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Big Blue Disk 48
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CONVERT.TXT
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1990-08-27
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8KB
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187 lines
|B╔═══════════╦══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╦═══════════╗
|B║ |6Brainware|B ║ ^1 Convert |B ║ |6Brainware|B ║
|B╚═══════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╩═══════════╝
^Cby
^CDan Harrison
CONVERT is a fascinating mathematical program that compares standard
units of measurement. Enter a value for a specific unit of measurement and
CONVERT instantly calculates the equivalent values for a variety of related
units. There are 13 different Conversion Tables and a Generic Conversion
Table.
The Main Menu contains the following choices:
A. Length (Distance) H. Force (Weight)
B. Mass I. Velocity (Speed)
C. Volume (Dry) J. Energy (Work)
D. Capacity (Liquid) K. Power
E. Area L. Time
F. Density (Concentration) M. Temperature
G. Pressure N. Generic Table
Direct the highlight bar around the Main Menu with the <UP> and <DOWN>
arrow keys; press <TAB> to move from the left column to the right. Press
<ENTER> to select a highlighted table or simply type in the letter located
to the left of the conversion table you want to work with. For example, to
bring up the Volume Table, type in <C> at the Main Menu.
Getting Started
Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius is a common problem. Type in <M> at the
Main Menu for the Units of Temperature Table. Move the highlight bar to
Fahrenheit with the <ARROW KEYS>. NOTE: The <ARROW KEYS> and <TAB> move the
highlight bar just like they do in the Main Menu. To convert 100 degrees
Fahrenheit to Celsius type in <100>. Erase the extra characters with <DEL>.
Press <ENTER> and CONVERT instantly calculates the equivalent value of 100
degrees Fahrenheit for ALL the units of measure on the screen! A value of 100
degrees Fahrenheit equals 37.77778 degrees Celsius, 310.9278 degrees Kelvin,
or 559.67 degrees Rankine.
How many Quarts in a gallon? Press <ESC> to return to the Main Menu.
Type in <D> to access the Units of Capacity Screen. Move the highlight bar to
Gallon with the <ARROW KEYS>; type in <1>; erase the extra characters with
<DEL>; and press <ENTER>. One gallon contains four quarts - eight pints -
sixteen cups - and many teaspoons! How many Hogsheads are in a gallon?
The Function Keys
F1 - Help: Access a help screen with information on Editing Numbers, the
Insert Mode, Movement Keys, Function Keys, and Special Keys.
F2 - Calculate: Perform the four basic mathematical functions with the
value highlighted in the Units of Measurement Screen.
F3 - Modify: Modify selected conversion formulae.
F4 - General Info: General information on a class of measurements:
Length, Mass, Area, etc.
F5 - Info: Information on a specific unit of measurement: Slugs, Pluto
Years, Abvolts, etc. (Check this out!)
F6 - Transfer the formula from the highlighted cell to bottom lefthand
corner of a Units of Measurement Screen.
F7 - Transfer the formula copied with <F6> to the highlighted cell.
F8 - Copy #: Transfer the cell value from the highlighted cell to bottom
righthand corner of a Units of Measurement Screen.
F9 - Paste #: Transfer the value copied with <F8> to the highlighted
cell.
F10 - Print: Print the Conversion Table.
ESC - Exit: Exit the conversion tables or exit CONVERT to the Big Blue
Main Menu from the CONVERT Main Menu.
^CThe Calculations
For each table, one unit of measure is set up as the Base Formula which
may NOT be changed. Each other value in the table is calculated based on its
relationship to the Base Formula.
This has an interesting side effect. Try this in the Temperature table.
Change the value for Fahrenheit to <0>. The program calculates the Centigrade
value (the Base Formula value) from the Fahrenheit value and rounds the
Centigrade appropriately. Then, the program recalculates each value in the
table from the Base Formula value, including the Fahrenheit value. The
resulting Fahrenheit value is very small, but not zero.
^CAdding or Changing Formulae
Not all units of measurement are contained in CONVERT. You may want to
create a special formula or change an existing one for a specific task.
In an existing table you may change any unit of measure, EXCEPT the Base
Formula. You must define a formula for calculating the new measure from the
Base Formula unit.
To calculate centimeters from meters (the Base Formula), you multiply the
number of meters by 100. You might write a formula like:
number-cent = number-meters X 100.
To see how this is described in Convert: On the Units of Length table
screen, highlight the value for centimeters. Press <F3> to display the Modify
Formula screen. The Current Formula line describes our formula: *100 +0.
CONVERT uses <*> to represent multiplication. The option of adding or
subtracting some value is available, but unnecessary in this example.
All new formulas must be described in this manner:
new-value = Base-value X multiplier + number.
To change the information for a unit of measure, press <F3> when the value
is highlighted. Type the desired description, then the abbreviation. (Line
up the abbreviation with the * appearing above the box.)
To change the formula being used to calculate the value, press the <DOWN>
arrow key after changing the description. The current value for the
multiplier will be displayed, labeled m:. Type in the new multiplier. Press
the <DOWN> arrow once more to display the current value for the added-number,
labeled b:. Type in the new number. To subtract the final number, type
<-> then the <number>. Press <ENTER> to return to the table screen.
To add a new unit of measure, highlight the value on a blank line and
press <F3>. Then continue as with a change, relating the new unit to the
Base Formula unit.
When leaving CONVERT you will be prompted to SAVE any formula changes you
have made. If you want your work to show the next time you run CONVERT, be
sure to answer YES. If you have just been experimenting you will probably
want to respond NO to the prompt.
^CThe Generic Conversion Table
You may add a complete new table for a specific application. Use the
<N> selection from the Main Menu to access the Generic Conversion Table. The
first entry MUST be for the Base Formula value. Highlight the value field,
and press <F3>. All you will be able to enter is the description, followed by
the abbreviation. (Line up the abbreviation with the * appearing above the
box.) Press <ENTER> to return to the table screen. Add additional units to
your new table on blank lines, following the suggestions under the heading
Adding or Changing Formulae.
^CPrinting the Conversion Table
The Conversion Table includes special print characters known as "IBM
graphic characters." If the print option <F10> is chosen for non-IBM
printers, the resulting print will be difficult to read.
^CTechnical Notes
When you add or change formulae a new file is created on the disk. This
new file, CONVERT.DAT, contains the changes. If there is not enough space
remaining on the disk to create the changes file, any changes will be lost.
Since space on the BBD distribution disks is limited, this program might best
be copied to another disk, using the COPY option from the BBD menu, before
making changes.
To undo changes after taking the Save Changes option upon exit from
CONVERT, return to the DOS command line and delete the CONVERT.DAT file ONLY.
^COutside BBD
To run this program outside ^1Big Blue Disk^0, type: ^1CONVERT^0.
DISK FILES THIS PROGRAM USES:
^FCONVERT.EXE
^FCONVERT.INF