Import charts into Astrotechne

Astrotechne can import Astrodienst-style AAF files and chart-data CSV files into your saved chart library. Natal records can also create or link people records automatically.

Before import

A little cleanup makes chart migration less painful.

Keep a backup of the original export.
Import a small sample first if the file is large.
Check time zones and coordinates after import.
Review duplicate people or chart names before doing client work.

Supported import files

Use the Settings chart-library importer for files that match one of these formats.

AAF

Best for Astro.com/Astrodienst exports. Astrotechne reads Astrodienst-style AAF records and imports chart name, date, time, location, coordinates, and record type where present.

CSV

Best for tools that can export a spreadsheet, or for chart libraries you can convert before import. Each row should describe one chart with date, time, and coordinates.

Optional explicit relationship columns

These CSV columns can offer possible connections for review. Astrotechne never infers a relationship from names, dates, places, chart contents, or rows appearing in the same file.

related_source_record_id (preferred for another row in the same file)

related_person_id (an existing person in your workspace)

related_person_name (always requires confirmation)

relationship_type (a preset such as friend, spouse, or colleague, or a custom type)

relationship_label and inverse_label

relationship_direction (forward, reverse, or undirected)

relationship_started and relationship_ended (YYYY-MM-DD)

relationship_confidence (0 through 1)

Astrotechne looks first for the original chart's saved ID, then the person's ID, then an exact name match. Duplicate row IDs, missing people, self-links, ambiguous names, invalid dates, and conflicting connections stay visible but cannot be selected. Name-only matches always require you to choose the intended person. Importing charts does not create any connection automatically.

Astro.com / Astrodienst

Astrodienst documents AAF as the export format for chart data stored in a profile on astro.com.

Sign in to astro.com and open the stored chart data area for your profile.
Use the Astro.com export option for stored Astro data and choose AAF.
Save the downloaded AAF or text file somewhere you can find it.
In Astrotechne, sign in and open the saved chart library import area.
Choose the file and import it. Imported natal charts are linked to people records when the file contains enough person data.

Read Astrodienst AAF notes Astro.com stored data FAQ

Astro Gold, Solar Fire, and similar apps

Astro Gold help describes exporting and moving native chart files, but Astrotechne does not currently parse native Astro Gold, Solar Fire, or SFcht files directly.

Export your chart library from the source app using its backup, email, file sharing, or chart-file export workflow.
If the app can export CSV, use that file and match the columns below.
If it exports a native chart file only, convert the chart data into CSV before importing into Astrotechne.
Keep the original exported backup until you have reviewed the imported charts in Astrotechne.

Astro Gold FAQ Astro Gold settings help

CSV columns Astrotechne accepts

Column names are flexible, but these names are the safest starting point.

name or chart_name

date or birth_date

time or birth_time

latitude

longitude

timezone or utc_offset

location or place

type or chart_type

house_system

zodiac_mode

node_mode

Where imported charts go

Imported charts are added to your saved chart library.

Sign in to import chart files into your saved chart library. Create an account if you want imported charts to stay attached to a new workspace.

Working with AI agents?

Use a constrained prompt to turn a document into a CSV without inventing chart data.

Use this prompt with an AI tool when you need to turn a document into an import-ready CSV. Review every value against the original before importing.

Convert the attached chart document into a CSV for Astrotechne import. Use one chart per row and include the fields you can verify: name, date, time, latitude, longitude, timezone, location, type, house_system, zodiac_mode, and node_mode. Preserve the source values exactly; leave a field blank when the document does not state it, and do not infer a birth time, timezone, or coordinates. Return only CSV with a header row.

Convert the attached chart document into a CSV for Astrotechne import. Use one chart per row and include the fields you can verify: name, date, time, latitude, longitude, timezone, location, type, house_system, zodiac_mode, and node_mode. Preserve the source values exactly; leave a field blank when the document does not state it, and do not infer a birth time, timezone, or coordinates. Return only CSV with a header row.