SBIG encourages and supports third party developers. We try to make it easy for you to support our products. This page contains links to all of SBIG's Software Development Tools and Documentation. These tools allow you to develop custom software for SBIG's Parallel Port, USB and Ethernet based cameras under Microsoft Windows, Macintosh OSX and Linux.
If you have any questions or problems please Send us Email.
| Section |
Description |
| I | Documentation |
| II | Microsoft
Windows Development Tools Every tool you need for Windows based development. |
| III | Macintosh
OSX Development Tools Yes it's true. SBIG cameras work with Mac OSX! |
| IV | Linux
Development Tools Linux based developers come here. |
| V | Supplemental
Software Various multi-platform supplemental software can be found here. |
| VI | Page
Revision History Lists the history of changes made to this web page and the links within. |
This sections contains links to the various documents for SBIG Software Developers.
| Link/Version |
Description |
| Click
Here Version 4.60 Build 9 |
SBIG Universal Driver Documentation This PDF file describes the SBIG Universal Driver Library for communicating with Paralell Port, USB and Ethernet based cameras under Microsoft Windows, Macintosh OSX and Linux. |
| Click Here
Sep. 9, 2003 |
Installing USB Drivers on Windows This PDF file describes the procedure to install the USB and Parallel port drivers on Windows based systems. With Windows it's critical that drivers get installed correctly BEFORE you attach the camera for the first time. Please follow these instructions to the letter prior to attaching your camera to your computer. |
| Click Here
Dec. 1, 2004 |
SBIG Image Format This PDF Application Note describes the SBIG Type 3 image format. This is the image format used by CCDOps to read and write images. The format includes a 2048 byte text-based header followed by the image data. Both uncompressed and compressed (delta-compression) formats are described. |
| Click Here
Version 1.0 Mar. 19, 2003 |
SBIG FITS Standard Extensions This PDF Application Note describes the SBIG FITS Extensions. The purpose of these extensions is to get better inter-operability between the major Astronomical Imaging Software packages. It describes a set of FITS keywords. This was published as a proposal and aggreed to by SBIG (CCDOps), Software Bisque (CCDSoft) and Cyanogen (MaximDl). If you have any comments on this Standard or wish to propse changes please Send us Email |
| Click Here
Version 1.2 September 20, 2006 |
Class Library Documentation This PDF Application Note describes the SBIG Class Library that contains the CSBIGImg and CSBIGCam classes for acquisition of images with SBIG Cameras. |
| Click Here 5th Draft Jan. 20, 2000 |
STV Serial Command Protocol This PDF Application Note describes the communications prototcol used in controlling STV cameras over the serial port. The remote control of an STV is unlike every other SBIG camera in that you simulate keypresses and monitor text messages displayed on the camera's Vacuum Flourescent Display (VFD). This is how our STV Remote software works. Note that the STV is not supported by the SBIG Universal Driver Library which only supports USB and Parallel Ports based cameras. |
| Click Here Oct. 6, 1999 |
Additions to the SBIG File Format for STV
Images This PDF Application Note describes changes made to the SBIG Image file format to acommodate STV images. This is necessary due to the fact the the SBIG Image file format specifies exposures in units of 100ths of a second whereas the STV supports millisecond exposures. |
| Click
Here Mar. 10, 2003 |
STV Track Log Format This PDF Application Note describes the format of data sent out the STV's serial port while the STV is tracking. This includes the time, integrated star brightness and centroid position. |
| Click Here
Dec. 15, 1993 |
ST-6 Universal CPU Command Protocol This old PDF Application Note describes the communications prototcol used in controlling the serial port based ST-6, ST-5 and ST-4X cameras. Note that the these cameras are not supported by the SBIG Universal Driver Library which only supports USB and Parallel Ports based cameras. |
| Click Here
Mar. 19, 1994 |
ST-4 Serial Command Protocol This old PDF Application Note describes the communications prototcol used in controlling ST-4 cameras over the serial port. Note that the ST-4 is not supported by the SBIG Universal Driver Library which only supports USB and Parallel Ports based cameras. |
| Click Here
May 6, 1990 |
ST-4 Image File Format This old PDF Application Note describes the format for ST-4 images created with SBIG's CCD software. Note this is different than the SBIG Type 3 Image file format discussed above. |
| Click Here
Undated |
Hardware Interface to CFW-8 This PDF Application Note describes how the hardware interface to the CFW-8 for anyone desiring to use it with non-SBIG hardware or for developers who want to make hardware that emulates the CFW-8. |
| Click Here
Jan. 19, 1996 |
Software Interface to the CFW-6A and CFW-8 This old PDF Application Note describes how to support SBIG's motorized CFW-6A and CFW-8 filter wheels in software. This was written prior to adding a CFW API to the SBIG Universal Driver Library. New development should use the CFW API as described in the Universal Driver documentation listed above. |
This sections contains links to the various development tools for Windows based developers.
