The Phoranso Variable Star Database consolidates all ID Cards you created. Within the ID Cards Manager window, you gain extensive control over the Variable Star Database. This powerful tool enables you to view and query the database, add, delete or modify ID Cards, and perform import and export operations. 


To access the ID Cards Manager window, select ID Cards manager from the Variable ID Card menu. The resulting window, as depicted below, shows all ID Cards present in the Variable Star Database. The window title show the total count of ID Cards within the database.



ID Cards Manager layout


Each ID Card (Target star) is represented by a dedicated row in the ID Cards Manager, with its contents intelligibly arranged across columns. The first column contains the name of the Target Star represented by the ID Card. 


Clicking on  a column title allows you to sort entries accordingly, and a subsequent click inversely sorts the data.


Double clicking on a row opens the ID Card of the selected Target star.


Navigate through the Variable Star Database using the scroll bar. 


In instances where an ID Card encompasses multiple Reference Stars or Comparison Stars, simply access the corresponding drop-down cell in the ID Cards Manager to choose the specific Reference or Comparison Star of interest.


Towards the bottom of the ID Cards Manager, a dedicated zone hosts a series of buttons allowing you to query and manipulate the contents of the Variable Star Database. We will explain each of them in the subsequent sections below.


Find


Utilize the Find button to select a specific Target Star. Begin by entering the Target star's name in the field preceding the Find button. Subsequently, click the Find button. The ID Cards Manager will dynamically refresh it contents, positioning the selected Target Star near the top (or bottom) of the window.


Filter


The Filter button allows to refine the contents of the ID Cards Manager, displaying only those ID Cards that fall within a specified Field of View (FOV) box. This box is defined by its center position, width, height and roll-angle. ID Cards with coordinates within the FOV box will be displayed in the ID Cards Manager, offering a convenient method for inspecting groups of ID Cards within a designated FOV.


To apply this filter, click the sub-button ID Cards in FOV, triggering  the appearance of the Enter position dialog box. Here, you can specify the FOV parameters. Click OK to execute the filter operation. 


You can provide the FOV center position by:

  • Entering a valid AAVSO VSX star name
  • Entering a valid SIMBAD star name 
  • Specifying the center coordinates using Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Decl) values separated by a semi-colom (;). For RA and Decl values, they must be in sexagesimal format with values separated by spaces. For example: a valid entry could be: 04 59 13.57; -69 35 43.3. Alternatively, the values can be expressed in degrees. Example: 74.80654; -69.595361.


The Off sub-button deactivates the filter, restoring the ID Cards Manager to display again all ID Cards. Only one FOV filter can be active at any given moment.

Delete


The Delete button consists of several sub-buttons:


  • Complete ID Card: permanently removes the selected ID Cards from the ID Cards Manager. Corresponding files on your hard disk, associated with the selected ID Cards, will also be deleted.

  • Selected Ref Star: permanently deletes the selected Ref Star from each chosen ID Card. In the case of a single Ref Star within an ID Card, it will be entirely removed. For ID Cards with multiple Ref Stars, only the currently selected Ref Star will be deleted, leaving others intact.

  • Check Star: permanently deletes the Check Star from each selected ID Card.

  • Selected Comp Star: permanently deletes the selected Comp Star from each chosen ID Card. In the case of a single Comp Star within an ID Card, it will be entirely removed. For ID Cards with multiple Comp Stars, only the currently selected Comp Star will be deleted, leaving others intact.

  • Png Image: permanently deletes the Png image associated with each selected ID Card.

  • Comment: permanently erases the Comment contents within each selected ID Card.


Executing any of these deletion actions will result in irreversible removal of the specified elements. Please use caution when employing these functions, as the data cannot be recovered once deleted.


Sort by distance from...


The Sort by distance from allows to arrange ID Cards in the ID Cards Manager based on their proximity to a designated position. Click the button to display the Enter position dialog box, enabling you to input the starting Location for sorting. ID Cards will then be arranged in the ID Cards Manager, with objects closest to the specified location appearing at the top of the window, in decreasing order of proximity.


You can provide the Location position by:

  • Entering a valid AAVSO VSX star name
  • Entering a valid SIMBAD star name 
  • Specifying the location coordinates using Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Decl) values separated by a semi-colom (;). For RA and Decl values, they must be in sexagesimal format with values separated by spaces. For example: a valid entry could be: 04 59 13.57; -69 35 43.3. Alternatively, the values can be expressed in degrees. Example: 74.80654; -69.595361.


Retrieve AUID


The AAVSO AUID (AAVSO Unique IDentifier) is a unique identifier assigned by the AAVSO to individual variable stars. This identifier is used to uniquely and unambiguously identify a particular star in the AAVSO VSX database.


When submitting a report with photometric observations to the AAVSO International Database it is important that each variable star in the report has been assigned a unique AAVSO AUID. Phoranso can assist you in obtaining AUIDs for target stars (ID Cards) with a missing AUID.


To request AUIDs from the AAVSO, first ensure you are logged in to the AAVSO website (refer to the AAVSO website for information on obtaining a login code). After logging in, select the stars for which you intend to request an AUID. Click the Retrieve AUID button.


Phoranso will search for the AUID of each selected target star in the AAVSO VSX database. If not found, it initiates a request to the AAVSO to allocate an AUID to the star. These requests are facilitated through your web browser, creating a new browser tab for each requested AUID. Check your browser for completion status. 


If AUID assignment is successful, the ID Cars Manager will reflect the AUID information for each selected target star.


Open Png Image


When saving an ID Card in the Variable Star Database, Phoranso stores a screenshot of the ID Card in the form of a Png image in the Variable Star Database.


Click the Open Png Image button to display the Png image of each selected ID Card. 


Import


Two options exist to import ID Cards:


  • Importing a folder of ID Cards
    1. Choose the From folder sub-button
    2. A file selector window will open. Navigate to the folder containing the ID Cards and corresponding PNG images you want to import. 
    3. Select the desired ID Cards and click the Open button.
    4. After the import is complete, a confirmation dialog box will display the number of added ID Cards. Click OK to close the dialog.


  • Importing a zip file with ID Cards
    1. Choose the From zip file sub-button
    2. A file selector window will open. Navigate to the folder containing the zip file with ID Cards. 
    3. Select the zip file and click the Open button.
    4. After the import is complete, a confirmation dialog box will display the number of added ID Cards. Click OK to close the dialog.


Export


Two options exist to export ID Cards:


  • Exporting ID Cards to a folder
    1. In the ID Cards Manager, select the ID Cards you want to export  
    2. Choose the To folder sub-button
    3. A folder selector window opens. Navigate to the folder to which you want to export the ID Cards. Click Select Folder when done.
    4. After the export is complete, a confirmation dialog box appears. Click OK to close the dialog.


  • Exporting ID Cards to a zip file
    1. In the ID Cards Manager, select the ID Cards you want to export
    2. Choose the To zip file sub-button
    3. A folder selector window opens. Navigate to the folder in which you want to store the zip file with ID Cards. Click Select Folder when done.
    4. After the export is complete, a confirmation dialog box appears. Click OK to close the dialog.
    5. The selected folder will now contain a zip file PhoransoIDCards.zip with the exported ID Cards.


Set status


ID Cards can be active or inactive. Marking an ID Card as inactive means it will remain in the Variable Star Database but will be excluded from photometry calculations. You have the flexibility to reactivate an inactive ID Card at any time.


Use the Active sub-button of the Set status button to set the status of the selected ID Cards to active.


Use the Inactive sub-button of the Set status button to set the status of the selected ID Cards to inactive.