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This is the binary only distribution of the SciCalc application. SciCalc is
a more richly featured version of the basic Calculator example program from
which it was spawned from. SciCalc is FreeWare and should be treated as such.
SciCalc requires NextStep 2.0 or greater to run. This distribution is binary
only not out of rudeness, but in an effort to reduce the distribution size.
Hey, my Internet connection is only 2400 baud. If anyone cares or complains
I will distribute the source at a later time. What follows is the extracted
text from the online help panel:
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SciCalc - Help
SciCalc is a push button calculator that supports many of the features found
on your average buck $2.98 scientific pocket calculator.
EXPRESSION SYNTAX:
SciCalc processes mathematical expressions in a normal left to right order
while taking into account operator precedence. For example SciCalc evaluates
"1 + 2 * 3" to be equal to 7. Each expression is displayed just as it is
entered in the upper LCD window. When the Equals [=] button is pressed the
entered expression is evaluated and the display is replaced by the result.
If an invalid expression is formed SciCalc will display the "<Syntax Error>"
string which prohibits further operation until the All Clear [AC] button is
pressed.
OPERATORS AND FUNCTIONS:
SciCalcs expressions are formed as a sequence of values separated by
operators and values preceeded by functions. Operators include the basic Plus
[+], Minus [-], Multiply [x], and Divide [/]. All operators must be preceeded
by and followed by either an explicit value or a function request. Other
operators include the [X^Y] and [X Root of Y] buttons. Function requests are
made by pressing the desired function key followed by a value or an expression
in parenthesis. Examples of Function keys include the [sin], [10^x], and [X!]
buttons. As an example the key sequence for entering the following expression
would be:
sin (23 - 5^(3.1*2.5)) / (11-5*4)
Press [sin] then [(] then [2] then [3] then [-] then [5] then [X^Y] then
[(] then [3] then [.] then [1] then [*] then [2] then [.] then [5] then
[)] then [)] then [/] then [(] then [1] then [1] then [-] then [5] then
[*] then [4] then [)] and finally [=].
MODIFIED FUNCTIONS:
Not all available functions have a unique button. Most function buttons
can be altered via the modifer toggle buttons [Hyperbolic] and [Inverse].
The following table lists each button that has a modified function. The H's
and I's in the modifier column indicates that the Hyperbolic and Inverse
toggle buttons must be set to access the function.
Button Modifer Function
====== ======= ========
[sin] H sinh
I asin
H I asinh
[cos] H cosh
I acos
H I acosh
[tan] H tanh
I atan
H I atanh
[e^x] I ln (natural log)
[10^x] I log (log base 10)
[X^y] I Xth root of Y
[X^2] I Square Root
METRICS FOR TRIGNOMETRIC FUNCTIONS:
The Metric radio box determines how to interpret the input value for the
SIN, COS, and TAN functions, and what value to return for the ASIN, ACOS, and
ATAN functions. The choices stand for Degrees, Radians, and Gradians. The
current metric may be changed at anytime, and may be changed in the middle of
partially entered expression. The current metric will determine the result of
any of the previously mentioned functions as soon as the functions argument
value is determined.
CHANGING THE NUMERIC BASE
The Base radio box can be used to change the operating numeric base
between Decimal, Hexidecimal, Octal, and Binary. When in decimal mode all
values are expressed in 8 byte (Quadword) units. Hex, Octal, and Binary
values can only be expressed in 4 byte (Longword) units, 2 byte (Word) units,
or single byte units. When in Hex, Octal, or Binary base the binary operators
And, Or, Not, Xor, Lsh, and Rsh are enabled. When the base is changed any
currently entered value is replaced by its equivalent value in the new base if
possible. The value in the currently selected memory cell is also reformatted
in the newly selected base. Each numeric base will only permit the appopriate
set of number keys for the selected base. It is possible to change the
numeric base in the middle of an expression. For example to add 20 Hex to 20
Octal perform the following. First select Hex base and enter 20. Then press
the [+] button and follow that by selecting Oct base. Enter 20 and press the
[=] button. The result is expressed in Octal will be 60. By selecting
Decimal base result will show 48, which should make sense since 20 (hex) = 32
and 20 (oct) = 16, and 32+16=48.