| Link |
Description |
| Click Here
Version 4.52 |
Windows Development Kit This ZIP archive contains the documentation, header and library files needed for developing Windows based Visual C/C++ and Visual BASIC programs. This does not include the SBIG Driver Checker that can be downloaded below. |
| Click Here | SBIG Driver Checker/Installer This ZIP archive contains SetupDriverChecker.exe, a GUI program that checks the installed versions of the various SBIG drivers and installs the latest versions. You can distribute this installer with your Windows based programs. |
| Click
Here Latest Version |
CCDOps Software This ZIP archive contains an installer for our CCDOps software. This supports every camera and every accessory that SBIG has ever made except the now obsolete ST-4. We list this here as a reference for times when you wonder "Is there a bug in the SBIG Driver?" or "Is something wrong with my camera?". Run CCDOps and see if your problem persists. That will tell you whether the problem lies in your program or in our drivers. |
| Click
Here Version 1.0 |
Bulk SBIG-to-FITS Converter This Application allows you to bulk copy a group of SBIG format images to FITS format. These FITS images are created in compliance with the SBIG FITS Standard Extension described Here. |
| Click
Here Version 1.2 |
Project for CSBIGImg/CSBIGCam Classes This ZIP archive contains a sample Visual C++ 6.0 project that builds a test application around the CSBIGImg and CSBIGCam classes discussed in the Supplemental Software section below. |
| Click Here | Sample Visual C++ Program This ZIP archive contains a sample Visual C 6.0 project that allows to to establish a link and download images from parallel port and USB based cameras. |
| Click Here | Sample Visual BASIC Program for ST-5C/ST-237 This ZIP archive contains a sample Visual BASIC 6 project that allows to to establish a link and download images from ST-5C/ST-237 cameras. |
| Click Here | Sample Visual BASIC Program for ST-7 This ZIP archive contains a sample Visual BASIC 6 project that allows to to establish a link and download images from parallel port or USB based ST-7 cameras. |
| Click Here | Sample Visual BASIC Program for ST-3200 This ZIP archive contains a sample Visual BASIC 6 project that allows to to establish a link and download images from the USB based ST-3200 cameraa. |
| Click
Here Version 1.40 |
Ethernet Camera Server This ZIP archive contains EthSrvWin.exe, a command line program that allows you to serve Parallel Port and USB based camears over Ethernet. This allows you to have a remote computer in the Observatory (the server) and a computer in the House connected via Ethernet and with that you can image with the camera in the Observatory from within the House. This is intended for LAN use not for serving a camera over the Internet. |
| Click
Here Version 2.03 |
Ethernet Camera Simulator This ZIP archive contains EthSim2.exe, a Windows GUI program that simulates various model cameras over Ethernet. This is handy when developing software for cameras that you don't actually have. |
| Click Here
Version 1.02 |
Driver Journal Receiver This ZIP archive contains SBIGUDVRJournalRx.exe, a GUI program that receives and displays a list of the calls made to the Universal Driver Library. By enabling journaling in the driver and running this program you can view a log of all calls made to the driver. This is handy for debugging software. |
| Click Here | Windows 95/98/Me LPT Port Discovery Tool This ZIP archive contains GetPortD.exe, a Windows 95/98/Me command line program that can be used to find out the IO addresses of the LPT ports. |
| Click
Here Version 1.1.1 |
Windows 95/98/Me Clock Restore Tool This ZIP archive contains SETCLOCK.EXE, a Windows 95/98/Me program that can be used to resynchronize the system clock to the CMOS clock after reading out parallel port based camera images which causes loss of synchronization. |
This sections contains links to the various development tools for Macintosh OSX based developers.
