Settings Files

Settings Files let you save all of your sky chart options so you can restore them at a later date. You can email settings files to yourself, or send them to your friends, so that you (or they) can easily reproduce a sky chart which you have created.

To do all of these things, select the Save and Restore Settings item from the main Settings view.

Default Settings: SkySafari creates a default settings file the first time you run the app. This settings file is called "Default Settings", and it contains a "snapshot" of the app the first time it was launched. You can restore SkySafari to its initial state at any time by choosing this settings file.

Saving New Settings Files

To create your own settings files, tap the "Save New Settings File" button. SkySafari will make another "snapshot" of all the app's current settings, and save them as a settings file called "Current Settings." If the date and time are set to something other than current time, the simulated date is used as the file name: for example, "April 15, 2014 Settings" for a settings file that reproduces the total lunar eclipse of April 15th, 2014. You can edit the settings file name to something else if you want a more descriptive title.

Description: SkySafari generates a default description for your settings file, to give you an idea of what's inside it. You can edit this description as well. When you are satisfied with the name and description, tap the "Done" button in the upper right side of the status bar to return to the list of settings files that you have already saved - your new settings file is added to the list!

Restoring and Deleting Settings Files

To restore a saved settings file, tap its name in the list of settings files. SkySafari will display the file's description, to let you make sure this is the file you want. If so, tap the "OK" button - and all of the app's settings will be replaced with those from the settings file. You can tap the "Cancel" button if you don't want to do this!

Editing and Emailing Settings Files

You can view and edit a previously-saved settings file's name and description by tapping the small blue arrow to the right of the file's name. You can overwrite the settings inside the file with a copy of the app's current settings, by tapping the "Update with Current Settings" button. You might want to do this if, for example, you wanted to tweak the settings inside that file, without having to save them to an entirely new file.

You can email a saved settings file to yourself, or to anyone else, by tapping the "Email This Settings File" button. When the email is received, the e-mail app on the recipient's phone will launch their copy of SkySafari, import the settings file into their list of saved settings, and let them restore the settings you sent them - all in a single step!


Rearranging and Deleting Settings Files

You can rearrange and delete settings files. Here's how.

On iOS, tap the Edit button at the top of the screen. Then tap and drag the "grip" icon on the right side of the settings file to move it around the screen. Tap and drag the - (minus) icon on the left side of the settings file to delete it. Tap the End Edit button at the top of the screen when you're finished.

On Android, tap the Edit link at the top of the screen. Up/down arrows and a trash can appear at the bottom of the screen. Then tap the settings file you want to move or delete. Use the up/down arrows to move the item in the list, or tap the trash can to delete it. When finished, tap the End Edit link at the top of the screen.

Using iTunes File Sharing

iOS users can import and export settings files to SkySafari using iTunes file sharing. To do this, connect your iPhone or iPad to a computer running iTunes with a USB cable. Select your iOS device when it appears in iTunes, then find the "Apps" section that lists all the apps on your device. Choose SkySafari from the list of apps. iTunes will then display a list SkySafari Documents that can be shared with iTunes.

To export a settings (.skyset) file from SkySafari, drag and drop it from the list of SkySafari documents to your computer's desktop. You can also rename or delete observing lists here. Changes should be reflected immediately in SkySafari's Save and Restore Settings section.

To import a settings (.skylist) file, drag and drop it from your computer into the list of SkySafari Documents displayed by iTunes. iTunes will copy your file over the USB cable onto your iPhone/iPad. If everything works correctly, your settings file will then appear in SkySafari's Save and Restore Settings section.

If your settings file doesn't appear in SkySafari, make sure it's a valid SkySafari settings file, and that its name ends with ".skyset". If all else fails, you can email your settings file to Simulation Curriculum technical support, and we can try to debug it for you.

SD Card Import & Export

Android users can import and export settings files to SkySafari using their SD card. To do this, connect your Android device with a USB cable to a computer. Then mount your Android's SD card on your computer, so it appears as a disk. Look for a SkySafari, SkySafari Plus, or SkySafari Pro folder on the root (top level) of your SD card, depending on which version of SkySafari you own. Then locate the Saved Settings folder within this folder. For example, if you own SkySafari Pro, your observing lists are stored in the following directory on your SD card:

<top level of SD card>/SkySafari Pro/Saved Settings/

To export a settings (.skyset) file from SkySafari, copy it out of this folder on your SD card to your computer's desktop. You can also rename or delete settings files directly on your SD card. Changes should be reflected immediately in SkySafari's Save and Restore Settings section.

To import a settings (.skyset) file, drag and drop it from your computer into this folder. If everything works correctly, your observing list will then appear in SkySafari's Save and Restore Settings section. You can select and apply the new settings file, just as any other.

If your settings file doesn't appear in SkySafari, make sure it's a valid SkySafari settings file, and that its name ends with ".skyset". If all else fails, you can email your observing list to Simulation Curriculum technical support, and we can try to debug it for you.