code.delx.au - gnu-emacs/blob - lisp/calc/README

   1
   2 This directory contains Calc, an advanced desk calculator for GNU
   3 Emacs.
   4
   5 "Calc"  Copyright 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
   6
   7 Written by:
   8         Dave Gillespie
   9         c/o Synaptics, Inc.
  10         2698 Orchard Parkway
  11         San Jose CA 95134
  12         daveg@synaptics.com, uunet!synaptx!daveg
  13
  14 Currently maintained by: Colin Walters <walters@debian.org>
  15
  16 From the introduction to the manual:
  17
  18   "Calc" is an advanced calculator and mathematical tool that runs as
  19   part of the GNU Emacs environment.  Very roughly based on the HP-28/48
  20   series of calculators, its many features include:
  21
  22     * Choice of algebraic or RPN (stack-based) entry of calculations.
  23
  24     * Arbitrary precision integers and floating-point numbers.
  25
  26     * Arithmetic on rational numbers, complex numbers (rectangular and
  27       polar), error forms with standard deviations, open and closed
  28       intervals, vectors and matrices, dates and times, infinities,
  29       sets, quantities with units, and algebraic formulas.
  30
  31     * Mathematical operations such as logarithms and trigonometric functions.
  32
  33     * Programmer's features (bitwise operations, non-decimal numbers).
  34
  35     * Financial functions such as future value and internal rate of return.
  36
  37     * Number theoretical features such as prime factorization and
  38       arithmetic modulo M for any M.
  39
  40     * Algebraic manipulation features, including symbolic calculus.
  41
  42     * Moving data to and from regular editing buffers.
  43
  44     * "Embedded mode" for manipulating Calc formulas and data directly
  45       inside any editing buffer.
  46
  47     * Graphics using GNUPLOT, a versatile (and free) plotting program.
  48
  49     * Easy programming using keyboard macros, algebraic formulas,
  50       algebraic rewrite rules, or extended Emacs Lisp.
  51
  52
  53 Calc is written entirely in Emacs Lisp, for maximum portability.
  54 You do not need to recompile Emacs to install and use Calc.
  55
  56 You will need about six megabytes of disk space to install Calc
  57 and its Info documentation.
  58
  59 See the file INSTALL for installation instructions.  The instructions
  60 may seem long, but on typical systems you will only need to follow the
  61 steps shown in the first section.
  62
  63 Don't even try to run Calc in uncompiled (.el) form!  It's far too slow.
  64
  65
  66 I am anxious to hear about your experiences using Calc.  Send mail to
  67 "daveg@synaptics.com".  A bug report is most useful if you include the
  68 exact input and output that occurred, any modes in effect (such as the
  69 current precision), and so on.  If you find Calc is difficult to operate
  70 in any way, or if you have other suggestions, don't hesitate to let me
  71 know.  If you find errors (including simple typos) in the manual, let
  72 me know.  Even if you find no bugs at all I would love to hear your
  73 opinions.
  74
  75 The latest Calc tar files and patches are always available for anonymous
  76 FTP on prep.ai.mit.edu.
  77
  78 Thanks,
  79
  80                                                                 -- Dave
  81
  82
  83
  84
  85
  86 Summary of changes to "Calc"
  87 ------- -- ------- --  ----
  88
  89
  90 Version 2.02f:
  91
  92  * Fixed a bug which broke `I', `H', `K' prefix keys in recent Emacs.
  93
  94  * Fixed a bug in calc.texinfo which prevented "make tex2" from working.
  95
  96  * Updated `C-y' (calc-yank) to understand Emacs 19 generalized kill ring.
  97
  98  * Added a copy of "calccard.tex", the Calc quick reference card.
  99
 100 \f
 101 Version 2.02e:
 102
 103  * Fixed an installation bug caused by recent changes to `write-region'.
 104
 105 \f
 106 Version 2.02d:
 107
 108  * Fixed a minor installation problem with a Emacs 19.29 byte-compiler bug.
 109
 110  * Removed archaic "macedit" package (superseded by "edmacro").
