Cream of the Crop 12/Cream of the Crop 12 (Part II)/Cream of the Crop 12 (Part II).iso/OS2/CPWARP11.ZIP/CPRO1_1.INF

OS/2 Help File | 1996-03-04 | 15.4 KB | 283 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Introduction ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Thanks for Supporting Conversion Pro!

Conversion Pro for OS/2 is a 32-bit presentation manager application which
enables the user to perform some 1800 'on-the-fly' scientific and engineering
unit conversions.  The application also includes a button calculator and a
temperature conversion utility which can convert temperature data in either
Fahrenheit, Celsius (centigrade), or Kelvin.

Conversion Pro includes about 1800 conversions, and support customizing of the
list of conversions.

Additional Product Information about Conversion Pro and where to obtain user
support is available.  Step-by-Step installation instructions are also included
in this document.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.1. Product Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Conversion Pro for OS/2 Version 1.1 is Copyright (c) 1995, 1995 by J. F.
Kaminsky.  Contact the author at the following address:
J. F. Kaminsky
NEGC Software Co.
2522 North Proctor Street, Suite 135
Tacoma, WA  98406
e-mail: [e-mail]
Product support: [e-mail]

License Fee: $10.00 US

For you users who have not yet extracted the Microsoft ring out of your nose, a
Windows version of Conversion Pro is also available.

The Conversion Pro application and icon (cpwarp_1.ico) utilizes artwork that is
freely distributed by Mike Cowlishaw, IBM UK Laboratories, as part of the
PMGlobe program and is licensed and copyrighted (c) by IBM Corporation, 1991,
1993. All rights reserved.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.2. Installation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Installation of the Conversion Pro program is simple and can be accomplished by
following these series of steps:

1.  Create a directory on a hard disk drive such as 'CPro1_1'.

2.  Unzip the contents of the zipfile in the directory created above- or if you
    received the program on disk, copy the following program files to the
    directory created in step 1:

    cpro1_1.exe  -  Conversion Pro for OS/2 executable

    cpro1_1.ico  -  Application icon

    cpos2dat.dat  -  factors data file

    cpos2ind.dat  -  unit names data file

    cpro1_1.hlp  -  On-line help file.

    cpro1_1.inf  - On-line help file in book form.

3.  If you haven't already got one, acquire a copy of the file vrobj.dll with a
    date no earlier than 6/6/95 (Patch level "c") from Watcom.  This file,
    which is a run-time library, needs to be copied to any directory in your
    OS/2 LIBPATH such as X:\OS2\DLL or X:\OS2\APPS\DLL where X: is the drive
    letter where the OS/2 operating system files reside.  Or, alternatively,
    you can leave the file in the CPro1_1 directory and add that directory to
    your LIBPATH.

    Note:  This step must be accomplished or the application will not run. If
    you are uncertain what directories are included in the LIBPATH, the LIBPATH
    is defined in the OS/2 CONFIG.SYS file.

4.  Open the folder you created to hold the program files and click on the
    application object (executable) to start the Conversion Pro application.
    You may also create a shadow of the application object and place it in an
    alternate location (such as the desktop).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.3. Customizing Conversion List ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The conversions used in Conversion Pro can be customized using a text editor.
Use a text editor that displays the line number such as the Enhanced Editor
(EPM) that comes with OS/2. The procedure is as follows:

1.  Open the units index file named cpos2ind.dat.  Place the new conversion
    units into the proper position by alphabetical order.  Be sure to observe
    the proper format using the other conversions in the list as a template.

2.  Open the factors data file named cpos2dat.dat.  Place the factor that goes
    with the new conversion on the exact same line as the line on which the new
    conversion units occupy in the cpos2ind.dat file.

3.  Save both files, Start Conversion Pro, and the new conversion should appear.

Warning: The actual number of conversions is finite, and that number is about
1800 (give or take depending on a couple of things). So, if you get too
involved with customizing, you may have to delete some conversions to keep the
list below 1800.

Note:  Also, keep in mind that the smaller the list, the faster the program
runs.  So, if you know you don't need a good portion of the included
conversions, go ahead and delete them from the cpos2ind.dat file- but be sure
to delete the corresponding factors in the cpos2dat.dat file.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Main Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The components of the main window are as follows:

Conversion list box

Factor display box

Numeric format radio buttons

On-the-Fly calculations

Menu bar

Most of the work takes place in the main window.  Exit the main window by the
drop-down menu which can be accessed by clicking on the small icon in the upper
right-hand corner of the main window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.1. Menu Bar ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Menu bar is located near the top of the Main window.  Pointing and clicking
at any one of the menu selections opens one of the following window:

Calculator - Button Calculator

Temperature - Temperature Converter

Help - Help file (what you are reading)


