ASP Advantage 1994 2nd Q2

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EVAL Version 2.3 +++++++++ by McAdams Associates ***************************************************************** **IMPORTANT** To register Eval, see "Registering Eval" on page 11 of this manual. Contents Page -------- ---- Description................................ 2 Running Eval............................... 2 Removing Eval From Memory.................. 2 Control Keys............................... 3 Moving the Window.......................... 4 Using Eval................................. 5 Evaluation Order........................... 5 Inputting Different Number Bases........... 5 Getting Answers in Different Number Bases.. 6 Eval's Limits.............................. 7 Disclaimer & Agreement.....................10 Registering Eval...........................11 Index......................................12 (C)Copyright 1993 by T.C. McAdams. All Rights Reserved. Description ----------- EVAL is a pop-up TSR expression evaluator and number base conversion program. EVAL can act as both a four-function floating point calculator and as a programmer's number base converter, translating numbers to and from binary, octal, decimal and hexadecimal number bases. Version 2.3 has several new features: a "money" type has been added, giving accurate rounding to two decimal places; the program will now "get out of your way" by moving about the screen; and, since some applications change the color palette (sometimes succeeding in making EVAL hard to see), EVAL can now change its own colors. Finally, EVAL is now able to run in most text modes, including Super-VGA. EVAL is completely modeless in its operation and dispenses entirely with the conventional "pushbutton" calculator paradigm. Because of this you are encouraged to read this manual to get the most out of EVAL. EVAL should work on any DOS computer running DOS 2.1 or above. Running Eval ------------ EVAL can be run as a standalone program by typing EVAL [ENTER] at the DOS command line. All of the program's abilities, except for the ability to output a result to the running application, are available in this mode. EVAL can be made memory resident by typing EVAL /r [ENTER] at the command line. Equally valid would be /R, -r or -R. The "R" stands for "resident". When the program has been successfully loaded into memory and made resident, it will beep once. This is EVAL's way of saying everything is fine. If you hear TWO beeps, it means that EVAL is unable to make itself resident in memory. The main reason for this to occur is that a copy of EVAL is already resident. EVAL is programmed to "check for itself" before loading to keep from using more memory than necessary. Removing EVAL From Memory ------------------------- When it is memory resident, EVAL can be removed from memory by typing EVAL /k [ENTER] 2 where /K, -k and -K are all acceptable. The "K" means "kill from memory". If EVAL successfully removes itself from memory you'll hear one beep. If the program is unable to remove itself you will hear TWO beeps. Possible reasons for this are 1) the program was not resident to begin with, 2) a program was loaded after EVAL that altered one or more of the interrupts EVAL uses, making it impossible to safely change them back to their original values. If this happens, the only way to remove EVAL from memory is to reboot. Control Keys ------------ If EVAL is memory-resident, the program is invoked by pressing [CTRL + SPACE]. This means hold down the [CTRL] key while pressing the [SPACE] key. The basic control keys will be seen displayed on the bottom lines of the program window: [ESC]Quit [ENTER]Evaluate [-><-] [Backspace] [Home] [End] [Del] [Ins] [F3]Clear [F4]Color Here's what they all do: [ESC] Leaves EVAL. [ENTER] Evaluates the expression inside the number box. [-><-] The arrow keys move the cursor to the left and right within an expression, without erasing any character it moves over. [Backspace] Erases the character to the cursor's immediate left and moves the remainder of the expression (anything to the right of the cursor) left. [Home] Moves the block cursor to the far left of the number box. [End] Moves the block cursor to the position immediately following the last character of an expression. [Del] The delete key erases the character under the cursor. [Ins] The insert key controls the input mode. Insert mode is the default, and is shown by the short block cursor. If the cursor is moved inside an expression and a key is struck in insert mode, that character is inserted into the string and all characters to the right are moved one space right. Pressing the insert key shifts the mode to overstrike and causes the cursor to change appearance (to a large block cursor). Typing inside an expression in overstrike mode causes the newly typed characters to replace whatever was there previously. The Insert key in EVAL operates identically to most text editors. 3 [F3] Clears everything inside the number box. [F4] Changes EVAL's colors. Not on the menu but nonetheless important, when EVAL is resident pressing [CTRL + SPACE] again from inside the program will export EVAL's answer to the running application. When EVAL is not resident, pressing [CTRL + SPACE] when the program is running is the same as pressing [ENTER]. Also, the [F2] key (the accumulator key, described below) will serve to recall the result of a previous calculation, if EVAL has just been popped up. After [ENTER] has been pressed, and an answer is displayed, a new set of control keys appears: [ESC]Quit [F1]Expression [F2]Accumulate [F3]Clear [F4]Color [ESC] Same as previously. "Pops down" the program. [F1] Redisplays the original expression. [F2] Uses the answer to the last expression as the first number of the new. [F3] Clears everything. [F4] Changes EVAL's colors. Moving The Window ----------------- EVAL's window can be moved about your screen at any time by holding down the [SHIFT] key and pressing one of the cursor movement keys: [SHIFT + ARROW] Moves the window one increment left, right, up or down. [SHIFT + Home] Moves the window to the far left of the screen. [SHIFT + End] Moves the window to the far right of the screen. [SHIFT + PGUP] Moves the window to the top of the screen. [SHIFT + PGDN] Moves the window to the bottom of the screen. 