CHANGING THE UNIT SIZE
The Unit size is only important when in Hexidecimal, Octal, or Binary base
mode. When in Decimal mode all values are expressed in 8 byte Quadwords.
When in Hexidecimal, Octal or Binary mode the Unit size may be set to either 4
byte Longwords, 2 byte Words, or a single byte. The selected Unit size will
determine the value range of the expression result. And will determine how a
value will be interpreted when changing the Base between Hex/Oct/Bin and Dec
mode. For example if the value FF is entered while Base=Hex and Unit=Byte,
and the base is changed to decimal the value displayed will be -1. If the
Unit size were set to Word the displayed value would be 255.
CHANGING FUNCTION MODE
SciCalc provides two ways to use the function keys. The function mode is
toggled between Evaluate and Operate modes from the application menu item
Function submenu, or more simply by the Command-f keystroke. The default
method is to evaluate functions as part of the entered expression. The
alternate method is to use the function buttons in an a operator mode. In
Operate mode the selected function takes the currently entered value as its
argument, and then replaces the value with the result of the function.
MEMORY FUNCTIONS:
SciCalc provides 26 temporary memory storage cells labeled A through Z.
The currently selected memory cell is indicated by the label well between the
up and down arrows and the memory cell LCD window. Different memory cells
can be selected via the up and down arrow buttons next to the memory LCD.
The up arrow moves up the alphabet towards A, and the down arrow moves torward
Z. The [MS] and [MR] buttons are used to store and recall the current value
to and from the currently selected memory cell. The [MC] button will clear
the value in the currenlty selected memory cell.
BITWISE FUNCTIONS:
The bitwise functions are used to manipulate binary data, and hence are
only available when the selected Base is set to either Hexidecimal, Octal, or
Binary. The [And], [Or], and [Xor] buttons are binary operators that perform
bitwise And, Or, and Exclusive Or operations on the supplied operands. The
[Not], [Lsh], and [Rsh] buttons are actually functions that perform the
bitwise Not, the arithmetic left shift, and arithemtic right shift operations
respectively.
OUTPUT PRECISON:
The output of an expressions result may be modified by the precison slider.
When SciCalc is in Base Decimal the precision setting determines how many
digits to print to the right of the decimal point. If the current precision
setting is less than the number of digits in the decimal portion of the result
the value will be displayed in exponential notation. When SciCalc is in Base
Hex, Octal, or Binary mode the precision setting determines the minimum number
of digits to print in the result.
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
SciCalc provides various keyboard alternatives to clicking on many of the
buttons. First and foremost are the numeric buttons [0]-[9], [A]-[F], and
[.]. Each of these buttons may be entered by typing the corresponding key on
the main keyboard or the numeric keypad. The basic arithmetic operators plus,
minus, times, divide can be entered by typing "+", "-", "*", and "/"
respectively. The [=] equals button may entered by typing "=", or by pressing
the Return or Enter key. Typing "(" or ")" are alternatives to clicking the
parenthesis buttons. Typing "~" is equivalent to pressing the [+-] button.
The following table lists all the available keyboard shortcuts that you will
find impossible to remember:
Keystroke Function
---------------- ------------------------
ESC All Clear
Delete Clear Entry
Ctrl-C COS
Ctrl-S SIN
Ctrl-T TAN
Shift-Ctrl-C COSH
Shift-Ctrl-S SINH
Shift-Ctrl-T TANH
Alt-C ACOSH
Alt-S ASINH
Alt-T ATANH
Shift-Alt-C ACOSH
Shift-Alt-S ASINH
Shift-Alt-T ATANH
"P" or "p" Enter Pi
"[" Memory Store
"]" Memory Recall
"\" Memory Clear
Ctrl-E e^x
Alt-E ln
Ctrl-F X!
Ctrl-L 10^x
Alt-L LOG
Ctrl-R 1/X
Ctrl-X X^2
Alt-X Square Root
Ctrl-Y X^Y
Alt-Y X root Y
LEGAL STUFF:
SciCalc is free software and may be freely distributed with the single
restriction that modified versions of this software may only be redistributed
by the original author. Please send bug reports and any comments to the
following email address:
mdm@wdl1.wdl.loral.com
These are the contents of the former NiCE NeXT User Group NeXTSTEP/OpenStep software archive, currently hosted by Netfuture.ch.