Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Is there a patch so that AstroDatabank version 4 will open charts in Solar Fire Gold 7?
• I use Kepler 7.0 for my charting software and when I run AstroDatabank, Kepler doesn’t open properly and displays chart information and not the chart. I’ve also noticed that my list of calculated charts disappears. What can I do to fix this?
• Can I purchase individual records from the ADB database instead of purchasing the software?
• I purchased v.4 when it was first released and I noticed that, for new records or records that are updated by AstroDatabank, there are no new categories or events downloaded to my computer when I run the web update.
• Why is my web update feature no longer working in AstroDatabank 3.x?
• Why does AstroDatabank use Equal House when constructing charts for newsmakers?
• Why doesn’t AstroDatabank subtract 1 from the time zone number for daylight savings time?
• How does AstroDatabank compare to other research programs?
• Can I add my own data?
• What chart programs do you import from and export to?
• What is your upgrade policy?
• Do you have Vedic/Sidereal calculations?

• Does AstroDatabank run on a Mac?

• What is your policy on reprinting (reusing) AstroDatabank data on web sites and in magazines?
• Is there any limit to the amount of data that I can export from AstroDatabank?
• How do you handle Old Style/New Style dates in AstroDatabank?
• Is it true that AA-rated data aren't always accurate?

Is there a patch so that AstroDatabank version 4 will open charts in Solar Fire Gold 7?

Yes, a patch has been created! This patch only works with ADB version 4--it does not work with ADB version 3.  Instructions are given below: 

I use Kepler 7.0 for my charting software and when I run AstroDatabank, Kepler doesn’t open properly and displays chart information and not the chart. I’ve also noticed that my list of calculated charts disappears. What can I do to fix this?

This is a recent problem that was discovered when adjustments were being made in other areas of the software. The fix for this problem involves a two step process. First you must close both Kepler 7.0 and AstroDatabank. Then go to this link at Cosmic Patterns and run the update patch available there. Once you have completed the update to your Kepler 7.0, you must run a patch update for your AstroDatabank. Click on this link and the update will begin immediately. Once both updates to your software are made, AstroDatabank and Kepler 7.0 will work well together.

I don't wish to purchase the AstroDatabank program right now but I want to know the birth data of selected people. Can I purchase individual records?

Yes. Simply send an e-mail to Pat Taglilatelo at Pat@astrodatabank.com with the names of the person, entity or event whose data you’d like to have. She will let you know whether the data exists in the AstroDatabank collection and what the Rodden Rating and source are. You can then decide if you would like to purchase the record(s). We charge $5 for each record sent by e-mail. The e-mailed report consists of the name, birth data, complete source notes, Rodden Rating, biographical details and category notes of the record. You can then use the information to generate a chart with your charting software or by hand.

If you would like to purchase the record, you can do so by check, credit card or Paypal.  Once payment is received, Pat will send you the data you requested, usually within two business days.

To pay by check (drawn on US funds only), make the check payable to AstroDatabank and mail it to: Kathy Hebert, Office Manager, AstroDatabank, 708 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605. If you would like to pay by credit card call Kathy Hebert at 877-275-0987 (toll free in the US) or 508-853-5233 (International). If you would prefer to use Paypal, email Kathy Hebert at Kathy@astrologysoftwareshop.com with that request.
 

I purchased v.4 when it was first released and I noticed that, for new records or records that are updated by AstroDatabank, there are no new categories or events downloaded to my computer when I run the web update.

We have now added this feature for v.4 users. If you purchased release version 4.0 before June 17, 2005, please install this patch. If you don’t know which version of AstroDatabank you have, you can check by opening your program, clicking on “Help” and then “About AstroDatabank.”

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Why is my Web Update feature no longer working in AstroDatabank 3.x?

After the great virus storms of August 2003, most ISPs – including the one that hosts AstroDatabank.com – decided to put extra thick walls around their servers. As a consequence, the Web Update code in the AstroDatabank software could no longer connect to our web site to get the updates. We had to rewrite this code to work in the more fortified web environment. By following the steps below, you can download a program patch and get your Web Update feature working again in a few minutes.

1. Exit AstroDatabank if it is currently opened.
2. Click here to download the patch (AU30_WU.exe) to the Web Update feature. When asked whether you want to "Open" ("Run", in some browsers) or "Save", choose "Open", then click OK.
3. You may get a security message asking you to verify that you really want to install and run AU30_WU.exe. Just click Yes. Please note: our software patch has been thoroughly scanned for viruses.
4. Next click Setup, then click Start.
5. The program will run for a few seconds. Click Finish and you are all done. The whole procedure should only take a few minutes.
6. Launch AstroDatabank and run Web Update to get the latest data from our web site.

Note: If you re-install AstroDatabank, you must run this patch for the Web Update function to work.

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Why does AstroDatabank use Equal House when constructing charts for newsmakers?

