Customizing Astrolog32: Tips, Plugins, and Advanced Settings for Power UsersAstrolog32 is a feature-rich, free astrology program that has endured for decades because of its flexibility, accuracy, and the depth of options it offers. For power users who want to bend the program to their workflow — whether for research, teaching, or professional chart work — customizing Astrolog32 unlocks significant efficiencies and deeper astrological insights. This article covers practical tips, useful plugins and external tools, and advanced settings you can tweak to get the most out of Astrolog32.
Why customize Astrolog32?
Astrolog32 ships with many defaults intended to be broadly useful, but serious users benefit from tailoring the program to specific techniques, preferred house systems, calculation options, display styles, and integration with other software. Customization saves time, reduces repetitive manual steps, and helps enforce consistency across chart sets and reports.
Getting started: installation and file organization
- Install Astrolog32 in a dedicated folder (not Program Files) to avoid permission issues when adding plugins or editing config files.
- Create subfolders for:
- Charts and data files (.ast, .bios)
- Custom graphics and glyph sets
- Scripts, macros, and plug-in executables
- Backups of configuration files (keep a copy before you edit)
- Keep a versioned plain-text changelog that notes any config edits — this makes it easier to rollback or replicate setups on other machines.
Basic UI and display tweaks
- Fonts & Text: Use a readable monospace or UI font for reports and transit lists; configure font sizes to balance density and readability.
- Color schemes: Customize colors for planets, aspects, and chart rings to match your visual preferences or to match color-coded teaching materials.
- Chart style: Save preferred wheel sizes, glyph sets, and which labels are visible (planetary positions only, full degree/d-minute/second, etc.).
- Templates: Create and save templates for:
- Natal charts
- Transit overlays
- Synastry/Composite displays
Calculation options and accuracy
- Ephemeris source: Verify the ephemeris and house system the program uses. Astrolog32 supports multiple algorithms — choose the one aligned with your methodology (e.g., Swiss Ephemeris or built-in algorithms where available).
- Ayanamsha: If you work in Vedic astrology, set and save your preferred ayanamsha (Lahiri, Raman, KP, etc.).
- True or Apparent Node: Choose between mean and true lunar node calculations depending on your technique.
- Precession and nutation: Enable or disable these where relevant to your accuracy requirements.
- Time zones & DST: Maintain a local database or reference for obscure or historical DST offsets when casting historical charts; entering precise offsets manually can avoid errors.
Command-line switches and automation
Astrolog32 supports command-line parameters that allow batch processing and automation. Useful for power users:
- Batch chart generation: Automate production of hundreds of charts (e.g., client lists, research cohorts) by scripting calls to Astrolog32 with input files and output flags.
- Scheduled tasks: Use the OS scheduler (Windows Task Scheduler) to run transit snapshot generation at set intervals and save outputs to folders for review.
- Output redirection: Direct textual reports to files for later parsing or ingestion by other tools.
Example (conceptual) command-line pattern:
astrolog32.exe -b inputfile.ast -o output.txt -c natal -H placidus -t utc (Consult your installed version’s help page for exact switches.)
Plugins and external tools
Astrolog32’s ecosystem is not as extensive as modern commercial apps, but you can extend it in several useful ways:
- Third-party glyphs and fonts: Replace or augment the default zodiac and planet glyphs to improve print quality and clarity.
- Script wrappers: Build small scripts (PowerShell, Python, Bash) that prepare input files, call Astrolog32 for calculation, then reformat results into nicer reports or CSVs.
- Chart image processors: Use image tools (ImageMagick, IrfanView) to batch-crop, annotate, or convert Astrolog32 chart PNGs for use on websites or PDFs.
- Data converters: Tools or scripts to convert CSV or Excel client data into Astrolog32-readable .ast files.
- Swiss Ephemeris integration: If you require higher-precision ephemerides and your Astrolog32 build supports it, point Astrolog32 to a Swiss Ephemeris data folder for improved planetary positions, especially for minor bodies.
Custom reports and printing
- Use the program’s textual report options to export detailed position lists, aspects, and tables.