| Link |
Description |
| Click
Here Version 2.11 December 17, 2007 |
Macintosh OSX Development Kit, Universal Binary This disk image archive contains the documentation, header and library files needed for developing Mac OSX based programs. Requires OSX Version 10.4 or later. |
| Click
Here Version 2.11 December 17, 2007 |
SBIG OSX Driver Installer, Universal Binary This disk image archive contains an installer that will install the SBIG USB drivers and Universal Driver Library Framework. You can distribute this with your software packages. Requires OSX Version 10.4 or later. |
| Click
Here Version 1.04 |
CCDOps Lite for OSX, Universal Binary This disk image archive contains CCDOps Lite for Mac OSX. This can be used to test your driver installation and camera for proper operation. Requires OSX Version 10.4 or later. |
| Click
Here Version 1.06 |
Macintosh OSX Development Kit This disk image archive contains the documentation, header and library files needed for developing Mac OSX based programs. |
| Click
Here Version 1.06 |
SBIG OSX Driver Installer This disk image archive contains an installer that will install the SBIG USB drivers and Universal Driver Library Framework. You can distribute this with your software packages. |
| Click
Here Version 0.2 |
CCDOps Lite for OSX This disk image archive contains CCDOps Lite for Mac OSX. This can be used to test your driver installation and camera for proper operation. |
This sections contains links to the various development tools for Linux based developers.
| Link |
Description |
| Click Here Version 4.60 December 1, 2008 |
Linux Development Kit for Kernel 2.6 This tar archive contains the documentation, header and library files needed for developing Linux based programs for Kernels 2.6 and later. It supports USB and Ethernet based cameras but does not support Parallel Port based cameras. |
| Click Here Version 4.43 September 6, 2005 |
Linux Development Kit for Parallel Cameras and Kernel 2.4 This tar archive contains the documentation, header and library files needed for developing Linux based programs for Parallel Port based cameras under Kernel version 2.4.xx |
| Click Here Jan Soldan's Web Page |
Jan Soldan's Java Software for Linux This link takes you to Jan Soldan's SBIG Linux Support page where Java Applications can be found. Jan is the Linux Guru when it comes to SBIG Cameras. |
| Click Here Version 1.0 |
CCDOpsLite for Linux This tar archive contains a sample Qt 3.3 project that allows you to connect to and acquire images from our USB based cameras. This is provided as a starting point for some adventurous folks to run with. |
| Click Here April 30, 2005 |
USB Kernel 2.4 Driver Source This tar archive contains the source code and make file for the USB kernel 2.4 driver. If you have problems running the precompiled driver in the Linux Dev Kit try building and running this. |
| Click Here April 30, 2005 |
LPT Kernel 2.4 Driver Source This tar archive contains the source code and make file for the LPT kernel 2.4 driver. If you have problems running the precompiled driver in the Linux Dev Kit try building and running this. |
This sections contains links to the various supplemental software.
| Link |
Description |
| Click Here
Version 1.0 |
CFW-10 Developers Kit This ZIP archive contains everything you need for supporting the 10-position CFW-10 Color Filter Wheel. The CFW-10 can be connected to our USB cameras and controlled through the Universal Driver Library or can be connected to an RS-232 port and controlled byt it. This Dev Kit includes all the Documentation, an ActiveX control and sample Visual C++ and Visual Basic projects. In addition for non-Windows users source code for a C++ class are included. | Click Here
Version 1.2 |
C++ Camera and Image Class Library This ZIP archive contains C++ source files that implement basic CSBIGCam and CSBIGImg classes. These files are not specific to any Operating System and are offered as a starting point for C++ developers. See the Documentation and Windows Sample code above as well. |
| Click Here
October 12, 2005 |
Sample LabView VIs Hernán E. Grecco <hgrecco@df.uba.ar> from Laboratorio de Electrónica Cuántica has supplied a sample set of LabView VIs for use with SBIG Cameras. Please send any comments directly to him. |
This lists the revisons made to this web page and the links within.
