
          Xplns Version 3.2 - Planisphere on X Window System
           Copyright(C) 1995-2001 by osam-a@astroarts.co.jp
              http://www.astroarts.com/products/xplns/

  Xplns reproduces real starry sky on your display of X Window System.
It calculates the position of many celestial objects (stars, galaxies,
nebulae, constellations, planets, comets, etc.) very accurately.  You
can enjoy the past and future sky on the desk top as if you have
traveled all around the world.  In solar system projection mode, you
can examine motion of solar objects.

  You can observe motion of the stars with tracking an object.  The
information display function let you know the rise, set and meridian
time of solar objects, when dusk ends, when dawn starts, moon age, etc.
These functions are helpful for observing stars under the real sky.
There are six projection mode in Xplns, "Horizontal View Mode",
"Equatorial Mode", "Ecliptic Mode", "Galactic Mode", "Planisphere
Mode" and "Solar System Mode".


PACKAGE FILES
-------------

You must download the executable package first.  Optionally you can
download star data package, orbital element package for comets/minor
planets and image data package.  Each package file names varies
depending on your system.

(1)Red Hat Linux (linux i386 glibc2)

  Executable package       xplns-3.2.0-1.i386.rpm
  Star data package        xplns-cat-3.2.0-1.i386.rpm
  Orbital element package  xplns-elm-3.2.0-1.i386.rpm
  Image data package       xplns-img-3.2.0-1.i386.rpm

(2)Slackware 3.X (linux i386 libc5 ELF)

  Executable package       xplns-3.2.0-1-linux.tar.gz
  Star data package        xplns-cat-3.2.0-1-linux.tar.gz
  Orbital element package  xplns-elm-3.2.0-1-linux.tar.gz
  Image data package       xplns-img-3.2.0-1-linux.tar.gz

(3)FreeBSD 3.X (FreeBSD i386 ELF)

  Executable package       xplns-3.2.0-1.tgz
  Star data package        xplns-cat-3.2.0-1.tgz
  Orbital element package  xplns-elm-3.2.0-1.tgz
  Image data package       xplns-img-3.2.0-1.tgz


PACKAGE CONTENTS
----------------

(1)Executable package

  Required package to run Xplns.

  xplns            Executable file
  README           This file
  README.ja        Japanese version of README (ISO-2022-JP)
  XPlns.ad         Default resource file
  XPlns.ad.fr      resource file in French
  XPlns.ad.ja      Resource file in Japanese
  xplns.obs        Site data
  starname.dat     Star name data
  starname.dat.ja  Star name data (Japanese)
  consname.dat     Constellation name data
  consname.dat.ja  Constellation name data (Japanese)
  skymark.adf      User definable data file for sky mark
  skymark.adf.ja   User definable data file for sky mark (Japanese)
  adf/*            Samples of user defined object data file.
  install.sh       Install script (linux libc5 package only)
  uninst-xplns     Uninstall script (linux libc5 package only)

(2)Star data package

  This package includes SAO star catalog and GSC index data file.
  If you want to display GSC star data, you need GSC CD-ROM.

  xplns.sao        SAO star catalog data
  xplns.gsc        GSC star data index

(3)Orbital element package

  This package is required if you want to display comets or minor
  planets.

  comet.elm        Orbital elements of comets
  mp.elm           Orbital elements of minor planets

(4)Image data package

  This package is required if you want to display images by "image"
  button on the "Object Information" box.

  xplns.cdf        Image setting file for Object Information Dialog
  image/*          Image files for Object Information Dialog


INSTALL
-------

(1)Red Hat Linux

  You can install or upgrade with rpm command as follows:

  # rpm -Uvh xplns-3.2.0-1.i386.rpm
  # rpm -Uvh xplns-elm-3.2.0-1.i386.rpm
  # rpm -Uvh xplns-cat-3.2.0-1.i386.rpm
  # rpm -Uvh xplns-img-3.2.0-1.i386.rpm

(2)Slackware 3.X

 a) If you have old version installed, delete it.

  To uninstall xplns-3.2.0 or later.

    # uninst-xplns
    Uninstalling Xplns...Completed.

  To uninstall before xplns-3.2.0.

    # rm -r /usr/local/share/xplns
    # rm /usr/local/bin/xplns
    # rm /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/app-defaults/XPlns

 b) Extract the packages you downloaded.

  # tar zxf xplns-3.2.0-1-linux.tar.gz
  # tar zxf xplns-cat-3.2.0-1-linux.tar.gz
  # tar zxf xplns-elm-3.2.0-1-linux.tar.gz
  # tar zxf xplns-img-3.2.0-1-linux.tar.gz

 c) Install the new package.

