Path: utzoo!utgpu!cunews!bnrgate!brtph3!brchh104!brchs1!bnr.ca!rice.edu!sun-spots-request From: danj1@ihlpa.att.com Newsgroups: comp.sys.sun Subject: Re: Sunview-based RPN calculators (HP-12,16,28 emulators)? Keywords: Source Message-ID: <515@brchh104.bnr.ca> Date: 28 Nov 90 17:45:45 GMT Sender: news@brchh104.bnr.ca Organization: Sun-Spots Lines: 132 Approved: Sun-Spots@rice.edu X-Original-Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 14:31:28 CST X-Refs: Original: v9n364 X-Sun-Spots-Digest: Volume 9, Issue 381, message 5 X-Note: Submissions: sun-spots@rice.edu, Admin: sun-spots-request@rice.edu >>>>> On 19 Nov 90 01:00:00 GMT, wse@camex.com (Bill Edwards) said: Bill> I'm looking for a Sunview-based RPN calculator--'calctool' isn't bad, but Bill> the transition from RPN to non-RPN is a little rough. A program which Bill> emulated any of the above-named HP calculators would be ideal. Please Bill> respond by email. Thanks. -- Bill Edwards Well, for the Greater Good, I'm responding by netnews. All inquires on GNU Emacs' calc mode should go to to Dave Gillespie, `daveg@csvax.cs.caltech.edu'. Oh... you wanted one that worked _only_ under Sunview... I suppose you could write a crippling hook :-) :-) Here's a page from its manual. File: calc Node: Introduction, Prev: Quick Overview, Up: Top, Next: Data Types Introduction ************ "Calc" is an advanced calculator and mathematical tool that runs as part of the GNU Emacs environment. Very roughly based on the HP-28/48 series of calculators, its many features include: * Choice of algebraic or RPN style entry of calculations. * Arbitrary precision integers and floating-point numbers. * Arithmetic on rational numbers, complex numbers (rectangular and polar), error forms with standard deviations, open and closed intervals, vectors and matrices, quantities with units, and simple algebraic expressions. * Mathematical operations such as logarithms and trig functions. * Programmer's features (bitwise operations, non-decimal integers). * Number theoretical features such as prime factorization and arithmetic modulo M for any M. * Algebraic manipulation features, including symbolic calculus. * Kill and yank to and from regular editing buffers. * Easy programming using keyboard macros, algebraic formulas, algebraic rewrite rules, or Lisp code. Calc tries to include a little something for everyone; as a result it is large and might be intimidating to the first-time user. If you plan to use Calc only as a traditional desk calculator, all you really need to read is the "Quick Overview" section of this manual and possibly a few of the other introductory sections. As you become more comfortable with the program you can learn its additional features. In terms of efficiency, scope and depth, Calc cannot replace a powerful tool like Mathematica (tm). But Calc has the advantages of convenience, portability, and availability of the source code. And, of course, it's free! To start the Calculator, type `M-x calc'. By default this creates a pair of small windows, `*Calculator*' and `*Calc Trail*'. The former displays the contents of the Calculator stack and is manipulated exclusively through Calc commands. It is possible (though not usually necessary) to create several Calc Mode buffers each of which has an independent stack, undo list, and mode settings. There is exactly one Calc Trail buffer; it records a list of the results of all calculations that have been done. The Calc Trail buffer uses a variant of Calc Mode, so Calculator commands still work when the trail buffer's window is selected. It is possible to turn the trail window off, but the `*Calc Trail*' buffer still exists and is updated silently. *Note Trail Commands::. In most installations, the `M-#' (Meta-Shift-3) keystroke is a more convenient way to start the Calculator. If you don't have a Meta key, press ESC, then `#'. Most Calc commands use one or two keystrokes. Lower- and upper-case letters are distinct. Commands may also be entered in `M-x' form; for some commands this is the only form. As a convenience, the `x' key (`calc-execute-extended-command') is like `M-x' except that it enters the initial string `calc-' for you. For example, the following key sequences are equivalent: `S', `M-x calc-sin RET', `x sin RET'. The Calculator exists in two parts. When you type `M-x calc', the Emacs "auto-load" mechanism will bring in only the first part, which contains the basic arithmetic functions. The second half will be auto-loaded the first time you use a more advanced command like a trig function or matrix operation. This is done to improve the response time of the Calculator in the common case when all you need to do is a little arithmetic. If for some reason the Calculator fails to load the extensions module automatically, you can force it to load the extensions by pressing `x', or by using the `m x' command. *Note Mode Settings::. If you type `M-x calc' or `M-#' with any numeric prefix argument, the Calculator is loaded if necessary, but it is not actually started. If the argument is positive, the extensions are also loaded if necessary. User-written Lisp code that wishes to make use of Calc's arithmetic routines can use `(calc 0)' or `(calc 1)' to auto-load the Calculator. (Also, *Note Grabbing From Buffers::.) The `?' key (`calc-help') displays a series of brief help messages. Some keys (such as `b' and `d') are prefix keys, like Emacs' ESC and `C-x' prefixes. You can type `?' after a prefix to see a list of commands beginning with that prefix. (If the message includes `[MORE]', press `?' again to see additional commands for that prefix.) Also, `h' (`describe-mode') calls up more complete help information on the Calculator in another window, and `i' (`calc-info') runs the Emacs Info system to read this manual on-line. The `q' key (`calc-quit') exits Calc Mode and closes the Calculator's window(s). It does not delete the Calculator buffers. If you type `M-x calc' again, the Calculator will reappear with the contents of the stack intact. Typing `M-#' or `M-x calc' from inside the Calculator buffer is equivalent to executing `calc-quit'; you can think of `M-#' as toggling the Calculator on and off. The `d ~' key sequence (`calc-refresh') redraws the contents of the Calculator buffer from memory. Use this if the contents of the buffer have been damaged somehow. The `o' key and `d `' key (`calc-realign') move the cursor back to its "home" position at the bottom of the Calculator buffer. The `<' and `>' keys are bound to `calc-scroll-left' and `calc-scroll-right'. These are just like the normal horizontal scrolling commands except that they scroll one half-screen at a time by default. (Calc formats its output to fit within the bounds of the window whenever it can.) * Menu: * Stack Basics:: * Numeric Entry:: * Algebraic Entry:: * Quick Calculator:: * Prefix Arguments:: * Undo:: * Error Messages:: * Multiple Calculators:: * Troubleshooting Commands:: Dan_Jacobson@ATT.COM Naperville IL USA +1 708-979-6364