When I try "Flat Frames Now", I end up with an Unhandled exceptions..."Argument 'Length' must be greater or equal to zero".

During the run, I can watch CCDSoft take the bais frame, i.e. exposure time goes to zero, frame mode goes to 'dark', and a bias frame is displayed. CCDAP computers the Bias ADU, then it starts the flat fame series. At that point is where the Unhandled Exception pops up, and everything comes to a halt.

BTW, I'm a brand new user of CCDAP, but experienced with TheSky, CCDSoft. I'm using the latest versions of all s/w. CCDSoft works fine under manual control.

Camera is an ST9. FWIW, if I setup the camera as Simulator in CCDSoft, I get the same results as above.


TIA,

John



16:46:28 Setup Information
16:46:28 Equipment Settings
Observer:
Observatory:
Telescope:
Mount type: Fork
Unguided operation
Imaging camera: SBIG ST-9 Dual CCD Camera
Imager pixel size: 20.00
Telescope focal length: 1838
Imager image scale: 2.24
Imaging camera gain: 1.5
Bias: Determined automatically

Mount settling time: 3 sec.
1x1 download time: 24 sec.
2x2 download time: 12 sec.
3x3 download time: 8 sec.
Other delays: 1 sec.

Software Settings
Dome Monitoring Thread: 0
Cloud Monitoring Thread: 0
CCDAutoPilot, Version: 3.30.7, Professional Edition
Unlicensed * For Evaluation Only *
System profile: C:\Program Files\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot3\System Profiles\ccdap330.app
Operating System: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
CCDSoft version 5.00.182 being used for image acquisition.
TheSky version 6.0.0.32 being used for telescope control.
CCDSoft/TheSky used for plate solving
Plate solve sub-frame: Full
Plate solve filter: Clear
Plate solve binning: 2x2
Plate solve exposure time: 5
SBIG standard FITS keywords will be inserted into the FITS header.

Tracking and Guiding Settings
Telescope slew to an altitude below 5 will be prevented.
Unguided operation being used with a peak enhanced dither of 3 arc-sec.

Focus Settings
WARNING: no automatic focusing is possible without a focuser connected via a focus control program.
WARNING: No periodic focusing specified.


Meridian Flip Settings
The rotator will not rotate upon meridian crossing.
The mount will not be resynchronized after the meridian crossing.
The guide star will not be automatically selected after meridian crossing.
A focus run will not occur after the meridian crossing.
The mount will track for 1 minutes past the meridian.


Session and Options
1. Startup Tasks

Dusk flats will be acquired with tracking on and a dither of 5 arc-min.
Starting sun altitude is 0.5 deg.
Flat exposure range is from 2 to 30 sec.

Light frames for the specified target(s) will be obtained.

2. After Light Frames

3. Shutdown tasks

16:46:28
16:46:28 Run starting...
16:46:28 Log saved to: C:\astroimages\CCDAutoPilot_Logs\ccdap20070120_164628.log
16:46:28 *** Review setup before starting session ***
16:46:28
16:46:28 Root save path: C:\astroimages\
16:46:28 System profile: C:\Program Files\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot3\System Profiles\ccdap330.app
16:46:28 Target List:
16:46:28 Start sequence number: 2
16:46:28
16:46:28 Flats being acquired immediately.
16:46:28 Taking flat frames now...
16:46:36 Bias ADU: 125
16:46:36 raw darkFlat series 1 starting...
16:46:40 Run aborted.

My previous post was slightly misleading, the "Take Flats Now" isn't the problem, just taking any flats results in the same behavoir.

I set thing up to take flats at dusk and get the same result as in my firt post.

Thanks,

John

Hi John,

Although I don't think it is the issue, the minimum required version of TheSky6 is 6.0.0.40 and you are using 6.0.0.32. Also, make sure you are using the Professional version as I suspect you are.

The exact text shown in the exception window would be of great help. If the problem is repeatable, please post it.

Thanks,

Ok, so I can't read after all<g>. Upgrade to 6.0.0.40 is now complete. Problem still remains.

To try and simplify, I just tried connecting only CCDSoft to CCDAP. I also tried unchecking "Auto Bias" on the CCDAP Settings page. The result of that is that the program immediately presents the unhandled exception.

The exact text...

"Unhandled exception has occurred in your application. If you check Continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application wil close immediately.

Argument 'Length' must be greater or equal to zero"

The error is the same regardless of if I have the actual camera or the simulator set up in CCDSoft.

CCDSoft version is 5.00.182

Something interesting I noticed. When I plan an imaging session, the column "Filter" has 'Red' as the default setting, even though I don't have a filter wheel. (FWIW, my filter choices in CCDAP are 'Red, Green, Blue, Clear, Filter5, Filter6 and so on). No filters are set up in CCDSoft. When a ran a test imaging session CCDSoft took the image even though the filter CCDAP was requesting was the red filter (which doesn't exist). CCDAP saved the file and names it "\070212_M39\Red0W_M39_00001.fit".

I do have an ST402 with the buil-in SBIG color filter wheel. It's not been connected to the 'scope or PC for a few months. Could CCDAP be seeing an INI file or other information for this camera?

The session log for the imaging run I referenced above is attached.

Thanks!

John

ccdap20070121_123830.log (4 KB, 91 downloads)

Hi John,

I can duplicate the problem you are seeing and will fix it on the next maintenance release.

As a workaround, select CFWAPI as the filter wheel in CCDSoft. This will provide a simulated filter wheel for CCDAP. You can actually name a filter to "None" if you wish.

Sorry for the problem.