Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpcc05!hparc0!grahamf
From: grahamf@hparc0.HP.COM (Graham Fraser)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Info on HP-48 internals.
Message-ID: <2470007@hparc0.HP.COM>
Date: 4 Jan 91 03:50:59 GMT
References: <1354@vision.UUCP>
Organization: HP Australasian Response Centre (Melbourne)
Lines: 71


>> My next question is wether there is a piece of software that allows you
>> to write code for the 48 on your PC,  and then download it to the 
>> calculator

Hewlett-Packard has just added the HP82208B PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT LINK (PDL)
to their corporate pricelist.  PDL is expected to be available in the U.S.A.
sometime towards the end of January/early February.  I do not have exact
release date and price details at the moment.  I also do not have all the 
details of what is included in the total package.

Anyway,  here is a very brief overview - more detailed information to follow
soon (I hope):


PDL is an HP 48 User Language Development System for the IBM PC (and 
compatibles).  The primary aim of PDL is to assist HP48 users in writing,
documenting,  running,  debugging,  and maintaining HP 48 applications.
PDL provides an on-screen programming environment for developing applications.
You can send all,  or part of,  your application to the HP 48.  You can run
the application on the HP 48,  or you can operate the HP 48 from the computer.

PDL is a text based application designed to run on a minimal system.

PDL consist of a series of "windows" with a menu bar across the top to 
access more "pull-down" menus.  The menu system provides options for 
 - File an application management
 - Program editing
 - Search
 - Window selection
 - Variable management (naming, deleting etc ...)
 - Transfer options
 - On-line Help

The Edit Window is where you write and display your current application.
The "Smart Editor" allows some basic editing capabilities.  A special 
character bar across the top of the Edit Window makes for easier entering
of special HP 48 characters (eg drerivative,  sigma,  << >>,  etc) into
the application.

The Immediate Window is a special window in which the text that you enter
is immediately sent to the HP 48 for execution as HP 48 command lines.  After 
executing the commands,  the HP 48 sends a copy of the stack back to the
PC to be displayed in the Immediate Window.  This window allows you to work
interactively with the HP 48.

On-Line Help is provided within the PDL application in a couple of ways:
 - there is help for the PDL commands
 - there is HP 48 reference information available

The Help for the HP 48 is a fairly extensive reference that includes scrolling
and copying.  It also has explicit or implicit links to other help info.


There is more but ...

Personally,  the PDL will make it very much easier for users to write and
document their HP 48 programs.  


There have been many request from users for more development tools for the
HP 48SX from Corvallis.  Perhaps the Program Development Link is the 
beginning of more to come from HP!

Graham Fraser
CocoNut => HalfNut => Titan => Orlando => Paladin => Charlemagne => ????

___________________________________________________________________________
I do not work for Hewlett-Packard.  These comments are my own,  and do not
necessarily reflect those of Hewlett-Packard.
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