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 Virtual Calc 98    Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
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 THE MOST POWERFUL CALCULATOR IN THE WORLD!!!

 Email: phlin@ix.netcom.com
 Homesite:  http://www.edepot.com/phl.html

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Q: How do I register?

A: To register, visit http://www.edepot.com/register.html
   Or, print out register.txt that came with this release
   and mail it in.  (The instructions and address are in
   the printout).

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Q: How do I calculate some numbers?

A: Click inside the Expression input box and type in your
   expression, or use the digit and operator buttons to
   input your expression.  After you are done, click on the
   [CALCULATE] button.

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Q: How do I clear the Expression or Solution box?

A: To clear the Expression input box, press the [CLR] button.
   To clear the Solution input box, enter 0 in the
   Expression input box, and press [CALCULATE] button.

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Q: What does the MS, MR, MC buttons do?

A: MS (Memory Store) takes whatever is in the Solution
   output box, and stores it in memory.

   MR (Memory Recall) takes whatever is in memory and
   inserts it at the cursor position in the Expression
   input box.

   MC (Memory Clear) clears the memory storage.

   If you have something in the storage, MEMORY will
   appear in the little box about the MS, MR, and MC
   buttons.

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Q: Does Virtual Calc ignore spaces?

A: Yes, the spaces are simply ignored.  3- -1  (3 minus
   negative 1) means the same thing as 3--1 to Virtual
   Calc.  Note that 3---1 is not a valid expression,
   but 3-1 and 3--1 is.  If you save your expression to
   a file, your expression input box will remove the
   spaces for you.  (NOT in the file, but in the input
   box)

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Q: How does Edit menu work on both the Expression and Solution
   boxes?

A: The Edit menu items work on the box where the line
   cursor is located in.  If you want to copy some text
   from the Solution ouput box, click in it, and select what
   you want.  Then go to Edit/Copy menu option to copy it
   to the clipboard.  Then go to the Expression input box and
   click in a location that you want to paste into, then go to
   Edit/Paste menu option.  Note that you CANT cut or delete
   text from the Solution output box, just the Expression
   input box.

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Q: What are keyboard equivalents of the Edit menu?

A: The standard Windows 95 equivalents.  Here are some...
   Make sure you are in the correct box, then key in
   [Control]-v for Paste
   [Control]-c for Copy
   [Control]-x for Cut.

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Q: When I paste, the text is garbled.  Why?

A: If you paste inside the Expression input box,
   you might scroll the box, and the text will be
   garbled.  Just resize the window or minimize and
   restore the window will correct this display
   problem.  There is not problem with the paste
   operation.
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Q: What is the precedence of the operators?

A: Add, Sub, Mult, and Div all share the same
   precedence (left to right).  Use parenthesis
   to force precedence.  Note: (Assuming default
   symbols)...

   1+2*3/4 = (((1+2)*3)/4)
   NOT 1+((2*3)/4)  !!!

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Q: How do I modify symbols?

A: Right click on the operators or digit buttons
   and you will be prompted for the new symbol.
   You can also go to the Options/Symbols and Base
   menu item and edit in the Manual Entry Symbols
   box.

   Press [OK] after you are done, or [Cancel] if
   you change your mind.

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Q: How do I modify the default symbols?

A: Simply choose the Options/Symbols and Base menu
   item, click on the [Default Settings] button,
   and modify it from there.  You must at a minimum
   input 64 symbols.

   These symbols are what gets loaded when you click on
   [Load Defaults] in the Options/Symbols and Base
   menu item.

   These are also the symbols that get restored when
   you click on the [Restore] button inside the dialog
   you get when you right-click on a digit or operator
   button.

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Q: How do I quickly change to a different base?

A: First, click on the [BASE] button.  When you click
   on it, you will be presented with the same dialog as
   the one when you chose Options/Symbols and Base menu
   item.

   Next, click on the base you want...
   (Binary, Octal, Decimal, Hexadecimal, or Custom).

   Next, click on [Load Defaults] button.

   Finally, click [OK] button.

   The symbols for the new base are loaded in from
   the modifiable default values explained previously.

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Q: Can the calculator support bases greater than 64?

A: Yes, Go to Options/Symbols and Bases...
   Manually key all the symbols of the base.
   Or click on the increase base button from the main
   screen, and manually enter the symbols for the bases
   as they pop up.

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Q: What is the biggest base that Virtual Calc supports?

A: As many as there are symbols for your keyboard.
   Theoretically, 256, if you use a font that has
   viewable characters.

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Q: How many digits is infinite?

A: 2147483645 digits.  Note that this is because the
   the Expressions input box limits you to that amount
   of text at once. (Don't blame me, blame the Win32 API)

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Q: What is the default precision for division?

A: The combined number of floating point positions in
   both operands, increased by 100.  Note that Virtual
   Calc will strip all trailing zeros after the last
   non zero digit if it divides perfectly.  You CAN
   change this default to a value you want by going
   to the Options/Division Precision menu option.

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Q: How can I modify the precision of division?

A: In the Options/Division precision menu option,
   choose the Minumum Precision.  None means no
   floating points.  Larger Operand means calculate
   a minimum number of floating point positions
   as that of the operand with the GREATER number
   of floating point positions.  Smaller Operand
   means calculate to a minimum number of floating
   point positions as that of the operand with the
   SMALLER number of loating point positions.  [Both]
   means calculate to a minimum number of floating point
   positions as that of the combined number of floating
   point positions in both operands.  [Increase by]
   allows you to increase the option you chosen by X
   number of floating point positions.

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Q: Does Virtual Calc round up or down during division?

A: No.  It will reach the precision you want, and cut
   off the rest.

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Q: What is the default precision for add,sub, and mult?

A: Infinite.  Note that the trailing zeros will also
   be stripped.  Add, Sub, and Mult does not go
   into infinity.

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Q: I want a feature that is not supported in
   Virtual Calc 98, can I ask for it in future versions?

A: Yes, simply email me at phlin@ix.netcom.com
   I only take requests from registered users, so
   include your name and registration number.  Of
   couse, there is no guarantee that it will be in
   the next release.  Look below.

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Q: Can the author create a custom program for my
   institution?

A: Yes, the author is available for hire.  Email
   phlin@ix.netcom.com and explain what you have
   in mind.


