SciCalcRPN 2.0b is an RPN version of SciCalc 2.0b. There was no previous version of SciCalcRPN, but since most of the code of SciCalc and SciCalcRPN is identical, I intend to keep their version numbers the same. The following notes describe the changes from SciCalc 1.2 to 2.0b.
Changes since version 1.2:
What hasn't changed? Version 2.0b is a complete rewrite. I've switched compilers, from THINK C to CodeWarrior C++, and I've switched application frameworks, from the Think Class Library to PowerPlant (as a consequence, SciCalc now requires System 7.0 or later). I've also bought a new computer and published a book. Here are some of the more notable and noticeable changes.
• The program’s icon has changed slightly. If you have been using SciCalc 1.2 you should rebuild your desktop after installing SciCalc 2.0b.
• Binary, octal, and hexadecimal modes are now available, so SciCalc can be used as a programmer's calculator as well as a scientific calculator. See the documentation for more details.
• Visual appearance: The calculator is now larger (more buttons) and the graphics have improved (I think).
• You may now set the font and size of the display; the "factory default" is 10 point Geneva. With most fonts you should be able to use a size of up to 14 points and still be able to fit the results in the display window. Small sizes are useful if you are working in binary mode with lots of bits. I recommend using a monospaced font like Monaco for hexadecimal mode.
• There are two versions, one for 68K Macs and one for PPC Macs. Curiously, you may prefer to use the 68K version even on PPC Macs (which is the main reason I did not make a fat version). The 68K version uses 80 bit numbers where the PPC version uses 64 bit numbers. See the documentation for more details on the consequences of this.
• More digits are displayed: up to 14 significant digits in the PPC version, up to 17 in the 68K version.
• There is now a fixed-point mode in addition to the floating point and scientific notation modes.
• You can optionally use thousands separators in the display.
• You can drag the value in the display to other (drag capable) applications, and drag text to the display.
• You can change the keyboard-to-calculator button mapping from within the calculator using the new Key Mapping dialog. (See the documentation for how to use this dialog.)
• Permutation and combination functions added.
• HYP and 2nd no longer cancel one another. It is now possible to compute the inverse hyperbolic functions.
• Other little changes in behavior here and there that I wonder if anyone will notice.
