Just before the main conference, Digistar users and E&S engineers will teach attendees the secrets of Digistar and share their knowledge. Pre-conference training, workshops and presentations will take place from Monday 26th to Wednesday 28th of September. A computer lab situated in the Museum's conference center will allow hands-on training and the planetarium will be the place to present the latest developments and tricks in Digistar. Participants are advised to bring their own devices as the number of available workstations is limited. Please secure your seat in the training Workshops during the registration process.

9:00 – 10:00

Planetarium
Graphics Grab Bag (John-Paul Ownby)
Applicable to D7
A collection of smaller topics about graphics in Digistar 7. We will discuss how to get the most out of some big rendering features as well as mention some smaller features that you may not have been aware of.

Computer Lab
Advanced JavaScript for Digistar (Jacob Galloway)
Applicable to D5, D6, D7
This workshop will cover some advanced topics and examples using JavaScript with Digistar.

10:30 – 11:30

Planetarium
Video Slicing and Content Management Best Practices in Digistar (Jacob Galloway)
Applicable to D6, D7
This workshop will review uses and best practices of existing and new tools for slicing video and managing your content in Digistar. Tools covered will be ESVideo, DsMedia, DsMediaInstaller and more.

Computer Lab
Custom DotClouds (Brian Moore)
Applicable to D5, D6, D7
Introducing a new utility to allow users to generate dotCloud models.

12:30 – 14:00

Computer Lab
Scriptapalooza 2022 for D5, D6, D7 (Karen Klamczynski)
Most Applicable to D5, D6, D7
Let’s script! This workshop includes scripting examples and tips that almost every Digistar user can use. Prior scripting knowledge is helpful but not required.

14:30 – 15:30

Computer Lab
Scriptapalooza 2022 for D7 (Karen Klamczynski)
Most Applicable to D7
See and create scripts that use features introduced in Digistar 7. Everyone who wants to script is welcome. Prior scripting knowledge is helpful but not required.

16:00 – 18:00

Planetarium
Fulldome Curriculum (Brad Rush and Dr. David Bradstreet)
Applicable to D7
Let’s look at some of the new astronomy lessons introduced into D7. Co-hosted and presented by the author himself, Dr. David Bradstreet.

Computer Lab
Introductory JavaScript (Mike George)
Applicable to D5, D6, D7
A basic introduction to JavaScript, this workshop introduces variables, numbers, loops, executing Digistar commands, and more. This is intended for users with limited or no prior knowledge.

9:00 – 10:00

Planetarium
Getting Started with Show Builder (Pt 1) (Melinda Orms)
Applicable to D6, D7
Learn your way around Show Builder with an introduction to controls and helpful tips.

Computer Lab
Intermediate JavaScript for Digistar (Jacob Galloway)
Applicable to D5, D6, D7
This class will go deeper into Javascript beyond the basics and cover examples that you can use in your theater.

10:30 – 11:30

Planetarium
Digistar Tips & Tricks (Melinda Orms, John-Paul Ownby, Jacob Galloway)
Some for All Systems
Customize, tweak, and make the most of Digistar’s capabilities, from content creation to the user interface. Our goal is for everyone to learn something new!

Computer Lab
The Digistar Atlas and VOTableToDSA (Brian Moore)
Applicable to D6, D7
An astronomer’s introduction to the datasets currently in Digistar Atlas, and a primer for users to generate their own datasets using VOTableToDSA utility.

12:30 – 14:00

Computer Lab
Getting Started with Show Builder (Pt 2) (Melinda Orms)
Applicable to D6, D7
Some deeper coverage of Show Builder snapshots, the new node types and controls, internals and more.

14:30 – 15:30

Computer Lab
Marketing Your Dome (Michael McConville)
Applicable to All Systems
While Digistar helps us to tell compelling stories in our domes, it’s just as important to tell the stories about our domes, too. Learn the tools and best practices for marketing and public relations of your planetarium to your institution and your community.

16:00 – 17:00

Planetarium
Digistar Tips & Tricks (Remix) (Melinda Orms, John-Paul Ownby, Jacob Galloway, Ben Buckwalter, Stan Pitcher, Dan Rees)
Some for All Systems
Customize, tweak, and make the most of Digistar’s capabilities, from content creation to the user interface. Our goal is for everyone to learn something new! This workshop is repeated, but specific content may vary from the earlier session.

Computer Lab
Totality! Chasing the Shadow (Martin Ratcliffe)
Applicable to D5, D6, D7
Create scenes showing various aspects of a Total Solar Eclipse, focusing on the April 8, 2024 event occurring across the United States.

9:00 – 11:30 (includes half hour break)

Planetarium then Computer Lab after Break
Troubleshooting 101 (Melinda Orms, John-Paul Ownby, Jacob Galloway)
Applicable to D4, D5, D6, D7
Learn basic Digistar architecture and how to identify and diagnose problems. Join E&S developers in exploring common and uncommon issues and pinpointing sources of these issues.

Computer Lab then Planetarium after Break
Demo Challenge (Karen Klamczynski)
Applicable to Everyone Interested
Teams of 1-3 people will have one hour to use scripting, Show Builder, or any Digistar 7 features to solve a challenge. Results will be presented in the planetarium. Prizes and bragging rights? Of course!

16:00 – 17:00

Computer Lab
VR in Digistar (Dan Rees)
Learn how to use the VR features available in Digistar, and how to effectively produce content for the different types of VR—real-time VR shows, Google Cardboard style VR, and 360° video [last item is D7 only].