Astrology Software Reviews

More than three years ago, I reviewed AstrolDeluxe Platinum in the Aug./Sept. 2016 issue of The Mountain Astrologer. Since the software's initial release, its author has continually improved it, culminating with the latest version 10. AstrolDeluxe Platinum runs on Windows 7, 8, and 10 and on a Mac using Windows emulation software (e.g., Windows with Bootcamp, Parallels, etc.).

Don't let the old-school graphics and interface fool you — AstrolDeluxe Platinum is a powerful astrology program packed with unique capabilities. It includes a database of 93,800 charts, categorized by vocation and other major life themes, to use with its built-in research tools. AstrolDeluxe Platinum can now import charts from Solar Fire, as well as from other astrology programs.

The program can also run the company's superlative quality add-on reports, including new reports for declination aspects and minor (45° and 135°) hard aspects (and reports on Chiron, the Black Moon, and Aspect Patterns). Many of these reports are groundbreaking, resulting from years of painstaking research by the author.

AstrolDeluxe Platinum
John Halloran
$300 (https://www.halloran.com)

John Halloran has just released a major revision of his AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter software, calling it AstrolDeluxe Platinum (also AstrolDeluxe 9.0). Now bundled with the program are a collection of 5,317 Famous Charts and the set of Halloran TrueType astrological fonts.

One of the foremost innovations in the program is its new Planetary Cycles feature. It graphs the cycles (conjunct, square, opposed) and half-cycles of transiting planets in relationship to a target natal planet. This will be very useful for astrologers who want to explore these events.

Based upon the recent book by Dorothy Oja, Planetary Resonance, the program also adds a feature called Planetary Resonance Phases. There are four sets of calculations: the Five Resonances at Birth; the Life Phases (of a selected planet) from the transits of the Three Transcendental Planets (Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) for 90 years; these phases plus those from transiting Jupiter and Saturn; and the Transcendental Phases for All Five Personal Planets for 90 years.

The program adds distant Eris as a planetary point. It also adds Heliocentric charts -- which it can compare with Geocentric charts, including Progressed and Composite -- and a long Wheel with Grids Page that can be scrolled up and down and zoomed in and out, on the screen.

The Time Search for Planets in Aspect function allows you to select any two planets, a time range and time zone, orb, and a specific aspect (or any angle), to produce a listing of the dates and times when the transiting planets form the same angle. Clicking on any date will generate a chart for that event.

The Progressed Lunation function enables you to use the progression method of your choice to create several lists: a 90-year span of Progressed New and Full Moons, Progressed Lunar Phases (16 phases in all), and two lists of times when the Natal Moon Phase Angle repeats (progressed or not). You can also click on a Lunar position in the table to pop up the Sabian Symbol for that degree. AstrolDeluxe Platinum can also generate an interpretive report of your Progressed Lunar Phases.

When you click on any planet in a chart wheel, a window appears showing all of the aspects made to the planet. Clicking on any aspect pops up a delineation of it. There are also new, well-written add-on interpretations for Chiron, the Moon's nodes, and Black Moon Lilith, which are available in a bundle for $185.

You can also generate a table showing the Moon Wobble dates. The Moon "wobbles" when the Sun is conjunct, square, or opposing the Moon's North Node; this indicates, according to Carl Payne Tobey, periods when accidents are more prevalent.

The Moving Graphic Ephemeris is an animated graphic ephemeris of transits. You can select the transiting points used (including the four major asteroids, Chiron, Black Moon Lilith, and Eris), the harmonic, the speed of the animation, whether to display natal positions (as lines on the graph), and the time range displayed. Clicking anywhere on the graph enables you to create a chart for that moment.

In the Chart Analysis table, there is a planetary speed indicator and a new type of retrograde flag that also indicates how many days until the planet will change direction (within the first 120 days).

Find Eclipses and Lunations can find and show either eclipses or lunations. For eclipses, the table gives the date and time, the aspect (conjunct or opposed), and the longitude of the Moon and the closest lunar node, with the difference between them.

