lisp/calc/README

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