Celestia Forums

I was wondering if anyone besides Don has tried my AutoPilot program for Windows.
There may be several reasons for the lack of reactions thusfar:

You may have missed the announcement on this forum
You don't have Windows
You tried AutoPilot but you think it sucks
You tried AutoPilot but you don't know how to use it, or what to use it for
You are missing some essential features in AutoPilot

I would like to receive as much feedback as possible. This project was very time-consuming (but fun to do!), and before I am going to extend it - e.g. with interplanetary flights - I want to know if there is any want for it..

Hi, Paul

I think AutoPolit programme is a wonderful work , though a few places need attention like the help link. I really don't know whether or not there are other fellow Celestia members agree with me, it would be better appreciated if it is opensource. After all, this community and the Celestia programme are all coming as opensource. Is Autopolit possible an opensource programme, I just wonder?

Joe wrote:Hi, Paul

I think AutoPolit programme is a wonderful work , though a few places need attention like the help link. I really don't know whether or not there are other fellow Celestia members agree with me, it would be better appreciated if it is opensource. After all, this community and the Celestia programme are all coming as opensource. Is Autopolit possible an opensource programme, I just wonder?

Sure it is Joe.
That is, I do not intend to keep the code for myself. Partly this is obvious, since the autoPilot.lua file can be reviewed and changed by everyone. And I am more than willing to release the (Delphi) source code, if anyone is interested.

Thanks for your feedback.

Paul

Hey, Paul

That is a great news. I am a Delphi programmer (though a bit slow, but always work) too. When and where you want to release your Delphi code? Cannot wait.

Joe wrote:Hey, Paul

That is a great news. I am a Delphi programmer (though a bit slow, but always work) too. When and where you want to release your Delphi code? Cannot wait.

It's already there: see my Celestia page. Note: I used the archaic 2.0 version of Delphi!

Paul

I've just played with, and I think it's a very nice idea. I would have more time to found some bugs .

Thanks.

I've just played with, and I think it's a very nice idea. I would have more time to found some bugs .

I tried compiling the source code from Paul's site, with Delphi 6 and Delphi 7, both prompted me with the same fatal error -- need for TFxLabel and TFixStringGrid. Anyone would point me to the place where I can get the Delphi component that provide these two classes. Or I'm dummy enough missed something or doing it wrong?

Many thanks.

Dear Paul:

I have downloaded AutoPilot but not yet tried it. I am a teacher and will soon be off for the summer. Through the maze and haze of chores I've got lined up to fix my house, I will also be updating my Astronomy curriculum for next term and will definitely explore AutoPilot then.

Thanks for your extensive efforts in writing the code.



Frank

Joe wrote:

I've just played with, and I think it's a very nice idea. I would have more time to found some bugs .

I tried compiling the source code from Paul's site, with Delphi 6 and Delphi 7, both prompted me with the same fatal error -- need for TFxLabel and TFixStringGrid. Anyone would point me to the place where I can get the Delphi component that provide these two classes. Or I'm dummy enough missed something or doing it wrong?

Many thanks.

Sorry for the late reply Joe. I haven't visited the forum lately, and for some reason I do not get notified of replies on this topic...
To answer your question: you're right, you will be unable to compile AutoPilot, unless you have the components FxLabel and FixStringGrid installed. Which in turn is impossible since there is only a Delphi 2.0 version available.... (I don't have the source unfortunately).
So what to do: well, I can try to find - open source - substitutes for these components. I will do so, hopefully this weekend, but I can't tell what the outcome will be...

Paul

fsgregs wrote:Dear Paul:

I have downloaded AutoPilot but not yet tried it. I am a teacher and will soon be off for the summer. Through the maze and haze of chores I've got lined up to fix my house, I will also be updating my Astronomy curriculum for next term and will definitely explore AutoPilot then.

I understand. Just take your time Frank...

fsgregs wrote:Thanks for your extensive efforts in writing the code.



Frank

You're welcome. Once you find the time to try AutoPilot let me know what you think, OK?

Paul