Moon Phase Gadget - Vista/Win7

[mcrossley]

I have the latest version of my Moon Phase III gadget in a state where it is ready for a bit of a test.

It will obviously only run on Vista and Windows 7, and because it uses Flash Player, the sidebar program has to be running the 32 bit version. If you load the gadget on a 64bit version of the OS, the gadget will detect if sidebar is running in 64bit mode, and you can go into the settings and get it to switch sidebar to 32bit mode (requires you to log off/on).

You can download the test version from:
<<link removed>>

Save the file to your PC, rename it to MoonPhaseIII.gadget and double click to install.

Hope Steve doesn't mind this post, but the folks on here may be lunatics!

The screen shot below is the gadget running on my desktop.

Capture.PNG

[robynfali]

working for me, quick question tho, my current moon is 29%, but the gadget is showing full moon, any ideas, i have set my long/lat location

[mcrossley]

Hmm, that's not supposed to happen! Are you running a 32 or 64 bit OS? Does it stay like that if you close and reopen the gadget? The screen shot above was taken today, so the phase should look similar.

[robynfali]

am runnin win7 ultimate 64 but sidebar in 32bit as per instruction

[Super-T]

I get this


Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit

[mcrossley]

Thanks Terry, looks like the same problem as Rob. The gadget is talking to the flash as it is rotating the view correctly for the southern hemisphere, so it looks like something is wrong in the Flash component itself. hmm, let me take another look, maybe I bundled the wrong version...

[robynfali]

Yeah, thats the same thing as I have, no worries tho, no rush!

[mcrossley]

Right, I downloaded and installed it again on my machine and it works fine. BUT, I can reproduce what you two are seeing by setting the shadow density to 'none'. Can you try setting it to 50% for me and see what happens?

Capture.JPG

Also can you both see the flyout data when you double click? Can you drag the Moon around with a click and drag?

The lighting needs to be fixed, as when shadow is set to 'none' you should see a full disk Moon, but not burnt out as it is doing now

[Super-T]

setting at 50% shows OK
I noticed that the settings don't stay set though, particularly in View & Date
For instance, if I change view to 50% and then exit out of tools all looks OK. If I go back in to check other settings then exit from the tool the view has changed back to NONE. Settings don't save.

[mcrossley]

Terry, that is odd that it doesn't save the settings as this gadget uses the same settings functions as I've used on all my gadgets since Vista came out. Can you check the permissions on the settings file for me?
Assuming Windows in C:, the the folder...
C:\users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets\MoonPhaseIII.gadget
You should see a file called "Settings.ini", can you check the permissions on this file - your user account should have full control.

I have uploaded a new version, this fixes the burn out issues on the image.
http://www.wilmslowastro.com/software/d ... aseIII.zip

Sam instructions as in the first post - rename to MoonPhaseII.gadget - I have dropped the version name this time after I realised it will cause issues. You should remove the old version before installing the new otherwise you will end up with two copies because of this.

[mcrossley]

Terry, I just had a thought, I wonder if it is the Windows 'foreign' file protection.

After you download the zip, right click it, and at the bottom of the page does it say...

Capture.JPG

If so try unblocking it before installing.

[Conrad]

Same with me settings not saved in date and view and full control is set correctly

[Conrad]

nope same thing happens with unblocking it am using vista 32 bit service pack 2

[mcrossley]

Do people with the problem run with UAC on or off?

[Conrad]

On