To run Starview version 6:

For Unix run from the command line by executing the StarView file in the directory where the program was installed.
For Windows select StarView on the Programs menu
For MacIntosh double click on the program icon

A splash screen should appear while the program loads and initializes its connections to the databases. If the program fails to start, please note the text in the grey area of the splash screen and contact archive@stsci.edu.

Once the program is started you will be presented with the main StarView version 6 screen seen below

Inital Startup Information

If you have not run starview before, you will be presented with this screen as well

Please click OK and provide netscape with the following information that is required to submit data requests to STScI. If you do not fill these out, starview will be able to query the archive and get preview images, but will not be able to retrieve full datasets. If you hit cancel at this point you will not be asked for it this time, but will be asked at each startup until you provide the information. If you check the "Do not show me this again." checkbox, you will not be prompted again, even if you do not fill it out.

Note this is a common window to see in starview (with the do not show me this again box). It wll be used periodically to help you work with starview. Once you feel you do not want to see these windows again, check the box.

Email address where you can be contacted by the archive if problems arrise
Mail Server (SMTP) is a machine that will send the mail. Typically this is the same host that you use pop or imap to read your mail. In some cases it may be localhost if your system is running a mail server. Please contact your system administrator if you do not know the answer this question

In addition, UNIX machine will have two more entries to enter so StarView can communicate with the Netscape browser. They are the full paths to netscape's binary and startup script. The startup script is the command you type to start the browser. Many systems have a shell script that setsup everything so netscape will function properly. Please ask your system administrator for the path to the binary.

When you are done, click OK. This information will be saved and you will not be bothred for it again. If you find you need to change this, click on the View menu and select Environment. Then click on the E-mail tab.

Once these are filled out, StarView is now running and ready to go.