- Create printable templates that include the specific set of info you want (e.g., planetary hours, Arabic parts, midpoint lists).
- For multi-page client reports, assemble exported pieces (chart PNG + textual report) in a document editor and use consistent header/footer templates.
Aspect and orb customization
- Define which aspects are calculated and displayed (e.g., include or exclude quincunx, semi-sextile, septile).
- Set orbs per aspect and per planetary type (personal planets vs generational planets) to refine which contacts are highlighted.
- Save aspect filters to focus on configurations relevant to your practice (transits, progressions, natal aspects, or interplanetary midpoints).
Working with progressed charts, directions, and composite techniques
- Progressions: Configure secondary progressions and set your preferred method for calculating progressed houses and angles.
- Solar arc and tertiary directions: Set increments and reference points; create templates for producing daily or monthly progressions.
- Composite and midpoint charts: Save macros that quickly generate composite charts (midpoint method) or midpoint lists for synastry work.
- Integrate midpoint searchers or scripts to extract large midpoint tables and scan for patterns across datasets.
Handling asteroids, fixed stars, and hypothetical points
- Add additional bodies: Configure Astrolog32 to include asteroids (e.g., Ceres, Pallas, Juno, Vesta), Chiron, or other small bodies by pointing to extended ephemeris files or enabling built-in asteroid options.
- Fixed stars: Enable fixed-star overlays and adjust constants for declination vs ecliptic coordinates. Create a custom list of primary stars you use repeatedly (e.g., Regulus, Sirius).
- Arabic Parts & hypothetical points: Define and store frequently used parts (e.g., Part of Fortune, Part of Spirit) or custom points used in specialized systems.
Advanced data analysis and research workflows
- Export raw position and aspect tables to CSV for statistical analysis in R, Python (pandas), or Excel.
- Build reproducible pipelines:
- Step 1: Generate charts via scripted Astrolog32 calls.
- Step 2: Export positions/aspects to structured files.
- Step 3: Run analysis scripts (Python/R) to compute frequencies, correlations, or to train simple ML models on labeled astrological datasets.
- Use database systems (SQLite or similar) to store large volumes of chart data for queryable research.
Troubleshooting common issues
- Incorrect birth times: Implement a verification checklist (time zone/DST, city coordinates, birth time source) and keep a log of corrected historical DST offsets.
- Glyph rendering problems: If glyphs look wrong or are missing, ensure font files are in the correct folder and that Astrolog32 is pointed to them in settings.
- Permission errors when saving plugins or ephemeris files: Run Astrolog32 from a directory where you have full read/write permissions, or adjust file permissions as needed.
- Inconsistent charts after updates: Keep backed-up config files so you can restore known-good settings if a program update resets preferences.
Backup, version control, and portability
- Back up config files and custom assets regularly.
- Use a lightweight version control system (Git) for scripts, templates, and config text files so you can track changes across versions and machines.
- For portability, create an install bundle: Astrolog32 executable + config folder + your custom fonts/plugins so you can move your environment to another machine or to a virtual machine easily.
Example power-user use cases
- Researcher: Automates the generation of 10,000 charts, exports aspect matrices, and runs statistical tests in R to study planetary distribution patterns.
- Teacher: Prepares a lesson set with a consistent chart style, color-coded aspects, and handouts that print clearly from saved templates.
- Practitioner: Uses batch transit generation to preview upcoming client transits, saves annotated PNGs, and compiles client-facing PDF reports rapidly.
Final tips and best practices
- Start small: change one option at a time and test results so you understand how each tweak affects outputs.
- Document everything: keep notes on which settings correspond to which methodological choices (e.g., “Placidus + True Node + Lahiri ayanamsha”).
- Keep original files: always retain defaults and original ephemeris files so you can replicate published results or historical charts.
- Engage with user communities: forums and legacy documentation often contain ready-made snippets, glyph packs, and workflow ideas.
Customizing Astrolog32 transforms it from a capable calculator into a tailored tool that fits your method and workflow. With careful organization, scripted automation, and selected plugins, you can scale from individual client work to large-scale research while maintaining reproducibility and clarity.
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