CCDAutopilot and CCDCommander

ACP Planner is designed to generate observing plans for ACP Observatory Control Software. If you use Planner and then import the plan into CCDAutoPilot or read it as a guide for creating a CCDCommander action list, you should be aware of some limitations:

1. The guide display that makes it easy to visualize timing and position inside your planetarium depends on a knowledge of our observatory timing. CCDAutoPilot and CCDCommander will not control your observatory in the same way as ACP, so the timing will not be accurate. You might be able to "fudge" the timings in Planner Preferences, but in general you'll not enjoy ACP Planner's main benefit.
2. CCD Autopilot can only import the old ACP 4.x format plans (as of Jan, 2007). Thus, if you are going to import Planner plans into CCD Autopilot, you must turn on the ACP Planner preference "Produce old format plans for ACP 4.x".
3. Dusk and dawn flat features will not work transparently in CCDAutoPilot. You'll have to set them up yourself.
4. ACP is a "task oriented" system, while CCDCommander is a "procedural" system. Each ACP plan element generally translates to many separate CCDCommander actions.
5. ACP has many observing features not present in the other automation tools, and features that are implemented in a different and more capable or general way.

As long as you are aware of these limitations, ACP Planner can be a help with these other tools.