Note: One can constantly access to the Help by pressing the key F1 (Shift + Cmd + ? in Mac OS X).
Instructions for use
Preparing the sundial
Recording of the shadow points
Place details
Sundial with solar hours
Computing the sundial
Sundial layout options
Adjusting the shadow-caster
File menu
Numeric data
Building the sundial
Reading of the sundial
Additional information
Equation of time adjustment on the sundial
Position of a point
A scale model by 3 scissors cuts
Animating the shadow
Simulating sundials
How to measure declination with a compass
How to measure inclination with a protractor
Does the horizon line have to be horizontal?
Difference between style and gnomon
Solar ephemeris
Export of the sundial to dxf format
Desktop sundial
Tricks and cleverness
Shorcuts
The examples
Format of the input-output files
Reduced parameters
For a quick idea of the possibilities of Calcad, see the sample sundials.
Calcad allows you to simulate and create a sundial in any position, at any angle, without any specialized knowledge. The used method is original and based on the observation of two shadow points with the aim to get the orientation.
The animation of the shadow illustrates all the lines that it is possible to draw on the sundial.
Calcad is "exchangeware". You can copy it, pass it on to your friends and use it free of charge. All we ask in exchange is that when you have created your own sundial, you transmit a picture of it to the program's author yvon.masse@sfr.fr.
Calcad runs on Windows (NT/2000, XP, Vista et 7), GNU/Linux and Mac OS X.