4 Using EVAL ---------- EVAL is a four-function expression evaluator. What this means is that instead of merely pushing buttons, you can instead type things like -(32.5+19.5)/16*9.7 [ENTER] and get as a result -0.335051546391753. Keep reading; all will be explained! Evaluation Order ---------------- To get the results you expect from a calculation, you should know how EVAL evaluates an expression string. EVAL evaluates from left to right, within parentheses, in operator order. Operators are always evaluated as follows: Precedence Operator Action ------------------------------------- 1 * multiplication 2 / division 3 + addition 4 - subtraction In the previous example, the sub-expression -(32.5+19.5) is first to be evaluated, since it is inside parentheses. When this is done, the overall expression then looks (to EVAL) like -52/16*9.7 Next, the 16*9.7 is evaluated (multiplication is done first), leaving us with -52/155.2 which is then evaluated to give the result -0.335051546391753. Inputting Different Number Bases -------------------------------- The earlier example was entirely decimal, or base ten. What would happen if we typed 0xfe57 * 0b110 + 098 * .36 [ENTER] ? We would get 390666, of course! To explain, the following NUMBER PREFIXES are what are used to denote different number bases in EVAL: 5 Prefix Number base ------------------------------------------------------ 0b (zero-"b") binary (base 2) 0 (zero) octal (base 8) d decimal (base 10) <nothing> decimal (base 10, default, same as "d") 0x (zero-"x") hexadecimal (base 16) Upper- or lower-case doesn't matter: "0B" is the same as "0b" and "0X" is equivalent to "0x". Note that where zeros are used in a prefix they must ALWAYS be zeros; letter O's will not work. The programmers among you will already have noticed that all of the prefixes except that for binary are standard C-language syntax. No accident, since EVAL was written in C. Since C doesn't support binary numbers, however, a prefix had to be invented, which is the reason for the "0b". Note: When a result is output to the running application by pressing [CTRL + SPACE], all number prefixes are stripped. Getting Answers In Different Number Bases ----------------------------------------- The number prefixes explained above are for individual numbers. So as not to confuse EVAL, a different method has to be used to indicate the output, or overall expression, number base. Instead of number prefixes, then, we use EXPRESSION PREFIXES, which are letters that can be used at the beginning of an expression. Here are the expression prefixes EVAL recognizes: Prefix Output --------------------------- m money b binary o octal d decimal (default) h hexadecimal As before, upper- or lower-case doesn't matter. The expression prefix "d" (for decimal) is provided for consistency, but isn't really necessary since decimal output is EVAL's default mode. Some examples. Typing B255 [ENTER] produces 0b11111111, which is 255 in binary (base 2). Typing h255 [ENTER] produces 0xff, which is 255 in hexadecimal. And so on. 6 Using the "m" (for "money") expression prefix gives accurate rounding to two decimal places. For example, if you wanted to compute the total price for an item costing $19.95, and your local sales tax is 8.25%, you would input m19.95*1.0825 and EVAL would return 21.60. If you hadn't used the "m" expression prefix, the answer would have been 21.595875. You can also combine number and expression prefixes in different ways: b0x214*03777+0b11110000 [ENTER] which gives us an answer of 0b100001001111011011100. See how it works: The first character of the expression, "b", is the overall expression prefix, specifying base 2 output. The first number of the expression has the hexadecimal number prefix "0x", the second number the octal "0" prefix and the third number the binary "0b" number prefix. To see how easy things are to change, type the previous example into EVAL and press [ENTER]. Then press [F1] (to bring back the original expression), [Home] (to move the cursor to the beginning of the expression), and [Delete] (to delete the binary expression prefix, placing us back into default decimal output mode). Hitting [ENTER] again gives the decimal result 1089244. Repeating the process, but this time putting an "O" (letter "O", for "octal", this time, not zero) expression prefix at the start of the expression, gives us the base 8 answer of 04117334. The main thing to remember, when using EVAL to convert numbers to and from various number bases, is the idea of NUMBER PREFIXES and EXPRESSION PREFIXES. Number prefixes govern how a number is interpreted. Expression prefixes determine how an answer is output. EVAL'S Limits ------------- The following is a table of the maximum and minimum values EVAL will handle: Mode Maximum Minimum -------------------------------------------------------------- Money 1000000000000 -1000000000000 Binary 8589934591 -4294967295 Octal 5.070602400912918e+030 -6.338253001141147e+029 Decimal 1.7e+308 -1.7e+308 <fractions> 1.7e-307 -1.7e-307 Hex 5.444517870735015e+039 -3.402823669209385e+038 7 When these limits are exceeded an overflow or underflow error occurs. When this happens, press [F1] to re-edit the original expression, or [F3] to clear the number box. When decimal numbers become greater than 999999999999999, or smaller than -999999999999999, EVAL switches automatically