(This is from an interchange format proposal I sent to as many astrology software developers as I could find addresses for in 1989. I implemented ADIF import & export in the CCRS Horoscope Program.)
This is about establishing a workable interchange format for all birth data. I hope everyone in the astrological software development and research communities can cooperate on this so nothing essential gets left out. Please write me with any additions (especially where I say "etc."), comments, suggestions or questions.
I want files to be accessible to word processors and several databases, so no binary data should be included. I urge that the interchange format be defined entirely in ASCII so it will be portable between machines, operating systems, programming languages, and database management systems.
I hope all developers with chart programs which store data can implement Section 1--the core birth data needed for another program to calculate the same charts. Sections 2 and 3 are not essential for a basic interchange.
The structure I am suggesting here uses a header record giving a number of housekeeping details, including record size, originating program, name conventions, and all structures after the initial fixed-format birthdata.
For the header record, I propose:
Record length 6 * End of file count 6 (# of last record--header is record 0) Originating machine 10 (or operating system) Originating program 15 File creation date 8 (YYYYMMDD) File creation time 6 (HHMMSS) (24-hour format) Total name length 2 Last name length 2 (same as above means free-form name) First name length 2 (0 for free-form name) Middle name length 2 (0 for free-form name) Place name length 2 Optional length 4 (total length of optional section) Astro data length 6 (total length of astro data section) Fill to start of optional section: NameLength+PlacenameLength-29 spaces Headings for optional section variable** (but included in record length) Headings for Astro data section variable** (but included in record length) Terminator 2
* In BASIC random access files, OPEN file once with record size 6, read record length, CLOSE file, then OPEN again with correct record length. (Or do serial access using LINE INPUT.) If anyone is still writing in a language and operating system limiting files or strings to 255 characters, stick to the birthdata only subset (section 1) and don't try to deal with sections 2 or 3.
** Each heading is left justified in the same set of columns the data will occupy in individual records. There must be at least one space between headings.
This is the current proposed format of individual records:
Field Length Format
Date 9 -yyyymmdd
Calendar 1 c
Time 6 hhmmss (24-hour format)
Rating 2 aa (Rodden rating or alternate accuracy rating)
Time Zone 7 +zzmmss (+=west,-=east)
Time type 1 t
Z/T source 1 a (Source code of time zone & type)
Latitude 7 +ddmmss (+=north,-=south)
Longitude 8 +dddmmss (+=west,-=east)
Total 42
Name variable Last name First name
Place variable Place name
Optional variable--see later
Includes Local Latitude (7) & Longitude (8) from CCRS
Astrodata variable--see later
Terminator 2 (CR/LF or LF/CR or SPACE/LF or SPACE/CR)
Total 44 + Lengths of Name, Place, Optional & Astro sections
Note: all signs are fixed position. This avoids problem of loss of negative signs when value immediately following is zero.
Comments:
If only the birthdata section is implemented, there should be a specification that only natal data be written to these files.
For the fixed part of the record structure through longitude, I see no point in using spaces between fields. Any program reading and writing the records can use field (length) delimiting. I hope that we can use length delimiting for everything, because comma delimiting can potentially run afoul of commas in names and place names. This is the only part of the record common to and required for all programs.
I am suggesting that the date be given in year-month-day order. This is a commonly used astronomical notation, allows sorting without rearranging the components, and reduces the risk of confusion between American and European styles ending with the year.
The year should allow 5 digits to handle dates before -999 (astronomical notation rather than B.C.).
I use a calendar code for every chart (G Gregorian, J Julian), since I allow Julian into this century (needed for Russia and a few other places) or Gregorian proleptic for ancient dates. Any program with rigid rules (always Julian or Julian proleptic before 1583 and always Gregorian after 1583, or whatever) can fill in the calendar code when generating files and convert calendars when reading files.
Times should always be in 24-hour notation to avoid ambiguity. (What is 12 AM or 12 PM? Both are meaningless and subject to confusion, since 12 is the meridian and neither ante- nor post-. 12 Midnight is either 0 or 24, 12 Noon is 12.)
I urge inclusion of an accuracy of data code to allow screening out untimed and speculative charts. The Rodden rating is a simple convention:
AA birth certificate or other written source
A from person
B Biography or autobiography
C Caution
DD Dirty Data
An alternate uses the same two character space for two separate codes:
Source of birth data: (encode as a-o)
1 = Birth certificate, 2 = Hospital records, 3 = Mother's memory, 4 = Father's memory, 5 = Other relative's memory, 6 = Personal memory, 7 = Home records (baby book, bible, etc.), 8 = Other contemporary source, 9 = Biography, 10 = Other published, 11 = Rectified, 12 = Psychic/Intuition, 13 = Published Horoscope, 14 = Other, 15 = Unknown.
