# Directories and Files

Here is an overview of the directories and files on standard installations.

## Current version

### Windows

Purpose | Directory
--- | ---
executable | skychart.exe (the main program)
executable | cdcicon.exe (the clock with many times)
executable | varobs.exe (Variable Star Observer)
Installation | C:\Program Files\ciel
User data | C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Local\Skychart (Vista,Win7,Win8) C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\local Settings\Application Data\Skychart (Win XP)

Some directories may be hidden, change the Explorer setting to show them.

### Linux

Purpose | Directory
--- | ---
executable | `/usr/bin/skychart` (the main program)
executable | `/usr/bin/cdcicon` (the clock with many times)
executable | `/usr/bin/varobs` (Variable Star Observer)
Installation | `/usr/share/skychart`
User data | `~/.skychart` (watch the preceding dot, this makes the directory 'hidden'.)

### Mac OS X

Purpose | Directory
--- | ---
executable | skychart.app (the main program)
executable | varobs.app (Variable Star Observer)
Installation | `/Applications/Cartes du Ciel`
User data | `~/Library/Application Support/skychart`

## The content of the user data directory

- Skychart.ini. This file contains all configuration settings made by the user. Some examples: the observation position, the directories to the configured catalogs, and the definitions of your markers. In the releases before 2009-01-11, under Linux this file was known as `.cartesduciel.ini` in the user's homedirectory.
- cdc_trace.txt. This file keeps track of the events with the last started instance of skychart.exe. It can be used for a simple form of debugging. Only found under Windows, under Linux this trace is to stdout.
- tmp. Directory where temporary pictures of planets are saved, retrieved from the xplanet program.
- pictures. Directory where the FITS-pictures are saved, downloaded from the online DSS resources. Usually, you will find files with names like `$temp.fit` and `$temp.fit.gz`
- MPC. In this directory SkyChart saves the comet and asteroid data that was downloaded from the Minor Planet Center.
- database. As the name suggests, this is the place where SkyCharts keeps a database with the name `cdc.db` that consists of indexed, searchable data. The database contains several tables. Herein the ephemeris of the asteroids and comets are kept after these were calculated from the orbital elements. Also there is a table that contains the ordered list of object-pictures that can be displayed. (For example, those in the `data\pictures\sac` subdirectory in the installation directory.) And the data for Countries and Obeservation locations are kept in this file.

## Releases before 2010-09-11

### Mac OS X

Purpose | Directory
--- | ---
User settings | `~/.skychart`

## Releases before 2009-01-11

### Windows

Purpose | Directory
--- | ---
User settings | `C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\My Documents\Cartes du Ciel`

### Linux

Purpose | Directory
--- | ---
User settings | `/home/[user]/cartes_du_ciel`
User configuration | `/home/[user]/.cartesduciel.ini`