Conform Universal v2.0.0+16486

Introduction

Conform Universal (ConformU) is a cross-platform tool to validate that Alpaca Devices and ASCOM Drivers conform to the ASCOM interface and Alpaca protocol specifications. ConformU runs natively on Linux, Arm, MacOS and Windows and supersedes the original Windows Forms based Conform application, which will not be developed further.

Please note that:

• Conform Universal now requests acceptance of risk by the user similarly to the original Conform application.
• The command line interface has been revised to support future growth and is not compatible with the syntax used in previous versions.

Change summary

• Enhanced Alpaca protocol checks.
• Enhanced command line capabilities.
• More extensive Telescope tests for MoveAxis, PulseGuide and RA/Declination rate offsets.
• Improved memory headroom when testing 32bit COM in-process (DLL) camera drivers.

Changes since version 1.2.0

• Application
  • The application gives a warning if run with admin privilege on Windows.
  • User signed https certificates can optionally be trusted to aid development.
  • Out of memory exceptions are reported as Conform errors rather than as device issues.
  • The 32bit executable has increased memory headroom enabling it to test image sizes comparable to the original Windows Forms Conform application.
  • Improved messaging when the device does not return expected JSON discovery responses.
  • Improved error reporting if a COM driver is not registered correctly.
  • Configuration alerts rather than test issues are now reported when parts of a device test are disabled through configuration.
  • Improved consistency of messaging in Alpaca Protocol checks.
  • Alpaca protocol checks now include tests for missing mandatory parameters.
  • Revised command line syntax providing a clean interface for multiple capabilities and straightforward addition of new features in future.
  • The revised command line interface is documented on the application help page.
  • Added risk acceptance dialogue similar to that on the original Conform application.
  • Added a disconnect stage to all device conformance checkers to ensure that Connected is set false at the end of the test.
• Telescope
  • The Telescope SideOfPier test settings check boxes have been moved from the Conform tab to the Telescope tab.
  • More extensive tests for RightAscensionRate and DeclinationRate rate offsets.
  • More extensive tests for Telescope.MoveAxis.
  • More extensive tests for Telescope.PulseGuide.
  • The additional tests are enabled by default but can be disabled through the Settings Telescope tab.
  • Added tests to confirm that SiteXXX properties can be changed to new values and returned to their original values.
• Camera
  • Improved memory cleaning in the Camera tester.
  • The maximum X size and Y size of images requested by the Camera tester can now be controlled through the Camera settings tab. This enables testing of 32 bit in-process COM drivers that return images greater than 24MPix.
  • Improved messaging when Camera.StartExposure times out.
  • Improved camera tester robustness.
• Filter Wheel
  • The FilterWheel test timeout is now configurable through the FilterWheel settings tab.
  • Added more extensive tests including longer distance moves and determination of whether the wheel is uni-directional or bi-directional.
• Focuser
  • Improved messaging when Focuser.Move detects a synchronous move.

Bug fixes

• Fixed issue when determining the valid Camera.SetCCDTemperature range.
• Fixed exception in the Rotator post-run check when testing IRotatorV2 devices.
• Removed dependency on having a working Internet connection.
• Fixed bug in Dome.OpenShutter Alpaca protocol check.
• Fixed bug in Focuser.Connect test stage where failure to connect was not reported.
• Fixed bug that prevented some errors being reported when retrieving Camera.ImageArray.

Installers

All installers are completely self-contained and do not have dependencies on any other packages.

• Windows
  • The Windows installer supports both 32bit and 64bit OS and will create the expected start menu entries. Optionally it will create a desktop icon.
• MacOS
  • The MacOS application is supplied as a DMG file that self mounts when double clicked and displays a basic GUI. Using this you can drag and drop the application to the Applications folder and can then use it as normal.
• Linux
  • The Linux 64bit and Arm 32/64bit versions are supplied as compressed archives that need to be expanded using tar -xf before use. The application can then be run from the command line by the command ./conformu