Bill, If I select an item from such a list, center it, observe it and then select “info” and from there select “create new observation” I get a list of all my observing lists. Intuitively, I would think that only lists to which the object in question belongs would show up. But, setting that aside, if I select the proper list and record the observation it gets recorded, but as noted before not like it should. Instead of showing the original entry of the object in the list as having been observed, it rather enters a second version of it, so that object is then in the list twice - once showing it has been observed and one showing it has not been observed. The number of objects in the list then goes up by one as well as the observed and unobserved entries are counted as separate objects. So instead of the caldwell list having 116 objects it report 117 and as go forward this keeps happening. When you print a CSV report you have an observed and unobserved entry. When you ask to see your observations of an object you are told it has and has not been observed. (see screenshots below)
SkySafari 5 Pro | Can I Attach An Observation To More Than One List?
Now if you start a list with a name but don’t have any objects in it this problem would not exist because the only instance of each object in the list would have been entered there with an observation. (Note also, subsequent observation of an object do not add new objects to the list, i.e. making the list 118, though they do properly show up in a print out.) I am speculating that what you are doing is starting with an empty list. That would not reveal the problem, but this largely undermines the purpose of an observing list, which is to have a list of unobserved objects and then go through the list observing them.
I have not run into this until recently. My assumption is that before I was going from the unobserved record in the list to the “create new observation” menu item instead of going from the info view. In my opinion, it should not matter how you get to the menu item “create new observation” for how an observation is recorded. If there is an existing list and the object is already listed in it, but unobserved, the observation should be recorded to that object and not result in adding a second instance of the object in the list. As not second observations of an object don’t result in a third instance of it in the list, so it obviously is possible to do.
Now that I know these little traps, I can live with it. What would make an upgrade worthwhile is if I really could record an observation to more than one list? Your statement below is tantalizing, but it is not clear to me what the implications are. If I make an observation outside an observing list, what is involved in putting it in one, or actually two different lists? If those lists are already populated with unobserved instances of the same object will 6 record the observation to that instance or reenter the object again as now?
Thanks. This is a fabulous program in every respect except for recording observations. I can only assume only a small portion of the customer base uses the feature.
Have screenshots but don't have an email address to reply to.
