This is the README for SciCalc.1.1.s.tar.gz [Download] [Browse] [Up]
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This is the source only distribution of the SciCalc Version 1.1
application. SciCalc is a more richly featured version of the basic
Calculator example program from which it was spawned from. SciCalc is
distributed under the GNU copy-left Free Software conditions. This
supersedes any distrubution conditions mentioned in the applications
Help panel. SciCalc requires NextStep 2.0 or greater to run.
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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
COPYING AND PASTING:
SciCalc supports copying values from it's scrolling text window. It
also allow you to paste values into the current expression. Further
you can paste entire expressions-- to a limited extent into SciCalc
and have them evalutaed. For example try copying and pasting the
following expressions:
1 + 2 * 4 =
(1 + 2) * 4 =
The equal sign in the expression is equivalent to clicking the [=]
button. Essentially all the non-Control Keyboard short cuts can be
part of a pasted expression. For example the following expression
will enter the value 12 for the number of inches in a foot, save it in
the current memory cell then convert inches to centimeters, recall the
value from the current memory cell, and finally change it's sign.
12 [ * 2.54 = ] ~
LEGAL STUFF:
SciCalc is free software and may be freely distributed under the
tennets of the GNU copy-left provisions. Please send bug reports and
any comments to the following email address:
mdm@ringworld.inmark.com
These are the contents of the former NiCE NeXT User Group NeXTSTEP/OpenStep software archive, currently hosted by Netfuture.ch.