If you were born way up in Lang, Saskatchewan (Canada) like Lois Rodden you too would know from first-hand experience how much more reasonable a equal house system looks compared to Koch and Placidus. Lois's chart in Placidus has enormous 1st and 7th houses of 58 degrees each and tiny 4th and 10th house that span only 18 degrees each.

Here is Ms. Rodden's more theoretical view on equal house: "The most popular house systems (Placidus, Koch, Porphyry, etc.) accept that Asc-Dsc axis as the start of the 1st and 7th houses and the MC-IC axis as the beginning of the 10th and 4th houses. Placidus draws the planets closer to the Asc-Dsc axis and Koch draws them closer to the MC-IC axis. Their differences come from using different measurement systems to trisect (cut into three segments) the space in between the axises. But to "my" mind this measuring of physical characteristics is not in keeping with the symbolic nature of astrology.

"Astrologers everywhere agree that there are 12 signs of 30 degrees each to make up the zodiac (circle of animals), despite the fact that the constellations are not divided into tidy 30-degree segments. If we want a physical reality and not a symbol system, should we not all be keeping to the physical divisions in the sky where Virgo spans 12 degrees and Scorpio 45 degrees? Since we accept astrological signs as a symbol system overlaying the physical zodiac, why not accept houses as a symbolic division as well?

"The equal house system has several characteristics to recommend it: - It does not breakdown at extreme latitudes. - It is completely symbolic. - It gives one an extra element of delineation. Whereas the MC shows our area of acclaim, the 10th cusp may be read as a life-pattern.

"Furthermore, it has worked best for me in my practice. There are a number of fine astrologers who have truly researched Placidus vs. Koch vs. Equal and found Equal to deliver the most accurate information with house rulers and progressed planets. But this is all a matter for further research. I sincerely hope that AstroDatabank data plays a role in finally resolving the great house system debate."

Lois Rodden

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Why doesn’t AstroDatabank subtract 1 from the time zone number for daylight savings time?

We do this because the folks at ACS Atlas (the world’s experts in time changes) strongly recommend that we use the standard offset from Greenwich Mean Time as the zone number and use the Time Type field (daylight, wartime, double wartime, etc.) to adjust the time ahead or back.

This may cause some confusion because some people are accustomed to seeing the time zone number change as the time type changes. Thus time zone 5 with a time type of "Daylight" in AstroDatabank is the same as zone number 4 in your charting package. However, when you export data to (or import from) your charting program, we make all the necessary adjustments so you always get the right chart.

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How does AstroDatabank compare to other research programs?

No other research program has such a rich data source for doing qualitative research. All the data is categorized, using a list of 660 categories. Each category is a potential research study.

Unique to AstroDatabank is the AstroSignature feature. Once you understand how the AstroSignature works, you will wonder how you ever got along without it. Indeed, there is only one astrological research study that has been able to bear up under replication: the Gauquelin zone research. There have been other studies that have proved to be statistically significant but their effect size is so small that their significance falls apart on replication. Blame for this falls squarely on the shoulders of our limited research tools.

All other research program use the filter feature. A filter is just too crude for astrological research. Filters have what we term "the Goldilocks problem" – they are either too inclusive or too exclusive. 

For example, if you wanted to find people with lots of water in their chart, you would have to ask for charts with:

• Sun AND Moon AND Asc AND Mercury AND Venus AND Mars in Water,
  or
• Sun OR Moon OR Asc OR Mercury OR Venus OR Mars in Water.

The first filter will give you too few people; the second will give you too many. You would have the same problem if you were looking for a strong Saturn in the charts of arthritis patients. Click here for more examples.

An AstroSignature solves this problem by scoring charts according to how many of the criteria are met in a particular chart. With AstroSignatures, you can ask questions like "Show me people who have many personal planets in water signs." This is much more in line with how we astrologers really look at charts. We look for themes written in multiple ways. Thus AstroSignatures can replicate the way a human astrologer analyzes a chart (minus the intuition).

The main reason why there has been only one astrological research study to date that has been able to bear up under replication is because all the astrological research done thus far has been single factor research. The "Goldilocks problem" inherent in standard filtering makes it impossible to look at multiple factors in the way human astrologers do.

We are on the cusp of a new era in astrological research. AstroSignatures are the breakthrough we have all been waiting for to show our doubting friends and relatives what we already know. Astrology works.

Even more importantly we finally have a tool that will help us not just prove astrology, but improve astrology. We have lots of pre-categorized data ready to study and a pattern recognition feature capable of working with the fine distinctions that are integral to astrological analysis.

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Can I add my own data?

Absolutely.

• We consider it very important to be able to add your personal friends and relatives to your astrological research.
• It is also great to have AstroDatabank print out reports of your friends and relatives – for example, "Venus by sign and house." This way you will get a more in-depth view of how the Venus energy changes by sign and house.
• Lastly, we at AstroDatabank encourage well-documented data contributions of "private" individuals – those who are not well-known to the public. This will increase the number of meticulously documented lives in the AstroDatabank. You may enter the data manually or import from the formats listed below.

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What chart programs do you import from and export to?

