Changes from Version 8.x to Version 9

The following is a list of the most significant changes that have been made for version 9 of Solar Fire. Many smaller changes have also been made but these aren't listed.

Primary Directions: This whole area has been revamped, particularly in Dynamic Reports. There is now the choice of Primary Mundane or Primary Zodiacal directions. Previously, we computed primary directions according to the semi-arc technique promoted by Placidus, but you can choose between Placidus’ semi-arc projections and Regiomontanus’ preferred projections based on hour circles to determine mundane position. So now you have a choice of Placidus or Regiomontanus methods for computing the directions, several new direction rate keys (available in Preferences), and Classical or Modern definitions of "converse". Additionally the help documentation on Primary Directions has been expanded to make them more understandable for the general user. Primary Directions to Radix now compute much faster.

Zodiacal Releasing Tabulation: Zodiacal Releasings show whole periods in a native's life when certain general astrological influences are increasing in strength. A listing of these periods is now available as an interactive tabulation, so that any period in the past or future can be instantly generated and examined.

Graphing Financial Data: Data from financial markets that is in a compatible format in a file can be imported into Solar Fire, and then graphed on a Graphic Ephemeris alongside the usual transits, progressions or directions.

Chart Files Merge: Multiple chart files can now be merged together into a single file.

Lunar Gardening Calendar: The Calendar has been revised to include Gardening recommendations based on the phases and signs of the Moon.

New house systems available: A new house system is available that is a variation of the "Whole Sign" house system. The Whole Sign (Fortune) house system creates equal houses of 30 degrees, with the first house starting at 0 degrees of the sign that has the Part of Fortune in it. Also new is the "South Node on 1st House Cusp" house system.

Toolbar button: There is a new Toolbar toggle button for quickly switching charts between the Geocentric or Heliocentric coordinate system.

New Wheel Styles: The range of wheel styles supplied with the program is now even more extensive (Bizod2, Bizod3, Euro5c, Tri4)

New Page Styles: Including a new Sun Signs page to assist in writing sun sign columns, and eight new pages from Hank Friedman - loads of information available at a glance.

New Chart Files: Including one containing famous race horses and jockeys, and other files containing over 200 new charts for politics, entertainment, royalty and more, Aus2014 expanded selection of Australian charts.

New Interpretation files: These are Charubel interpretations (Charubel.int) and Solar Returns (SolReturn.int)

New Social Media links: These can be found on the Help menu

Appointments Manager: Can now import contacts from a CSV (comma separated values) file.

User-Defined Points: Progressions and Transits are now calculated for these points.

Eclipses: Search result can be printed or copied, with aspect details included.

Asteroids: 15 new asteroids from the Swiss ephemeris have been added

Glyphs: New glyphs in the font file ET Asteroids1a (ETAst1a.ttf) - for asteroids Salacia 120347 û, Vulcano 4464 ü, Orcus 90482 ú; the Galactic Center þ, and the Super Galactic Center ý.

Page Designer and Page Browser Improvements: These have been heavily revised to make it easier to work with the wide range of pages available in Solar Fire. The Page Browser is now available in the Page Designer as well; graphic backgrounds are visible in the Page Designer, and in the Page Browser if desired; when the "Temperaments" object is added to a page the rulership to use for calculating the temperament can now be specified; plus click-and-drag interactions in the Page Designer more intuitive; as well as moving pages between categories you can now also copy pages to other categories.