Accuracy of birth time: (encode as a-m)
1 = One minute/recorded/clock, 2 = Five minutes, 3 = Fifteen minutes, 4 = Half hour, 5 = One hour, 6 = Two hours, 7 = Four hours, 8 = Six hours, 9 = Twelve hours, 10 = Twenty-four hours, 11 = Forty-eight hours, 12 = Accuracy not known, 13 = Time not known.
You can tell which system was used in a file because the Rodden rating is upper case and the alternate system is lower case. If anyone has an alternate coding system, I am open to suggestions. I have programs using both system shown here.
For any program not keeping an accuracy code, use "C " for all records exported.
Time zone needs hours, minutes, and seconds (for example, Paris time is -0h9m20s). I use a true Time Zone (positive west, negative east) and a time type code, not hours from Greenwich and a questionable alphabetic label on the time that may or may not be connected to the zone. I don't know if any are still around, but I saw programs years ago that let you type an alphabetical zone abbreviation for printing purposes which was completely unrelated to and not cross-checked against the "hours from Greenwich". I always use the true time zone--Pacific time is always zone 8, not 7 during daylight. I urge against an alphabetic zone because of the conflicts between different sets of abbreviations and the inability of most sets of abbreviations to handle odd zones.
My time type variable in the CCRS Horoscope Program covers 0 standard, 1 daylight, 2 war, 3 local mean (LMT), 4 double summer, 5 local apparent (LAT), 6 local city (LCT), 7 sidereal, 8 Midheaven longitude, and 9 Ascendant longitude variations. (Types 7, 8 & 9 are for input only and the derived standard time is kept after calculations.) Other possible time types we allowed for in the ISAR structure are Sunrise, Sunset, Solar (Sun on 1st house cusp), Ephemeris Time, and Noon (encode as A-E).
I am open to the use of a 3-character alphabetic time type instead of a 1-character numeric, or a 2-character numeric if other people have more types of time to handle.
An item in the ISAR structure which I don't currently use in the CCRS Horoscope Program is the Time Zone & Type Source (encoded in 1 byte as a-p):
1 Birth certificate, 2 Hospital records, 3 Mother's memory, 4 Father's memory, 5 Other relative's memory, 6 Personal memory, 7 Home records (baby book, bible, etc.), 8 Other contemporary source, 9 Biography, 10 Other published, 11 Rectified, 12 Psychic/Intuition, 13 Published Horoscope, 14 Other, 15 Unknown, 16 looked up later.
This can be especially important in areas like Illinois with major confusion about what time type was to be written in official records. It lets you know if the data was clearly written at the time of birth or looked up later. Any program which doesn't store this information should fill in a value of "p" (looked up later).
Time zone, latitude, and longitude are all in signed hour(degree) minute second format. For zone and longitude, negative (-) is east and positive (+) is west. For latitude, negative is south and positive is north.
The lengths of the name and place name fields are determined by the exporting program and specified in the header (see below). Rules are also in the header (see below) for how the name is split: 25 Last/15 First, 32 any, Last-comma-First, etc. This allows programs keeping short, long, or separately fielded names to export using whatever space they need, with importing programs trimming or padding to fit their lengths.
A record terminator is included to allow the data to be read by a word processor or a database program that requires a separate line of data for each imported record.
This section is for data considered standard in individual programs but not definable as required birthdata. This is also the place for additional biographical information. Each item included must be labeled in the header, with the header label left justified to the starting column of the data in individual records.
I am including here a couple data items that are part of my own standard storage: relocated latitude and longitude. They will be part of the optional section for records written by the CCRS Horoscope Program.
Other items for this section are derived or table look-up items such as delta t, Julian Day Number, Sidereal Time, RAMC, etc.
Further biographical information includes Gender (F Female, M Male, N None, O Other, U Unknown), Publication status (P Published, U Unpublished), Address, Phone, more detailed descriptions of the data Source.
Other data for which there can be variable numbers of entries can have a record number assigned here to use as a key to link data in separate files, a count of category postings in a separate file, a count of relation postings in a separate file, a count of alternate birthdata postings in a separate file, and a flag for longer notes or comments in a separate file.
Headings Data formats Notes L 1 0 or 1 Local coordinates are to be used LOCLAT 7 +ddmmss Local latitude LOCLONG 8 +dddmmss Local longitude DELTAT 9 ssssss.ss Seconds: need 6 digits in -4000 JD 15 ddddddd.ddddddd Clock time Julian Day number JED 15 ddddddd.ddddddd Ephemeris time Julian Day number ST 6 hhmmss Sidereal Time RAMC 6 hhmmss Right Ascension of MC G 1 g Gender P 1 p Publication status AKA 40 alphabetic Also Known As (real name/pseudonym) ADDRESS 90 alphanumeric Or STREET1 STREET2 CITY PROV CODE PHONE 20 alphanumeric SOURCE 10 alphanumeric PROFESS 15 alphanumeric Profession (preferably numeric code) RECKEY 6 ###### Key for links to other files CC 3 ### Code (category) Count. RC 3 ### Relationship Count. AD 2 ## Alternate Data count. N 1 Y or N Notes in another file. ZA 4 alphabetic Alphabetic zone & type (e.g. PDT).