to exponential format where, for example, 1.7e+308 means the decimal point should be moved 308 places to the right, and 1.7e-30 means the decimal point should be moved 30 places left. Decimal (base 10) is the only number base in which fractional numbers are handled. Inputting something like 0xff.f3 would result in an answer of 255; everything after the decimal point would be ignored. EVAL's error checking is minimal, in order to save memory, so care should be taken not to input a number too large for the number base specified by the number prefix. To show what this means, if you input 01238 [ENTER], the answer would be 83. Silly answer. To see why, input 08 [ENTER]. The answer is zero, since the octal number base is comprised only of numerals from 0 through 7, and EVAL quits parsing (breaking down) a nondecimal number when the numeral it's looking at exceeds the specified base. To make things clearer, here are all possible numerals in each number base: Base Possible numbers ------------------------------------------------------------- 2 0, 1 8 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 10 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 16 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F In base 16, "number" A is the same as 10 decimal, B represents 11, and so on through F = 15. Since EVAL uses the compiler's floating point math library for all decimal (base 10) calculations, the response to inputs beyond the base 10 numerals differs from that described for nondecimal numbers. For example, inputting e5 (229 hex), without a hex number prefix, would be evaluated as 5, since the "e" is skipped when EVAL treats it as a decimal number. And 5e is taken to be 0, because EVAL thinks it's an exponential format number! Generally speaking, assume that if you input nonexistent numbers, or nondecimal numbers without the necessary number prefix, you will get silly answers in return. Note for programmers: Since EVAL uses the Microsoft floating point math library, bitwise operations are not possible. Bitwise shifting can be accomplished, however, by multiplying and dividing by powers of two: 8 Places shifted Number to multiply/divide by ----------------------------------------------------- 1 2 2 4 3 8 4 16 5 32 6 64 7 128 8 256 9 Disclaimer & Agreement ---------------------- Users of EVAL must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "EVAL is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or conse- quential, which may result from the use of EVAL." EVAL 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 this program useful and find that you are using EVAL and continue to use EVAL after a reasonable trial period, you must make a reg- istration payment of $20 to McAdams Associates. The $20 registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time. You must treat this software just like a book. An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time. Commercial users of EVAL must register and pay for their copies of EVAL within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be made by con- tacting McAdams Associates. Anyone distributing EVAL for any kind of remuneration must first contact McAdams Associates at the address below for authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the ASP as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering EVAL immediately (However McAdams Associates must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of EVAL.). You are encouraged to pass a copy of EVAL along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it. Since this is shareware and I am a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals, please read the following: "This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware- 10 related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI USA 49442- 9427, FAX 616-788-2765, or send a CompuServe mail message to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536." Registering EVAL ---------------- Registering EVAL costs $20 and includes one year's free support by phone, mail and CompuServe e-mail, free bug fixes, the latest version of EVAL, a typeset manual, plus TWO handy disk utility program: 1) SEARCH, a multitalented disk scanning file-finder program, and 2) TO/RET, a "two-in-one" combo that work together, enabling you to change to any disk/directory and return instantly to your starting point. To register EVAL, simply print and fill out the file REGISTER.DOC and send it, along with $20 (checks or M.O.s drawn on a U.S. bank only, please) to: McAdams Associates P.O. Box 835505 Richardson, TX 75083-5505 CIS PPN 70353,1644 ----------------------------------------------------------------- EVAL was created using QuickC and MASM, which are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. 11 Index ----- [-><-] arrow keys for moving window, 4 inside number box, 3 Accumulator, see [F2] Answers in different bases, 5 Beeps one, signifying success, 2, 3 two, signifying failure, 2, 3 Bit-shifting (simulating), 8 Clearing the program box, see [F3] Colors (changing), see [F4] Control keys, 3 [CTRL + SPACE] key from inside EVAL, 4 initial hotkey, 3 [DELETE] key, 3 Description, 2 Editing an expression, see Control keys [END] key, 3 [ENTER] key, 3 Errors number base, 8 overflow, 7 underflow, 7 [ESC] key, 3 EVAL compatibility, 2 EVAL's limits, 7-8 Evaluation order, 5 Expression prefixes, 6-7 [F1] key, 4 [F2] key, 4 [F3] key, 4 [F4] key, 4 Getting an answer, see [ENTER] [Home] key, 3 Hotkey (for popping up), see [CTRL + SPACE] Inputting a number/expression, 5 [INSERT] key, 3 Moving the window, 4 Number prefixes, 5-6 Numerals (all possible), 8 Operator precedence, 5 [PGUP] key, 4 [PGDN] key, 4 Recalling original expression, see [F1] Registering EVAL, 11 Running EVAL from the command line, 2 when memory resident, 2 [SHIFT] key, 4 Using EVAL, 5 12