I will give this a try. Frankly I am a little 'surprised' with Guide constantly crashing every time I use 'update comets and asteroids' followed by 'critical list...' or anything else. It has always crashed on me no matter what I select. I always end up having to download the entire MPC file instead of the relevant bit. Using later versions has never made any difference.

Lawrence

--- In guide-user@yahoogroups.com, "P. Clay Sherrod" wrote:
>
> 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"
> To: "Guide-user"
> 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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> >
> >
> >
>