23 replies to this topic

[omegavirus]

New add-in made by: Martin Saurer.

Displays a quick (and short) HelpText on each CP300 Function, Command and SystemVariable.

he just made some CASIO's work

http://www.classpad....php?id=228&cat=

[PAP]

Really nice Add-In. At least, some function & command help in ClassPad! However, it is slow, and there is no "Search Topic" ability, but the author knows that, and he says that he will fix these problems . Give him time, this is only the first release! Despite its limitations, I think that this is an excellent work. My congrats to the author! That being said, I have some suggestions for further improvement of the Add-In. It is obvious that I don't want to underestimate the author's work. I wish only to suggest some improvements that are certainly needed:

Documentation is currently limited. I think that more details should be given on each topic, together with some representative examples. For example, the function "judge" is currently documented as:

Fun: judge(e)
Returns True if e evaluates to true otherwise it returns false.

It will be nice if more information is given, e.g.:

If e cannot be evaluated to TRUE or FALSE, it returns "Undefined".
This function makes simplifications on its argument before judging. e can be any expression, but matrices cannot be compared.
>Examples:
judge(x^2-1=(x-1)(x+1)) returns TRUE
judge(x^3-1>x^3) returns FALSE
judge(x^3-1>x) returns Undefined

Of course, this needs a lot of work, but I'm sure that many ClassPad users (me included) will be happy to give a hand.

Furthermore, when using any ClassPad application the Help cannot be used directly: one must ruturn to the menu, then select the Help Add-In to get some help. The best implementation is to add the help ability in the OS, for example by a menu item in the System Menu (which is present in any application). However, this is Casio's responsibility, I don't think that the author can do that.
Nevertheless, this Add-In is extremely helpful.

ps1: A small remark: When opening a function or command list, the message "Reocrd %:" that appears should be corrected to "Record %:". A common mistake.
ps2: THE AUTOR JUST MADE SOME CASIO's WORK.
omegavirus said it already, and I totally agree. I just wanted to repeat it in capital letters. Does anyone in Casio hear this?

[omegavirus]

Sure, it will be nice if more information is given, and i hope it will be done not by Martin Saurer but CASIO, also by tthe moment it will be nice that SolfCalc hepls to make the add-in a faster than now if he has time

[PAP]

The Help Add-In is now in version 1.3. The author has improved the Add-In a few times. There is now a "Find" ability. However, there is a small bug: you cannot cancel the Find process. The Find window has two buttons: "OK" and "Cancel", but "Cancel" button does not work as expected: The Add-In will perform a search, even if you press the "Cancel" button. After a while, it simply reports "No match". I hope that this small bug will be corrected soon.
Unfortunately, the Add-In is still slow. It seems that the Function or Command index is rebuilded each time the user switches between them, or after finishing a search. Documentation is still very short, but better than nothing.
Unfortunately, ClassPad News in classpad.org does not say anything about this Add-In. The last news available is the "Free Cell" and an update for "Pyramid Solitaire". The Help Add-In is included in the "New Downloads" section, but I cannot see why two patience games are included in ClassPad News, while the Help Add-In is not. Furthermore, there is no "Utilities" section in the "Add-Ins downloads" (http://www.classpad....ories.php?cat=3). All Add-Ins are grouped in a single category named "Games". There you can find several Add-Ins which are not games, but utilities. In this category, you can also find the SpreadSheet, which is not an Add-In anymore, but part of the OS. It seems that people in Saltire are enjoying their vacations now...

[Filip Georgijev]

The Help add-in has some weak points, but simply you cannot expect an ordinary ClassPad user to challenge the people from Casio and Saltire who are developing the ClassPad continuously for years. They have become ClassPad C++ experts... About the vacations, I know that Saltire is a real Every-Month-Is-A-New-Vacation company. However, they work very hard on the ClassPad and they are all really good people. I am telling this honestly from my personal experience. Thank you!

[SoftCalc]

Unfortunately, ClassPad News in classpad.org does not say anything about this Add-In. The last news available is the "Free Cell" and an update for "Pyramid Solitaire".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The "ClassPad News" section isn't designed to be a "New Downloads" section. It was designed to list important updates and news about the ClassPad. As with most calculators though, interesting news doesn't happen that often. Ricky (the web master for ClassPad.org) decided to try and add something (anything) every month or two so the section doesn't get too stale.

The next time Ricky updates classpad.org he might updated the main page to list new downloads somewhere.

The Help Add-In is included in the "New Downloads" section, but I cannot see why two patience games are included in ClassPad News, while the Help Add-In is not.

Again, News isn't new downloads. Ricky wanted to add something to the "News" section last month and this was the most recent thing he could find. Every time an add-in is added it won't be listed under "News".

Furthermore, there is no "Utilities" section in the "Add-Ins downloads" . All Add-Ins are grouped in a single category named "Games". There you can find several Add-Ins which are not games, but utilities.