I suggest using separate files for all data for which there can be a variable number of entries for each individual record in the main file. The data is linked to the main file by the record number key from the main file. This avoids the problems of variable length records in the main file while making the data available if someone wants it.
Category code file (text, one line per record):
Key 6
Coding system 1 (R = Rodden codes)
Codes 6 (1-200, 2-110, 3-100, etc.)
Code notes variable (0-n)
From 14th character to end of line.
Line terminator 2
(This file might also be adaptable to adjective lists for Gauquelin data.)
Relation code file (text, one line per record):
Key 6
Coding system 1
Codes 6
Related other 15
Year, month, day, hour, minute, second for other person.
Relation notes variable (0-n)
From 29th character to end of line.
Line terminator 2
Alternate birth data file:
Key 6
Any item present uses same format as main section, followed by source in parentheses.
*S followed by full description of source of main data give names of subsidiary collections here
*D followed by date (source) date starts with calendar code
*T followed by time (source)
*P followed by latitude & longitude (source)
*Z followed by time zone (source)
*Y followed by time type (source)
*L followed by reference to Literature (places published)
Line terminator 2
Notes file:
Key 6
Text variable (1-n)
Line terminator 2
I suggest that file names be restricted to the CP/M format of 8 characters, a period, and 3 more characters. I believe this can be handled in all current operating systems. If there are any systems that can't handle file names in this format, let me know. For the file names, I suggest that the 8 characters be whatever the user enters and the 3 characters follow these rules:
ADE Astrological Data Exchange (main file)
ADC Astrological Data Codes
ADR Astrological Data Relations
ADB Astrological Data (alternate) Birthdata
(I don't want to use ADA because that is a language.)
ADN Astrological Data Notes
If we end up with a separate file for adjective data, I suggest
ADW Astrological Data Words.
Here is a set of 10 records from the Rodden/ISAR databank written in the proposed format. Each ADE record contains basic birth data plus a few fields in the optional/bio section, but no calculated astrological positions. Each ADE record is 125 characters counting the CR/LF, so each record takes 2 lines here. The first 2 lines are the header, followed by 10 records:
000125000050MS-DOS ISAROUT 1989082223200030300000300021
000000 G P CC RC AD N RECKEY
-01010710G165600DD-0049003p+415400-0122900CAESAR, JULIUS
ROME, ITALY M P 00400001 Y 000001
+00620921G053500B -0049003p+415400-0122900AUGUSTUS, CAESAR
ROME, ITALY M P 00200001 Y 000002
+00800528G233000C -0205005p+300300-0311500MANETHO
CAIRO, EGYPT M U 00200001 Y 000003
+03550717G100000DD-0130005p+404500-0223300ALEXANDER THE GREAT
PELLA, MACEDONIA M P 00300001 Y 000004
+05710422G012535DD-0239003p+212700-0394900MOHAMMED
MECCA, SAUDIA ARABIA M P 00100001 Y 000005
+05750209G150000DD-0239005p+212700-0394900MOHAMMED
MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA M P 00100001 Y 000006
+09730909G050500A -0400005p+413300-0601000AL-BIRUNI, ABDUL
KATH,KHWAREZ MIT, TURKESTAN M U 00400001 Y 000007
+11350406G130000B +0019005p+375300+0044600MAIMON, MOSES BEN
CORDOBA, SPAIN M P 00400001 Y 000008
+13360417G235700DD-0427003p+404400-0665800TAMERLANE
KESH, RUSSIA M P 00400001 Y 000009
+14120115G163000DD-0022003p+482700-0054100JOAN OF ARC
DOMREMY LA PUCELLE, FRANCE F P 00300001 Y 000010
These are the corresponding ADC records:
000001R1-0690
000001R1-0560
000001R2-0180
000001R1-0420($)
000002R1-0690
000002R2-0180
000003R1-0080(PUB)
000003R1-1000
000004R1-0690
000004R1-0420
000004R3-0160
000005R1-0640
000006R1-0640
000007R1-0700
000007R1-0710
000007R1-0080(PUB.)
000007R3-0155
000008R1-0960
000008R1-0400
000008R2-0270
000008R1-0950
000009R1-0420
000009R2-0403
000009R2-0150(THOUSANDS)
000009R2-0160
000010R1-0430
000010R2-0560
000010R2-0120(BURN AT STAKE-5/30/1431.)
There are no ADR records for these 10 records, but here is a sample of a few from later records:
000013R4-0350+19601031115500
000023R4-0200+14851216143000
000023R4-0290+15330917150000
000023R4-0240+14570128054500
These are the corresponding ADB records:
000001*SROBSON Q. DATE FROM MOMMSEN, "HISTORY OF ROME", 7/12/102 BC OS (NOT UNIFORMLY ACCEPTED), TIME SPEC, ALSO SPEC 19:00.