AstrolDeluxe Platinum is a pioneering program, introducing many new astrological approaches. Its research capabilities, unique touches, great included and add-on reports, and diversity of functions make it valuable to a wide range of astrologers.

AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter, version 8.5 by John Halloran; Halloran Software, PO Box 75713, Los Angeles, CA 90075; CD, www.halloran.com; $169.

Many astrologers and students of astrology are familiar with AstroCartoGraphy maps as a way to understand how an individual's natal horoscope can be projected onto the globe. Another, less familiar technique, is known as Local Space Astrology, where planetary lines radiate outward from the birth location and circle the globe. The technique was developed by Michael Erlewine in 1977, and is an option found on the most sophisticated (and expensive) astrology calculation programs.

An entry level Local Space tool is now available in the latest upgrade of the AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter, as programmed by John Halloran. The key concept behind local space charts is that everything in our universe can be depicted on the natal chart as lying somewhere along a line coming out of the center of the chart, which represents the birth location. In this sense one can travel toward one's natal Mars to find action, or toward one's Venus to find love, or perhaps toward one's Moon to find a comfortable home.

The example used by Halloran is Madonna's Local Space Map. She was born in Michigan and has an unusually well-placed natal Vesta, since it's sextile her Mars on one side, and her Moon-Ascendant conjunction on the other. She followed her Vesta line to New York, where she became famous. She then relocated to the southern coast of England, which lies near a prosperous Jupiter line and also near the spiritual, reclusive Neptune line.

Accessing the Local Space Map is as easy as clicking on the tool bar, and sliding down to "Local Space Map". One has the option of using six different maps: the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia, and the World. Generally, most astrologers are only interested in the traditional planets, but a unique feature allows the user to add in Chiron and the four major asteroids. As demonstrated by the Madonna example, Vesta is a significant player in her personal history. And a list of some 50 additional asteroids and recently discovered outer planets can also be enabled to see where those lines influence one's life.

Of course the main features of the AstrolDeluxe ProgramWriter are its calculation functions and add-on reports that interpret horoscopes. Visit his website (www.halloran.com) to see what you might want to add to your order. But the most interesting update is the Local Space Maps. Find your best-placed natal planet or asteroid, and see what places it highlights in the nation or in other regions. Jupiter is a great starting place, but a well-placed natal Mercury would be an intriguing line to explore as a vacation.

John Halloran, the author of the Windows program AstrolDeluxe, continues to polish and add features to his flagship program. Since version 8.0, he has focused on harmonics, composite charts, and Sabian Symbols.

The latest revision has very well written delineations for all 360 Sabian Symbols for planets and house cusps, and can produce a complete Planet Degree Symbolism report. The excellent Aspect Patterns add-on report is the culmination of lengthy research and delineates 35 different aspect patterns with 392 variations.

Drawing upon his research for a new $100 interpretation report called Composite Couples, Halloran has added a new Composite Compatibility table showing an assessment of the Composite chart (between two people) for friendship, business, and marriage, and for a large number of personal qualities and functions, like independence, compassion, exploring the world, creative projects, and more.

Perhaps the innovations in harmonic analysis are the most powerful features of the update. In the research module, one can now search one's collection of charts for charts with harmonic planets in natal houses or aspects to each other in any harmonic. You can also search for a planet in a natal chart in aspect to a planet in a harmonic chart, and continue conducting additional searches on the results of any search (i.e. on the charts that meet the criteria of the first search).

The program can also show a biwheel of the natal chart and any harmonic chart, and display and sort the interaspects between them, and easily switch to displaying the aspects within the harmonic chart. You can even add a third chart, e.g. the current transits, in order to see the transits to both the harmonic and natal charts.

