c:\temp\temp\convdoc.txt
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONVERTING VSNET FORMAT TO AAVSO FORMAT USING CONVERTV (2/2001)

You only need to run one program, CONVERTV, to format your VSNET files to
AAVSO format. Download CONVERTV from the AAVSO website or contact AAVSO
Headquarters.

Notes: a) You will need the AAVSO starname/designation list VALID.AAV to run
this program. Download VALID.AAV from the AAVSO website, or contact AAVSO
Headquarters. b) You also need to know your AAVSO Observer Initials. If you
do not know them, please contact AAVSO Headquarters.


1. Put the AAVSO program CONVERTV.EXE in the same directory (folder) as your
other AAVSO programs. Make sure the file VALID.AAV is there, too.

2. Have your data in VSNET format in one or more ASCII (plain text) files.
The files may have any name, but should be in the format "filename.xxx" and
"filename" must not be more than 8 characters in length. Example: DATA1.DAT

Note on VSNET input format:

  a) VSNET format allows any number of blank spaces between the various data
  columns, but it does NOT allow embedded blanks in the star name, nor does
  it allow a decimal point in the magnitude.

  b) VSNET format fields are:
     starname  utdecimal  mag  obs  comments (including compstars/charts used)

     for example:
     CYGSS 990821.1834 <140 WEO OUTBURST HAZE 97,101 SCO796

  NOTE: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE STARNAME, UT, MAGNITUDE, AND OBSERVER I.D.
  FIELDS CONTAIN NO BLANK CHARACTERS. Starnames such as "NSV 3456" should be
  entered as "NSV3456". Use of blank characters within these fields will
  result in data that will not convert.

  The Comments field (after the observer i.d.) is a free-form area, with no
  format restrictions.

3. Run CONVERTV (type "convertv") on each file, answering the prompts for
your AAVSO Observer Initials and input and output file names. The output file
must also be in the format "filename.xxx". Example: DATA1.OUT

If the output file already exists, you may either append the converted data
to the end of the existing output file or abort the program.

4. As CONVERTV runs, it displays all records found to be NOT in VSNET format.
At the end of the run, the total number of legitimate VSNET format records
found and written to the output file is displayed.

5. Because the VSNET Comments field is free-form, it may be impossible for
CONVERTV to convert everything in this field to the corresponding AAVSO
fields. You may need to edit DATA1.OUT to add or move comment codes,
chart/compstar information, etc.
   CONVERTV automatically does the following:
     - looks for comment phrases (active, outburst, moon, clouds, fatigue,
  etc.) and inserts the corresponding AAVSO one-letter comment code after the
  magnitude.  A complete list of AAVSO one-letter comment codes is given at
  the end of this file.
     - looks for instrumentation comment (PEP, PTG, PV, CCD, CCDV, CCDB,
  CCDR, CCDI) and inserts this comment after the magnitude.
     - looks for chart source phrases (such as BAA, GSC, Guide, Henden,
  Hipparcos, RASNZ, TA, Tycho, USNO, VSNET), inserts the the corresponding
  AAVSO one-letter chart code after the magnitude, and puts the chart source
  phrase in the correct place. It will not put anything if the chart is from
  AAVSO. If it doesn't recognize your chart source it will not add a chart
  code or keep the chart source. (Please add a "K" comment and move the chart
  source into the correct place - this information is extremely important!)


Comment codes go in columns 37-43. Comparison star magnitudes go in columns
44-54. Chart information goes in columns 55-61.


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Example of AAVSO format
Column #
00000000011111111112222222222333333333344444444445555555555666666666677777777778
12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890
Design. Name      Julian Date Magn. CommentStep Mag   Charts  Init.Remarks
                                    Codes  or Comp
                                           Stars
xxxx+xxxnnnnnnnnnnxxxxxxx.xxxx<xx.x:aaaaaaagggggggggggccccccccnnnnnxxxxxxxxxxx..
0058+40 RX AND    2451762.6299<14.5        145        SD0793  WEO
0058+40 RX AND    2451773.5604 11.3 Y      107,113    SC0793  WEO
0058+40BNSV 389   2451773.5604 12.0        118,121    SC0793  WEO
0059+53 V723 CAS  2451777.628  14.1 SU     132,142    PD0296  WEO  SEQUENCE: CLOUDS:
0103+59 HT CAS    2451772.8063 17.62 CCDV  1640       SF0799  WEO
0149-49 RT PHE    2451788.8     0.0 K L2V8HL,H        NZD83   WEO
0549+07 ALPHA ORI 2451782.0123  0.74 PEP   41 (PH1-2) AAVSOPEPWEO
1151+58 Z UMA     2451769.6   < 8.6        86N        SB1297  WEO
1406-39 V504 CEN  2451760.6     0.0 K .5<U U          NZE79   WEO
1533+19 LX SER    2451776.5274 14.90 CCDV  1390       PE0795  WEO
1544+28AR CRB     2451778.6     6.4 M      59,64,65   SA1194  WEO  MOON:
1544+28BTT CRB    2451778.675  11.3:M      106,111,118SD0496  WEO  MOON:
1710+14 ALPHA HER 2451782.6     3.2 BK     30,35      AKV     WEO  TWILIGHT:
2138+43 SS CYG    2451781.5743 12.2        118,123    SE1973  WEO

