Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

If you encounter any problems with Astro-World, please read the chapter Troubleshooting / known problems in the internal (on-line) Help file ASTRO.HLP. If you have problems installating the program, read the file AWINSTAL.TXT in the Astro-World Directory. This FAQ-page you are currently reading covers new problems (or additional details) which are not covered by the help file.

To access the list of known/commonly asked problems, choose the Technical Area within the on-line Help file, then choose Troubleshooting/common problems.

Why do letters appear instead of Astrological Glyphs? / I have crashes using the Astro-Font.
The Astro-Font displays on-screen, but not on the printout!
I am unable to print colors on my InkJet printer
Astro-World 2.1 crashes under Windows 95 with a "Runtime error 203 at 003C:6855"
Astro-World 2.3 crashes with "Runtime error 207 at FFFF:FFFF"
Whenever I try to enter a date, the program complains an "Invalid date"
The Printout for Transits appears to overlap the Aspectarian
Is this program Y2k compliant? As it seems not to allow dates for 2000+ to be entered?
Displaying a chart causes a program crash, or Error Opening Database
Does this program work with Windows XP?
XP Error Message: The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications.

Q: Why do letters appear instead of Astrological Glyphs? / I have crashes using the Astro-Font.
A:The Astrological Font (ASTRO.TTF) is either not installed or it is not installed correctly. See AWINSTALL.TXT for further details. If your system has the Astro.TTF font dated 10/08/95 (20,240 bytes), you should remove this font from your system. Use a later version. This 10/08/95 font revealed a bug in Windows 3.1x and Windows for Workgroups. There is not a problem in Windows 95 with this font.

There have been some versions of the Astro font that have been compiled using a non-standard encoding. If you use such a font, 16-bit applications are unable to process this font, and it will be necessary to replace it with a version in the download area. Note that Astro-World 2.3xE, installs a copy of the Astro font in the default [installed] directory (usually C:\ASTRO23E).

If you encounter any of the aforementioned problems after the installation of the font, perform the following:

Make sure that there are no duplicates of the installed Astro font.
Uninstall the Astro-Font, using the Control Panel, Fonts, then Remove.
(Win3.1 ONLY) -- Make sure the file ASTRO.FOT is deleted from the \Windows\System directory
Re-install the proper Astro-Font

If it still doesn't work, one of the following might be the reason:

You are already using a font called Astro, but it has a different file name. (Uninstall all Astro fonts from your \Windows\Fonts directory and delete them from disk--this may have to be done at the DOS level).
(Win3.1 ONLY) -- You have two versions of the font Astro installed, i.e., in the [fonts] section of your WIN.INI file, you should have a single line that reads:

Astro (TrueType)=C:\Windows\System\ASTRO.FOT

Note that there should not be a space between True and Type. Also, if you are using ATM, and have installed the PostScript version of the Astro font, remove the TrueType version.

Printing Problems

Possible Causes:

There is something corrupt with your configuration, particularly with respect to font referencing.

You have too many TrueType fonts installed that exceed resources.

Complex or poorly produced TrueType fonts can cause a number of problems in Windows. This is further aggravated if any of the following conditions are present:

You are using 4MB or less of memory.
Symbol fonts without a specially encoded character set. These are known as UNICODE fonts. (NB Unicode fonts are 2-byte character encoded files that enable a greater number of characters to be accessed in a single font.
You are extremely low on System Resources, i.e., too many icons, too many fonts, etc.
Some installed TrueType fonts are too complex.

Workarounds may vary, but here are a few suggestions:

If you use the HP LaserJet IV driver, try setting TrueType as Bitmaps, and/or graphics mode to raster. To do this, double-click on the Control Panel icon, double-click on the printer icon, select the HP LaserJet printer driver, press the Setup button, then press Print Quality (or Options button), and change the Graphics Mode from HP-GL/2 to raster in the Graphics section, press OK, press OK again, press the Close button, and close the Control Panel.
With LaserJet III drivers, open the Control Panel, select Printers, and work your way through Setup, Options, of the L/Jet driver and turn on (x) Print True-Type as Graphics. Note that raster graphics printing may slow down the printing time.
Make sure that you have the latest drivers for Windows, i.e. printer and video. (Contact the manufacturer).

