Custom

The Object Browser is accessible from Tools tab,

with Alt+O shortcut and from PointCraft.

Related videos:

The Custom tab gives possibility to enter additional objects as well as importing objects saved by other users or exported by other applications. Here the columns are similar to these in Deep Sky tab.

Note: See the Object Browser section for information about information about the Object Details, Type filter, Visibility filter, and object list columns.

To change the list order click on the column you want to define the order.

The interface is intuitive, but let give some hints and information:

- You can use Shift+Click or Ctrl+Click to select multiple lines for deletion.

- Show button shows the selected object in the planetarium application.

- "Add in ToDo" button adds the selected object in the ToDo tab.

- Add Trigger button opens the Add Trigger dialog box in SessionCraft and populates the object name as tag name, object name and the coordinates. If the object is not above defined air mass limit the AML Up time will be prepopulated. If the object is above the air mass limit the current time will be set as trigger starting time.

- DB Search button opens the Database Browser with using the object name as prepopulated search criteria. By default the search criteria is build to look for different forms of the name. Shift+Click creates search criteria for the exact object name.

- In AstroBin button opens your web browser and looks for images of the selected object in AstroBin using wildcards. Shift+Click will search for exact name.

- In Telescopius button opens your web browser and looks for images of the selected object in Telescopius. Shift+Click opens the Telescopius Mosaics tool, when a mosaic is created, use Download CSV. After that you can Import it here or in the ToDo tab.

- If Camera Angle field is populated and there is connection to a Rotator, on OK the value will be populated in the Gear tab.

- The Export button saves all the objects in a file that can be used as backup or to share with friends.

- The Import button can be used to import objects saved in several file formats:

APT Native format - data exported by other APT users or from the following applications:

Mosaic plans created by Asimoplan (mosaic planning software - www.asimoplan.com). Each panel of the mosaic creates a separate object. When using Asimoplan select the “Application Specific” page in the “Export Frame Coordinates” window and check the “Astro Photography Tool – APT” check box before clicking the “Export” button. Once imported each frame's object contains that frame's central RA and Dec coordinates. Double-clicking any listed frame transfers those coordinates to the Gear tab or in PointCraft GoTo++ where they can be used to slew the connected telescope into position for imaging.
Lists from AstroPlanner (http://www.astroplanner.net/). In AstroPlanner go to “File” menu then “Export” and select “APT Object List...” option.
Lists from Deep-Sky Planner (http://www.knightware.biz/) In Deep-Sky Planner go to “File” menu then “Export” and select “Export APT...” option.
For Object lists shared by APT users check the following topic in APT forum - http://aptforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=147

Telescopius/DSO-Browser format - data downloaded from the site www.telescopius.com / www.dso-browser.com
Lists in .COS and .C2A formats saved from Computer Aided Astronomy- C2A (http://www.astrosurf.com/c2a/english/).
Observing and objects lists from Cartes du Ciel - CdC (https://www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start)
Frames lists from Cartes du Ciel - CdC (https://www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start). This allows creating mosaics frames, for more information see http://aptforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1958
Direct import of multiple frames / mosaic from Hallo Northern SKY - HNSKY (http://www.hnsky.org/software.htm)
Direct import of mosaic frames from Cartes du Ciel - CdC (https://www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start) while the Mosaic tool is open

Tips&Tricks Shift+Click on OK button will but in the clipboard the command #GoTo with the RA/Dec of the selected object.

When "Add New" or "Edit" is clicked the section "Object Details" becomes like the one on the next screenshot.

Here are some useful features:

If you have used the Store button in PointCraft, the RA, Dec and Camera angle fields will be populated with the results from the last plate-solving.
If you are creating a new object and there is connection to the telescope, you can use the button "Get Scope Ra/Dec" to populate the Ra/Dec with the current telescope position.
If there is connection to your planetarium application, you can use the button "Catch RA/Dec/Angle" to populate the Ra/Dec (and if it is possible the Angle) from the planetarium.