000002*S SEUTONIUS, "JUST PRE-SUNRISE", SEPT 23, 63 BC OS. (SEPT 21/22 ALSO GIVEN.)
000003*S-FAGAN IN AA 03/1962 Q. GLEADOW. (MAY 26 OS)
000004*S 7/22/356 B.C. OS, DATE CONTROVERSIAL, TIME GIVEN AS 10:00 A.M. TO 12:00 NOON.
000005*S-DD: 04/20/571, 1:25:35 AM LMT, MECCA. FROM THE WRITINGS OF PROF. SURYANARIAN, GIVEN AS "RECORDED."
000006*S-"THE ASTROL. HISTORY OF MASHA'ALLAH," FROM ARABIC ASTROL. ENCYCL. GIVES "SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 570/571."
000007*S-ROSCOE HOPE IN AA 06/1982 FROM "ELEMENTS OF ASTROLOGY," 1939. (09/14/973 OS)
000008*S-FAGAN IN AA 02/1968 FROM "TRIAL & TRIUMPH" BY MACRISON & HUBLER. (MARCH 30, 0S)
000009*S-M.A. 03/32 FROM ASHMOLE MS 243, 04/09 OS. "EMPIRE OF THE STEPPES," BY R. GROUSSET GIVES 04/08 OS.
000010*S-"SUNSET," ALSO "ONE HR AFTER SUNSET." BOTH GIVEN AS "RECORDS."
These are the corresponding ADN records:
000001CONQUORED THE EMPIRE IN 49 BC TO DECLARE HIMSELF DICTATOR AND CONSUL; MASTER OF THE ROMAN WORLD BY 45 BC, A YR BEFORE HIS ASSASSINATION.
000002ROMAN EMPEROR.
000003WROTE "APOTELESMATICA."
000004GREAT GENERAL AND KING OF MACEDONIA AT 20; VICTOR OF ASIA MINOR BY 22. DIED OF MALARIA 6/13/332 B.C. OS.
000005FOUNDER OF ISLAM.
000006FOUNDER OF ISLAM.
000007MATHEMATICIAN, HISTORIAN, ASTONOMER/ASTROLOGER. NOTORIOUS SENSUALIST.
000008WRITER. JEWISH PHILOSOPHER. PHYSICIAN. LINGUIST AND MASTER OF RABBIANIC LITERTURE. GREAT INTELLECT. WROTE THE 14 HEBREW VOLUMES.
000009MONGOLIAN CONQUEROR: ONE OF THE GREATEST BUT CRUELIST LEADERS.
000010SAINT OF ORLEANS. AFTER A MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE, LED THE FRENCH ARMY TO VICTORY AT AGE 17. IMPRISONED AND TRIED AS A WITCH. BURNED AT THE STAKE 05/30/1431.
The following list is based on a MENSA membership questionnaire. It is the best short list of occupations the ISAR group working on a database project prior to the RID looked at (the government book of occupations was not as good), but it still needs some work. Please include any suggestions for changes to this list with your response to the interchange structure. I feel that some sections need reorganizing, especially 160-173, and some people might disagree with where I put astrologers.
n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified
PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL, AND MANAGERIAL OCCUPATIONS
