samp4sharcap

Installation

Python

Retrieve the latest Miniconda installer for your architecture from https://docs.anaconda.com/free/miniconda/miniconda-other-installer-links/
With conda, setup a python-3.4 environment to install astropy for using in SharpCap

    conda create -n sharpcap-py3.4 python=3.4 -c free
    conda activate sharpcap-py3.4
    pip install colorama==0.4.1 # because dependency version 0.4.2 won't install
    pip install --only-binary :all: astropy # NB: remove "--only-binary :all:" to build it if Visual Studio (Build Tools) is installed

Note the python path in your conda env, this will be refered later as PPATH

    conda activate sharpcap-py3.4
    python -c "import sys; print(sys.path)" # copy result to clipboard => PPATH

NumSharp

Install NumSharp.0.20.5.zip from github https://github.com/SciSharp/NumSharp: extract the zip file into a directory that we will refer later as NLIB

Modifications of astropy

We need to modify astropy.samp to use NumSharp by editing the astropy init.py file which was installed by conda (example: C:\USERS\USER\.conda\envs\sharpcap-py3.4\Lib\site-packages\astropy_init_.py)

Make 2 changes in the function check_numpy

set requirement_met = True
comment the else block

It will look as below:

def _check_numpy():
    """
    Check that Numpy is installed and it is of the minimum version we
    require.
    """
    # Note: We could have used distutils.version for this comparison,
    # but it seems like overkill to import distutils at runtime.
    requirement_met = True

    try:
        import NumSharp.np as numpy
    except ImportError:
        pass
    #else:
    #    from .utils import minversion
    #    requirement_met = minversion(numpy, __minimum_numpy_version__)

    if not requirement_met:
        msg = ("Numpy version {0} or later must be installed to use "
               "Astropy".format(__minimum_numpy_version__))
        raise ImportError(msg)

    return numpy

Comment the line with _initialize_astropy()

#_initialize_astropy()

Test

Launch a SAMP hub (for example by launching Aladin Desktop)
Start SharpCap-4.1 and open “Show Console” in the Scripting menu to open the Python Console
Load the file samp.py (from this repo) in the Python editor (button load at the bottom of Python Console)
Customize the script:

Set the path for padc_icon (the file is in this repo)
Set the path for NumSharp to NLIB as noted above in the line

clr.AddReferenceToFileAndPath(...)

Change sys.path to use modified astropy.samp installed with conda (refered as PPATH above) in the line

sys.path.append(...)

Run samp_init() (in the Python Console) to init SAMP in IronPython

samp_init()

Create the client

c=SampClient()

Interact with other SAMP Apps using the client Examples:

c.get_coords(‘c1’) # get reticle coordinates from Aladin

Usage

After the Installation step above is performed you can

Launch a SAMP-enabled application with an embedded hub such a Aladin Desktop
Run the customized samp.py script (Scripting/Run Script...) to see the new "SAMP" button that is setup at the right of the toolbar (below the menu).
Click on the SAMP button to display the SAMP control Panel
Send coordinates from a SAMP-enabled application
The coordinates will be displayed in the SAMP control panel
You can click on the Slew button to slew the current mount to the position pointed

See screenshot Screenshot_SharpCap+Aladin.jpg in this repo.