You can also search for charts with any of 16 Lunar Phases : 1) New, 2) New-Crescent Cusp, 3) Crescent, 4) Crescent-First Quarter Cusp, 5) First Quarter, 6) First Quarter-Gibbous Cusp, 7) Gibbous, 8) Gibbous-Waning Cusp, 9) Waning, 10) Waning-Disseminating Cusp, 11) Disseminating, 12) Disseminating-Last Quarter Cusp, 13) Last Quarter, 14) Last Quarter-Balsamic Cusp, 15) Balsamic, 16) Balsamic-New Quarter Cusp.

Other additions include the ability to search by longitude and latitude in the Geo Names Atlas add-on (which contains about 3 million cities worldwide), which can be quite useful if you don't know the exact spelling of a foreign city's name and the ability to calculate Solar Arc Progressions on Declination Equivalent (and Declination Antiscia) charts.

AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter has always had a unique set of capabilities, and its author continues to improve and extend its value signficantly.

AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter's report printing engine is a superb feature of this astrology software, and offers one of the most inexpensive report writers on the market. Using this application, you will discover professional, full-length reports based on a person's charts. The reports are fully customizable and printable as well. For example when creating a natal report, in addition to standard formats, you can also choose a format that focuses on the sign on the cusp of each house, or the ruler of that sign, by sign, house, and aspect.

For those looking for astrology software with powerful research functions, AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter is a great choice. You can search any set of charts by specific birth date, planets by house or retrograde, and more. Also, you can search your charts by intercepted signs or planets, house rulers by aspect or house, or by client notes. The research module also creates control groups that you can use to compare your results. Unfortunately, there are no educational materials or astrology lessons. This software assumes that you already have that background, or that you'll get it elsewhere.

AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter creates comprehensive astrological charts and includes professional interpretation software (with a focus on natal chart interpretations). The included PC atlas lists 250,000 cities, and the astrology software calculates charts in 12 different House cusps. Also, the Zodiac calculations in the application, which include Tropical, Sidereal and Draconic, span 8,000 years.

Astro-maps are another impressive feature you'll find in AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter. Its Astro-Locality Maps help a querent better see where on a map they will find the most success in life and where they'll find the least success, by highlighting a map using a color scheme and latitudinal and longitudinal lines, each anchored by a Zodiac sign. These maps are highly useful when creating a Relocation chart.

AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter creates all the preferred wheel styles of beginners and professionals. The astrology software creates single, bi, tri and quad wheels as well as Natal, Transit, Progression wheels, among many others. The astrology software also comes with a professionally written database of natal report interpretations – Spirit Success – written by Carolyne Lacey. Compatibility, transits, progressions and solar return interpretations are sold separately.

You can enhance the calculations of your charts by looking at more than just planet locations, and AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter includes 70 asteroids from the years 1800-2100. For many astrologers, these are considered just as important as the planets. And for a $50 add-on, AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter is able to detect aspect patterns and interpret them.

AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter can calculate the moon's nodes and apogee (either Mean or True), and can also synchronize your computer's internal clock with the clock at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. And to make it easy to edit previously made charts from others, you can import files from a wide variety of outside astrology software applications.

Halloran Software has a toll-free number, international phone number, fax number and email contact options for assistance with AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter. Also, a thorough help guide is included with the software.

AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter Summary: 9/10

This astrology software package includes all you need to create high-quality charts and interpretative natal reports that are accurate and professional. With helpful extras like Zodiac and Planet symbol charts for easy reference and quality astro-maps, AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter is an astrology software package we heartily recommend.

In its Chart Analysis table, AstrolDeluxe Report Writer identifies aspect patterns found in individual charts, and in its natal report, the program provides excellent interpretations for each of the patterns present in a chart, with special attention to the focus planet for each pattern. It evaluates charts for over 30 different aspect patterns. In its Graphic Aspects chart wheel display, you can view each of the aspect patterns present in a chart, one at a time. See Figure Three aspect patterns. You can customize orbs for determining patterns, in 3 degree increments, and choose to include or exclude the Ascendant and M.C., the nodes, asteroids, and outer planets in patterns. Additionally, in its research module, you can search chart files to find charts containing specific aspect patterns, and even specify what planets must be present in each pattern.