005 Architect
010 Engineer, n.e.c.
011 Aeronautical
012 Chemical
013 Civil
014 Electrical
015 Industrial
016 Material Handling
017 Mechanical
018 Nuclear
020 Mathematics, Physical Sciences, n.e.c.
021 Astronomer
022 Chemist
023 Environmental Scientist
024 Geologist
025 Mathemetician
026 Meteorologist
027 Physicist
030 Data Processing and Computer Technology, n.e.c.
031 Systems Analyst
032 Programmer
033 EDP and Computer Operations Consultant
034 EDP and Systems Manager
035 EDP Software Sales and Technical Service
036 EDP Hardware Sales and Technical Service
040 Life and Social Sciences, n.e.c.
041 Agricultural Science Occupations
042 Biological Science Occupations
043 Counselor (Educational, Sociological, Vocational)
044 Economist, Historian, Political Scientist
045 Psychologist
046 Sociologist, Anthropologist
047 Social Worker
048 Astrologer <------
070 Medicine and Health, n.e.c.
071 M.D. or D.O.
072 Chiropractor or other practitioner
073 Dentist
074 Dietician
075 Medical or Dental Technician
076 Nurse
077 Pharmacist
078 Therapist (Physical, Occupational, Speech, etc.)
079 Veterinarian
080 Owner of Business
090 Educational Occupations, n.e.c.
091 College and University Faculty
092 Secondary School (7-12) Faculty
093 Primary and Kindergarten (K-6) Faculty
094 Special Education
095 Vocational Education
096 Administrative
100 Museum, Library, and Archival Professionals
110 Law and Jurisprudence, n.e.c.
111 Lawyer
112 Judge
113 Paralegal
114 Court Reporter, Transcriber, Legal Secretary
115 Other legal occupations
120 Religion (Clergy)
130 Writing, n.e.c.
131 Freelance Writer
132 Writers and Editors, Motion Pictures, Radio, TV
133 Writers and Editors, Publications and Newspapers
134 Interpreters and Translators
135 Broadcast Communications Occupations
140 Art, n.e.c.
141 Photographer
142 Sculptor or Painter
143 Designer
150 Entertainment, Recreation, n.e.c.
151 Actor or Dancer
152 Musician
153 Director or Producer
154 Athletics and Sports
160 Managers and Administrators, n.e.c.
161 Chairman, President, CEO
162 Corporate Officer (VP, Secretary, Treasurer)
163 CPA
164 Budgetary and Financial Manager
165 Accountant, Auditor
166 Sales Management
167 Distribution Management
168 Advertising and PR Management
169 Other advertising and PR Occupations
170 Personnel Manager or Specialist
171 Manufacturing and Operations Managers
172 Purchasing Agents or Managers
173 Commodity and Supply Brokers or Wholesale Management, Agents
190 Miscellaneous Professional or Technical Occupations, n.e.c.
191 Sound Recording, Transcribing, Reproduction
192 Airline Pilots and Flight Engineers
193 Ship and Marine Officers
CLERICAL AND SALES OCCUPATIONS
200 Secretarial and Stenography
210 Computing, Keypunch, Account-recording
230 Information and Message Distribution, Mailroom
240 Miscellaneous Clerical
250 Sales--services
260 Sales--commodities
270 Merchandising, except Salespersons
SERVICE OCCUPATIONS
300 Housewife or Homemaker
310 Wholesale Supply, Services
320 Food and Beverages preparation and service
330 Bankers and Stock Investment Brokers
340 Amusement and Recreation services
350 Miscellaneous personal services
360 Protective services, n.e.c.
361 Guards and Watchmen
362 Firemen
363 Policemen, Sheriffs, Deputies, etc.
364 Military service
370 Real Estate
380 Building services, Janatorial, Custodial, etc.
390 Miscellaneous services, n.e.c.
400 FARMING, FISHERY, FORESTRY OCCUPATIONS
TRADE, MANUFACTURING AND PROCESSING, PRODUCTION WORKER OCCUPATIONS
500 Manufacturing and Processing occupations, n.e.c.
501 Metal Manufacturing
502 Chemicals, Plastics
510 Machinist, Tool and Die, Other Machine Trade Occupations
511 Printing and allied occupations
512 Mechanics and Machine Maintenance
520 Bench work and Technical Specialties
521 Electricians and Electrical or Electronic specialties
522 Other bench or technical occupations
530 Construction Occupations
540 Other Specific Trades
MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS
900 Motor Freight and Transportation
910 Utilities Products and Distribution
920 Amusement, Recreation and Motion Pictures, n.e.c.
930 Graphic Arts
NON-CLASSIFIABLE OCCUPATION
990 Not on above list
Chart type: 1 Natal, 2 secondary (day for a year), 3 tertiary (day for a lunar month), 4 minor (lunar month for a year), 5 solar return, 6 kinetic solar return (transit sun = secondary sun), 7 lunar return, 8 kinetic lunar return (transit moon = secondary moon), 9 heliocentric planet X return, 10 geocentric planet X return, 11 synodic return (sun-moon angle), 12 Metonic return (19-year synodic return very close to natal degrees in signs), 13 harmonic arc, 14 solar arc, 15 ascendant arc, 16 vertex arc, 17 composite [midpoint cusps or calculated cusps], 18 harmonic X, 19 other progression (X=rate), 20 other arc (X=rate), etc.
X: Chart subtype (planet, harmonic number, or current pattern ratio for certain chart types).
Zodiac: 0 Tropical, 1 Sidereal.
Vernal Point.
House system: 1 Placidus, 2 Koch, 3 Regiomontanus, 4 Campanus, 5 Equal from Ascendant, 6 Equal from MC, 7 Porphyry, 8 Meridian, arc, etc.
Current date: Year, month, day, hour, minute, second (UT or add zone and type) requested for current patterns.
Derived date: Year, month, day, hour, minute, second (UT) actually used in current pattern calculations.
Method of progressing MC in progressions: 1 Solar arc, 2 RA of Mean Sun, 3 Quotidian 1, 4 Quotidian 2.
Return timing: 0 tropical, 1 precessed.
Headings Data formats Notes
CT ### Chart Type
X aaaaaaa Subtype (Planet,Harmonic ,Ratio)
Z # Zodiac
VP ddd.dddd Absolute zodiacal longitude
HS # House System
MC # Progressed MC method.
R # Return timing method.