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Conversion List-box ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Click on a conversion in the Conversion List Box and the resultant conversion
factor will be immediately displayed in the Factor Display Box.  Typing the
beginning letters of any unit will scroll the list to that area.  For example,
typing "r" will move you through the list to the first unit which begins with
an "r" which happens to be radians.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Factor Display Box ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Factor Display Box is located in the upper right-hand corner of the main
window.  It displays the conversion factor for the currently selected
conversion in the Conversion List-box.  The displayed factor can be selected
and copied if desired, and the numeric format can also be changed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Numeric Format ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Three types of Numeric Format are available for displaying numeric data in
Conversion Pro.  These are defined as follows:

Default notation

Scientific Notation

Engineering Notation

Default notation is self-explanatory- it reflects the notation of the number as
it exists in the factor database. Scientific and Engineering notations are
convenient for expressing very large or very small numbers, and numbers which
reflect a measurement and thus a certain precision.

Choose a display format by clicking the appropriate radio button inside the
'Numeric Format' frame.  The displayed format will change in three places-  the
Factor Display Box in the upper right-hand corner of the main window, and both
in the factor display box, and the conversion result text display box in the
On-the-Fly calculations.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. Scientific Notation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Scientific notation is a format where a number is expressed by the product of
two numbers, one as a decimal, the other as a power of ten.  In the decimal
portion, one digit is placed left of the decimal place, and then possibly one
or more numbers follow on the right side of the decimal place depending on the
precision of the measurement (significant digits).  The power of ten portion of
the number is multiplied by the decimal portion.  Thus, the number 1.2E3 is
equivalent to 1200 (disregarding any argument we may have about numeric
precision or rounding off).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. Engineering Notation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Engineering notation is a format where a number is expressed by the product of
two numbers, one as a decimal, the other as a power of ten.  However, in the
decimal portion, one to three digits are placed left of the decimal place, and
then possibly one or more numbers follow on the right side of the decimal place
depending on the precision of the measurement (significant digits).  The power
of ten portion of the number is displayed by magnitudes of 1,000 only.  Thus,
you will never see a number like 1.2E4, but you might see 12.0E3. Typical
engineer nonsense.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.3. Significant Digits ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Your answer after conversion cannot be any more accurate than the least number
of significant digits used in any measurement value included in the conversion
expression. At a minimum, this will usually include your original value in the
original units and the conversion factor itself.

This is of mathematical necessity, and therefore, not a limitation of the
software.  There are rules for rounding numbers to the correct significant digits.

For example, the product of 30.19 and 12.2 is 363.318, but the answer must be
expressed to only three significant digits because 12.2 has only three
significant digits; hence the answer is actually 368 when correctly expressed
in the proper precision.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.4. Rules for Rounding Numbers ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The rules for rounding numeric data to the proper number of digits are as follows:

1.  If the non-significant digit is more than 5 or is 5 followed by numbers
    other than zero, the non-significant digit(s) is/are dropped and the
    significant digit is increased by one. Example: 23.151 expressed to 3
    significant digits is 23.2 (the 5 and 0 are non-significant).

2.  If the non-significant digit is less than 5, it is dropped and the
    significant digit remains the same. Example: 20.14 expressed to 3
    significant digits is 20.1 (the 4 is non-significant).

3.  If the non-significant digit is 5 and is followed by zeros, the 5 is
    dropped and the significant digit is increased by one if it is odd, and
    left the same if it is even. Example: 23.150 and 23.250 expressed to 3
    significant digits are both equal to 23.2 (the 5 and 0 are non-significant).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. On-the-Fly Calculations ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

At the bottom of the main window there are several text entry fields where you
perform on-the-fly conversions using whatever factor is currently displayed.

To perform a conversion, type a value in the right-most text entry box.  The
value entered will be automatically converted to a new quantity using the
conversion factor displayed in the middle text entry display box.  The result
from the conversion is displayed in the left-most text entry display box.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Temperature Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The temperature conversion window allows the user to convert between three
units of temperature:

Celsius (Centigrade)

Fahrenheit

Kelvin

Type the value you wish to convert in the text entry box labeled 'Input' and
then specify the units of the input value by clicking the appropriate radio
button below the inputted value.  By default, the input units are in Fahrenheit.

The result will automatically be calculated and displayed in the 'Result' text
entry display box using the units currently selected beneath the result.  By
default, the result units are in Celsius.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Calculator Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The calculator window displays a button calculator which received input from
clicking numbers and operations with the mouse, or by typing numbers from the
keyboard. The "=" key is mapped instead of the "Enter' key.

Calculator Memory Operations:

The 'M+' key stores the currently displayed value in memory for later
retrieval. Subsequent values are added to the current stored value by the 'M+'
button.  The 'M-' button subtracts the currently displayed value from the
current value stored in memory.  The 'MR' key recalls the current value stored
in memory.  The 'MC' key clears the value stored in