AdvaCalc Advanced Atari ST Calculator By Doug Johnson Argh! Not another calculator program! Yes, it's another calculator program. Why? I don't know... I just like programming... Some of AdvaCalc's Features AdvaCalc is unlike other calculator programs... It doesn't show a keypad on screen. Thank goodness. Those keypads did nothing but eat up desktop space. Who's going to use a calculator with a mouse, anyway? Instead, it's a direct entry calculator, such as those that you would see sitting on your real desktop. Enter an expression, retrieve a result. It's that simple, but yet, it's very powerful. It's got all of the trigonometric features, as well as logicals, ands, ors, nors, etc. Basic operation of AdvaCalc AdvaCalc is rather simple to use. As mentioned above, enter expression, retrieve result. Unlike many desktop calculators (such as the one I wear on my wrist), this calculator uses the algebraic method for calculations. Many calculators will respond with "55" when "3+8*5" is entered, when the real answer is "43." This makes Algebra homework easy to do (sorry... AdvaCalc does not show any work).... AdvaCalc uses + - * / for add, subtract, multiply, and divide respectively. Long time computer users will recognize these symbols, but these may be new to some of you. Entering "2+3" will yield "5." Entering "10*3" will yield "30." AdvaCalc also supports single character operations such as ^ = < > & |. "^" means "to the power of," e.g. 10^2=100. An equal sign is a comparitor symbol, meaning that if "5=6" is entered, 0 will result, and if "5=5," -1 will result. < > and combinations of <,>, and = are also legal (>= <= <>). A "&" is a binary "AND", meaning, take the two numbers, translate them to binary, create a number where bits of both numbers are set, and translate back to decimal. Hence, 5 or 101 binary, "&" 6 or 110 binary would return 4 or 100 binary. A "|" is a binary "or." Available functions Many functions are available from within AdvaCalc. Below is a description of each: RCOS(x) Returns the Cosine of X radians RSIN(x) Returns the Sine of X radians RATAN(x) Returns the Arc Tangent of X in radians RTAN(x) Returns the Tangent of X radians COS(x) Returns the Cosine of Xo SIN(x) Returns the Sine of Xo ATAN(x) Returns the Arc Tangent of X in degrees TAN(x) Returns the Tangent of Xo SQR(x) Returns the square root of X ABS(x) Returns the absolute value of X INT(x) Returns the next-to-lowest integer of X FRAC(x) Returns the fractional portion of X TRUNC(x) Returns the integer portion of X RAND(x) Returns a random number between 0 and X-1 IF(a,b,c) Returns B if A is true, C if A is false IF(a,b,c,d,e) Returns B if A is true, D if C is true, or E if neither is true (this may be expanded) CASE(a,b1..bn) Returns Ba MOD(x,y) Returns the remainder of division X over Y MAX(a1..an) Returns the maximum A value MIN(a1..an) Returns the minimum A value TIME(x) Returns X=1:Hour X=2:Minute X=3:Second DATE(x) Returns X=1:Date X=2:Month X=3:Year (European date format) SUM(a1..an) Returns the sum of A1 through An PROD(a1..an) Returns the product of A1 through An LOG(x) Returns the LOG10 of X LN(x) Returns the LOGe of X Other features of AdvaCalc AdvaCalc also features variables. You may enter a single letter variable in place of any value, as long as that variable has an assigned value. Example: !X=5+3*(4-1) Assign the value of 5+3*(4-1) to X (8) X+3 Calculate X+3 (11) All twenty six letters of the alphabet may be used for variables. Values for variables are stored until the machine is reset or turned off (if you assign a value to X when you first turn the machine on, that value is kept until it is re-assigned or the machine is reset or turned off)... A "@" character may be used to represent the retrieved answer of the last answer. Example: 5+6 Returns 11 @+3 Returns 14 Yet another feature is the use of the "/" key. If you enter "/" and press Return, you are given your previous expression to edit once again. Example: 11*43 Returns 473 / [return] Prompted with 11*43 in expression line [return] Returns 473 again AdvaCalc is one of those new breed of programs. It may be used as either a desk accessory or as an executable program. Simply rename the program from/to ADVACALC.ACC or ADVACALC.PRG to change the program type. All Maximum Output Software desk accessories act in this manner unless noted otherwise. Summary That's about it when it comes to what AdvaCalc will do. If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, please write to: Doug Johnson AdvaCalc QSC 5510 Spanish Oak Houston, TX 77066 GFA Basic source code is also available for $20. Please send checks and money orders to Doug Johnson, AdvaCalc SC Offer, at the address listed above. ***************************************************************** * I cannot be held responsible for any damages that may result * * from use of any piece of software written by or for Maximum * * Output Software. No legal responsibility is given heretofore. * *****************************************************************