Saving Data

Please, >>click here<<. to download an example chart that will provide you with all data for this tutorial.
If you double-click the Promi.aaf file (after unzipping) it will automatically open in a new Kairon 3 window. To the right of the time and date entry field section you will find a full list of data. This is a multiple chart file. Clicking on any entry will display different chart data and will also display notes on the source of the data and a comment.
This is the most efficient way for Kairon 3 to deal with your files. They are best organised in groups of files that share something in common. You might create a file for every family, for a group of friends, or for any other group of charts that are somehow related.
Select the first chart in the “Promi.aaf” file (Katharine Hepburn). Click the “+” button, and a new entry will be created at the bottom of the list with the identical name and data. Click the “-“ button, and the entry disappears.
To preserve the integrity of existing data, it is always wise to work with a data set using the “+” button to generate a copy.
Use the “Change” button when updating a chart for any reason. BE CAREFUL, “Change” will overwrite your selected file with the currently entered data.
If you accidentally overwrite a file, you can go back to your last saved version using the "Revert" entry of Kairon 3's file menu.
For this reason it is good practice to update data using a copy generated by the “+” button. (you can delete the old entry using the “-” key when you are certain the new entry is correct)
It is also good practice to “save” often, particularly after making (and verifying) important alterations to a chart file.
It is very important to be aware that the "Save" or the "Save as…" command will only save data that have been veryfied by either adding "+" or "Change" first. Data that have been added after clicking either of these two will be lost if you close your chart.
This method gives you liberty to play with your data, test new combinations, play a bit more with the time without having to fear that you might accidentally overwrite something important.

With these things in mind, we move on to the process of entering data.

The Entry of Data

The basic premise for using computers for any task is “garbage in, garbage out”. Astrology is no exception to this rule, therefore correct entry of data is vital to the calculation of the correct chart.

Kairon 3 makes this easy.

What Data is Required to Cast a Valid Chart?

• date of the event
• time of the event in 24 hour format (about every two hours the ascendant enters the next sign, so be very careful - see note about 24 hour time below)
• place of the event (is essential for the correct interpretation of time and time zone)

How should this Data be entered?

Open a new screen in Kairon 3. (File > New) or shortcut (command-N) This is the default data that Kairon 3 loads on launch. It is a chart for the moment that you launched the program, and can be updated to the current moment by selecting the “Now” button. “Now” time is determined by the system clock on your Macintosh. (you can change this default, see “Tips” below.) GMT and Julian Day calculations are updated dynamically with each item of data entered. With the “comments” screen opened in the drawer, you can also see the key elements of the chart updated dynamically.

this is how the example chart opens:

Please, >>click here<< to download an example chart that will provide you with all data for this tutorial. While the fields for "First name" and "Last name" seem to need no explanation, there is one rule to be followed: Enter only ONE name per entry field. Enter ANY additional information into the "AAF-Comments" field of the drawer. "Gen" is a field for the abbreviation of the kind of chart you intend to enter. If you don’t wish to specify a chart type, you should leave the star.

The entry field for "year" (following the month-popup) will assume a 4 digit parameter. Kairon will take your entries for what they are, and if you enter "03" it will be considered as the year 3 and not as the year 2003.

The "Gregorian", and "A.D." menus and the "Historical" Check-box. are for use in historical research, and not often used in regular charts. The "Historical" Check-box will omit the year 0 for BC charts where historical data requires it.

"Time of Birth" expects twenty four hour time. In twenty four hour time a day starts at 00:00:00 hours at midnight and last until 23:59:59 which leads to 00:00:00 hours of the next day. In this format, “12” in the hour slot means 12 PM, to enter the hour after midnight, you must enter “0”. Other “AM” hours are the same. You must add 12 to PM numbers (other than 12) to convert them to 24 hour time. The "now" Button will enter the current system time AND the system date.

To find a Location in the "ACS-Atlas", select an atlas first. In Kairon's 30-launches demo (which can be launched 30 times with full functionality before entry of your personal license key is required to continue its use) the "USA" Atlas (>150.000 US locations) and the "Int." (>100.000 International locations) are greyed out and cannot be used.

The Atlas "Own" starts out empty except for "Klagenfurt".

As you type in the atlas search field, (rounded with a magnifying glass symbol in the left) the Mini atlas will find a close approximation to what you type. You MUST select your final location from the atlas list for it to be entered correctly.

In some cases, many towns of the same name will be found. If so, use the stepper (below "Place of the Event") and refine your search by clicking on the upward or downward arrow. The upward arrow will move you forward in the alphabet, the downward steps backward. You can also make your selection from the atlas window using the scroll bars. Unlike the scrollbar the stepper can further extend your selection.

Extending the Atlas

If you wish to extend your "Own" Atlas, you MUST start in the “Mini” Atlas.

Select a town of the same political region as the town you wish to enter. If you don't, the wrong daylight saving rule will be added to your new location. After selecting said city click the "Add" button.

You will be prompted to adjust your chart list to reflect the changes you are about to make (and protect your existing data). Click the “Add” button again once you have made that adjustment to your chart list.

You will be prompted to confirm the accuracy of your time-zone entry before you continue.

If you know the longitude and latitude of your new entry, change the close city's values for the new location's geographical co-ordinates, but don't change the syntax. Use N for North, S for South, E for East, W for West. The new entry must contain degrees, minutes, seconds, in the same manner as the current entry.

Enter the name of the new town in the field at the bottom of the window (province and country information will be added automatically)

If you don't have geographic co-ordinates for your new location, activate the Calculator check-box in the confirmation screen, you can calculate Longitude and Latitude from a geographical map.

Enter the values for the co-ordinate lines on your map in the appropriate fields on the calculator.

Measure the distance between the co-ordinate lines, and enter those values in the appropriate fields (inches or millimetres do not matter, just use the same ruler for all measurements).

Now measure the distance from the top and right-hand co-ordinate lines to the town required. Enter those values in the appropriate fields.

Sea level must be entered in meters to enable Kairon 3 to calculate precise topocentric charts.

After confirming with "OK" you can view the newly entered town by selecting the "Own" atlas.

The "mind Unicode" check-box is useful if you wish to enter data in unicode and search for them in unicode. It only applies to the "Own" atlas.

Managing AAF-Files Data

For those familiar with the AAF format...

View > Text > AAF-File

You may Copy-Paste any AAF-data from any AAF-Files into the AAF-Files section of Kairon 3.

Don't forget to click the "update menus to changes" button to save the file.

It can be difficult to quickly identify where one AAF record ends and the next one begins. To make this easier, the chart selected in the Data Entry window is automatically selected, start to finish, in the AAF-File window.

Tips and things to remember.

You can set the default chart in the “defaults” screen of the “preferences” menu. (Kairon 3 > Preferences > Defaults). Which will have Kairon 3 open with the chart file of your choice on your next launch. (Setting this chart-file no longer gives you a “now” chart on launch, but that’s what the “now” button is for:)) This also sets the default for “New” when selected from the “File” menu. (File > New) or keyboard shortcut (command-N).

Remember:

• 24 hour time
• 4 digit year
• create a copy using “+”,
• update a chart using “Change”,
• delete obsolete charts using “-”
• “save” often