| Date |
Revision |
| Jan 30, 2004 | Revised Driver API Document Changed the Universal Driver Documentation to Version 4.35 2nd Edition that fixed errors in how the ST-L's External Shutter is handle with the Miscellaneous Control command. Mac OSX Dev Kit and Installer Posted version 1.03 of the Mac OSX Dev Kit and Installer. This fixed a bug when talking to ST-L filter wheels over ethernet and removed a stray file left on the hard driver after the Installer was finished. | Feb 1, 2004 | Added CFW-8 Hardware Document Added a link to the CFW-8 Hardware Interface Application Note. |
Feb 3, 2004 | Updated EthSim Updated EthSim to version 1.10 that now emulates ST-L and STF model cameras. In addition it emulates the ST-L's CFW-L and the CFW-8 color filter wheel. Linux Dev Kit Posted the Linux Development Kit for Linux based software developers. |
Feb 17, 2004 | Updated Linux DevKit Updated Linux Development Kit to include new versions of the low-level LPT and USB drivers (sbiglptmod.o and sbigusbmod.o) that were built under the Suse 8.2 Linux. This should fix problems loading these drivers unders some kernels. |
| March 24, 2004 | Added LabView Sample Posted Hernán E. Grecco's <hgrecco@df.uba.ar> |
| May 7, 2004 | Updated Windows DevKit and Docs to Version 4.37 Updated Windows Development Kit to include documentation for Version 4.37 of the Universal Driver. Also updated the Universal Driver document. |
| June 30, 2004 | Updated ESrvWin to Version 1.2 Updated ESrvWin camera server software to Version 1.2 that defaults to serving the USB port if no command line parameters are given. |
| August 24, 2004 | Updated Mac OSX DevKit/Driver Installer to Version 1.05 Updated the Mac OSX Development Kit and SBIG Driver Installer to Version 1.05 that fixes a TX Timeout bug with CFW-8s. |
| August 25, 2004 | Added Windows SBIG Image/Camera Test Class Project Added a sample Visual C++ 6.0 project to build a test application based upon the CSBIGImg and CSBIGCam classes. |
| September 30, 2004 | Updated various tools * Added a sample Visual Basic 6.0 project to build the ST3200Demo progarm and updated the ST5CDemo and ST7Demo projects. * Also updated the EthSim tool to support the ST-402 and ST-3200. * Finally, updated the Universal Driver Docs to 4.42 and WinDevKit to Version 4.42 3rd Edition. |
| December 1, 2004 | Miscellaneous Updates * Updated the SBIG Type 3 App Note to include more history characters and stake out SBIG's use of the User_1 through User_4 fields. * Updated the SBIGTYPES.BAS file in the Sample Visual Basic projects fixing a few bugs. |
| December 20, 2004 | Released EthSim2 EthSim2 is an enhanced version of the SBIG Ethernet based Camera Simulator. It is now a Windows GUI program and you select the model of camera from a pop-up combo box. In addition it can generate star images and send actual camera image data. It's a great tool and we think you'll like it. |
| January 4, 2005 | Released CFW-10 Dev Kit The CFW-10 is a 10 position Color Filter wheel that can be connected to our USB line of cameras or controlled over RS-232 for use by OEMs and with other makes of cameras. The CFW-10 Dev Kit includes everything you need to control a CFW-10. |
| January 12, 2005 | Updated EthSim2 and EthSrv Updated these two utility programs to support the ST-402 camera. |
| January 14, 2005 | Updated WinDevKit to Version 4.43 Updated the Windows Developmwent kit to version 4.43. Now includes EthSim2 and EthSrv utilities. |
| January 19, 2005 | Updated SBIG Class Library Updated the SBIG Class Library to version 1.1, including some documentation and support for reading SBIG Compressed and Uncompressed images and writing FITS files in conjunction with NASA-Goddard's CFITSIO library. |
| January 27, 2005 | Updated Mac Driver and Dev Kit Updated the Macintosh OSX Driver and Development kit to version 1.06 which brings it up to date with the PC version 4.43 drivers. This adds support for the ST-402 and CFW-10 and fixes the inevitable bugs that appear. |
| February 15, 2005 | Updated ESrvWin, EthSim2 * ESrvWin Version 1.31 - Fixed a bug that would stop the ESrvWin software from working with Parallel port cameras under Windows XP. * EthSim2 Version 2.0 Build 4 - Fixed a bug that wouldn't let AO calibrate on TC237 guiders. |
| February 22, 2005 | Updated Linux Dev Kit, Released CCDOpsLite for Linux * Updated the Linux Development Kit to parity with the Windows Version 4.43 Build 5. This now supports the ST-402, ST-1603 and ST-3200 cameras as well as the CFW-10 and AO-L. * Released the CCDOpsLite for Linux Qt project. |
| April 30, 2005 | Updated Linux Dev Kit, Released LPT and USB Kernel Driver Source * Updated the Linux Development Kit to include builds of the USB and LPT kernel 2.4 drivers that removes the dependency on the HZ variable. * Released source code for the USB and LPT kernel 2.4 drivers. |