EXPLANATION OF FORMAT

Designation:
Columns 1-4  Hour and minutes of right ascension
Col.    5    + or -
Cols.   6-7  Degrees of declination
Col.    8    Letter, if part of designation, or blank
Note: If you are submitting an observation(s) for a star that is not in the
validation file, enter 9999+99 in the designation field and use the Remarks
field to provide information that will identify the star.

Name: Cols. 9-18  Variable Name. See the validation file for the correct
wording. If CSV or NSV star, do not use constellation name. If comparison
star, give magnitude/comp/direction (i.e., 120 COMP S; 96 COMP NW; VAR? NE).

Julian Date and GMAT time: Cols. 19-30 7 digits + . + up to 4 digits.
Example: 2451346.6508 (decimal in column 26) The AAVSO online JD calculator
can help you convert UT to JD and GMAT if needed.

Magnitude:
Col. 31     Blank or < (fainter-than symbol)
Cols.32-35  Magnitude. Decimal in column 34. 0.0 if step magnitude or letter
            sequence
Col. 36     Blank, or : (uncertain symbol), or hundredths digit if PEP or CCD

Comment Code(s): Col. 37-43 Blank, or single-letter code (up to four one-letter
            symbols listed in alphabetical order), and/or multi-letter code
            (CCDV, PEP, etc.) Note: multi-letter code begins in col. 38.
   For a comment, use one of the code letters listed below, but use the "O"
code only if absolutely necessary. If you use "O", you MUST explain it.

  One-letter codes (Begin in column 37):
     A AAVSO Atlas
     B sky is bright, twilight, light pollution, aurorae
     F unconventional method (out of focus, visual photometer, etc.)
     G non-AAVSO chart with Guide Star Catalog magnitudes
     H haze, mist, fog
     I identification of star is uncertain
     J non-AAVSO chart with HIPPARCOS magnitudes
     K non-AAVSO chart or sequence used
     L low in sky, horizon, trees, obstruction
     M moon present or interferes
     N angle, position angle
     O "other" comment - MUST be explained in EXPLANATION field
     R color comment (star is red, blue, etc.)
     S comparison sequence comment or problem;do not use for non-AAVSO sequence
     T non-AAVSO chart with TYCHO magnitudes
     U clouds
     V faint star, glimpse, near limit
     W weather (includes wind), poor seeing in general
     Y activity in star - outburst, fading, flare, unusual behavior
     Z possibly erroneous, doubtful, observer fatigue

  Multi-letter Codes (Begin in column 38):

   CCD   Charge-coupled device (unfiltered)
  CCCB   Charge-coupled device (blue filter)
  CCCI   Charge-coupled device (infrared filter)
  CCDO   Charge-coupled device (orange filter)
  CCDR   Charge-coupled device (red filter)
  CCDV   Charge-coupled device (visual filter)
  COMB   Observation is of nuclear and nebulous regions COMBined
   NUC   Observation is of the NUClear region
   PEP   Photoelectric photometer (Visual band)
   PTG   Photographic observation
    PV   Photovisual observation

Step magnitude/letter sequence; Comparison stars used: Cols. 44-54
Blank, or step magnitude or letter sequence if magnitude = 0.0; or magnitudes
of comparison stars used (omit decimal points, separate magnitudes with ",").

Chart Information: Cols. 55-62  Put type (P for preliminary or S for standard),
scale, and date of chart used. If not AAVSO chart, put source (AKV,BAA,TA,
RASNZ, etc.).

Initials: Cols. 63-67 AAVSO Observer Initials. If you do not know yours,
contact Headquarters.

Remarks: Cols. 68-149 Required if you use the "O" for "Other" code in
columns 37-43.
May use for comment about observation (usually not needed). Can be anything
about observation.

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