Installing TMSA

[Jim Eshelman]

TMSA installation is easy, provided you have done preliminary setup steps to circumvent security warnings. - Windows will try to stop you have installing it because, unfortuantely6, the program is unable to provide a security certificate to confirm it is safe software. Windows takes reasonable steps to stop you from installing it.

1. Create an installation folder that is exempt from security filters: I suggest you create a new folder in the root of C:\ (your C: drive) with a unique name such as Installation Folder (or even an obscure or absurd name that a hacker wouldn't expect, like Pizza Franchises <g>).

2. Tell your antivirus program not to check that one folder. Steps for this will differ with different antivirus programs.

3. In recent versions of Windows (10 or later), go to Settings, click Updates & Security, click Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Settings. Under Exclusions, click Add or Remove Exclusions. Click to add an exclusion, pick Folder, and specify the folder you created. (In earlier versions of Windows, instructions will be different. You can probably find them in Windows Defender.)

Once you have this special folder created and exempted from scanning, the rest is straightforward.

[Jim Eshelman]

0. Go to the current post linked to the newest version of TMSA. At the time of writing this, it is this post: https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=6076

1. Click any link in that post marked Installer. Depending on which link you choose, you may need to click Download.

2. Windows (depending on your version and your security configuration) should ask if you want to Run or Download (or Save) the program. Save it to your special installation folder.

3. Go into your folder, then into the Zip folder you downloaded and click the program to install it. (Some computers may require that you unzip the contents first. On my computer, I don't have to do that.)

4. Windows probably will try to stop you from installing it. For example, in Windows 10 or 11, you will got a box headed "Windows Protected Your PC." Click More Info, which will give you a new button, Run Anyway.

5. TMSA will ask if this is For Advanced Astrologers or For Astrology Students (to allow the more basic Student settings to install). Pick the one you want then click Next.

6. You will have an option to create a desktop shortcut. Check the box if you want this. Either way, click Next.

7. Click Install. (The program will install.)

8. With the box checked the Launch TMSA, click Finish. In 30 to 60 seconds, TMSA will launch.

9. If you wish, click Program Options to select colors and other basic options, especially setting your Home Location. If you make any changes, click Save then click Restart.

10. If you wish, click Chart Options and customize your options choices for one or more option sets.

11. Use TMSA.

[SteveS]

Thanks for the detailed instructions Jim.

[SteveS]

TMSA will not open on my computer Jim---no big deal.

[mikestar13]

Do we have other Windows 7 users using TMSA? Perhaps there is some special wrinkle for this OS?

[SteveS]

Here are the two messages I get:
1: tmsa04.exe-System Error
The program can't start because api-ms-win-core-path-1-1-0 dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.
when i reinstall i get this message:
2: Error loading Python DLL. The specified module could not be found.

[Jim Eshelman]

For the future, this isn't a problem for TMSA (since Win 7 is moving off the map), but it's a big deal now for current potential users, of course.

Thanks for helping test this, Steve.

[SteveS]

Glad to help Jim.

[mikestar13]

Steve, this file is part of the Windows core API and should have been present. Here is a link for a free download: https://www.dll-files.com/api-ms-win-co ... 0.dll.html

[SteveS]

Thanks Mike, I will check it out and get back to you.

[SteveS]

Mike wrote:

Steve, this file is part of the Windows core API and should have been present. Here is a link for a free download: https://www.dll-files.com/api-ms-win-co ... 0.dll.html

Mike, I have a friend staying with me for a few days who is tech savvy, and we went to the above link and downloaded the file to my laptop (Windows 7). For sure this file is on my laptop, and for sure we had a successful download of TMSA to my laptop, just as before. But again, we click on the icon to start TMSA, we are getting the same error messages as before. We suspect it’s a Windows 7 problem preventing start-up.
Later we are going to do the same procedures on my old desktop with Windows 10, and I will get back to you.

[caseygrace]

Installed TMSA with no difficulties.

THANK YOU so much for providing this software!

I am new to sidereal mundane. Absolutely thrilled to have found this community.

[SteveS]

Got it installed on my old desktop, no problems with Windows 10.

[Jim Eshelman]

Good to hear you have it. (And useful to know Win 7 seems to have a problem with it.)