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Pictor 416 SCSI A CCD Plugin for AstroArt 2.0 |
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Installation This plugin comprises two files. The first file "d_416sc.dll" was developed by MSB and provides the interface to the CCD GUI. The second file "M416SCSI.dll" was developed by Steve Hill and provides the mechanisms to communicate with the Pictor 416XT camera. Both these files must be installed. Install the files "d_416sc.dll" and "M416SCSI.dll" into your AstroArt directory. This plugin requires the installation of the CCD GUI plugin, available from the MSB website.This plugin also uses the ASPI library (wnaspi32.dll) from Adaptec. This must be installed on your system for the plugin to work correctly. Clearly, you must have a working SCSI installation for the library to work correctly.The plugin has been tested under Windows 98 with an Adaptec 1480A Ultra SCSI card and a Pictor 416XT, firmware revision 3.11. If your set-up is different from this, then the software may not work. I am grateful to Rick Hudson for his invaluable documentation on the Pictor SCSI commands without which this project would never have started.Messages The following messages might be reported when you attempt to connect to the camera: "Missing wnaspi32": this means that the wnaspi32.dll has not been found (normally in Windows\System). Install the latest version library from the Adaptec site. "Corrupt wnaspi32": this means that although the wnaspi32.dll has been found, there is something wrong with it. Re-install the library. "Camera not found": a communications problem. Check that camera is on and that the cables are properly connected. Make sure that you power on the camera before turning on the computer (subsequently you may be able to power the camera on and off without a reboot, but it is important that the computer sees the camera when its starts up). Support Whilst I will endeavour to eliminate bugs, I cannot guarantee to support this software. The software functions correctly in my environment, but I am unable to test it on any other machines and am unlikely to have time to enter into prolonged remote debugging correspondences. Legal M416SCSI.dll © Steve Hill 2002 This plugin is supplied "as is" with no warranty express or implied as to its fitness for any purpose whatsoever. Use it at your own risk. I accept no responsibility for any damage or hurt to persons or equipment suffered as a result of using this software. This library does not use any information supplied by Meade (they do not supply information on the SCSI protocol), nor is it based on any disassembly or other reverse engineering of copyrighted software. Redistribution is permitted, so long as this file is included in the distribution. Contact I hope you find this library useful. It’s the only way I have to communicate with my camera via SCSI. Donations to the Steve Hill telescope fund always welcome! |
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