude. longitude and timezone fields automatically.

>> To select the Atlas type to use

1.Select one of the options in the "Atlas to Use" box

If you select the Solar Writer Atlas option, then when you click on the Lookup button, the entered place and country name will be looked up in the Solar Writer place database files. If the place cannot be found, then a message box will appear giving the reason. You also have the option of clicking on the “Place” button which displays the Place Database screen from which place details may be selected or edited. See Using The Solar Writer Atlas for a full description of these features.

If you select the ACS PC Atlas option, then when you click on the Lookup button, the entered place and country name will be looked up in the ACS Atlas. If the place cannot be found, then a message box will appear giving the reason. You also have the option of clicking on the “Place” button which displays the ACS PC Atlas screen from which place details may be selected or edited. See Using The Solar Writer Atlas for a full description of these features.

If the Auto Lookup option is checked, then an atlas lookup will be performed automatically after you have entered new date, time and/or place details, without you having to use the Lookup button.

>> To select the Location to use

At the startup of this screen, the "Relocated" option is selected displaying the current default place details in the Place, Country, Zone, Latitude and Longitude data boxes. With this selection, you can also change the place details of the person by overwriting them in the data boxes. If you click on the Natal option, the place details for the person's place of birth are loaded into the Place, Country, Zone, Latitude and Longitude data boxes, allowing you a quick method of loading these details.

>> To display the Natal Chart with the Report

By default, "Show Natal Chart?" is ticked allowing you to display and/or print both the calculated Return chart as well as the Natal chart. On both screen and printed reports, the two charts are displayed side-by-side. Unselecting this checkbox will allow you to display and/or print only the Return chart by itself. On printed reports, the Return chart is printed larger than if the two charts are printed together.

>> To calculate and display the Return chart

1.Click on the OK button

This will return you to the Main Window and the Return chart and, optionally, the Natal chart will be displayed.