Compiled by James D. Purdy
jpurdy@home.com
September 27, 1999
WHAT IS RAINEQ?
RainEQ is a replacement equation writer for the HP48 written by a French
student named E. Patois, alias Rain. He put it on the Internet on May 27,
1997. Although it was made in May, 1997, it wasn't until Julien Meyer posted
it to comp.sys.hp48 on November 22, 1997, that it was well-known.
This program is still considered a beta by the author, and there are
bugs, but it still works great as a replacement equation editor.
Andre Schoorl also contributed to the library version of RainEQ, by converting
the User RPL to System RPL. It also has his code to run QPI and ALG48
as replacement functions if they exist. See below for adding these feature
to the variable version of RainEQ, as well as more information about what
it is used for.
FEATURES:
RainEQ is *much* faster
than the built-in equation writer. A fairly large equation that took 63
seconds to
load in the built-in
writer took less than 2 seconds to load in RainEQ.
It is less than 18k, so
it will easily fit on a GX and will even run on a G.
Screen Views:
INSTALLATION
If you have Java, the best way is to transfer raineq.lib to your HP48
in binary mode. You can install it just like any other library, using
any port you want.
If you don't have Java, raineqnj.lib would be the easiest one to use.
With the no-Java version, the best installation would be to assign <<
RainEQ >> to the left-shift ENTER key by typing the following commands:
<< RainEQ >> 51.2 ASN
When in user mode, simply press left-shift ENTER to either create a
new algebraic or edit the algebraic on level one of the stack.
The variable version can also be used instead and then customized
using information later in this document. If it is stored in the HOME
directory, it can be run with the key assignment above.
USING RainEQ?
RainEQ's syntax is very different from the built-in equation writer.
Equation entering is a little bit like in Mathcad.
In order to enter equations, you have to first mark the expression
that you want to
apply the next operator to. You do this with the arrow keys,
PRG, or any other keys mentioned
in the next section.
It's easiest to explain with an example, and the following example
was given by Balazs Fischer.
To enter '(sin(x)/x+x)/5', the key sequence is:
sin
alpha x alpha
right arrow
left shift up arrow
/
alpha x alpha
'
ENTER
+
alpha x alpha
PRG
/
5
Command Summary
| Key | Function/Description |
| math keys | perform the function on the marked objects |
| Enter | equation ->stack 1 (if not in editing/entry mode) |
| Enter | exits editing/entry mode |
| Cancel | cancels w/o saving equation |
| Backspace | delete to the left of cursor |
| PRG, <LS> up arrow | increases the marked area |
| STO, <LS> dn arrow | decreases the marked area |
| <LS> rt of lt arrow | swaps the marked area |
| Any function key A-F | displays the function menu (see below) |
| EVAL | calls EVAL |
| ( ) | allows entry of functions "f(x)" |
| " " | absolute value |
| DROP | deletes the marked area |
| { } | logical AND |
| << >> | logical NOT |
| [ ] | logical OR |
| ' | displays moving pick box which may be moved using arrows |
| <RS> VAR | |o=o Allows entry of a value for a variable (see .gif #4) |
| <RS> CST, MTH, PRG, '
STO, EVAL, arrow keys |
math symbols |
| <RS> backspace | deletes one entire object to the left of cursor |
Function Menu
PUSH Puts the selected part of the equation on level 2 of the stack.
EVAL Calls the HP48's built-in EVAL function.
->A%B Calls the HP48's built-in ->Q function.
If QPI exists, this calls QPI (raineq.lib version only).
FACT Calls the HP48's built-in COLCT function.
If ALG48 exists, this calls ASIM (raineq.lib version only).
DEVL Calls the HP48's built-in EXPAN function. If ALG48 exists, this calls FCTR (raineq.lib version only).
POP!! Takes a symbolic from the stack and
puts it in the marked expression.
APPENDIX A - Original Documentation
RainEQ Beta
Replacement Equation Writer for the HP48
By E. Patois
This program came with no documentation, but I have compiled the
following information from comp.sys.hp48 Usenet posts along with my
own experiences to help you.
-Eric Rechlin
eric@hpcalc.org
http://www.hpcalc.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What is RainEQ?
RainEQ is a replacement equation writer for the HP48. I have included
both variable (raineq.var) and library (raineq.lib) versions of RainEQ.
It was originally made as a variable, but I made it into a library
(number 1399), and it seems to work just fine, even from a covered
port, so I felt that it was worth sharing. I have also included the
source for the library in raineq.dir and also a version that works
best for people without Java, in raineqnj.lib.
I have included some GIF files along with RainEQ in case you want to
check it out before you install it on your HP48.
Who made RainEQ?
A French student named E. Patois, alias Rain, made RainEQ. He put it
on the Internet on May 27, 1997 at his home page at
<http://www.efrei.fr/~patois/hp.html>. He has information about
several other programs at his site, but at the time of this writing
(March 6, 1998) he has no other programs available for download.
Although it was made in May, 1997, it wasn't until Julien Meyer posted
it to comp.sys.hp48 on November 22, 1997, that it was well-known.
This program is still considered a beta by the author, and there are
bugs, but it still works great as a replacement equation editor.
Andre Schoorl also contributed to the library version of RainEQ, by
converting the User RPL to System RPL. It also has his code to run
QPI and ALG48 as replacement functions if they exist. See below for
adding these feature to the variable version of RainEQ, as well as
more information about what it is used for.
Why would I want to use RainEQ?