 111
 112 \f
 113 Version 2.02c:
 114
 115  * Patch to port Calc to Lucid Emacs 19; still works with GNU 18 and GNU 19.
 116
 117  * Fixed a bug that broke `C-x C-c' after Calc graphics had been used.
 118
 119 \f
 120 Version 2.02b:
 121
 122  * Minor patch to port Calc to GNU Emacs 19.  Will be superseded by Calc 3.00.
 123
 124 \f
 125 Version 2.02:
 126
 127  * Revamped the manual a bit; rearranged some sections.
 128
 129  * Added marginal notes for Key/Function Index refs in printed manual.
 130
 131  * Changed `M-# r' to deal more gracefully with blank lines.
 132
 133  * Made reductions like `V R +' and `M-# :' considerably faster.
 134
 135  * Improved parsing and display of cases like "[a + b]".
 136
 137  * Added `t +' and `t -' for doing business date arithmetic.
 138
 139  * Added "syntax tables," the opposite of compositions.
 140
 141  * Added another Rewrites Tutorial exercise.
 142
 143  * Added the "vmatches" function.
 144
 145  * Added the `Modes' variable and `m g' command.
 146
 147  * Improved `u s' to cancel, e.g., "11 mph hr / yd" to get a number.
 148
 149  * Added "quick units" commands "u 0" through "u 9".
 150
 151  * Moved `M-%' to calc.el to avoid autoloading problems.
 152
 153  * Added `M-=' during algebraic entry, acts like `RET ='.
 154
 155  * Made `LFD' prevent evaluation when finishing a calc-edit command.
 156
 157  * Changed calc-store commands to use `t .' mode for trail display.
 158
 159  * Improved integrator to understand forms involving "erf".
 160
 161  * Fixed parser to make sense of "[1....1e2]" input.
 162
 163  * Fixed FORTRAN parser to treat a(i,j) as a_i_j if a is declared matrix.
 164
 165  * Got rid of some version number stamps to reduce size of patches.
 166
 167  * Fixed a bug in defmath treating "<=" and ">=" predicates.
 168
 169  * Fixed a bug in which Calc crashed multiplying two date forms.
 170
 171  * Fixed a bug in line breaker that crashed for large, nested formulas.
 172
 173  * Fixed a bug using ` to edit string("foo").
 174
 175  * Fixed a bug where `M-# y' in Big mode copied stack level number.
 176
 177  * Fixed a bug where `g O' used wrong default directory, no completion.
 178
 179  * Fixed a bug where "foo_bar(i)" parsed in C mode but showed as foo#bar.
 180
 181  * Fixed several bugs where large calculations got "computation too long."
 182
 183 \f
 184 Version 2.01:
 185
 186  * Added percentage commands `M-%', `b %', and `c %'.
 187
 188  * Changed Big mode to force radix-10 in superscripts.
 189
 190  * Improved display of fractions in various language modes.
 191
 192  * Changed `a n' to work properly with equations and inequalities.
 193
 194  * The problem with cross references to Index nodes in TeX has been fixed.
 195
 196  * Fixed a bug where recursive esc-maps make calc-ext/-aent unloadable.
 197
 198  * Fixed a bug in `M-# k', then `OFF' right away, with fresh Emacs.
 199
 200  * Fixed a bug in which "S_i_j" was formatted wrong after `j s'.
 201
 202  * Fixed a bug in which `h k u c' positioned cursor on wrong line.
 203
 204  * Fixed a bug where `z ?' crashed if `z %' was defined.
 205
 206  * Fixed a bug in `j O' (calc-select-once-maybe).
 207
 208  * Fixed "make private" not to ask "Delete excess versions" and crash.
 209
 210 \f
 211 Version 2.00:
 212
 213  * First complete posting of Calc since 1.01.
 214
 215  * Most parts of Calc have seen changes since version 1.07.  See
 216    section "New for Calc 2.00" in the manual for a summary.  In
 217    the FTP version of the Calc distribution, the file README.prev
 218    contains a detailed change history from 1.00 up to 2.00.
 219