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EXPRESS.TXT
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1995-09-16
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ExpressCalc is owned exclusively by its author/publisher, Wayne Floyd,
of P.O. Box 478, Clearlake Park, CA 95424. ExpressCalc software and
documentation are protected by copyright law, and all rights worldwide
are reserved to the author/publisher.
ExpressCalc - Copyright (c) 1995 by Wayne Floyd
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for trying ExpressCalc v1.3
ExpressCalc is a unique and practical calculator
for Microsoft Windows 3.1 or higher.
KEY FEATURES
============
o Single, visible, "line of text" input.
o Input can be easily edited before or after calculation.
o Small size! No virtual keypad hogging screen space.
o Selectable size and removable title bar.
o Three visible memory registers.
o Memory can be retained between sessions.
o Always-on-top option (registered users only).
o Runs on about 24K memory.
ExpressCalc is an expression calculator. Rather than keying in and
viewing one number at a time, with operations in between, ExpressCalc
accepts an entire expression, which remains visible and may be changed
at any time. Expressions may range from the simple: 2+3... to the
complex: (45*3.6)/((2.5+.035)^4)*-2.8.
ExpressCalc incorporates the five basic math functions (add, subtract,
multiply, divide, exponentiate) into a flexible package that uses
little screen space and little memory. ExpressCalc will remember its
position and settings, and would make an ideal addition to the Startup
group of many Windows users.
ExpressCalc is not a scientific calculator with higher math functions.
The standard Windows calculator nicely addresses that need.
INSTALLATION
============
Put EXPRESS.EXE into the directory of your choice, then use Program
Manager's File/New/Program Item menu commands to add ExpressCalc to an
appropriate group.
GENERAL USE
===========
When ExpressCalc starts up, READY... appears highlighted in the input
box. As soon as a valid character is typed, READY... will disappear.
ExpressCalc goes to work when the Enter key is pressed. If a valid
expression or value was entered, the result or value will appear in
result box R (or in a memory box, if appropriate). If an invalid
expression has been entered, ExpressCalc will beep. Invalid
expressions might include: an extra parenthesis or equal sign;
nonsense number such as A.2 or BC; multiple operator such as ** or +/;
division by zero; etc.
After a calculation has been performed, the expression remains in the
input box, and is highlighted. A new expression may then be input, or
the expression may be edited. Note that in order to edit a highlighted
expression, you must begin by using the left or right cursor key, or
the Home or End key, or, you may position the cursor with the mouse.
The input line will accept 100 characters, and will scroll sideways
when the width of the input box is exceeded. The input box is a
standard Windows edit field: The insertion point can be moved with
mouse or cursor keys; Home moves the cursor to far left; End moves to
the far right; Backspace deletes to the left; Delete erases to the
right. Pressing Escape clears the input line and shows READY...
highlighted. Pressing Tab highlights the contents of the input line.
Pressing Backspace when text is highlighted clears the highlighted text.
ExpressCalc's menu items (see Optional Settings and Copy Operations,
below) appear on the system menu at the left of the title bar.
RESULT AND MEMORY BOXES
=======================
Results of calculations are automatically directed to result box R.
Results may be directed to memory boxes A,B,C by beginning the
expression with A= or B= or C=.
A=25*4 would put 100 into memory A.
C=5 puts 5 into memory C.
4.2 puts 4.2 into R.
Once a value is in the result or memory boxes, the values can be
accessed by using the box letter in a new expression. Using the values
put into memory above...
A*C would put 500 into R.
R*A would then put 50000 into R.
Memory values may be copied from one box to another:
B=C would copy 5 into memory B.
B=R puts 50000 into B.
A puts 100 into R.
Several more examples appear in the Help box from the system menu. Be
sure to check out the example for monthly account balance with monthly
deposit and interest.
OPTIONAL SETTINGS
=================
At its full size, ExpressCalc is about as wide as 4 to 5 desktop icons,
and is about as tall as a desktop icon with wrapped title. This
displays the input box, result box, and three memory boxes. Select
Size from the system menu to switch to the small view: about 2/3 as
tall, and 2/3 as wide, showing a shortened input box, with the result
box. Note that the memory boxes can still be used, even when not
visible.
The title bar for ExpressCalc may be removed or restored by
double-clicking the mouse in the result or memory boxes. When the title
bar is removed and the small view is selected, ExpressCalc is reduced
to the size of the output field of the standard Windows calculator.
Contents of the result and memory boxes may be preserved between
sessions by selecting Retain from the system menu. A check mark
indicates that Retain has been selected.
Registered users may select Float from the system menu to make
ExpressCalc "always-on-top." This would keep it visible, even when
using full screen applications. A check mark indicates that Float has
been selected.
ORDER OF OPERATIONS
===================
All calculations are performed according to the standard order of
operations. Results may occasionally surprise those unfamiliar with
these mathematical rules: Operations are performed from left to right,
beginning with all exponentiation, then all multiplication... all
division, all addition, and all subtraction. This process will be
performed first on operations within parentheses, or within innermost
parentheses when nested parentheses occur.
Following these rules, 8+2*5 equals 18... not 50.
6*5+8/2 equals 34.
((2+3)*5)^2 equals 625.
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
===================
Numbers with many decimal places, and very small decimal numbers, will
be displayed in the result and memory boxes in scientific notation:
3.5e-5 means that the decimal should appear 5 more places to the left,
as .000035
6.921e+10 means the decimal should appear 10 more places to the right,
as 69210000000
ExpressCalc does not accept scientific notation as input.
COPY OPERATIONS
===============
The contents of a result or memory box may be copied to the Windows
clipboard, so it may then be pasted into a word processor document,
spreadsheet, etc. This may be done with the Copy option on the system
menu, or may be done by pressing Ctrl-R, Ctrl-A, Ctrl-B, or Ctrl-C, as
appropriate.
Worth noting (though perhaps not a great idea): A number or expression
that has previously been copied from another program to the Windows
clipboard may be pasted INTO the ExpressCalc input box. ExpressCalc
does not provide a paste function or menu option, but Shift-Insert,
the standard Windows paste command, will do the trick. Pasted input
might include illegal characters (spaces, text, etc.) which normally
can not be typed into the input box. Such input would produce an error
beep when Enter is pressed.
OPERATIONAL LIMITS
==================
ExpressCalc operates with 15 digits of precision on positive or
negative numbers with up to 308 decimal places.
DISCLAIMER
==========
Use of ExpressCalc constitutes acceptance of this disclaimer of
warranty:
ExpressCalc is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties,
expressed or implied, including, without limitation, warranties of
merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no
liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from
the use of ExpressCalc, even if the author has been advised of the
possibility of such damages. In no event shall the author's liability
for any damages ever exceed the price paid for the license to use the
software, regardless of the form of the claim. The license user bears
all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.
SHAREWARE & REGISTRATION
========================
ExpressCalc is a Shareware program and is provided at no charge to the
user, for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your friends, but
please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. The
essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer
users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide
incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you
find ExpressCalc useful, and continue to use it after a reasonable
trial period, you must register it. The registration fee will license
one copy for use on any one computer at any one time.
Registered users of ExpressCalc will enjoy moral superiority over
those who abuse Shareware, and will receive the command-line code
needed to activate the Float (always-on-top) option.
Send your check or crisp $10 bill to:
Wayne Floyd
P.O. Box 478
Clearlake Park, CA 95424
Please specify that you are registering ExpressCalc. Be sure to
include your return address (an E-mail address would be GREAT).
To report bugs or make inquiries about ExpressCalc, please use the
above address, or send E-mail to:
wwfloyd@aol.com