There are many other enhancements that have been added since the 6.0 review. The program can now create quad-wheels, and it's easy to control which charts show up in each ring. It can create progressed charts using the Hermetic Minor Progression method, list planetary placements in Gauquelin sectors, and display K.T. Boehrer's declination graph. AstrolDeluxe Report Writer allows astrologers to use Charles Jayne's precise method of ascertaining aspect orbs in declinational aspects.

Two new features in the software work very well together. The Rotate/Rectify chart feature allows you to manually or automatically move charts forward or backward in time by not only increments of date and time (e.g. months or seconds) but also by Ascendant or Midheaven sign, degrees, or minutes. While using this feature (for rectification, choosing a good time for a class, etc.) you can also view changes in the Planet Strengths graph which displays the relative strengths of all of the planets, the Ascendant, and Midheaven.

In the research module, you can now search for a planet in specific Gauquelin sector, find charts with a planet out-of-bounds in declination, and search for a person's first or last name, the data source, or the Rodden rating.

Finally, Halloran Software has a new add-on Geo Atlas ($100) with coordinates for over 3 million cities. This is a great resource if you are creating charts for people born outside of the U.S. as it has 20 times as many cities as the ACS atlas. The Famous Charts collection ($59) of 4,622 famous people is also a worthwhile add-on.

AstrolDeluxe Report Writer version 7.0 adds valuable features to an already remarkably versatile and powerful astrology program.

AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter, version 6.3 by John Halloran; Halloran Software, PO Box 75713, Los Angeles, CA 90075; CD-ROM and diskette, 2004, www.halloran.com; tel 1-800-SEA-GOAT; $169.

Not too long ago, anyone interested in studying astrology had to go through the complex process of figuring out how to calculate horoscopes. Once the technique was mastered, charts still took from fifteen minutes to an hour to draw up, not to mention the additional time required to do the transits and the progressions. Nowadays, astrology software can do these tasks in seconds, as well as a wide variety of other useful calculation and display functions, depending on which software is being used. Consumers are left with only one problem -- deciding which astrology software to get.

Halloran Software's AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter is a best bet. This product has been on the market for several years; unlike its competitors, however, it continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing demands of amateur and professional astrologers. Owner/designer John Halloran restlessly tweaks, refines, upgrades, and expands the basic features so that his top-of-the-line ReportWriter is always on the cutting edge. A key feature of this software is that it is bundled with the ACS Atlas, which contains the exact longitude, latitude, and time zone for some 250,000 cities. Just type in the city's name, and click on the PC Atlas Express button, and these numbers are automatically entered. In the old days, finding the right time zone or longitude and latitude was a major headache, and simple errors here often led to embarrassing mistakes later.

HAVING started the software ball rolling with a review of some freeware programs a couple of months ago, it's time for me to extend that to some commercial software. By the way, it might surprise the reader to know that at the beginning of the personal computer revolution a couple of decades ago, astrology was in the forefront of innovation, with small software shops and lone dedicated programmers laboring on the first primitive machines in order to program the sometimes complicated techniques that astrologers use. Given the hard work of those programmers, advances in the accuracy and compactness of ephemerides, and certainly the constant improvements in computer technology, the basic problems such as the correctness of planetary calculations have all been solved. What makes any program different from the others is the variety it offers in terms of technique, and how smoothly all of its complex pieces work together to make it a useful and practical everyday tool.

