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Yes, this can be a good option. More similar to the option to refocus after a change in temperature. About the lost entries in Mantis, I not have a lot of log about that on the server to search for an error. What I can do is update Mantis to a new version. |
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This function is not difficult to implement but I have a problem with the configuration interface. Because this setting is independent of the plan step there is no reason to have a setting there. It must be in the global Focus setting with the "'Auto-focus if temp. change by more than.." Now I think there is also no reason for the option "Autofocus when temperature change" in the plan step because it is defined globally. I must remove this checkbox from the plan editor. But "Autofocus before start" has it's place in the plan editor, for me it give more flexibility than a global option "autofocus when filter change" Also "Autofocus every" can be useful for very long step. To summarize: - add an option "refocus every n minutes" in Preference/Focus - remove "Autofocus when temperature change" in the plan step editor, assuming "yes" if this is configured in the preference. Is this OK? |
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Yes, that sounds pefectly reasonable. |
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Hello Patric, Hello Cedric, Yes that makes sense. You could also argue that "auto focus every n minutes" should also move to Preference/Focus. It is less related to the sequence except in should be executed only if the sequence is active. Once set by the user he would use it for all sequences old and new, so a global setting "auto focus every n minutes" at Preference/Focus would make sense to me. The time measurement should should start at first exposure and reset at an "autofocus at start". Maybe it is good to indicate that these global settings "auto focus every n minutes" & "auto focus every delta t degrees" are active/on. Something like "autofocus active" |
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If the auto focus triggered by time or temperature change is made global, I would suggest to indicate it by a log message at the end of an exposure. E.g. Exposure finished, auto focus due in 4 minutes. or Exposure finished, auto focus due in 0.7 °C. Focusing using a refractor is very important and this log message will help to understand what is and will happening. |
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I implemented this function and this is now available in the source code. Please test if this is OK. As all this automatic autofocus action are cumulative the message when autofocus is next due show all the active options: "Autofocus due in 3 image, or 10 minutes, or 3.5 C" |
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Compiled and works good! Understand that messages come only after first focus. Trigger values are reset after second "Autofocus before start" Yes I'm happy with it. Less risk of forgetting to autofocus. ( I forgot to autofocus last night by recalling an old sequence) Found two spelling mistakes. See attached image. 19:58:47 AutoFocus successful 19:58:47 End preview 19:58:49 Autofocus due in 15 image, or 2 minutes, or 2.0 C 19:58:49 Set Binning 2x2 19:58:49 ASCOM.Simulator.Camera: Set binning 2x2 19:58:50 Camera frame x=0 y=0 width=2178 height=1760 19:58:51 Starting Light exposure 1/3 for 10 seconds 19:59:03 Saved file d:\temp\M42_NGC1976-step-2_20190826_175903.fits 19:59:03 Autofocus due in 14 image, or 2 minutes, or 1.7 C 19:59:03 Starting Light exposure 2/3 for 10 seconds 19:59:16 Saved file d:\temp\M42_NGC1976-step-2_20190826_175916.fits 19:59:16 Autofocus due in 13 image, or 1 minutes, or 1.7 C 19:59:16 Starting Light exposure 3/3 for 10 seconds 19:59:28 Saved file d:\temp\M42_NGC1976-step-2_20190826_175928.fits 19:59:28 Stop capture 19:59:34 Start step Step2 19:59:34 Start capture spelling error.png (20,786 bytes) |
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Thank you Han, I fixed the spelling error. Yes, I make the periodic autofocus to be active only after a first autofocus is run in the session. You can try to have this option to systematically start an autofocus at the start of a sequence by setting "AutoFocusLastTime:=0;" in pu_main line 1095. This was my first option but I was irritated by the autofocus running every time I restart the program. Maybe I can save the last focus time in the config file, the same we do for the focus temperature. This way the periodic autofocus work without a manual initialization but it is not done every time if you just quickly stop and restart ccdciel. |
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The current setup is good! No need to change. You have autofocus anyhow at the beginning of the night. The last compiled version is from 2019-6-29. I'm sure Cedric and two local club members here are eager to test his version. |
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It all sounds good. I'll get the last source and get next clear night. |
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I make a new version now |
- Anonymous
