Γùè This utility is distributed as shareware: if you like it please honor the shareware system by sending $5 to the author at the address above. Since cashing international cheques is very expensive, please send cash only (U.S. dollars are best, but any other currency is fine).
Γùè If you work on the Macintosh, there are many things you can send me instead of the money. Here are some suggestions: original software (but donΓÇÖt send any shareware/freeware unless youΓÇÖre the author), books or computer-related magazines (any free issue or subscription is welcome), CD-ROMs, any piece of new or used hardware, or anything else youΓÇÖve created.
Γùè ThereΓÇÖs still another thing you could do: IΓÇÖll finish my physics studies sometime in 1996 and IΓÇÖm looking for a one-year job as a programmer (or maybe a scientist?) outside of Italy. Let me know if you have anything to offer.
Γùè If you canΓÇÖt afford any of the above an e-mail, a postcard or a letter is welcome. I speak English, French and Italian. Please forgive me if I donΓÇÖt answer to all of your letters - I am often overloaded with my school work.
ΓÇó Introduction
Γùè CalConvert is a small shareware utility that does integer arithmetic calculations and converts integer values to different bases (decimal, hexadecimal, binary, octal or any custom base between 2 and 32) or to an OSType (a sequence of four ASCII characters). The conversion may be signed or unsigned (you can always enter a signed value, it gets converted to unsigned if needed); the result may be interpreted either as a word (2 bytes) or as a long word (4 bytes). Version 2.0 sports a new clickable bit field display for easy bit-by-bit manipulations. The Return and Enter keys start the conversion; Tab, shift-Tab and the four arrow keys have their usual meanings.
ΓÇó Configuration
Γùè Choosing the ΓÇ£FieldsΓÇ¥ item from the ΓÇ£OptionsΓÇ¥ menu brings up a configuration dialog that can be used to fully customize CalConvert. CalConvert can show up to 8 fields; each field contains either a mathematical expression, a sequence of 1 to 4 characters (OSType) or an integer number in any base from 2 to 32.
Γùè Version 2.0 comes with Font and Size menus that can be used to change the windowΓÇÖs look and size.
ΓÇó The calculator
Γùè You may enter mathematical or logical expressions in fields labeled ΓÇ£MathΓÇ¥, i.e. things like ΓÇ£(12*(128-$20))<<2+2^8ΓÇ¥; the result is shown in all the other fields of the window when you press Return or Enter or click the ΓÇ£=ΓÇ¥ button. If the expression canΓÇÖt be parsed correctly, CalConvert beeps and all other fields are set to zero. The next paragraphs explain the syntax and operators you may use in your mathematical expressions.
ΓÇó Syntax of the math field
Γùè xxx (x=0-9) is a number
Γùè $xxx (x=0-9,A-F) is an hexadecimal number
Γùè -xxx, -$xxx, $-xxx are negative numbers
Γùè '(' and ')' can be used as usual, nesting allowed
Γùè spaces are allowed between numbers and operators
Γùè no spaces are allowed inside numbers or operators
Γùè all numbers are interpreted as 32-bit signed integers
ΓÇó Order of operators
Γùè Operators in the upper lines are calculated first.
Γùè Operators in the same line are calculated sequentially.
^ **
* / : % << >>
& | \ AND OR XOR
+ -
= == != <> < > <= >=
ΓÇó Arithmetic operators
+ add
- subtract
* multiply
/ divide
: divide
% remainder
^ power
** power
ΓÇó Logical operators
(return 1 if true, 0 if false)
= equal to
== equal to
!= not equal to
<> not equal to
< less than
> greater than
<= less or equal
>= greater or equal
ΓÇó Bitwise operators
<< bit shift left
>> bit shift right
& bit and
AND bit and
and bit and
| bit or
OR bit or
or bit or
\ exclusive or
XOR exclusive or
xor exclusive or
ΓÇó Version history
Γùè 2.2 - Fixed a bug in the parser that caused bad prioritization of the operators for some complex expressions that didnΓÇÖt use parenthesis (thanks to Paolo Sasso for finding out the problem).
Γùè 2.1 - Uses the color utilities pattern as a background pattern under System 7.5 or later. You can set the utilities pattern by holding down the option key inside System 7.5ΓÇÖs Desktop Patterns utility.
Γùè 2.0 - Added a clickable bit-by-bit representation, font and size menus, ΓÇ£long wordΓÇ¥ and ΓÇ£unsignedΓÇ¥ check boxes and an ΓÇ£evaluateΓÇ¥ button; most of the interface code was rewritten to make the CalConvert window a configurable stand-alone code module.
Γùè 1.2.3 - CalConvert now refuses exponents larger than 32.
Γùè 1.2.2 - Made the fields dialog movable.
Γùè 1.2.1 - Cleaned up the code and updated documentation.
Γùè 1.2 - Recompiled as a fat binary, runs native on Power Macs.
Γùè 1.1 - Removed System 7 dependance and custom window definition.
Γùè 1.06 - Added online help, changed menu keys to follow Apple guidelines.
Γùè 1.05 - Fixed incoherent behavior of the ΓÇ£FieldsΓÇ¥ dialog.
Γùè 1.04 - Changed name to CalConvert.
Γùè 1.03 - First shareware version with arithmetic parser.
Γùè 1.02 - First public release as QuickConvert.
Γùè 1.01 - Menus added, still looks like a quick hack.
Γùè 1.0 - Written for my personal use only, very poor interface.
ΓÇó Distribution
◊ CalConvert is ©1994-95 Alessandro Levi Montalcini. It can be freely distributed as long as it is not modified and there’s no charge for it, but it may not be included in any commercial package without my consent.
Γùè You may find the latest version of all my shareware programs by anonymous ftp to ftp.alpcom.it, inside the /software/mac/LMontalcini directory. The complete ShareDisk package, which contains all my stuff and can be registered at a very low price, is also available there.
Γùè All online services and bulletin boards may make it available to their users at no charge other than the normal connection fees.
Γùè All non-profit user groups may distribute it at no charge.
Γùè All magazines may publish it on floppy disk without asking me first, as long as I get a copy of the issue containing my software.
Γùè All CD-ROM shareware collections and CD-ROM magazines may include it without my prior consent, as long as I get either a copy of the CD-ROM or an offer to buy the CD-ROM at a discounted price.
Γùè All redistribution companies such as Educorp may distribute it, as long as I get a copy of each media containing my software and a catalog of the companyΓÇÖs offerings (where applicable).
ΓÇó Disclaimer
Γùè CalConvert shouldnΓÇÖt cause any damage, but youΓÇÖre using it at your own risk. As an independent software developer, I can make no warranties whatsoever on it.
ΓÇó Have fun!
Γùè And donΓÇÖt forget to $$$ send your contribution $$$ so that more cool utilities will see the light in the near future, at the low-low-low costs of shareware.
