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

   1 Copyright (C) 2001-2011
   2   Free Software Foundation, Inc.
   3 See the end of the file for license conditions.
   4
   5
   6 This directory contains Calc, an advanced desk calculator for GNU
   7 Emacs.
   8
   9 "Calc"  Copyright (C) 1990-1993, 2001-2011  Free Software Foundation, Inc.
  10
  11 Written by:
  12         Dave Gillespie
  13         c/o Synaptics, Inc.
  14         2698 Orchard Parkway
  15         San Jose CA 95134
  16         daveg@synaptics.com, uunet!synaptx!daveg
  17
  18 Currently maintained by:
  19      Jay Belanger <jay.p.belanger@gmail.com>
  20
  21 From the introduction to the manual:
  22
  23   "Calc" is an advanced calculator and mathematical tool that runs as
  24   part of the GNU Emacs environment.  Very roughly based on the HP-28/48
  25   series of calculators, its many features include:
  26
  27     * Choice of algebraic or RPN (stack-based) entry of calculations.
  28
  29     * Arbitrary precision integers and floating-point numbers.
  30
  31     * Arithmetic on rational numbers, complex numbers (rectangular and
  32       polar), error forms with standard deviations, open and closed
  33       intervals, vectors and matrices, dates and times, infinities,
  34       sets, quantities with units, and algebraic formulas.
  35
  36     * Mathematical operations such as logarithms and trigonometric functions.
  37
  38     * Programmer's features (bitwise operations, non-decimal numbers).
  39
  40     * Financial functions such as future value and internal rate of return.
  41
  42     * Number theoretical features such as prime factorization and
  43       arithmetic modulo M for any M.
  44
  45     * Algebraic manipulation features, including symbolic calculus.
  46
  47     * Moving data to and from regular editing buffers.
  48
  49     * "Embedded mode" for manipulating Calc formulas and data directly
  50       inside any editing buffer.
  51
  52     * Graphics using GNUPLOT, a versatile (and free) plotting program.
  53
  54     * Easy programming using keyboard macros, algebraic formulas,
  55       algebraic rewrite rules, or extended Emacs Lisp.
  56
  57
  58 Calc is written entirely in Emacs Lisp, for maximum portability.
  59
  60 I am anxious to hear about your experiences using Calc.  Send mail to
  61 "jay.p.belanger@gmail.com".  A bug report is most useful if you include the
  62 exact input and output that occurred, any modes in effect (such as the
  63 current precision), and so on.  If you find Calc is difficult to operate
  64 in any way, or if you have other suggestions, don't hesitate to let me
  65 know.  If you find errors (including simple typos) in the manual, let
  66 me know.  Even if you find no bugs at all I would love to hear your
  67 opinions.
  68
  69
  70
  71 Summary of changes to "Calc"
  72 ------- -- ------- --  ----
  73
  74 Emacs 24.1
  75
  76 * Calc no longer uses the tex prefix for TeX specific unit
  77 names when using TeX or LaTeX mode.
  78
  79 * Added option to highlight selections using faces.
  80
  81 * Gave `calc-histogram' the option of using a vector to determine the bins.
  82
  83 * Added "O" option prefix.
  84
  85 * Used "O" prefix to "d r" (`calc-radix') to turn on twos-complement mode.
  86
  87 Emacs 23.2
  88
  89 * Added twos-complement display.
  90
  91 Emacs 23.1:
  92
  93 * Gave `j *' (cal-sel-mult-both-sides) an option to expand the
  94   denominator.
  95
  96 * Use `calc-embedded-word-regexp' for finding words in
  97   `calc-embedded-word' in place of delimiters.
  98
  99 * Remove version numbering; use Emacs version for reference.
 100
 101 * Added support for using registers.
 102
 103 * Added support for Yacas, Maxima and Giac languages.
 104
 105 * Added a menu.
 106
 107 * Added logistic non-linear curves to curve-fitting.
 108
 109 * Added option of plotting data points and curve when curve-fitting.
 110
 111 * Made unit conversions exact when possible.
 112
 113 * Lowered the precedence of negation.
 114
 115 Version 2.1:
 116
 117 * New matrix mode for square matrices.  Improved handling of
 118   non-commutative products.
 119
 120 * New functions: powerexpand and ldiv.
 121
 122 * Added new functions: sec, csc, cot, sech, csch, coth.
 123
 124 * 0^0 now evaluates to 1.
 125
 126 * Added a new language mode for LaTeX.
 127
 128 * Calc now tries to use an appropriate language mode in embedded mode.
 129
 130 * Calc now restores original modes when leaving embedded mode.
 131
 132 * User settable variables which are not set with keystrokes are now
 133   customizable.
 134
 135 * Made ~/.calc.el the default Calc settings file.
 136
 137 * Miscellaneous updates and bugfixes.
 138
 139 \f
 140 Version 2.02f:
 141
 142  * Fixed a bug which broke `I', `H', `K' prefix keys in recent Emacs.