CURRENT yyyyymmddhhmmss Current pattern life date
DERIVED yyyyymmddhhmmss Current pattern ephemeris date
In the heading, each block of coordinates is marked by a coordinate system heading, followed by the names of the points being included in the block. Each coordinate heading is preceded by an asterisk (*) to make it stand out from lists of points and avoid the risk of some future planet (point) abbreviation matching a coordinate abbreviation. I suggest always using four characters after the asterisk (including trailing spaces if needed) to make parsing easier. As described above, headings (point names) are left-justified in the same columns the data will occupy in individual records, with at least one space between headings. Coordinate block headings (using B from German Breite for latitude) are:
Head Data format Coordinate
*GEL ddd.dddd Geocentric Ecliptic Longitude
*GEB +dd.dddd Geocentric Ecliptic Latitude
*GRD dd.ddddd Geocentric Radial Distance (AU)
*GDV ddd.dddd Geocentric Distance Value (percentile)
*GV +dd.dddd Geocentric Velocity (instantaneous)
*GDM +dd.dddd Geocentric Daily Motion (24-hour)
*GRA ddd.dddd Geocentric Right Ascension (degrees)
*GDEC +dd.dddd Geocentric Declination
*NPD ddd.dddd North Polar Distance
*HEL ddd.dddd Heliocentric Ecliptic Longitude
*HEB +dd.dddd Heliocentric Ecliptic Latitude
*HRD dd.ddddd Heliocentric Radial Distance (AU)
*HV +dd.dddd Heliocentric Velocity (instantaneous)
*HDM +dd.dddd Heliocentric Daily Motion (24-hour)
*HRA ddd.dddd Heliocentric Right Ascension (degrees)
*HDEC +dd.dddd Heliocentric Declination
*GALL ddd.dddd Galactic Longitude
*GALB +dd.dddd Galactic Latitude
*RSA ddd.dddd Rationalized Semi-Arc
*G12 ## Gauquelin Sectors (12)
*G18A ## Gauquelin Sectors (18 from Ascendant)
*G18M ## Gauquelin Sectors (18 from below Asc)
*G36 ## Gauquelin Sectors (36)
*ACN ddd.dddd Azimuth Clockwise from North
*ACCE ddd.dddd Azimuth Counterclockwise from East
*ALT +dd.dddd Altitude
*ZD ddd.dddd Zenith Distance
*PVL ddd.dddd Prime Vertical Longitude
*PVB +dd.dddd Prime Vertical Latitude
*AMP +dd.dddd Amplitude
*BHC ddd.dddd Birthplace House Cusps (Note: cusps for place of birth, not Koch houses.)
*LRSA ddd.dddd Local Rationalized Semi-Arc
*LACN ddd.dddd Local Azimuth from North
*LACE ddd.dddd Local Azimuth from East
*LALT +dd.dddd Local Altitude
*LZD ddd.dddd Local Zenith Distance
*LPVL ddd.dddd Local Prime Vertical Longitude
*LPVB +dd.dddd Local Prime Vertical Latitude
*LAMP +dd.dddd Local Amplitude
*LHC ddd.dddd Local House Cusps
*H### ddd.dddd Harmonic ### (001-360) of Ecliptic Longitude
*PRS ddd.dddd Previous Retrograde Station
*PDS ddd.dddd Previous Direct Station
*PEEL ddd.dddd Previous Eclipse Ecliptic Longitude
*GPNN ddd.dddd Geocentric Planetary North Node
*GPSN ddd.dddd Geocentric Planetary South Node
*HPNN ddd.dddd Heliocentric Planetary North Node
*HPSN ddd.dddd Heliocentric Planetary South Node
*GPAH ddd.dddd Geocentric Planetary Aphelion
*GPPH ddd.dddd Geocentric Planetary Perihelion
*HPAH ddd.dddd Heliocentric Planetary Aphelion
*HPPH ddd.dddd Heliocentric Planetary Perihelion
*GPAG ddd.dddd Geocentric Planetary Apogee
*HPAG ddd.dddd Heliocentric Planetary Apogee
*GINN ddd.dddd Geocentric Interplanetary North Node
*HINN ddd.dddd Heliocentric Interplanetary North Node
Headings for points: BARYCEN (Barycenter of Solar system), SUN, MOON, MERCURY, VENUS, MARS, JUPITER, SATURN, URANUS, NEPTUNE, PLUTO, NORNODE, SOUNODE, ANTIVTX, VERTEX, EASTPNT, WESTPNT, ASCNDNT, DESCEND, MC, IC, LOCAV, LOCVERT, LOCEP, LOCWP, LOCASC, LOCDESC, LOCMC, LOCIC, CERES, PALLAS, JUNO, VESTA, CHIRON, 1 (house), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, names of many other asteroids, stars and imaginary planets. Where a real asteroid and an imaginary planet have the same name, prefix the name of the imaginary planet with "I-". Where an asteroid and a moon have the same name, prefix the name of the moon with "M-". Note that I have included elements such as nodes and perihelia in the coordinate lists so the standard planet names can be used. Interplanetary nodes require a composite name with three letters from each planet's name (111/222) and should give the north node of planet two with respect to the orbit of planet one. If anyone thinks midpoints are worth including as exportable data, they will require the same naming convention. If anyone thinks Arabic Parts or planetary pictures should be exportable, please suggest a naming convention (any two-letter abbreviations have to handle Venus vs. Vesta, Jupiter vs. Juno, etc.). Note that all of the data formats listed (except Gauquelin sectors) are 8 characters in length and all of the planet names for headings will fit in 8 characters with a space. Standardizing all point data to 8-character fields will again simplify parsing for anything reading these files.
