A much easier solution is our MPECsort program from Arkansas Sky Observatories:
http://www.arksky.org/
Simply click on the MPEC banner and download as instructed.

It can even loads current comets, asteroids, NEOs automatically into your Guide
folder.

It is being used by thousands of observers worldwide to much success. I do not
know why Bill does not promote this link; it is supported daily by tabular
updates at the MPC and links to it are provided there.

Dr. Clay
_____
Arkansas Sky Observatories
MPC H45 - Petit Jean Mountain South
MPC H41 - Petit Jean Mountain
MPC H43 - Conway West
http://www.arksky.org/

----- Original Message -----
From: "Denis" <boucherd@...>
To: "Guide-user" <guide-user@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 5:10 PM
Subject: [guide-user] MPC


> Bill,
>
> I think you might make this more complicated then needed.
>
> Most people dealing with asteroid files other than the ones part of
> Guide are aware how to download the MPC files.
>
> Yes make the Comet update available as it is in Guide format.
>
> Here my feel on this,
>
> in Extras..
>
> 1. button "Update Comets" - this will download the comet file and
> update Guide.
> 2. checkbox "Display MPC Asteroid"
> 3. button "Select MPC Asteroid File"
>
> action 1. - if user select checkbox "Display MPC Asteroid" to true,
> button "Select MPC Asteroid File" is enabled and Guide asteroids are
> turn off.
> action 2. - if user select checkbox "Display MPC Asteroid" to false,
> button "Select MPC Asteroid File" is disabled and Guide asteroids are
> turn on.
>
> Guide retains the selections on shutdown.
> On start if Guide, with "action 1" above active, does not find MPC file
> then Guide displays nothing.
> if action 2 on start and Guide Asteroids not installed, Guide displays
> nothing.
>
> To summarize, we have 2 choices, first one is to display Guide asteroids
> from the DVD if installed or access from the DVD.
> The second option is to use MPC asteroids from a downloaded file of our
> choice (MPC format).
> No other asteroids except those in the selected MPC file are displayed
> in Guide.
>
> As for rebuilding the asteroid cache, I don't mind waiting a few seconds
> to rebuild the cache when a large MPC file is selected , i.e. "MPCORB.DAT".
>
> Other comments welcome,
>
>
> Denis
>
>
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