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(Dragon Software)

ASCOM FocusAPI

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The ASCOM FocusAPI plug-in for CCDSoft is distributed as part of the ASCOM Platform, available from the ASCOM web site.

The plug-in enables CCDSoft to communicate with ASCOM focuser drivers, by translating the FocusAPI calls from CCDSoft into ASCOM equivalent calls into the selected ASCOM driver.

This unlocks a number of interesting possibilities.

I originally created this plug-in because I was having a problem with one of CCDSoft's built-in drivers. It just would not work with my serial ports. I noticed that the ASCOM driver worked OK, and I began thinking, "if only ASCOM drivers would work with CCDSoft..." and the plug-in was born.

One of the most useful applications of this plug-in is if you use RoboFocus. The RoboFocus Control Panel (RFCP) cannot run at the same time as CCDSoft, or both programs try to access the comm port and one or both will be unsuccessful. So until now, it was necessary to keep switching between the programs alternately to do auto-focus then temperature compensation. Using this plug-in, this is eliminated. A new version of the RoboFocus Control Panel was released in version 3.0 of the ASCOM Platform, that includes an ASCOM focuser interface. Using my FocusAPI plug-in, CCDSoft can now talk directly to RFCP without disconnecting the comm port.

Another useful application is when you would like to use a different auto-focus algorithm to CCDSoft's @Focus (for example, the excellent freeware program, FocusMax) you can simply insert it into the system.  CCDSoft talks to FocusMax and FocusMax talks to the focuser, all using ASCOM.