Server Commands

SkyChart can work as a server. It accepts the following commands from a TCP/IP connexion:

Main Commands

Command	Parameters	Comment or GUI Equivalent
NEWCHART	chart_name	File → New Chart
CLOSECHART	chart_name	File → Close Chart
SELECTCHART	chart_name	Window → chart_name
LISTCHART		Window
SEARCH	object_name	Search tool (Main Bar)
GETMSGBOX		Returns the status bar content
GETCOORBOX		Returns the coordinates shown in the status bar
GETINFOBOX		Setup → Display → Labels - Display the chart information in the menu bar
FIND	object_class object_name	Same as search, but lets you specify the class of object you want: 0=nebula, 1=na, 2=star, 3=star, 4=variable, 5=double, 6=comet, 7=asteroid, 8=planet, 9=constellation, 10=line catalog
SAVE	saved_file_name	Save the current chart to the specified file
LOAD	saved_file_name	Load the chart from the file
SHUTDOWN		Close the program
RESET		Reload the default chart and options (same as signal HUP)
?		No GUI equivalent, list of available commands

Chart Commands

Command	Parameters	Comment or GUI Equivalent
ZOOM+		View → Zoom in
ZOOM-		View → Zoom out
MOVEEAST		Keyboard Left arrow
MOVEWEST		Keyboard Right arrow
MOVENORTH		Keyboard Up arrow
MOVESOUTH		Keyboard Down arrow
MOVENORTHEAST		Numpad 7 (Ver num off)
MOVENORTHWEST		Numpad 9 (Ver num off)
MOVESOUTHEAST		Numpad 1 (Ver num off)
MOVESOUTHWEST		Numpad 3 (Ver num off)
FLIPX		Chart > Tranformation > Mirror Horizontally
FLIPY		Chart > Tranformation > Mirror Vertically
SETCURSOR	pixX pixY
CENTRECURSOR		Right-clic → Center
ZOOM+MOVE		Right-clic → Zoom + Move
ZOOM-MOVE		Right-clic → Zoom - Move
ROT+		Chart → Tranformation → Rotate Right
ROT-		Chart → Tranformation → Rotate Left
SETEQGRID	ON/OFF	Chart → Lines, Grid → Add Equatorial Grid
SETGRID	ON/OFF	Chart → Lines, Grid → Show Coordinate Grid
SETSTARMODE	0/1/2	Setup → Display → Display → Star Display
SETNEBMODE	0/1	Setup > Display → Display → Deep Sky Objects Display
SETAUTOSKY	ON/OFF	Setup → Display → Sky Colour
UNDO		Edit → Undo
REDO		Edit → Redo
SETPROJ	ALTAZ/EQUAT/GALACTIC/ECLIPTIC	Chart → Chart Coordinate System
SETFOV	00d00m00s or 00.00	Icon (FOV input fields) or icon (Main Bar)
SETRA	RA:00h00m00s or RA:00.00	Icon (RA input fields)
SETDEC	DEC:+00d00m00s or DEC:00.00	Icon (DEC input fields)
SETOBS	LAT:+00d00m00sLON:+000d00m00sALT:000mOBS:name	Setup → Observatory
IDCURSOR
SAVEIMG	PNG/JPEG/BMP filename quality	File → Save Image…
SETNORTH		Chart → View Horizon → North
SETSOUTH		Chart → View Horizon → South
SETEAST		Chart → View Horizon → East
SETWEST		Chart → View Horizon → West
SETZENITH		Icon (Right Bar)
ALLSKY		Icon (Right Bar)
REDRAW		Follows a modification command, mandatory to update chart
GETCURSOR
GETEQGRID
GETGRID
GETSTARMODE
GETNEBMODE
GETAUTOSKY
GETPROJ
GETFOV	S/F
GETRA	S/F
GETDEC	S/F
GETDATE
GETOBS
SETDATE	yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss or „yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss”	Setup → Date/Time
SETTZ	Etc/GMT	Setup → Observatory (Country Timezone)
GETTZ
SETGRIDNUM	ON/OFF	Setup → Display → Lines - Show Grid Label
SETCONSTLINE	ON/OFF	Setup → Display → Lines - Show Constellation Figure
SETCONSTBOUNDARY	ON/OFF	Setup → Display → Lines - Show Constellation Boundary
RESIZE	width height	Resize the chart

V2.7 compatibility DDE command

Command	Parameters	Comment or GUI Equivalent
MOVE	obsolete RA: 00h00m00.00s DEC:+00d00m00.0s FOV:+00d00m00s	Icon
DATE	obsolete, same as SETDATE
OBSL	obsolete, same as SETOBS
RFSH	obsolete, same as REDRAW
PDSS
SBMP	obsolete, use SAVEIMG
SGIF	obsolete, use SAVEIMG
SJPG	obsolete, use SAVEIMG
IDXY	X:pixelx Y:pixely
GOXY	X:pixelx Y:pixely
ZOM+	obsolete, same as ZOOM+
ZOM-	obsolete, same as ZOOM-
STA+		icon (Main Bar)
STA-		icon (Main Bar)
NEB+		icon (Main Bar)
NEB-		icon (Main Bar)
GREQ	obsolete, use SETEQGRID
GRAZ	obsolete, use SETGRID
GRNM	obsolete, use SETGRIDNUM
CONL	obsolete, use SETCONSTLINE
CONB	obsolete, use SETCONSTBOUNDARY
EQAZ	obsolete, use SETPROJ