How to add custom objects to catalogue

[Rickl]

I am wondering how to add custom objects to the catalogue or custom catalogues. I am doing photometry of variable stars and a custom catalogue would be handy. I used to have one set up, but after a Microsoft update the folder in question has disappeared . The way I did this before does not seem to be an option anymore (thanks Microsoft ). How does one do this now (I am using the latest updates of both SharpCap and Windows 11 as of Mar 7 2026).
Thanks,
Rick

[Jean-Francois]

Hello Rickl,

you need to generate text file(*.csv) and copy it in the following directory.
If the directory does not exist ... simply create it before.

C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Roaming\SharpCap\AnnotationCatalogs\

The csv file should have the following information.
IDs|Names|Type|RA(decimal hours)|Dec(degrees)|VMag|RMax(arcmin)|RMin(arcmin)|
no HD|[BE74] 415, Be|BeSS|+05 38 24.3|-69 29 13.1|12.96|||

or with decimal coordinates:
HCG 001||Group of galaxies|0.433611111111111|25.7166666666667|14.4|2.9||

Jean-Francois

[Rickl]

Ok,Thanks Jean-Francois. I think I figured out my issue. It seems that the folder, C:\Users\*your-user-name*\AppData\Roaming\SharpCap\AnnotationCatalogs, has in fact disappeared. The part that was throwing me was that the folder C:\Users\*your-user-name*\AppData\ was a hidden item, and so I could not find it. When I did find it, I created a new AnnotationCatalogs folder with the above path. Now I just have to see if I have an earlier copy on another computer or I start from square one. Thanks Microsoft! (Note to self: backup the folder on the computer some place easy to find). Thanks again
Rick

[Jean-Francois]

Hello,

Yes, the AppData directory is hidden in the Explorer after a fresh installation.
You need (to know) to reactivate the view on these hidden directories.

If you have the SharpCap Pro, you can use a script functions for sending the objects directly from the clipboard to the Deep Sky Annotations tool.

SharpCap.DeepSkyAnnotation.PasteClipboardDataAsCustom()


Jean-Francois

[admin]

Hi,

just to add that the 'AnnotationCatalogs' sub folder is not created by default by SharpCap, but the folder that it sits in will be created if you have ever run SharpCap as that user. So, you will need to create that AnnotationCatalogs folder yourself to drop files into.

Also, if you use the 'Export Settings' function (bottom of the main settings window) on an old PC, then it will include the custom annotation catalogs in the exported settings file, which will then get put onto the new PC when you import the settings.

cheers,

Robin

[Rickl]

Hi. Thanks. I have got it going again.
Rick