John Halloran's AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter is just such a useful and practical tool, one which offers a great deal in a surprisingly simple package. I have had it sitting surreptitiously on my desktop (I'm still with Windows 98 SE, and have an "ancient" 886MHz Pentium 3 with 512 MB of memory), and when I click on the icon to check out a chart of one type of another, it just does its work, with no fuss. It is highly capable, very flexible, and includes enough options that it could well do everything most people need a piece of astrological software to do, including basic charts and subsidiary charts like progressions and returns. It will even, as the name indicates, turn out nice-looking reports which you can modify to fit your needs. And all of this happens at a price that is close to half what you will find being charged for some similar programs.

When I started using it, I did what I often do when trying out a piece of software: I just jumped right in without reading the instructions, just filling in dialog boxes and pressing buttons. This is what might be called the "crash test" phase that any software I try out has to be subjected to. Whether I buy a program, download it, or get it as a review copy, I find this approach useful not only as a means of understanding the program itself, but also as a way of getting to know its strengths and its weaknesses. Crashing around like this can, after all, hang up a piece of software or cause it to crash in some weird way, or even produce odd output of some sort, so a program's behavior under this kind of stress can be very informative. In the case of AstrolDeluxe, it did none of the bad things, but rather did what it was supposed to do without either crashing or hanging, and when it didn't do exactly what I expected, the easily available help file (plus the included printed documentation) always nudged me in the right direction.

The main screen from which you do all charts and calculations is self-explanatory, but pulling down the menus at the top was a bit of a surprise at first, as there are a wealth of options you can set beyond the basics of house system, sign, and aspect orbs. Most people won't need to change any of these options, but they do allow you to fine tune the program to your exact specifications.

A REVIEW OF NEW REPORT WRITERS FROM HALLORAN

I have been mainly using both Winstar and Solar Fire programs over the past 12 years, but was recently invited by Halloran Software, Los Angeles to review their latest report writer with "Kidzone" child natal reports and "Journey Returns" Solar Return reports. I'm glad that I invested the time to do this task. I must say that I was very impressed to experience such a quality chart program at a reasonable price, coupled with a thorough yet simple report writer series, which will certainly be quite useful in my work.

There are many astrology programs available, but very few with good professional report writers that I could recommend . However, I can quite strongly endorse these as being suitable for professional astrologers in Australia.

Halloran programs are quick-loading and don't gobble up enormous chunks of computer disk storage space, so its very feasible and economical to buy it as an "add on" to your current chart program or suite of programs, just for the sake of the professional report writers. As a bonus, it includes the latest version of the ACS atlas.

Many astrologers in Australia and New Zealand are familiar with Halloran through their large ads in the bi-monthly "Mountain Astrologer" magazine. Halloran has been supplying astrology programs since the 1980's and about 600 astrologers in Australia and New Zealand have bought from them direct over the years.

The first thing that struck me about the Halloran program is its basic simplicity and down to earth, practical approach. Most chart programs and writers have quite a challenging learning curve, especially for those who find computer programs daunting. This one makes it very easy to set up and configure individual astrologer's requirements and to feel confident about using the program and all that it offers. The data entry screen layout is good and offers loads of options plus an editor. You can choose from eleven standard house systems, plus a "user" system.

The reports themselves use a practical approach and are easy for clients to read and understand. The quite extensive Kidzone child reports are written by a New Zealand Astrologer and personalised for the child's name. This report covers approximately 55 pages including a concise introduction and it may be easily edited on screen before printing. It's comprehensive, yet a good one for non-astrologically inclined parents to understand. As most of you know, child report printouts are very popular with people seeking simple yet accurate insight into a child or new baby, especially as a gift or for people who are not yet willing to pay the cost of a full live consultation or individual report. I tried this one out on a few "non-astrology" clients who have had various printout reports before. They were all very happy with it and more than favourably impressed, commenting that they were sure that it would a helpful guide.

