Bug 508397

Summary:	KStars doesn't start because data files are in the wrong folder
Product:	[Applications] kstars	Reporter:	Benjamin T <b.terrier>
Component:	general	Assignee:	Jasem Mutlaq <mutlaqja>
Status:	RESOLVED FIXED
Severity:	crash	CC:	bob.hendrich, rlancaste
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	3.7.8
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Other
OS:	Microsoft Windows
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Benjamin T 2025-08-17 19:58:53 UTC

SUMMARY


STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Install KStars on Windows 11 
2. Try to start KStars 

OBSERVED RESULT

KStars fails to start and shows a dialog claiming it cannot find TZrules.dat in a given list of folders.
After downloading from Git and placing the file in one the the listed paths, it now displays the same dialog
but now complaining about missing citydb.sqlite.

EXPECTED RESULT

KStars starts 

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows: 11 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
After playing with KStars I notices many info about sky objects were missing, like it could not suggest visible planets to see tonight.

After looking into it, the installer did install the data files into "C:\Program Files\KStars Desktop Planetarium\share\kstars"
However this folder was not listed in the folders KStars is looking into.
After moving the content of "C:\Program Files\KStars Desktop Planetarium\share\kstars" into "C:\Program Files\KStars Desktop Planetarium\bin\data\kstars", KStars could find which planets are visible tonight.

Comment 1 Bob Hendrich 2025-08-21 03:48:40 UTC

Seeing the same behavior on MacOS 15.6.1.

KStars fails to start and shows a dialog claiming it cannot find TZrules.dat in a given list of folders.
Download from GitHub and put in the right place, then complains about  missing citydb.sqlite.  Do the same download dance from GitHub with citydb, and Kstars finally starts.

Comment 2 Jasem Mutlaq 2025-08-21 04:01:36 UTC

TZRules is installed where on your system? I tried deleting all the files then installing KStars, and I couldn't get that message about missing files.

Comment 3 Bob Hendrich 2025-08-21 04:12:53 UTC

The error dialog lists three locations where it looks for the file on MacOS:

~/Library/Application Support/kstars
/Library/Application Support/kstars
/Applications/kstars.app/Contents/Resources (less sure I'm remembering that one correctly)

I placed TZRules.dat in ~/Library/Application Support/kstars

Put citydb.sqlite file in the same directory when it complained about not finding that.

This is an install after I had deleted all the kstars files  in the above directories (plus ~/Library/Preferences) and re-downloaded the .dmg file for 3.7.8

Comment 4 Jasem Mutlaq 2025-08-22 13:47:00 UTC

This should be fixed now for Windows. Please try to download again and test. MacOS is pending.

Comment 5 Rob 2025-08-22 20:35:28 UTC

Bob Hendrich,

We fixed this on MacOS, the DMG should be updated now.

Comment 6 Bob Hendrich 2025-08-23 02:08:26 UTC

Thanks!  Works for me now on MacOS 15.6.1.

Much appreciated!