(Win3.1 ONLY) -- For complex TrueType fonts, the following is a suggestion if you are familiar with editing the WIN.INI file. Insert the following lines in the [TrueType] section (make a backup first).

[TrueType]
Outlinethreshold=200
TTIFCollision=1
TTEnable=1
TTOnly=0

The last two lines are normally already present. The Outlinethreshold default is 256 (without its inclusion), but reducing this down will allow more complex fonts to print. However, there may be a price such as reduced processing speed, or some problem with other fonts.

The TTIFCollision=1 gives preference to the use of Truetype when a user has more than one format of the same named font. However, the practice of having similar names should really be avoided at all costs.
In addition, if you are using additional font rendering systems such as ATM, check the font substitution areas of the respective *.ini files to ensure that no duplication of font names can occur (i.e., having Helv or Helvetica substituted more than once in different files) this includes the WIN.INI.

Try to limit the number of fonts available to no more than 180. If you choose to have hundreds of fonts on your system, consider a font manager such as FontHandler from QualiType. Sometimes, you just have to de-install all of your TrueType fonts and re-install them. Note that if you have more than one font that has the same internal name, but a different font file name, the first file in the directory will be chosen, Thus, you may circumvent access to the real font you want.

Alternatively, if you have ATM, use the PostScript version (also available in the download area, as this can relieve the TrueType rendering system of processing complex fonts.

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Q: The Astro-Font displays on-screen, but not on the printout!
A: This problem has been observed with the HP LaserJet 5 series and certain other LaserJet printers as well. Obtain the latest driver from HP, or:

Start the Control Panel / Printers / HP LaserJet / Properties,
Select the tab Print Quality
In 'Text Mode' select 'True Type as Graphics'
Optionally select 'Raster' for 'Graphics Mode'

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Q: I am unable to print colors on my InkJet printer
A: Start the Control Panel and choose Printers | HP-DeskJet xxx | Properties. The default-value for color is set to 'automatic'. Try changing this option to 'manual | color'.

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Q: Astro-World 2.1 crashes under Windows 95 with a "Runtime error 203 at 003C:6855"
A: This is a known bug for Astro-World versions prior to version 2.1-9. The "Windows 95-Bug" has been fixed April 23rd 1995. Download the latest release version.

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Q: Astro-World 2.3 crashes with "Runtime error 207 at FFFF:FFFF"
A: Check Radix (Natal) Orb-Table for *NEGATIVE* Numbers!!! Delete all orbs-entries from Astro.INI, or backup and delete your Astro.INI in the \Windows directory. This will be reinitialized with default values the next time you start Astro-World

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Q: Whenever I try to enter a date, the program complains an "Invalid date"
A1: Astro-World will only accept date-formats in the form "dd.mm.yyyy", "mm.dd.yyyy" and "yyyy.mm.dd".
A2: This normally occurs with Windows for Workgroup as this version of Windows is shy of some important date and time information. For the United States,you can change the appropriate settings in WIN.INI to the following international settings:

[intl]
sLanguage=enu
sCountry=United States
sDecimal=.
sThousand=,
s1159=AM
s2359=PM
sDate=.
sTime=:
sList=,
sShortDate=MM.d.yyyy
sLongDate=dddd', 'dd'. 'MMMM' 'yyyy'

Please note that the year has to be entered with four digits like "1995", the date "95" would be interpreted as the year 95 AD.

