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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