 143
 144  * Fixed a bug in calc.texinfo which prevented "make tex2" from working.
 145
 146  * Updated `C-y' (calc-yank) to understand Emacs 19 generalized kill ring.
 147
 148  * Added a copy of "calccard.tex", the Calc quick reference card.
 149
 150 \f
 151 Version 2.02e:
 152
 153  * Fixed an installation bug caused by recent changes to `write-region'.
 154
 155 \f
 156 Version 2.02d:
 157
 158  * Fixed a minor installation problem with a Emacs 19.29 byte-compiler bug.
 159
 160  * Removed archaic "macedit" package (superseded by "edmacro").
 161
 162 \f
 163 Version 2.02c:
 164
 165  * Patch to port Calc to Lucid Emacs 19; still works with GNU 18 and GNU 19.
 166
 167  * Fixed a bug that broke `C-x C-c' after Calc graphics had been used.
 168
 169 \f
 170 Version 2.02b:
 171
 172  * Minor patch to port Calc to GNU Emacs 19.  Will be superseded by Calc 3.00.
 173
 174 \f
 175 Version 2.02:
 176
 177  * Revamped the manual a bit; rearranged some sections.
 178
 179  * Added marginal notes for Key/Function Index refs in printed manual.
 180
 181  * Changed `M-# r' to deal more gracefully with blank lines.
 182
 183  * Made reductions like `V R +' and `M-# :' considerably faster.
 184
 185  * Improved parsing and display of cases like "[a + b]".
 186
 187  * Added `t +' and `t -' for doing business date arithmetic.
 188
 189  * Added "syntax tables," the opposite of compositions.
 190
 191  * Added another Rewrites Tutorial exercise.
 192
 193  * Added the "vmatches" function.
 194
 195  * Added the `Modes' variable and `m g' command.
 196
 197  * Improved `u s' to cancel, e.g., "11 mph hr / yd" to get a number.
 198
 199  * Added "quick units" commands "u 0" through "u 9".
 200
 201  * Moved `M-%' to calc.el to avoid autoloading problems.
 202
 203  * Added `M-=' during algebraic entry, acts like `RET ='.
 204
 205  * Made `LFD' prevent evaluation when finishing a calc-edit command.
 206
 207  * Changed calc-store commands to use `t .' mode for trail display.
 208
 209  * Improved integrator to understand forms involving "erf".
 210
 211  * Fixed parser to make sense of "[1....1e2]" input.
 212
 213  * Fixed FORTRAN parser to treat a(i,j) as a_i_j if a is declared matrix.
 214
 215  * Got rid of some version number stamps to reduce size of patches.
 216
 217  * Fixed a bug in defmath treating "<=" and ">=" predicates.
 218
 219  * Fixed a bug in which Calc crashed multiplying two date forms.
 220
 221  * Fixed a bug in line breaker that crashed for large, nested formulas.
 222
 223  * Fixed a bug using ` to edit string("foo").
 224
 225  * Fixed a bug where `M-# y' in Big mode copied stack level number.
 226
 227  * Fixed a bug where `g O' used wrong default directory, no completion.
 228
 229  * Fixed a bug where "foo_bar(i)" parsed in C mode but showed as foo#bar.
 230
 231  * Fixed several bugs where large calculations got "computation too long."
 232
 233 \f
 234 Version 2.01:
 235
 236  * Added percentage commands `M-%', `b %', and `c %'.
 237
 238  * Changed Big mode to force radix-10 in superscripts.
 239
 240  * Improved display of fractions in various language modes.
 241
 242  * Changed `a n' to work properly with equations and inequalities.
 243
 244  * The problem with cross references to Index nodes in TeX has been fixed.
 245
 246  * Fixed a bug where recursive esc-maps make calc-ext/-aent unloadable.
 247
 248  * Fixed a bug in `M-# k', then `OFF' right away, with fresh Emacs.
 249
 250  * Fixed a bug in which "S_i_j" was formatted wrong after `j s'.
 251
 252  * Fixed a bug in which `h k u c' positioned cursor on wrong line.
 253
 254  * Fixed a bug where `z ?' crashed if `z %' was defined.
 255
 256  * Fixed a bug in `j O' (calc-select-once-maybe).
 257
 258  * Fixed "make private" not to ask "Delete excess versions" and crash.
 259
 260 \f
 261 Version 2.00:
 262
 263  * First complete posting of Calc since 1.01.
 264
 265  * Most parts of Calc have seen changes since version 1.07.  See
 266    section "New for Calc 2.00" in the manual for a summary.  In
 267    the FTP version of the Calc distribution, the file README.prev
 268    contains a detailed change history from 1.00 up to 2.00.
 269
 270 \f
 271 This file is part of GNU Emacs.
 272
 273 GNU Emacs is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
 274 it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
 275 the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
 276 (at your option) any later version.
 277
 278 GNU Emacs is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
 279 but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 280 MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
 281 GNU General Public License for more details.
 282
 283 You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 284 along with GNU Emacs.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.