Here is a set of 5 records from the CCRS Horoscope Program written in the proposed format. Each ADE record contains basic birth data, some information in the optional section, and calculated positions of natal house cusps, geo longitude, latitude, velocity, distance, helio longitude, and geo planetary north nodes. Each ADE record is 1030 characters counting the CR/LF, so I have broken the records into pieces here, with the matching heading staying with each piece:
001030000005MS-DOS CCRS Horoscope 198908302037393030000030
+19550209G032300C +0700000p+321509+1105236Mark Pottenger
+19550209G032300C +0700000p+321509+1105236Mark Pottenger
+19550209G032300C +0700000p+321509+1105236Mark Pottenger
+19550209G032300C +0700000p+321509+1105236Mark Pottenger
+00010101G000000C +0000000p+340300+0000000Mark Potte/Zipporah
0076000850 L LOCLAT LOCLONG CT
TUCSON, AZ 1 +340324+1181900 1
TUCSON, AZ 1 +340324+1181900 9
TUCSON, AZ 1 +340324+1181900 10
TUCSON, AZ 0 +340324+1181900 14
COMPOSITE CHART 1 +340300+0000000 17
X Z VP HS MC R CURRENT DERIVED *BHC
0 335.8815 1 1 0 +19880816092600+19550209102300*BHC
JUPITER 0 335.5563 1 1 0 +19781028193406+19781028193317*BHC
MARS 0 335.4116 1 1 0 +19881227151246+19881227151150*BHC
0 335.881510 1 0 +19881227151246+19881227151150*BHC
0 336.1166 1 1 2 +00010101000000+00010101000000*BHC
1 2 3 4 5 6 *GEL SUN
259.0407292.1790328.9408 3.9364 33.1370 57.2627*GEL 319.8990
293.0283332.8131 11.0465 41.6689 66.3352 88.7611*GEL 215.0258
286.9221325.5468 4.0735 35.7022 61.0202 83.4767*GEL 276.0993
215.2410248.3793285.1411320.1367349.3373 13.4630*GEL 276.0992
336.7235 6.1049 34.8262 62.9349 90.7445121.7108*GEL 236.6090
MOON MERCURY VENUS MARS CERES PALLAS JUNO VESTA
169.1648326.9190273.6584 18.0142273.1925254.9904226.6824 76.4420
178.2617232.1971230.5600236.9651288.9387265.0339299.2082277.0115
147.3624290.7021252.3364 18.0141354.3638317.9404160.4085233.8195
125.3651283.1193229.8587334.2145229.3928211.1907182.8827 32.6423
120.1499241.9401194.0514 76.6150213.1855195.1711247.5895 64.7707
JUPITER SATURN CHIRON URANUS NEPTUNE PLUTO NORNODE SOUNODE
111.8450230.8395301.0804114.6681208.2099145.7100274.5915 93.3309
127.8093161.1346 37.5023225.9949256.5370197.3231176.3054354.6245
57.0410275.0768 94.1465271.4910279.7591224.4357336.5948158.0165
68.0453187.0397257.2808 70.8684164.4102101.9103230.7917 49.5312
142.7321202.8663337.1885 46.2516171.2246122.6973236.8121 56.8599
ANTIVTX EASTPNT ASCNDNT MC *GEB SUN MOON MERCURY
304.5940273.3148259.0407183.9364*GEB -0.0001 -4.9477 3.2738
327.3901306.8384293.0283221.6689*GEB -0.0000 0.1572 -1.7163
323.6735301.1703286.9221215.7022*GEB 0.0001 0.7908 -2.1524
260.7943229.5151215.2410140.1367*GEB 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
344.8173334.9178336.7235242.9349*GEB -0.0001 -4.5093 2.4606
VENUS MARS CERES PALLAS JUNO VESTA JUPITER SATURN
2.8108 0.0898 0.3417 28.8721 8.6904 -1.1572 0.4576 2.3179
-6.3542 -0.4365 -7.5560 29.0309 6.4956 -1.8164 0.3783 1.5921
0.9934 0.4460 -9.6437 12.9278 -9.2672 5.1460 -0.9183 0.7221
0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
0.9832 0.6162 3.7944 5.0525 11.5833 -4.6346 0.7744 2.1786
CHIRON URANUS NEPTUNE PLUTO *GV SUN MOON MERCURY
6.4885 0.5449 1.7369 10.5277*GV 1.0121 12.9784 -0.9402
-1.0547 0.3376 1.3955 16.6026*GV 0.9987 12.7094 1.4489
-6.8482 -0.2184 0.9036 15.5689*GV 1.0190 12.1423 1.5812
0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000*GV 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
4.3166 -0.1318 0.9089 3.6540*GV 0.9890 13.3446 0.4857
VENUS MARS CERES PALLAS JUNO VESTA JUPITER SATURN
