Hello all,
Just got another question.I am using CCD auto pilot for a supernova search programme and I am woundering if it is possible to have the file name just as it is in the folder not with the other prefix as I can scan up to 200 galaxies per night and putting them in a supernova programme to blink the images but with the other numbers included I have to rename each file and it takes ages!!!
ie this is the file name I get fron CCDAP
0E_ngc6942_00164.fit

It would be great just to have:
ngc6942.fit
Then it would go straight into the other programme to scan the image with out the time consuming effort of renaming the file.
I am only doing 60 sec exposures so at the end of the night I have 1 folder with 300 60 sec exposures

I have tired to edit the name as per your post below with no luck.Remember I am dealing with alot of files which each are exposed ONCE only so there is no need for the extra numbers
Many thanks
Stu

This message has been edited. Last edited by: stu,

Hi Stu,

What you see for a file name is the default name, i.e. what the file name is if the Description field on the lights page is left blank. You can make the file name any thing you want by filling out the description field. You can test the file names by going to the review session page with the show details box checked.

Hi John,
Thanks for the info.by writing in a discription light frame box and clicking update will this put a number for each object in the discription or will it just put in what I have in the box for all the objects,What I am trying to do here is save the images to 1 folder with there correct names ie M10,M12 M13 M16 etc with no extra numbers in the file name.any more help would be great.

Thanks in advance

Stu

Stu,

See the data organization topic in the help file. If you are taking more than one image of M13 for example, the minimum file name would probably be something like M13_0001.fit, M13_0002.fit, etc.

Hi John,
Thanks for answering my question but I am not sure what you mean in your reply.
I may not of explained my question correctly.
I use your software for my supernova search programme. I have successfully found 2 supernova while using your software but my question is this.
I scan using AP up to 300 galaxies per night. I am wanting AP not to put extra numbers on the file name. The reason for this is when I transfer the files to my blinking programme to compare my images I have to rename all the files as the blinking programme will not recognize the file ie OW_ngc3620_00045.It would be great for CCD AP to put out the file name as NGC3620.
I am importing up to 300 galaxies into AP at a time so I just can’t rename each one before I run the session.
I am importing a TXT file with a list of Galaxies into AP
Hopfully I am doing something wrong but I can’t figure out how to do it.
If I was able to do this it would save up to 50 mins each night as I have to waste time to rename each file. Is there something that can be done.
I love using AP for my SN hunting but am really hoping that you can help

Thanks it would REALLY help!!!!!!!

Stu

Stu,

Please indicate a sample fully qualified file name, including path, that you would like to see for two targets and on two nights.

I have automated a 2 camera exoplanet search program that is now being upgraded to 5 cameras with a highly customized version of CCDAP. The professional astronomers absolutely insist on serial numbers and date stamps for each exposure. Nevertheless, let me see what you specifically need is and I'll see what I can do.

PS You can experiment with file name entries in the description page and check them out by checking the Details box on the Run Session page. You do not have to run a session to experiment with file names.

Hi John,
Thanks for your quick reply.
And thanks for taking the time in trying to help me.
Just as a side note as I said last night I have successfully found 2 supernova with AP4 the 2 are SN2009gj and SN2009hm.I did this in June and july.
Here is a example file list of what I need AP4 to output so I can put in my blinking programme. This is a renamed list from a run I did last week. I had to take out all the other numbers that AP4 puts into the file. What I need is no dashes or batch numbers just the plain number ie IC4373 not OC_IC_4373_001 as AP4 puts on the file name .I dont need to change the file header so the fits file should be exactly the same. I need this so I can transfer the nights run directly into my blinking programme as my Reference images are named with no dashes or extra numbers therefore if I put the nights run into the blinking programme with the extra numbers the programme does not recognize the file from AP4 and it doesn’t work.I simply rename the file once it is downloaded from AP4 but as said this takes alot of time
I know what you are doing here as I know most people want the extra numbers for LRGB imaging so it is great for them to have these extra numbers but not for me. Remember that I am dealing with bulk files upto 300 per night so anything you can do to help would be great. I have tried to change file names and play with the set up but I am not having much luck.
Thanks alot If you need further info please contact me and I am more than happy to try any custom ver of AP4 and also more than happy to pay for your time in doing so.

