                    	 INTRODUCTION 	

MicroCalc is a tiny spreadsheet program "a la MultiPlan". It is provided
with the Turbo Basic system as an example program.

Since MicroCalc is only a demonstration program, it has its limitations
(which you may have fun eliminating) :

  * You can not copy formulas from one cell to others.
  * You can not insert and delete lines or columns.

In spite of its limitations MicroCalc does provide some interesting
features among which are:

  *  Full set of mathematical functions (SIN,COS,LN,EXP, etc...)
  *  Built in line editor for text and formula editing.
  *  Text can be entered across cells.
  *  Once entered a formula is protected from accidental erasure.
  *  DOS acces
  *  Color cells
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In addition to this, MicroCalc offers all the usual features of a
spreadsheet program:

  *  Load a spreadsheet from the disk.
  *  Save a spreadsheet on the disk.
  *  Print the spreadsheet on the printer (or to a file)
  *  Automatic recalculation after each entry (May be disabled).
  *  Init (Clears) the current spreadsheet.

Note :

The spreadsheet is like an electronic piece of paper on which you can
enter text, numbers and formulas and have MicroCalc to do calculations
automatically. The cells are the intersections between lines and columns.

             ( The next page shows the Spread Sheet ... )
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This is the electronic spreadsheet :

	          A         B         C         D         E        F        G    	
	 1	    22.45
	 2	     1.00
	 3	     2.00
	 4	     3.00
	 5	 	   28.45	
	 .	
	 .	
	21	
[A5,Formula]       type / for Commands,   F2 For Edit    AutoCalc is ON
(A1+A2+A3+A4)
	                                                                         	

Cells are denoted A1 through G21 giving a total of 147 cells.

In the example the next last line shows that the active cell is cell A5,
and that A5 contains a Formula : (A1+A2+A3+A4) which means that the
numbers in A1,A2,A3 and A4 should be added and placed in A5.

The formula can be abbreviated to : (A1>A4) (add all cells from A1 to A4).
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You move the cursor around just like you do with the Turbo Basic editor :

                             (Up)
                            Ctrl-E
                (Left) Ctrl-S     Ctrl-G (Right)
                            Ctrl-X
                            (Down)

        ( On the IBM-PC you may also use the arrow keys. )

A cell may contain a number, a formula or some text. The type of the cell
and its coordinates are shown in the bottom left corner of the screen:

[A5,Formula]          Means that the current cell is A5 and that it
                      contains a formula.

[A1,Text]             Cell A1 contains text.

[A2,Numeric]          Cell A2 contains a number.

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                     	 Summary of MicroCalc functions 	


Summary of standard functions and operators:
ABS, SQRT, SQR, SIN, COS, ARCTAN, LN, LOG, EXP, INT, SGN, FACT (factorial)
+,-,*,/ and ^ to raise to any power : e.g. 2^3 = 8
Furthermore the operator '>' can be used to denote a range of cells to add.

Entering data
To enter data in any field move the cursor to the cell and enter the
data. MicroCalc automatically determines if the cell is numeric or a
a text cell. Cell beginning with + - ( . 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 is numeric.

When moving between cells:
^S,^D,^E,^X move left, right, up, and down.

When editing a cell
Tab Left,Tab Right moves left and right. ^A,^F moves to begin/end of line
^G or DEL deletes left or right character.
^V or Ins changes between insert/overwrite mode.
F2 to edit an existing cell. ESC makes it possible to regret changes
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                    	 COMMANDS OF MicroCalc 	
The commands are available when you strike the / character :

   A  switches Autocalc ON and OFF
   B  switches Border ON and OFF
   C  to change cell Color
   D  acces to Dos (or execute a DOS commands)
   F  to change the output Format for numbers
      Note: to use scientific notation enter -1 for the number of decimals
   G  to Goto a specified cell
   H  the Help screens
   I  to Init (clear) the SpreadSheet
   L  to Load a spreadsheet from the disk
   P  to Print the spreadsheet to the printer (or a file)
   Q  to Quit MicroCalc
   R  to Recalculate the Spread Sheet
   S  to Save a Spread Sheet on the disk.
   U  to Update (to restore) the screen

To edit a cell content : Simply move to the cell and press F2 key,
make your changes and press RETURN key (or press ESC to cancel).
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                             	 EXAMPLES 	

The following are examples of valid cell formulas:

(A1+(B2-C7))  subtract cell C7 from B2 and add the result to cell A1
(A1>A21)      the sum of cells  A1,A2,A3..A21
(A1>B2)       the sum of cells  A1,A2, B1,B2

The formulas may be as complicated as you want :

(SIN(A1)*COS(A2)/((1.2*A8)+LN(FACT(A8)+8.9E-3))+(C1>C5))


To try MicroCalc, now use the L command to Load the file MCDEMO


Note : If you run MicroCalc with a FileName parameter, this File will be
       loaded automatically : (e.g.  MC mcdemo).