The basic Report Writer program includes a first-class unabridged world atlas with a database of 250,000 cities, plus a great "lookup" option. One very good feature is that you key up the place and state and it immediately selects the right one, which can avoid confusion where there is a town of the same name in more than one state. Also included is an instant chart "now" button and a "sunrise" button for unknown birth times. It's also easy to change planetary orb widths. On the other hand, the chart generator only offers a standard graphic chart format with editable features, although I find that it's simplicity and clarity are adequate. There's the usual bi-wheel and tri-wheel display option for transits and compatibilities and you can easily swap the inner and outer charts. You can produce Harmonic and also composite and Davison charts for synastry work.

The chart options offered within Report Writer are surprisingly extensive, including a few special ones such as:

A range of summaries and supplementary chart information is available, including Arabic parts with aspects to natal, declinations and primary directions, plus a list of up to 51 asteroids, sorted by location and house There's also an interesting astro-match search and comparison which compares two charts or any number selected from the chart file, highlighting strongest aspects and "match/communication indices." A full professional compatibility report writer is available separately and not reviewed here.

I intend buying one of these.

A simple chart research option is useful for quickly locating planets by sign and house location. It's also possible to import charts from other programs.

The transit summary list printout is quite complete, listing both transiting and corresponding natal aspects, but to me, it seems a bit crowded and "dos-ish" and could have a neater and more appealing windows style layout for both clients and astrologers.

The Solar Return report writer is well-based astrologically, thorough and easy both for astrologers and their clients to read. As an astrological guide for the year ahead, it's realistic, with very practical advice and comments. There's not too much preamble for the practising astrologer, yet there is enough explanation for the lay person to gain helpful insight into potential opportunities and challenges for the whole period of the report. The report explores the return chart itself as an entity and the potential impact of the return on the natal chart. The advanced version includes transiting aspects from the Sun out, to the Solar return. This, of course, can be edited. It also includes progressed Solar Return angles as timing devices, which is helpful for people who wish to use the Solar return in conjunction with planetary transits for accurate astrological forecasting.

The report is indexed, with some good explanatory notes for clients. It allows you to select a simple standard report of around 40 pages or three other more advanced levels - Intermediate, Concise Advanced or an Advanced report of 112 pages. The advanced version is far more copious than most people would require. The standard report version is quite enough for most people.

Prices for these programs are:

Report Writer, v.6.1 including all calculations, editor and full PC Atlas US$169

Kidzone Reports US$100

Journey Returns Reports US$100

Based on current exchange rates at time of writing, this works out at approx $278 and $164 respectively, Aust currency.

Other reports offered by Halloran include 30 page Natal Reports, Spirit Success reports, Journey/Careers reports, Star-match Compatibility reports and Life-Trends reports which provides professional transits interpretations for the report writer. They also have a "Famous Charts" program with 4100 charts plus Biorhythms Cycles, and TimeSearch (reverse engineered horoscopes search for planetary cycles).

Halloran's website is https://www.halloran.com. John Halloran seems to have his finger well and truly on the business and is quick to respond to queries.

SOFTWARE REVIEW

When I bought my first computer I wanted software that was idiot-proof and intuitive. Not having the patience, time, or expertise to read through pages and pages of technical garble, once that new computer was plugged in and online, I explored astrology software sites, looking for freebies and samples. Always cautious about spending money (Saturn in the second!), testing a free trial program before parting with hard-earned cash was an attractive option. Of the several programs evaluated, I chose AstrolDeluxe and still use it regularly. Maybe this is my fixed sign tendency to resist change, or perhaps a preference for the tried and true. It may have to do with the fact that while helping John at his sales booth at ISAR '96 I found him honest and forthright (just like his programs). Perhaps my fondness for the program stems from John Halloran's willingness to include the declination conversions to longitude that Jamie Longstreet and I worked on in the 90's or the fun I had beta testing the Report Writer. Personal preferences aside, over these many years I have found all of the AstrolDeluxe products to be reasonably priced, dependable and simple to operate.

The latest edition of AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter, Version 5.0, has many beneficial additions for the professional astrologer. Today, astrologers expect software to do everything except take out the garbage and are no longer satisfied with a program that merely takes the burden of hours of hand calculations off their hands. Most astrologers require an internet-friendly program that is compatible with a variety of software and word processors, prints sharp and "professional" reports, allows users to add their own words to interpretive text, and contains tools to perform research and practice new techniques.

