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FITSORA

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FITSORA 0.9.58. A local application for your astrophotography archive, free of charge.

Before installing

  • This is a pre-release. Some views are still being revised. Installation has not been accepted on every Windows configuration. Read the limits.
  • Make a backup first. Scanning and assessment do not change source files. Copying, moving, backing up and removing backup versions are real file operations.
  • An update changes the catalogue. First start migrates an older database after making a checked copy. The migrated catalogue cannot be opened by an older version and is not automatically downgraded. Since 0.9.56 five further changes to the database structure were added, and stored frame positions are re-derived once from the headers at first start; positions that came from an unsupported angular unit are withdrawn in the process. Back up %LOCALAPPDATA%\FITSORA before updating.
  • There is no support guarantee. Feedback is welcome; a reply is not promised.

The installer is unsigned

There is no code signature and no verified publisher identity. Windows SmartScreen may display “Windows protected your PC”, depending on the file’s origin and your security policies. A certificate has ongoing costs, and this project earns no money.

A matching checksum confirms that your file matches the download offered here; it is not a code signature. If you choose to proceed after verifying the file, use “More info” and “Run anyway” in the warning. Leave Windows and antivirus protection enabled. The installer does not change protection policies.

Compare the checksum

Before starting, compare the downloaded file’s size and SHA-256 checksum. In PowerShell, in the folder containing the file:

(Get-Item .\FITSORA-0.9.58-dd4e979-windows-x64-setup.exe).Length
Get-FileHash .\FITSORA-0.9.58-dd4e979-windows-x64-setup.exe -Algorithm SHA256

The length must be 63,507,581 bytes. Expected SHA-256:

0d7d9ec806f41b6a2e7420b510b526ca002b686ccbbf1351968ae8da765ac26b

If either differs, do not install. Download again; if it still differs, contact mf@etis-gmbh.de.

What installation creates

By default the installer installs for your user account without administrator privileges, under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\FITSORA. An all-users installation uses C:\Program Files\FITSORA and asks for administrator privileges. Database, database copies, reports and logs always belong to your profile under %LOCALAPPDATA%\FITSORA.

The Start menu contains FITSORA, Self-check, the readme and uninstall. Self-check verifies the package from inside and writes a report to the desktop. A desktop shortcut is optional. Uninstall through Windows Apps & features.

The data folder is deliberately retained during uninstall. Remove it manually only when you no longer need the catalogue. FITSORA does not store its application data in your image archive.

If you enabled background backups while FITSORA is closed, a Windows scheduled task also exists. The uninstaller does not remove it: disable background execution in the job schedule first or delete the task yourself.

After installation

The first launch offers a short tour. See the guide for the workflow, workspaces and Backup manager.

Use and licence

FITSORA is proprietary freeware. A copy obtained here or directly from the author is free to use on your own computers. Redistribution, publication, offering downloads or selling copies requires the author’s written permission. Your exposures and the database built from them belong to you. The full terms are in LICENSE.txt in the installation folder; third-party component licences are included in the package.