  # cd xplns-3.2.0
  # ./install.sh -n
  # ./install.sh -x
  Installing Xplns...Completed.
  To uninstall Xplns, run 'uninst-xplns'.

 d) You can delete extracted files.

  # cd ..
  # rm -rf xplns-3.2.0

(3)FreeBSD 3.X

 a) If you have old version installed, delete it.

  # pkf_info | grep xplns
     :
  (You must delete old packages displayed here)
     :
  # pkg_delete xplns-cat-3.1.0-1
  # pkg_delete xplns-3.1.0-1

 b) Install the new package

  # pkg_add xplns-3.2.0-1.tgz
  # pkg_add xplns-cat-3.2.0-1.tgz
  # pkg_add xplns-elm-3.2.0-1.tgz
  # pkg_add xplns-img-3.2.0-1.tgz


RUNNING XPLNS
-------------

To start xplns, type the following command on shell prompt.

  $ xplns

If it won't start or it causes problem, please read the FAQ page of
Xplns (http://www.astroarts.co.jp/products/xplns/faq.html).


MENU
----

(1)File

  Open                Load the saved settings file (*.stl)
  Save                Save the current settings as the previously named file
  Save As             Save the current settings to file
  Save Image          Save the current star window into xpm image file
  Exit xplns          Exit the xplns

(2)Settings

  Date/Time           Show date and time settings dialog
  Site                Show site settings dialog
  Play                Turn on or off the continuous drive
  Time Step           Show continuous drive settings dialog
  Trace               Turn on or off the trace mode
  Initialize          Initialize all settings to xplns intrinsic default
  Save As Default     Save the current settings as default
  Environment         Show environment dialog

(3)View

  Projection          Set the projection mode
  Width               Set the view window width in degrees
  Direction           Set the direction center of the view
  Rotate              select normal/rotate 180 deg./flip
  Grid                Show/hide grids
  Daylight            Turn on or off the daylight
  Status bar          Show/hide status bar at the top of star window
  Horizon             Straighten the horizon

(4)Object

  Sun                 Show sun settings dialog
  Moon                Show moon settings dialog
  Planets             Show planet settings dialog
  Comets              Show comet selection dialog
  Minor planets       Show minor planets settings dialog
  Jovian satellites   Show jovian satellites settings dialog
  Star                Show star settings dialog
  Constellation       Show constellation settings dialog
  Nebula/Galaxy       Show nebulae and galaxies settings dialog
  Sky mark            Show/hide the sky marks
  User object         Select user defined object
  Milkyway            Show/hide milky way

(5)Center

  Sun                 Center the sun
  Moon                Center the moon
  Planets             Show dialog to select planet to center
  Comets              Show dialog to select comet to center
  Minor planets       Show dialog to select minor planet to center
  Jovian satellites   Show dialog to select jovian satellite to center
  Star                Show dialog to select star to center
  Constellation       Show dialog to select constellation to center
  Nebula/Galaxy       Show dialog to select nebulae/galaxies to center
  Sky mark            Show dialog to select sky marks to center
  User object         Show dialog to Select user defined object to center

(6)Options

  What's today        Show daily astronomical information dialog
  Step box            Show/hide time stepping tool box
  Command box         Show direct command dialog box

(7)Help

  About xplns         Show version information of xplns
  Copyright           Show copyright information


MOUSE OPERATION
---------------

(1)Left button click

  Clicking the celestial objects with left mouse button will display
information window about it.  This window has four buttons.  These
buttons acts as following (from left to right):

  a)Close the window.
  b)Blink the mark around the object.
  c)Center the object in the window.
  d)Lock the object in center of the view, to unlock, click the button
    again.
  e)Object graphics image displayed, if image file is registered for
    the object.

(2)Left button drag

  You can change the direction of view point by dragging the mouse
with pressing left button in the window.

(3)Right button click

  You can examine equatorial, ecliptic, and horizontal coordinates by
clicking right mouse button in the star window.  Settings menu will
appear with it if there is object under the pointer when you click.


KEYBOARD OPERATION
------------------

(1)PageUp/PageDown

  Zoom up or down the current view.(except for planisphere mode)

(2)Up/Down/Right/Left

  Move up/down/right/left the view.

(3)Shift+Up/Shift+Down

  Change magnitude limit of star.

(4)Ctrl+SPACE

  Open command input dialog described in "COMMAND" section.