•   ASCII (export only, for spreadsheets)
• * AstroCalc
• * AstroWin 2.0 (freeware)
• * Halloran Software (export only through the Chart button)
•   JigSaw 1.x
•   JigSaw 2.x
•   Nova
• * Solar Fire
• * Win*Star 1.x
• * Win*Star 2.0

Vedic Programs

•   Goravani (through AAF)
• * Parashara's Light
• * Shri Jyoti Star

* = These programs have been modified to work directly with AstroDatabank so you can see a chart in your favorite wheel program with the click of a button in AstroDatabank.

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Do you have Vedic/Sidereal calculations?

AstroDatabank 3.0 has the following Vedic/sidereal calculations:

• 21 Ayanamsas plus custom
• Whole Sign houses
• House and Planet Rulers
• Vedic Aspects
• Nakshatras
• Benefit/Malefic planets
• Benefic/Malefic houses
• Kendra, Trikona, Upachya, Dusthana, Maraka, etc.
• Own sign, exaltation,
• Friendly/Enemy sign
• etc.

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Does AstroDatabank run on a Macintosh?

My standard response to the question, "Does it run on a Mac?" is "It doesn't run, it walks." That is my cute way of saying that AstroDatabank takes an enormous amount of computing resources. You need to use VirtualPC (or some similar Windows emulator program) to emulate the Windows 98 environment and this tends to make the program quite slow unless you have a very powerful Mac. We do have a few Mac users, including The Mountain Astrologer. Given these considerations, we have a very liberal return policy for Mac users. If you don't like the program for any reason, you may return it in the first month for a full refund.

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What is your policy on reprinting (reusing) AstroDatabank data on web sites and in magazines?

Anyone may use up to ten (10) data at no charge in any medium as long as it is accompanied by a proper citation. Click here for examples of citations. Use of more than ten data in a publication or web site requires payment of $5.00 per name and must include the same citation format as above. We make some exceptions for non-profit ventures, but you must call or email for permission. If our data is part of your commercial venture, we need your support of our data collection efforts. We are comfortable with setting up open accounts with annual payments. Web sites that wish to republish the entire AstroDatabank on-line should call us for special licensing details.

All AstroDatabank data is copyrighted. This data is the source of our income. We will defend our copyright to the full extent of the law including treble damages for threats to economic viability. We must do this to make sure that this data gathering project can continue. We need more and more data to support astrology research.

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Is there any limit to the amount of data that I can export from AstroDatabank?

No, but we have installed speed bumps. After you export 5,000 records we ask you to contact us for a free password to export each additional 1,000. Again, these passwords are free. Please email richard@AstroDatabank.com or call our toll-free number – 877-275-0987 – and we will give you free passwords in increments of 1,000. These passwords are tied to your installation so please send us your Product ID Number. (To display your Product ID Number, select the Help menu, then the "About AstroDatabank" option).

You may ask why we impose these speed bumps. The answer is that, like so many of our freedoms, we must be restricted from total freedom due to the unscrupulous behavior of a few bad apples. With the advent of the Internet it is very, very easy to steal copyrighted information and republish it for free. So we took measures to protect ourselves. We have already had one person try this.

The program license expressly forbids using AstroDatabank data for commercial purposes without special permission. If you wish to use AstroDatabank data in an article or web site, we ask you to follow a standard citation format. Click here for the citation format.

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How do you handle Old Style/New Style dates in AstroDatabank?

Pope Gregory instituted a New Style calendar to take effect on Thursday, October 4, 1582 which made the next day Friday, October 15, 1592. However the whole world did not follow his edict on that day.  Different countries switched calendars on different dates. Some countries are actually still using Old Style Julian dates today! 

Charting programs have a very simple algorithm. If the date is before October 15, 1582, it is automatically treated as Old style; after that date it is automatically treated as New style. The real world was much more complicated than that.

Solar Fire is the only program I know that can reliably give the right chart because it has a feature that can force the program to treat any date as new style. Putting an NS after the date in Solar Fire forces it to treat the date as New Style so you get the proper chart. AstroDatabank 2.0 automatically inserts the NS after all dates when we export to Solar Fire.

Other programs do not have this force feature.  For them is it better that you hand enter the OS date found in the source notes. This can tricky because many of the old calendars did not change their year on December 31. For example the Annunciation calendar changed years on March 25^th.  So which year do you give for a date in January?  Now you see why we convert all dates to New Style to eliminate confusions.

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Is it true that AA-rated data aren't always accurate?

An AA rating simply means that the accuracy is the highest we can get. Data rated AA are the most reliable for research and study because the information comes from a birth certificate or birth record. It does not mean that the data is accurate in an absolute sense of the word. In various times and places, authorities have rounded the data up or down to the nearest 15 minutes; there can be other errors in recording or transcribing birth data. An AA rating simply suggests that the data are the most accurate we have available to us and are more reliable for research and study than data that carry an A, B, C or other Rodden Rating. Please see our Data Collectors' Handbook for more information. 

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