FAQ

Most frequently asked questions - and answers.

1. General Questions

  1. How can I get the software?
  2. I downloaded the software. How can I start the program?
  3. Is the software free? Are there any license fees or other restrictions?
  4. How can I report a bug?
  5. Is there any active mailing list?
  6. Is there any active mailing list?
  7. How can I change the language of the program?
  8. I would like to see the software running in my native language.
  9. How many people belong to the development team?
  10. How long did it take to develop the software?

2. Astrological Questions

  1. How can I use the software?
  2. I am a beginner in astrology. How can I learn it?
  3. I calculated my chart. Where is the interpretation?
  4. I send you my birth data. When will I get married? When will I find a job?
  5. I get wrong calculation results.
  6. Dasa start and end date calculations differ from other Jyotish software. What is wrong?
  7. How can I enter the time zone for a birth place in India?
  8. I need the feature "xyz" for my work. Can you add that feature?

3. Technical Questions

  1. I get errors when I try to compile the program on my Linux machine. What can I do?
  2. I see strange Latin letters "A", "B" etc. in graphical chart or text views. What is wrong?
  3. I see strange symbols (rectangles, spaces etc.) in the program. What is wrong?
  4. I get a message box telling me that Swiss Ephemeris Data Files are missing.
  5. Are mobile devices supported?
  6. The program doesn't run on my Windows 98 computer. Is that platform supported?
  7. Are the source codes of the program available?
  8. The program crashes. What can I do?

Answers

1. General Questions

1.1: How can I get the software?

The software can be downloaded for free from the Download page.


1.2: I downloaded the software. How can I start the program?

Read the paragraphs under the download links of the Download page.

More detailed information about compilation is available on the Installation page.


1.3: Is the software free? Are there any license fees or other restrictions?

The software is free for personal and professional use.

Details are described on the Maitreya's License page.


1.4: How can I report a bug?

Bugs can be reported on Github. See the Git/Bug Reporting page.


1.4: How can I make a donation?

Please donate for religious purposes or for the poor and needy people on this planet.


1.5: Is there any active mailing list?

No. Latest news are reported on the Home page.


1.6: How can I change the language of the program?

Windows users can easily change the language in General Configuration.

On UNIX/Linux platforms the language settings are controlled by the environment variable LANG. Please read the Character Sets page for more details.


1.7: I would like to see the software running in my native language.

Information about translation can be found on the Translation page.


1.8: How many people belong to the development team?

It is a one man project. You can get more information on the About page.


1.9: How long did it take to develop the software?

Many years. Read the History of the Program page.

2. Astrological Questions

2.1: How can I use the software?

Read the Maitreya page for general question or the Getting Started Guide if you already installed it and want to know how to use it.


2.2: I am a beginner in astrology. How can I learn it?

You must study it like any other science. Look for a good teacher and be prepared that it will take some time.

This website provides some pages with general informations that may be readable for beginners, see the Articles page.


2.3: I calculated my chart. Where is the interpretation?

Chart interpretation requires a spiritual mind. Software can't do that.

You will find nevertheless something like interpretation in the Vedic Views/Yoga View.


2.4: I send you my birth data. When will I get married? When will I find a job?

Go deep into your inner parts and meditate. The answer will come.


2.5: I get wrong calculation results.

Most frequent errors are

2.6: Dasa start and end date calculations differ from other Jyotish software. What is wrong?

Be sure that both programs have exactly the same Moon positions for the chart you compare. Maitreya has two different Dasa portion options, see Dasa Balance.

If not, compare Ayanamsa configuration or other properties (like topcentric coordinates etc.) in setup.


2.7: How can I enter the time zone for a birth place in India?

India's time zone is 5:30 hours east. This must be written as "5.5" or "5,5", depending on your language configuration.


2.8: I need the feature "xyz" for my work. Can you add that feature?

Please read the Feature Requests page.


3. Technical Questions

3.1: I get errors when I try to compile the program on my Linux machine. What can I do?

Read the Installation page first. Maybe it is a frequent error and the solution is already described there.

Read the console output carefully and try to understand what happened. Many errors happen because required programs are not installed.

If this doesn't help: copy the console output and send it to the author. Don't forget to give name and version of the operating system. Be sure that you used the latest version of Maitreya software.


3.2: I see strange Latin letters "A", "B" etc. in graphical chart or text views. What is wrong?

Likely that you didn't install the symbol font (Saravali.ttf).

Read the Symbol Font page for details.


3.3: I see strange symbols (rectangles, spaces etc.) in the program. What is wrong?

Seems that something is wrong with your charset configuration.

Please read the Character Sets page for details.


3.4: I get a message box telling me that Swiss Ephemeris Data Files are missing.

Theses files are required for calulation of some planetary objects (like Planetoids). Configuration of the data files is described on the General Configuration/Ephemeris page.

Details about the data files are described on the Ephemeris Data Files page.


3.5: Are mobile devices supported?

No, currently not. The program is designed for desktop platforms.

wxWidgets (the underlying GUI framework) supports iOS and WinCE, but someone must do the work. Maybe it is tedious because the GUI layout is not designed for low screen resolutions.


3.6: The program doesn't run on my Windows 98 computer. Is that platform supported?

No. There is no support for old Windows systems (95 and 98).

It should be possible, but someone must support it.


3.7: Are the source codes of the program available?

Yes. Sources can be downloaded from the Download page.


3.8: The program crashes. What can I do?

Please be sure that you used the latest version of the program and read the corresponding News/Known Bugs section on the Home Page.

Contact the author and give information about operating system (including version), version of the software and conditions under which the bug appears.