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- Programmer's Calculator 05/11/90
-
- INTRODUCTION
- Programmer's calculator (PC) is a utility for Atari Portfolio. PC
- calculates 32-bit integers in signed or unsigned mode. PC converts
- integers between binary, decimal, hex, and octal bases. To start PC on
- the Portfolio, type "pc.com" or just "pc". To quit PC, type 'q' or 'Q'.
-
- DISPLAY
- PC's numerical display is the first row below the the program's title.
- PC displays up to thirty-two binary digits, eleven octal digits, ten
- decimal digits, or eight hex digits between the square brackets.
-
- DIGIT KEY SYMBOLS
- The left-hand side of the screen shows up the sixteen digit key symbols,
- labeled 0-9, A-F. PC illuminates only those digits used in the current base.
- As the user strikes the corresponding key on the Portfolio keyboard, PC
- flashes the corresponding digit key symbol.
-
- OPERATOR KEY SYMBOLS
- The right-hand side of the screen shows the twelve operator key symbols,
- labeled +, -, *, /, %, ~, ^, ', |, &, >,and <. As the user strikes the
- corresponding key on the Portfolio keyboard, PC flashes the corresponding
- operator key symbol. The Operator keys behave as follows:
-
- These binary operators relate the value on the display and the
- value placed in PC's internal accumulator by the previous operator or '='.
- + adds the accumulator and the display value.
- - subtracts the display value from the accumulator.
- * multiplies the display by the accumulator.
- / divides the accumulator by the display.
- % remainders the accumulator by the display.
- | logically or's the accumulator with the display.
- & and's the accumulator the with display.
- ^ exclusive or's the accumulator with the display.
- > shifts the accumulator right display places.
- < shifts the accumulator left display places.
-
- The '=' key or Enter key completes an operation.
-
- There are two unary operators:
- ~ takes the 1's complement of display.
- ' takes the 2's complement of display.
-
- EDITING THE DISPLAY VALUE
- The backspace key deletes last digit entered. The Del key clears the display.
- Hitting Del again clears the accumulator also.
-
- HELP SCREEN
- F1 displays help information. Remember, F1 on the Portfolio is
- the "Fn" key and the "1" key typed simultaneously. Help scrolls
- a quick reference on the key symbol meanings by typing the up or
- down arrows as well as PgUp or PgDn. Remember, page up is the "Fn"
- key and the "PgUp" key typed simultaneously. To quit Help,
- type ESC or Enter.
-
- CHANGING BASES
- The F2 key pops up a dialog box which allows the user to change bases.
- In the dialog box the user may move between entries using the up arrow
- and down arrow keys. The Enter key accepts the base on which the cursor
- is shown. The user alternately may type the first letter of the base to
- immediately select that entry. The bottom right-hand corner of the screen
- always indicates the current base as HEXadecimal, OCTal, BINary, or
- DECimal.
-
- TOGGLING BETWEEN SIGNED AND UNSIGNED OPERATION
- The 'S' key toggles between signed and unsigned operation.
- At the bottom right-hand corner of the screen the messages SIGNED and
- UNSIGNED indicate signed and unsigned modes respectively.
-
- NUMERIC LOCK
- Although PC cannot automatically put the Portfolio into Numeric Lock,
- the user can set the keyboard in numeric lock mode by simultaneously
- pressing "Lock" and the "Atari" key. This allows the keyboard legends in
- red to take force, simplifying keystrokes.
-
- CAVEAT
- PC only runs on the Atari Portfolio. Due to some Atari-specific functions,
- PC will lock up a standard personal computer.
-
- Robert Heath, CIS 71600,437
-