◊ 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).
◊ 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 don't send any shareware/freeware unless you're 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 you've created.
◊ There's still another thing you could do: I'll finish my physics studies sometime in 1996 and I'm 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.
◊ If you can't 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 don't answer to all of your letters - I am often overloaded with my school work.
• Introduction
◊ 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). The Return and Enter keys start the conversion; Tab, shift-Tab and the four arrow keys have their usual meaning.
• Configuration
◊ Choosing the "Fields" item from the "Options" 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.
• The calculator
◊ You may enter mathematical or logical expressions in fields labeled "Math" (things like "(12*(128-$20))<<2+2^8"); the result is shown in all the other fields of the window when you press Return. If the expression can't be parsed correctly, you hear a beep and all other fields change to zero. The next paragraphs explain the syntax and operators you may use in your mathematical expressions.
• Syntax of the math field
◊ xxx (x=0-9) is a number
◊ $xxx (x=0-9,A-F) is an hexadecimal number
◊ -xxx, -$xxx, $-xxx are negative numbers
◊ '(' and ')' can be used as usual, nesting allowed
◊ spaces are allowed between numbers and operators
◊ no spaces are allowed inside numbers or operators
◊ all numbers are interpreted as 32-bit signed integers
• Order of operators
◊ Operators in the upper lines are calculated first.
◊ Operators in the same line are calculated sequentially.
^ **
* / : % << >>
& | \ AND OR XOR
+ -
= == != <> < > <= >=
• Arithmetic operators
+ add
- subtract
* multiply
/ divide
: divide
% remainder
^ power
** power
• 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
• 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
• Version history
◊ 1.2.3 - CalConvert now refuses exponents larger than 32.
◊ 1.2.2 - Made the fields dialog movable.
◊ 1.2.1 - Cleaned up the code and updated documentation.
◊ 1.2 - Recompiled as a fat binary, runs native on Power Macs.
◊ 1.1 - Removed System 7 dependance and custom window definition.
◊ 1.06 - Added online help, changed menu keys to follow Apple guidelines.
◊ 1.05 - Fixed incoherent behavior of the "Fields" dialog.
◊ 1.04 - Changed name to CalConvert.
◊ 1.03 - First shareware version with arithmetic parser.
◊ 1.02 - First public release as QuickConvert.
◊ 1.01 - Menus added, still looks like a quick hack.
◊ 1.0 - Written for my personal use only, very poor interface.
◊ 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.
◊ All online services and bulletin boards may make it available to their users at no charge other than the normal connection fees.
◊ All non-profit user groups may distribute it at no charge.
◊ 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.
◊ 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.
◊ 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 company’s offerings (where applicable).
• Disclaimer
◊ CalConvert shouldn’t cause any damage, but you’re using it at your own risk. As an independent software developer, I can make no warranties whatsoever on it.
• Have fun!
◊ And don't 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.
