Files and data

Everything is kept on your computer. Nothing is sent anywhere unless you set up uploads.

What	Where
Your readings (history database)	`%LOCALAPPDATA%\Barton Lake Instruments\Sky Quality Meter Workbench\sqm-history.db` You can move it in Options ▸ Files, for example to a drive that is backed up.
Settings	`%LOCALAPPDATA%\Barton Lake Instruments\Sky Quality Meter Workbench\config.json`
Daily reading log, `sqm_reading_<date>.txt`	Only if you turn it on in Options ▸ Files, in the folder you choose.
Tonight’s chart and reading card	Where you choose in Chart Snapshot & Upload.
Error reports	Next to the history database. See troubleshooting.

Help ▸ Diagnostics ▸ Open Data Folder opens the folder in File Explorer.

The Help menu with the Diagnostics submenu open — Help, with Diagnostics open: the communication log and the data folder.

The daily reading log

Turn on Write sqm_reading_<date>.txt if other software reads these text files, such as an ASCOM observing-conditions driver. One file is written per night, in the long-standing format those programs expect, and that format never changes.

Only one program may write a given day’s file. If another collector already writes these files to a folder, give this application a different folder. That is why there is no default folder: the application won't guess, and won't start sampling with the log turned on until you choose one.

Uninstalling

Uninstalling removes the program but keeps your readings, settings and logs, which are stored outside the program folder. If you want them gone too, delete them yourself.