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How To Import Observations From Another Program? (Answer: Read On!)

Randy Allen

December 23, 2023 19:28

Answered

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Hello,

I've used SkySafari on/off for the last 15 years on various devices but I've never been fully committed to it. I recently upgraded to SkySafari Pro 7 for my iPhone and iPad and am thrilled at the functionality available in the Apple ecosystem, but here's the rub. For years, basically since 2001, I've been using a product called Deep Sky Planner to both plan and record my observations, of which I've recorded ~ 1500 at this point. While I can export those observations to many formats (*.obslog, *.txt, *.html, *.xls, and *.xml for the OpenAstronomyLog 2.1 format), I don't see a way to import these into SkySafari, either via the app on the iPhone/iPad nor via LiveSky. Am I missing something? Can you please help as I'd like to move these observations into SkySafari.

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6 comments

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  bruce lamoreaux December 23, 2023 20:08

  Randy,

  It looks like Deep Sky Planner is the solution. https://knightware.biz/community/public/dsp7/kb/article-25.htm.

  

   

  Bruce

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  Randy Allen December 23, 2023 21:34

  HI Bruce,

  I've used the functionality you've referenced many times in Deep Sky Planner to export observing "lists" and import them into SkySafari, which BTW SkySafari knows quite well how to handle via a *.skylist extension. The *.skylist extension is for observing lists but not for actual observations. For exporting observations from Deep Sky Planner one can choose one of the following file types: *.obslog, *.txt, *.html, *.xls, and *.xml, the program makes it easy to get your observations into multiple formats. The problem though is that I can't find a function in SkySafari to import these types of files.

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  bruce lamoreaux December 23, 2023 23:35

  Randy,  

  I now understand what you are wanting to do.  I'm not familiar with Deep Sky Planner.  It would be easy if it provided a way to create an observing list from your observations.  I do not see a way to do that in the documentation.

  I found this on cloudy nights.  https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/698665-importing-csv-to-skysafari/.  There must be a way to convert the file.  I don't know if this will work but it is an interesting puzzle to solve.

  Bruce

   

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  bruce lamoreaux December 23, 2023 23:43

  Randy,

  More info here.

  https://support.simulationcurriculum.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360036119694-Is-There-A-Way-To-Automate-The-Conversion-Between-CSV-And-Skylist-File-Formats-Answer-Use-Another-Program-To-Convert-

  Bruce

   

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  Randy Allen December 28, 2023 19:22

  Bruce,

  Thanks for taking the time to research this, it's much appreciated. My hope was that I'd hear from someone on the development team as to whether or not importing observations is a feature they're working on. My guess is "no" but one can be hopeful! As importing a *.skylist will only bring that list into the "Observing Lists" area of SSP v7, then it really doesn't matter about converting my observation exports from DSP into this format. They'll never be imported as "Observations" as that ability doesn't exist in the versions of Sky Safari that are available today. 

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith August 21, 2024 22:31

  Kyle Hendicks