IC4373.fit I rernamed it from AP4 which was this(OC_IC4373_001.fit)
IC4448 fit I rernamed it from AP4 which was this(OC_IC4448_002.fit)
IC4522.fit I rernamed it from AP4 which was this(OC_IC4522_003.fit)
IC4484.fit I rernamed it from AP4 which was this(OC_IC4484_004.fit)
IC4555.fit I rernamed it from AP4 which was this(OC_IC4555_005.fit)
IC4578.fit I rernamed it from AP4 which was this(OC_IC4578_006.fit)
IC4618.fit I rernamed it from AP4 which was this(OC_IC4618_007.fit)

Stu,

I asked for your desired fully qualified path name. For example, if you are watching NGC1234, how do you differentiate the target image taken over two nights? I assume this is done by putting the files in different folders with the date in the folder name. A fully qualified path name for two nights might look like this:
C:\SNS\090830\NGC1234.fit
and for the next night:
C:\SNS\090831\NGC1234.fit

Or are you doing something else?

PS Have you checked out the many multiple rename utilities available for Windows? These will make quick work of renaming multiple files.

Hi John,
I dont need a fully qualifield path name as each nights observations are put into a seperate folder and stored Separately.In My observing programme I look at a galaxy on one night then again 3 weeks later so it is not done on a night by night basis. The important thing here is that the blinking programme I use only Recognises the orginal name of the galaxy.Ie NGC1234 not OC_NGC1234_001 as AP4 produces.I set the path each night to a different location in the options setting in AP4 under the Data Storage settings.I really only need the file name that is stored in that folder to be as plain as possible and have no other dashes etc as explained last night.
I hope we are talking about the same thing here it doesnt really sound like we are.
Stu

PS
I didn’t explain this before but I use reference images to compare with the images taken on a given night. Therefore I compare the images the AP4 takes with the reference images I have in storage in a blinking programme that is how I spot a new Supernova. My Reference image and the image that AP4 takes MUST be the same name other wise the blinking programme will ignore the image and therefore I could miss out on a discovary.Also with me having to rename each file there is a possibility of me deleting a number etc as I can do up to 300 per night this would also cause the blinking programme to ignore the image. All I really need is AP4 to produce an image name the same as my reference file so save me having to changing it.
Hope this helps explain what I am looking for

This message has been edited. Last edited by: stu,

Stu,

I needed a fully qualified path name example of what you are doing to understand your needs. But I guess I don't need that now, based on your above explanation.

Since file naming is pretty involved in the CCDAP, I don't know if I will be able to accommodate your needs but I'll look into it. In the meanwhile, google on multiple file rename for some Windows utilities that can be used to strip anything you don't want in a file name. I used an ancient multiren program from the Windows 95 era that still works.

Hi John,
Thanks for the info.It would be great if you could get something sorted however thanks to your idea I downloaded a free ware programme callled File renamer.It works fine and renames the files with just a few clicks which is great.So at least that problem will be fixed.I look forward to using AP4 for my SN hunting in the future and prehaps in a future update you might be able to get something sorted.

Thanks again

Stu

Hi Stu,

I have included code to provide your file naming requirement in the next maintenance release.

Hi John,
Sounds great!!!! I look forward to it.
How will it work will the setting be in the option box it will be intresting to see it work I will let you know how it goes.

Regards
Stu

Hey John,
Got the up grade and am currently at the observatory. Fantastic!!!! the simple number option works a treat!!!
Thanks alot for taking the time to get this sorted for me.I will highly recommend this software to my friends that supernova hunt as well.
Just a note that I managed to find my 3rd Supernova last week using AP.Great programme!!!

Thanks again
Stu

Hi Stu,

Thanks for the feedback. Glad it worked out for you and congrats on the SN discovery. You're really cranking them out. Nice work!