DIRECT COMMAND
--------------

  Hit the space key with pressing control key will display "command
window".  You can input one or more commands by delimiting the commands
with semi-colon.
  Followings are some of the commands.  There are more commands
available (ex. "stime", "inctime", etc.) supported in StellaNavigator
for Windows (please refer to http://www.astroarts.co.jp/).  Save menu
item in File menu will save using the following commands.

(1)DRIVE

  DESCRIPTION
        Redraw entire view of the window.  All commands except for
        "DRIVE" and "LOOK" changes the setting without redrawing
        the window.

(2)LOOK <coordinate>

  DESCRIPTION
        Redraw entire window with centering the object specified with
        argument "coordinate".  This command has the same effect as
        "VIEW CENTER <coordinate>; DRIVE".

  EXAMPLE
        look jupiter               center the Jupiter and draw
        look moon                  center the Moon and draw
        look cons Ori              center the Orion and draw
        look star alphaOri         center the Beterugius and draw
        look eqt 2200,4500         center 22h00m, 45o00' and draw
        look hrz 0,45              center south, alt. 45deg and draw

(3)VIEW CENTER <coordinate>

  DESCRIPTION
        Set the center of the window to "coordinate".

  EXAMPLE
        view center jupiter        center the Jupiter
        view center moon           center the Moon
        view center cons Ori       center the Orion
        view center star alphaOri  center the Beterugius
        view center eqt 2200,4500  center 22h00m, 45o00'
        view center hrz 0,45       center south, alt. 45deg

(4)VIEW ANGLE <angle>

  DESCRIPTION
        Set the width of view to <angle> degree.

  EXAMPLE
        view angle 10              Set the width of view to 10 degrees.

(5)MAG STAR <mag>

  DESCRIPTION
        Set the limit of magnitude for drawing stars.

  EXAMPLE
        mag star 6.5               draw the stars up to 6.5mag(all)

(6)TRACK <coordinate>

  DESCRIPTION
        Lock the "coordinate" to center of the window.  To unlock it,
        specify "off" for "coordinate".

  EXAMPLE
        track jupiter              Lock the Jupiter to center
        track moon                 Lock the Moon to center
        track star alphaOri        Lock Beteruigus to center
        track off                  Unlock current tracking object

(7)SHOW <object> / HIDE <object>

  DESCRIPTION
        Show or hide the object

  EXAMPLE
        show planet                Show all planets
        show cons_line             Show constellation figures
        hide star                  Hide stars

(8)MODE <mode>

  DESCRIPTION
        Set projection mode to "<mode>".  Valid "<mode>" is one of the
        followings:

            PLNS    Planisphere
            HRZ     Horizontal View
            EQT     Equatorial
            ECL     Ecliptic
            GAL     Galactic
            SOL2    Solar System Mode

  EXAMPLE
        mode plns                  Planisphere mode
        mode hrz                   Horizontal view mode
        mode eqt                   Equatorial mode

(9)DATE <date>

  DESCRIPTION
        Set the date.  Date format is "year, month, day, hour, minute,
        second".

  EXAMPLE
        date 1998,6,1,22,30,0      Set the time to June 1, 1998 22:30:00

(10)PERIOD <period>

  DESCRIPTION
        Set the time step of continuous drive mode.  Period format is
        "year, month, day, hour, minute, second".

  EXAMPLE
        date 0,0,0,0,5,0           Set time step to 5 minutes

(11)CONTINUE

  DESCRIPTION
        Turn on and off the continuous drive.

(12)EXIT

  DESCRIPTION
        Exit xplns.


SYSTEM REQUIRED
---------------

  Linux 2.0 or later with libc5(ELF) or glibc2 on i386
  FreeBSD 3.4-RELEASE(ELF) on i386
  XFree86 3.3.5 (256 or more colors)


KNOWN BUGS
----------

(1)If your system doesn't supported "locale" correctly, you can't input
   multi-byte characters into the text box of the dialog-boxes.

(2)I couldn't check xplns on many systems.  So, it may not run in some
   systems.


SUPPORT
-------

  AstroArts Inc. will not support this software at all.  Use it at
your own risk.  But, your suggestions are welcome.  Please send e-mail
to <osam-a@astroarts.co.jp>.

  There are some answers of frequently asked questions on the WEB page
(http://www.astroarts.co.jp/products/xplns/faq.html).  If you have
problems, read it first, please.

COPYRIGHT
---------

  Xplns is a free software, and you can use it freely.  You can only
redistribute complete original tar-ball of xplns.  I distribute xplns
in binary only, because it includes a lot of commercial source code
produced by AstroArts Inc.

Enjoy.