| June 2, 2005 | Updated LabView Sample Drivers Updated versions of the sample LabView drivers provided by Hernán E. Grecco were posted that fixes problems encountered under Windows XP. |
| August 30, 2005 | Updated LabView Sample Drivers Updated versions of the sample LabView drivers provided by Hernán E. Grecco were posted that added library support for ethernet and usb cameras. |
| September 6, 2005 | Updated Linux Dev Kit Updated the Linux Developers Kit to include non-kernel mode USB drivers for kernel version 2.6. |
| October 15, 2005 | Updated LabView Sample Drivers Updated versions of the sample LabView drivers provided by Hernán E. Grecco were posted that added library support for ethernet and usb cameras. |
| December 13, 2005 | Updated WinDevKit and Documentation Updated the Windows Development Kit and Universal Driver Documentation to support the AOL (Large Format AO) and external Remote Guide Head with the ST-7/8/9/10/2K cameras. |
| April 7, 2006 | Posted Universal Binary Macintosh Drivers Posted Universal Binary version of the Mac Dev Kit that will run on PowerPC and Intel based Macs running OSX Version 10.4 and later. |
| May 13, 2006 | Updated Mac Drivers and Mac CCDOpsLite Posted Version 2.01 of the Mac Universal Binary Drivers and Version 1.0 of CCDOpsLite which adds many new features as detaild in the new Online Help. |
| September 20, 2006 | Updated Windows Development Kit and Driver Documentation Released version 4.52 of the Windows Development Kit and the accompanying documentation for the SBIG Universal Driver. This added support for the new CFW-9, CFW-L8 and CFW-L8G I2C based Color Filter Wheels and fixed several miscellaneous bugs. |
| September 21, 2006 | Posted FITSConverter Application Released version 1.0 of our Bulk SBIG-to-FITS Converter application that allows you to make FITS format copies of a group of SBIG format images. |
| September 28, 2006 | Updated Class Library to Version 1.2 Released version 1.2 of the SBIG Class Library. Now allows reading images in FITS format and allows acquiring images in the background through threads. |
| May 30, 2007 | Updated Mac OSX Drivers and Dev Kit Released version 1.08 of the Macintosh Universal Binary Drivers and Developrs Kit. This brings OS-X up to parity with the Windows version 4.55 Build 5 of the Universal Driver Library. Added links to Linux Kerner 2.6 drivers Added a link to the Linux Kernel 2.6 druvers on Jan Soldan's web page. |
| May 31, 2007 | Reposted Mac Universal Driver Library and Dev Kit Posted version 2.04 of the Mac OSX Universal Driver Library and Dev Kit which fixed a complete brain-fart on yesterdays psotings. |
| June 14, 2007 | Updated Mac Universal Driver Library and Dev Kit Posted version 2.05 of the Mac OSX Universal Driver Library and Dev Kit brings it up to date with the PC Version 4.55B6. |
| October 22, 2007 | Updated Mac Universal Driver Library and Dev Kit Posted version 2.06 of the Mac Universal Binary DevKit and Universal Binary Driver Installer, bringing it up to date with the PC Version 4.57 drivers. |
| October 31, 2007 | Updated EthSim2 Posted version 2.00 Build 7 of the EthSim2 Ethernet Camera Simulator that fixed a bug with frame alignment in binned modes and added support for the new Single Shot Color ST-4000XCM camera. |
| December 5, 2007 | Updated CCDOpsLite for Mac OSX and Mac Drivers Posted version 1.02 of CCDOpsLite and version 2.07 of the Mac Drivers for Mac OSX 10.4 and later. This fixed a bug with the ST-4000XCM camera where the images were meaningless. |
| December 7, 2007 | Updated CCDOpsLite for Mac OSX Posted version 1.03 of CCDOpsLite for OSX that fixed a bug where it would not run under OSX 10.4 |
| December 15, 2007 | Updated CCDOpsLite for Mac OSX and Mac Drivers Posted version 1.03 of CCDOpsLite and version 2.10 of the Mac Drivers for Mac OSX 10.4 and later. This fixed a where the PPC versions of the SBIG Drivers would not work on all OS X 10.4 based systems. Thanks to Darryl Robertson of Microprojects for all his help on this issue. |
| December 17, 2007 | Updated CCDOpsLite for Mac OSX and Mac Drivers Posted version 1.04 of CCDOpsLite and version 2.11 of the Mac Drivers for Mac OSX 10.4 and later. This fixed a bug where the PPC versions of the Framework would show all cameras supporting the Remote Guide Head. Thanks to Darryl Robertson of Microprojects for all his help on this issue. |
| January 15, 2008 | Updated EthSim2 to Version 2.03 Fixed a bug in the Ethernet Based Camera Simulator that would cause partial frames in binned modes to be misaligned. |
| April 22, 2008 | Updated EthSrv to Version 1.40 Fixed a bug in the Ethernet Based Camera Server that would not allow you to link to an ST-402 when using the Alternate USB Driver. Also added support for the CC_QUERY_ETHERNET command. |
| December 1, 2008 | Updated WinDevKit, LinuxDevKit Updated the Windows and Linux Development kits to Version 4.60 Build 9. |