Programming in User RPL

If you've payed 270 bucks for your calculator, it should do something really nice. Well, it does. It's a programmable calculator, which mean you can "teach" it to do something it does not automatically do. But in the HP48, with its complete and powerful programming language and structure, allows more than simple programs that repeat keystrokes, like in other calculators. You can create programs with graphics, user interfaces, and much more. See the software section for some examples of what your HP can do.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to make simple (and some a bit more compilacted) programs in UserRPL, the programming language of the HP48. Most examples are related to maths, and most programs are totally useless: the calculator does the same the program does automatically. They just examples.

A note about the exercises: some pages have exercises. They are meant to be done, not just skipped. If you don't practice, how will you learn? There are answers to all of them, but the solution I gave is only one possibility. There may be others. If your program worked, then you may consider the exercise as solved, even if the answer I gave was different. But compare my solution and yours. Sometimes they may be completely different answers. Which one is more efficient? Which one is faster? Which one is smaller? If you have a different solution, send it to me via e-mail.

If you have found any error in this tutorial, be it a spelling error, or an error, in a program, please warn me via the e-mail above.

This tutorial may only be used for your personal use only. You may redistribute it, if it's in the complete and unmodified form, if you don't charge anything for it. (Or I would like my part, of course.) If you want to mirror it in your site, send me e-mail first.


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