> I'm sure you are right about ZONWVLAK as everybody >speaks very highly of it. I have the digital version that came with the >Dec. 97 Compendium and have enlisted the help of somebody better at >computers than I am. I consider mastering this program a top priority in my >sundial education! I hope that we can wade our way through it without too >many problems as I don't want to bother you all more than necessary.
Hello John, When I first came upon ZONWVLAK I found it incomprehensible - perhaps because of my lack of familiarity with PCs, being a Macintosh user. Also, there was no manual available at that time. But Harold Brandmaier shared an early copy of his manual and gradually things became more clear. Although I've not used all of its features, Zonwvlak is one of the resources I turn to regularly to test the accuracy of any QBasic or spreadsheet programs I write. Another resource I use a lot is the Dialist's Companion. There are other excellent programs available, but my PC (actually a separate board and 486 CPU inside my Mac) is limited to those which will run under Windows 3.1. You should invest the time and effort necessary to learn some sundial program, for it's a great benefit to be able to test new configurations without all of the calculations. And Zonwvlak (as well as others, I assume) will not only output x-y data, but will generate graphical printouts. Fer de Vries is very prompt and gracious in replying to questions about his work. And there is always the Sundial List. Best, Mac
