Help For DECalc 3.3

What is It?

DECalc is a calculator for OS/2 PM developed using DrDialog for OS/2. It has all of the simple calculator functions which most people need in a hurry (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square root, percentage) and some more sophisticated functions (factorials, x-to-the-y power, sine, cosine and tangent, and multiple concurrent memories).

DECalc works best with a mouse or other pointing device but does have partial keyboard support (numbers, hexadecimal values A-F, +-*/= and ESC).


Working With a Mouse

DECalc was designed to be most useful when using a mouse or other pointing device. All functions are available through the graphical user interface (GUI) of DECalc. Click the buttons as you would an ordinary pocket calculator (ie. 3 + 2 * 7 . 5 =).


Working With the Keyboard

Many of DECalc's features are available through the keyboard as well as the mouse. However not all functions are available through the keyboard. A list of functions you can use with the keyboard includes:


Working With Constants

The constants function (CONST) allows the user to input a saved numeric value as if from memory. These values are stored in the DECalc.ini file for long-term storage. Merely click the CONST button on the main DECalc dialog and select the value you wish to enter from the list box. You will see both a descriptive name (such as "pi") and a value for each constant you select.

Inputting the selected constant value can be done either by double clicking it in the descriptive list or clicking the Enter button on the constants dialog.

If you wish to edit an existing constant value or the descriptive name of it, first select it in the list box, then edit either field as needed. Finally click the Add/Change button on the constants dialog. Your change has been saved to the DECalc.ini file for later use. At this time, you must close the constants dialog and re-open it before you can use the new value you have just assigned to it.

Deletion of constant values is done by selectin the constant in the list box and clicking the Delete button on the constants dialog.


Working With the String Interpreter

The arithmetic string interpreter, new with DECalc version 3.2, allows complex arithmetic operations including those with parentheses to be calculated. For example, the string '3+2' will give the result of '5', and the string '(2+1)+2' will also give the result of '5'. Likewise the string '(5+(3+2))/2' will give the result of '5'. Operations are carried out in this manner using OS/2 REXX's standard math rules of inner first, then multiplication or division from left to right, then addition or subtraction from left to right, etc.


Release History

3.3

3.2

3.1

3.0

2.4

2.3

v2.23

2.22

2.21

2.2

2.1

2.0

1.2

1.1

1.0


SUPPORT

DECalc is a compiled executable and should operate properly on any OS/2 2.x system running PMShell. Tests indicate that no additional runtime DLL files are needed.

DECalc is provided as-is, with no guarantees or warranties of any sort. However, if you are experiencing problems with DECalc, then please contact the author as he would like to make the program useful to as many OS/2 users as possible.

If you report a bug, please tell me the version of OS/2 and display resolution you are using as well as any pertinent steps to recreate any errors you get when running DECalc.


COPYRIGHT & LICENSE

DECalc is copyright 2001 by Don Eitner (and you thought DECalc meant it was a decimal calculator.)

DECalc is donation-ware. If you find it useful and appreciate the work the author has done, you are asked but not obligated to send the author a small donation of US$5 to help encourage continued development and more advanced features. Donations may be made via PayPal to the e-mail address shown below.

CONTACT

As of September 2001, the author can be contacted at:

Don Eitner (freiheit@syntheticdimension.net)