You can also change the appropriate settings in Window's 3.1 Control Panel, then select International

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Q: The Printout for Transits appears to overlap the Aspectarian
A: This was corrected in version AW232E. However, re-installation does not over-write the existing Astro-INI file. Either delete the Astro.INI file, and allow Astro-World to restore it, or copy the following text and replace it with the exisiting [Printer Options] section of your Astro.INI

[Printer Options]
XFactor=1.00
YFactor=1.00
LMargin=1.00
RMargin=1.00
TMargin=1.50
BMargin=1.50
Head=0.80
Foot=1.00
ColHead=0
ColTitle=0
ColText=0
ColAspect=8388608
ColTable=0
ColHoroTab=0
ColAspTab=0
HeadFont=-13,0,0,0,400,0,0,0,0,3,2,1,34,Arial
TitleFont=-16,0,0,0,700,0,1,0,0,3,2,1,34,Arial
TextFont=-15,0,0,0,400,0,0,0,0,3,2,1,34,Arial
ElementFont=-13,0,0,0,400,0,0,0,0,3,2,1,34,Arial
TableFont=-13,0,0,0,400,0,0,0,0,3,2,1,34,Arial
HoroTabFont=-13,0,0,0,400,0,0,0,0,3,2,1,34,Arial
AspTabFont=-13,0,0,0,400,0,0,0,0,3,2,1,34,Arial
ColorPrint=n
PrnRadix=nyynnnnnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyy
PrnTransit=nynnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
PrnSynastry=nyynnnyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
PrnComposit=nyynnnnnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyy
PrnRadixPro=nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
PrnTransitPro=nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
PrnSynastryPro=nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
PrnCompositPro=nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
DefFNameRadix=RADIX
DefFNameSyna=SYNA
DefFNameTrans=TRANS
DefFNameComp=COMP
DefFileFormat=2

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Q: Is this program Y2k compliant? As it seems not to allow dates for 2000+ to be entered?
A: While the program does not allow for the year 2000 to be directly entered, it will display Y2K dates if:

* Scrolled over from 1999
* The source data is 2000 or more>
* The system date is 2000 or more (hit F3).

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Q: Displaying a chart causes a program crash, or Error Opening Database
A: The name or location database could be corrupt. Click on File | Reorganize Databases, and choose locations. If a problem still exists, rebuild the Name database. Alternatively close Astro-World, backup and delete your Astro.INI in the \Windows directory. This will be reinitialized with default values the next time you start Astro-World

Tip: The name of the location database is AS_Orte.DAT and AS_Orte.IX. The name of the Person database is AS_Name.DAT and AS_Name.IX. Make sure you include these files in your regular backup activities.

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Q: Does this program work with Windows XP?
A: It should be by implementing the following:

Installation

Choose 'No' when prompted with "Would you like to run Astro-World now?"

Shortcut Changes

To change the Start menu item of AstroWorld, click Start, Programs, AstroWorld and highlight Astro-World 2.3 English. While this is highlighted, click the right mouse button and choose Properties.
In the Properties window, click on the 'Advanced' button.
Place a checkmark against 'Run in separate memory space'
Click OK, then OK again in the Properties window.
Apply this modification to all other AstroWorld shortcuts.

Note: Some installations of XP may invoke a General Protection Fault with this change in place. If so, undo this change by unchecking 'Run in separate memory space'.

Make AstroWorld compatible.

Open Windows Explorer, and open the AstroWorld folder (default = C:\ASTRO23E). Highlight the file 'ASTRO.EXE', right click on this and choose 'Properties'. Select the Compatibility Tab and place a check mark against 'Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 95. Click OK.

Notes.

You may need to uninstall the Astro font and re-install it using the copy located in the C:\Astro23e folder). Make sure that no other programs are running while installing the program, especially any Anti-Virus.

Some users have experienced a General Protection Fault in Astro.exe at 0046:2E2D when they close the program using the "[X]" in the upper right-hand corner (i.e. Close Window Box). The reason is currently unknown, but a workaround is to use the File | Exit routine from the menu bar.

Microsoft Information on XP Program Compatibility Mode:

Compatibility Mode on Windows XP is very useful for running older applications / games that may not be compatible under XP. It will not work for drivers.

Microsoft Windows update tips

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Q: XP Error Message: The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.
A: This error message can occur when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program, Microsoft has a knowledge base article published under Q324767

Ensure that you are using the latest download of Astro-world. In some cases, you might try uninstalling and re-installing Astro-World and then copying over your own databases.