Each issue of Astro*Talk will include tips on current astrology programs. If you've discovered any special tips or tricks to get the most out of your software please contact Jeff@thenewage.com. These August tips come from Jeff Jawer of Matrix Software:

Jeff Jawer, Matrix Software
Program: Win*Star and Win*Star Plus

Searches - The Search module in Win*Star is a very powerful way to search for transits, progressions and solar arcs to a natal chart. There are several tricks that can make the process easier for you. For example, if you use a specific set of criteria for a one year forecast you can select them by clicking 1_Year, then setting the options you want. This means picking the various combinations of transits, progressions and directions that you want. Use the Options button on the right of the screen to select your Search and Target planets, as well as the aspect set that you want to use. If you need a special aspect set not in the program, go to the main Win*Star screen, select Options, Edit Aspect Sets and make changes to an existing set or create a new one. When you've set up your search the way you like it you can click on Save Defaults and that combination will come up every time you select 1_Year. You can do the same with the other search buttons as well. If you want to save a customized search, but not have it become the default, click Save Job. When you want that specific search you click Get Job and select it.

After doing your search you'll find that you can see the output in many different ways. Sort means how the data is organized vertically, that is in order on the list. I often use Planets, Time. Experiment with the different sorts yourself. You can also use the handy buttons on the Search Show screen which quickly brings different information to the screen. For example, if you want to see the planets' stations click on the SR button, for transits or progressions through signs click on Sn, or Hs for houses, and so forth.

Layout means how the information is displayed horizontally. If you want to see eclipses you'll need to use either the Eclipses or All layout. Of course, you'll have to select the Sun and Moon in a Transit to Transit search. You might want an aspect set that has only conjunctions and oppositions, if you don't want the rest of their transits. (Please be thoughtful when using the transiting Moon in any search. It can generate so many aspects, every one in your aspect set to every target planet every month, that you may get more output than you want.) If you don't find a layout that you want make your own. The best way is to select All from the Layouts list. Then you can collapse any column you don't want. Just put the cursor arrow on the edge of a column and a double-headed arrow will appear, click on the left mouse button and drag the edge to the other edge of the column, let go of the mouse button and that column will disappear. You can also change the order of columns by clicking on the top of a column (where it says Date, Time, etc.) and holding down the left mouse button. You can then drag the column anywhere you'd like to place it. If you use TimeScan you've discovered that it provides a visual display of the last Search that you've done. However, if you save a search (File, Save Search) you can open TimeScan, go to File, Load Search and see whichever ones you've saved.

Don't forget about Merges. In Search Show you can select Merge to have more than one person's search in a list. This can be very useful for looking at cycles for couples, business partners, families, etc. Just make sure you go to Layouts, Multiple Searches to see the results. Happy searching from Win*Star.