The biggest improvement to AstrolDeluxe is the ability to create a Tri-Wheel. Many astrologers begin personal consultations by analyzing natal chart, progressed chart, and transits and want all this information compiled on one piece of paper. This was one major objection to previous versions of this software that is now overcome.

Web gurus will find the ability to save charts as HTML (HyperText Markup Language) a great enhancement to the program. One can save the chart as HTML, attach it to email, and send it off to the nether regions of the web in a few short strokes or upload it to a web page, "as is". Those struggling in dark back alleys of computerland, where it is not polite to use attachments, can "save as ASCII" which makes a text file suitable to paste in the body of email. Even better, AstrolDeluxe 5.0 now enables writers and publishers to save charts in publishing formats for both print and web such as GIF, JPG, or PNG, the cross operating system format TIFF, and even PCX and WMF. One can still choose to save graphics as a bulky BMP file. All of these formats are actually conversions from a BMP, so don't expect the highest print quality in the lines on the charts, but this feature is a vast time-saver for those who have to convert astrology graphics for publications elsewhere.

One reason I have stuck with AstrolDeluxe is because comparing two charts is extremely simple. Now inner and outer chart wheels can be switched with a click of the mouse. Viewing the chart from a different perspective is particularly helpful with synastric comparisons because one can see more easily which houses the other person's planets occupy. This is a time-saver for dedicated astrologers and a much needed improvement.

These days, it is taken for granted that language is not a barrier to worldwide communications. Perhaps one of the most appealing modifications in the latest incarnation of the program is the ability to run interpretations and create charts in other languages. AstrolDeluxe 5.0 is shipped with a minimum of English and Spanish chart capability and some interpretation modules are available in both languages, but you can print charts in any of 13 other language options available (a free download at the website). One can now customize the AstrolDeluxe Report Writer to translate existing text into another language, save the foreign language files, and have charts to match. Owning a program that allows astrologers to share charts in various languages is a great boon to the community.

One of the features I use most often in this latest version is the ability to view declination aspects quickly from the "Display" menu. There is also a switch to check declination aspects between two charts in comparison. Once one has the ability to run declination data quickly, most users will find this much-overlooked astrological factor a useful addition in their astrological arsenal.

In written reports, offering the reader a rule by which to gauge how important any given aspect is relative to the whole chart is an excellent option. Interpretive text for declinations as well as aspects may be set to print with either rated strengths or orbs. Neophytes seem to understand the importance of each aspect in a report much better when aspects are presented as numeric strengths rather than as orbs.

Researchers will find many improvements in AstrolDeluxe 5.0's search options, including the capability to include parallels and contraparallels, intercepted houses and decans, conjunctions to house cusps, and more.

Another enormously useful and popular new feature is the Rectify/Rotate Chart module. This can be set to act as an Astro Clock for Horary or to choose electional dates, or a chart can be redrawn by hour, minute, second, or day for rectification. One can choose to advance the chart backwards or forwards via MC or ASC degree rather than by time periods. The autodraw feature allows you to watch transits fly by in increments of whatever time period you choose.

Halloran has added many other new features to AstrolDeluxe 5.0 that serious astrologers have had on their "wish list"; the ability to calculate a Harmonics/Modulus chart (with Dominant Harmonics now listed in the chart analysis screen), a Prime Vertical Chart, a Table of Rise/Set/Culminate/Anticulminate Times from which one can ascertain Parans, and a Table for Primary Directions. There is even an Ephemeris Generator.