1.0811 0.7044 0.3643 0.3337 0.1296 0.0446 -0.1049 0.0338
-0.4214 0.7117 0.2654 0.3409 0.2474 0.4472 0.0867 0.0914
1.2468 0.4866 0.2473 0.2947 0.0520 0.5046 -0.0782 0.1183
1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
1.1171 0.6720 0.4120 0.4474 0.0764 0.1060 0.0519 0.0762
CHIRON URANUS NEPTUNE PLUTO *GRD SUN MOON MERCURY
0.0830 -0.0381 -0.0060 -0.0246*GRD 0.98663 0.00259 0.67968
-0.0484 0.0616 0.0301 0.0381*GRD 0.99342 0.00262 1.30539
-0.0658 0.0602 0.0378 0.0282*GRD 0.98338 0.00268 1.25635
1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000*GRD 0.98338 0.00268 1.25635
0.0255 -0.0389 0.0147 -0.0043*GRD 1.01016 0.00252 1.37244
VENUS MARS CERES PALLAS JUNO VESTA JUPITER SATURN
0.78554 1.74131 3.39526 3.13479 3.02414 1.95280 4.35810 9.84626
0.28590 2.37103 3.07079 3.77845 2.46590 2.48994 5.19968 9.84374
1.50458 0.93703 2.95544 3.98851 1.79820 2.80739 4.2289811.02665
1.50458 0.93703 2.95544 3.98851 1.79820 2.80739 4.2289811.02665
1.13213 2.57235 3.54539 2.98692 2.42446 2.12213 6.3785610.40892
CHIRON URANUS NEPTUNE PLUTO *HEL BARYCEN SUN MOON
14.4867617.7415429.9392834.07092*HEL 157.3961139.8996139.9726
16.5307419.6291431.0198731.21908*HEL 148.5426 35.0323 35.1229
11.0442320.2940631.1999830.23607*HEL 340.7365 96.1032 96.2246
11.0442320.2940631.1999830.23607*HEL -1.0000 -1.0000 -1.0000
18.0069019.0620831.0245943.77796*HEL -1.0000 56.6112 56.7184
MERCURY VENUS MARS CERES PALLAS JUNO VESTA JUPITER
125.0843191.8218 52.4894258.3983233.9834208.7520 96.6825116.9100
271.7251 28.9986251.3409307.9652280.9797322.0277300.4663116.9100
329.9326219.0971 58.1812 13.9011329.6916138.4784216.0905 64.1142
-1.0000 -1.0000 -1.0000 -1.0000 -1.0000 -1.0000 -1.0000 -1.0000
146.0442122.4326 88.3470205.7645179.9351247.7342 63.1128147.1140
SATURN CHIRON URANUS NEPTUNE PLUTO *GPNN MERCURY VENUS
225.1008299.7278115.9525206.4701145.5343*GPNN 337.3618 3.9787
156.1841 37.3588226.5834257.7894196.7335*GPNN 209.1390168.5832
274.9825 94.3020271.2618279.8831222.8893*GPNN 292.8955314.4536
-1.0000 -1.0000 -1.0000 -1.0000 -1.0000*GPNN 0.0000 0.0000
201.1236335.5195 46.7774170.0424122.0700*GPNN 56.2897 63.1295
MARS CERES PALLAS JUNO VESTA JUPITER SATURN CHIRON
15.6012 59.4529193.4508185.0006 85.4422 91.8478110.1743215.3026
75.2043100.3358185.5407181.7250127.0547110.9744119.7505209.6958
7.5590 72.1136198.1620191.0762109.0582101.3363115.6496214.8549
0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
51.6140 79.0436180.1904175.5195101.3511 99.7658113.4809209.4758
URANUS NEPTUNE PLUTO
71.0206130.9961108.9965
75.7955133.4202111.3693
72.7663132.7784110.5068
0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
73.7630131.3134109.5993
For each program, documentation should specify whether coordinates include nutation, aberration, and/or parallax corrections. If people feel it is warranted, we can specify fields in the header record to flag these details. For example, the CCRS Horoscope Program currently uses nutation and aberration in getting geocentric coordinates but not in getting heliocentric coordinates and doesn't use parallax at all. If any program allows parallax to be turned on and off for different charts in the same file, use PMOON instead of MOON as the heading for parallax corrected Moon positions. Also, some coordinates are not calculated for some kinds of charts. In the CCRS Horoscope Program, I use a value of negative one (-1) in any longitudinal coordinate not being calculated and this can be seen in the helio longitude section of the example above. That convention or something equivalent is needed for mixed chart type files.