RainEQ is *much* faster than the built-in equation writer. A fairly
large equation that took 63 seconds to load in the built-in writer
took less than 2 seconds to load in RainEQ. It is less than 18k,
so it will easily fit on a GX and will even run on a G. Its
interface is very different from the built-in equation writer, but
after using it for a while it is fairly easy to use.
How do I install RainEQ?
If you have Java, the best way is to transfer raineq.lib to your HP48
in binary mode. You can install it just like any other library, using
any port you want. If you don't have Java, raineqnj.lib would be the
easiest one to use.
Java 3.4 and higher support an external equation writer, so then
RainEQ can be simply accessed with the down arrow (to edit an existing
equation on the stack) or with the left-shift ENTER key (to create
a
new equation). Java will automatically work with RainEQ, so no
special setup is required.
With the no-Java version, the best installation would be to assign
<< RainEQ >> to the left-shift ENTER key by typing the following
commands:
<< RainEQ >> 51.2 ASN
When in user mode, simply press left-shift ENTER to either create a
new algebraic or edit the algebraic on level one of the stack.
The variable version can also be used instead and then customized
using information later in this document. If it is stored in the HOME
directory, it can be run with the key assignment above.
How do I use RainEQ?
RainEQ's syntax is very different from the built-in equation writer.
Equation entering is a little bit like in Mathcad.
In order to enter equations, you have to first mark the expression
that you want to apply the next operator to. You do this with the
arrow keys, PRG, or any other keys mentioned in the next section.
It's easiest to explain with an example, and the following example
was
given by Balazs Fischer.
To enter '(sin(x)/x+x)/5', the key sequence is:
sin
alpha x alpha
right arrow
left shift up arrow
/
alpha x alpha
'
ENTER
+
alpha x alpha
PRG
/
5
What are the functions of the keys in RainEQ?
I haven't figured out all the keys yet, but I will list what I know:
Numbers and math functions act as usual, like the built-in equation
writer.
The arrow keys navigate throughout the equation, jumping around a
large amount, and VAR and NXT navigate a smaller amount vertically.
ENTER quits RainEQ, placing the equation on level 1 of the stack.
ON quits RainEQ, leaving the equation on level 1 of the stack as it
was before. If RainEQ was opened without an algebraic on level 1 of
the stack, it will place an empty list on level 1.
PRG selects parts of the equation, from the currently selected part
outwards. Each successive press of the PRG key selects more, until
the entire equation is selected.
STO does the opposite of PRG, gradually selecting less and less until
only one item is selected. Once only one item is selected, pressing
STO brings up an editing cursor to edit that item.
' brings up a selection cursor to select a large area of the equation.
When done selecting, press ' again to complete the selection.
CST does virtually the same thing as '.
EVAL evaluates the currently selected part of the equation. For
example, it converts 1/2 to .5.
Shifted keys have various uses, ranging from moving around parts of
the equation (with the arrow keys) to putting in absolute value signs
(with the right-shift - key).
If something is marked, MTH brings up a menu with several common math
functions accessed with the softkeys listed below:
PUSH Puts the selected part of the equation on level 2 of the
stack.
EVAL Calls the HP48's built-in EVAL function.
->A%B Calls the HP48's built-in ->Q function. If QPI exists,
this calls QPI (raineq.lib version only).
FACT Calls the HP48's built-in COLCT function. If ALG48 exists,
this calls ASIM (raineq.lib version only).
DEVL Calls the HP48's built-in EXPAN function. If ALG48 exists,
this calls FCTR (raineq.lib version only).
POP!! Takes a symbolic from the stack and puts it in the marked
expression.
Balazs Fischer wrote a patch program to customize what several of the
MTH menu functions do. His slightly edited post follows:
Put RainEQ on stack level 2 and a list containing 3 commands on stack
level 1 (e.g. { QPI ASIM FCTR }). Execute patch and the result is the
changed program. I don't know if it works with all versions of RainEQ
so backup your calc, usual disclaimers apply. The commands can be
anything (programs too), but they should take a symbolic and return
a
symbolic (and not change stack levels 2 to 9).
The patch program is also included in this distribution with the name
"patch.var". It will only work on the variable version (not the
library version, unless the raineqnj.lib library is split first).
Other Information
=================
An unusual effect of RainEQ is that its results are always symbolic.
Try 1+2 mark it and EVAL it, exit RainEQ and enter TYPE. The result
is 9 instead of 0. This is no problem, since you only have to EVAL
the symbolic on the stack another time to turn it into a number.
Also, Tim Bradshaw, tfb@aiai.ed.ac.uk, reports:
I found at least one thing that RainEQ does that causes at least some
unhappiness in Erable and/or ALG48.
If you have something which is a function application, say F(x), it
'should' (as far as I can see using Jazz) look something like this:
SYMBOL
ID x
SYMBOL
ID F
;
ONE (arg count)
xFCNAPPLY
;
whereas what RainEQ produces is this:
SYMBOL
ID x
SYMBOL
ID F
;
#1 (!!note)
xFCNAPPLY
;
-- which seems to cause some things to get upset. If you do a
->STR
STR-> on it, things are OK again because the STR-> parser reconstructs
STR-> the right form, at the cost of some speed.
Related to this -- is there any real documentation on how algebraics
are put together? RPLMAN seems not to have very much, so I've
been
spending time disassembling them, which seems a waste. Perhaps I
should just look at the source to ALG48/Erable...