Best of all (and perhaps most easily overlooked), 5.0 includes the Witte Method of Sensitive Points and Planetary Pictures from which Ebertin developed his work. When the Sensitive Points screen is brought up the point may be clicked on and a pop up screen provides Witte's text/interpretation from his book, "Rules for Planetary Pictures." These points can also be accessed for composite charts. (However, John Halloran suggests that users may wish to be leery of giving the text to clients because the harsh language Witte used for difficult aspects could "freak out" some people.)

AstrolDeluxe Version 5.0 contains many much-needed additions and has been brought "up to snuff" for 2001. This useful, all around program will appeal to a broad range of professional astrologers and is a reliable program to recommend to students.

A free trial download, a complete list of features, specific system requirements, pricing and more information is available at the website: www.halloran.com or one may write: Halloran Software, PO Box 75713 Los Angeles, CA 90075.

(reviewed by Bette Denlinger as of July, 2001)

AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter, version 5.0 by John Halloran; Halloran Software, PO Box 75713, Los Angeles, CA 90075; 2001; CD and 3.5" disk, Windows-based program, $149; web site: www.halloran.com

In the old days, when astrologers calculated horoscopes by hand, coming up with an accurate birth-chart often took half an hour or more. The process was complicated by the uncertainty of time zones, the use of logarithms, and the conversion of longitude and latitude into distance from Greenwich, England. For those interested only in the symbolic language, the mathematics presented a formidable obstacle to entering the world of astrology. Nowadays, astrology software makes the task as simple as typing in the birth data and clicking on the Calculate button -- that is, if you have a decent astrology program.

Among the many astrology software programs available, John Halloran's AstrolDeluxe has gained a solid reputation for its ease of use, accuracy, and speed. Now, the latest version, AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter, is being released, version 5, and it's packed with a long list of practical, new tools. Earlier versions became popular for newcomers and professionals alike due to the intuitive, user-friendly interface and the numerous calculation features, notably the mini-Atlas and the Here-and-Now button. The AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter includes all the calculation features from earlier versions, plus gives immediate access to interpretive reports. The sleek design of the natal information screen remains the same, but once the horoscope is up, printing professional reports from within the calculation program can be completed with a click of the mouse. Professional interpretive reports programs are sold separately and range in price from $49 to $100. These include transits and progressions reports, career analysis, synastry, and natal interpretive reports.

Among the additional tools found with this ReportWriter, you'll find an astro-clock, an ephemeris generator, various search functions to find charts with specific signatures, information displayed in different languages (Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, etc.), declination tables and comparisons, increased Pluto accuracy, bi-wheels that can reverse inner and outer charts, and a triple wheel. A table displaying the location of fifty-one asteroids is included, and the five major asteroids (Ceres, Juno, Vesta, Pallas, and Chiron) can be included on the displayed horoscope. Some competitive software programs include the so-called trans-Neptunian planets (Zeus, Hades, Admetos, etc.), which tends to give these hypothetical points undeserved legitimacy. Thankfully, you won't find these in Halloran's software, since the designer made an editorial decision that keeps astrology focused on reality.

What is new with version 5 is a set of 1381 sensitive points as originally described by Alfred Witte and expanded upon by his successor Reinhold Ebertin. Ebertin is best known for his midpoints manual The Combination of Stellar Influences. Most of the sensitive points are described by the formula A + B - C, but they also include all the midpoints for any two planets. This is the same formula used to find the Arabic Parts; but for this list of sensitive points, A can be any planet. Version 5 includes a table of these sensitive points, and double-clicking on any one gives a pop-up interpretation as delineated by [Witte].

For example, clicking on the MA/JU midpoint gets: "Enterprising, energetic, acquisitive." Clicking on SU + MA - SA gets: "Beginning of an illness. A man's activity is obstructed. Interruption of work or activity." The addition of the sensitive-points function makes AstrolDeluxe ReportWriter unique in the field of astrology software. Visit www.halloran.com for a list of professional interpretive reports and other add-ons and to find details about version 5.0. Or call 1-800-SEAGOAT for personal service from John Halloran himself.

(reviewed by Chris Lorenz as of March, 2001)