Actually, there is a main section and one sub-section. The number of add-ins that are not games are small enough to fit on the main "add-in" section. Ricky added a "Games" sub-section because enough games had been created where it made sense.

I suppose Ricky could create a dozen sub-categories for science, math, utilities, editors, and put one or two add-ins in each, but I'm sure then someone else would complain about this. If all the non-game add-ins fit in a single page I don't see a problem right now. The number of add-ins has grown a bit where it makes sense to split things up again soon.

In this category, you can also find the SpreadSheet, which is not an Add-In anymore, but part of the OS.

Sue, it's part of the OS, but it is still an add-in too. If you don't have OS 2.0 you can download it. Anyway to just redirects you to Casio's classpad.net website. They still have it listed there, which is why classpad.org still has it listed.

Sure, it isn't a useful add-in given OS 2.0 and maybe it should be removed from the list, but I don't think it's hurting anyone right now.

It seems that people in Saltire are enjoying their vacations now...

No, we're just spending too much time posting on forums.

I don't see anything out of date on ClassPad.org (with the exception of you'd like things designed differently ). ClassPad.org was designed so not to require too much work to maintain it, and I don't see any big problems with it. When Ricky has time he does try to update things a bit as needed. For example if the add-in section gets too big I'm sure he will sub-divide it.

[SoftCalc]

About the vacations, I know that Saltire is a real Every-Month-Is-A-New-Vacation company. However, they work very hard on the ClassPad and they are all really good people. I am telling this honestly from my personal experience.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually, Saltire is a bit unique because they offer 4 weeks flex-time. You use these 4 weeks for vacation, sick time, personal days, etc... You can also carry over 2 weeks and end up with a full 6 weeks in a single year.

Of course I was at risk of loosing vacation time last year because I had almost 4 weeks left in December! This is why I've taken a bit more vacation time this year over previous years . Also, I normally don't take a lot of vacation time all at once. Instead I like to take lots of extended weekend trips.

Of course when you factor in the 50-60 hour work weeks and the fact that I tend to do some work even when I'm on vacation I suppose you might call me a workaholic. Then again, when you love what you do can you really call it work?

[PAP]

I still think that an Add-In sub-category named "Utilities" must be added, despite the fact that there are no much Add-Ins that are actually utilities. Of course, adding a lot of sub-categories is confusing, but the "Utilities" sub-category is not.
Anyway, there is nothing wrong in vacations, we all need them. It should be obvious that I didn't wanted to offend anyone, I just wanted to make some suggestions.
PS: "Final Fantasy IX" is a game, so it shouldn't be present in the main "Basic" category, but in the sub-category "Games". Furthermore, "ToPolar" is a utility, so it should be moved in the "Utilities" sub-category.

[PAP]

I hear you ...

Good to know .

The performance problem is caused by the deletion of the entries of the keyword list. Filling the keyword list is much faster ??? Don't know why ???
Unfortunately on the ClassPad Emulator, all is working very fast, this makes the
development process not so easy (Compile ... Transfer to ClassPad ... Test ... and so on ...).
As soon as time permits I will investigate in this problem, and try to find a solution.
I will also add more help text with some examples. This is a lot of work, so please give me some time.

The developer should have all time he needs. It's easy to realize that there is a lot of work to do. Just let us know, whenever you release a new version of the help Add-In...

Anyway, I'm glad to hear, this AddIn is useful for you.

Obviously, your Add-In is useful to every CP user. Keep up the good work!

[PAP]

I just uploaded Version 1.4 of the CP300 Help Add-In.

Performance is now ok, and the Add-In becomes really useful. I think that it's time to add more help text and examples, as you 're planning.
One more thing may also be useful: to add some kind of "links", i.e., the ability to go from one help text to another. Example: Currently, the help text for "Cross" is:
Cmd: Cross
Graph/Plot Type for use in commands such as "StatGraph" etc.
Here, "StatGraph" should be a link, in the sense that tapping on it will lead to the help text for this command. A link may be written in boldface, as a sign that it is not normal text.
A "See also" field, with links to other relative help text, will be useful as well. Example: currently, the help text for colDim is:
Fun: colDim(e)
Returns the number of columns in a matix.
Apart from the fact that an example is needed here, it will be also useful to add something like:
See also: rowDim(e).
where "rowDim" will be a link.

A small typo: see the current help text for Clear_a_z. There is checked square instead of an apostrophe (') in the text.

[PAP]

Your request about a full help system with hyperlinks, etc. is far beyond that what this program should be (a Quick Reference  ).
Anyway, to realize such a "full help system" is an interesting challenge. I will look what I can do ...

It was just an idea. Your Add-In is still useful as it is now. Adding more help text and examples will make it a "must" for ever CP user.

As some people said in this forum, it's would be really useful, when help is available from within any application. I don't know whether this could be done with the "normal" CP SDK, but I try to investigate ...

I don't like C++, and I'm not using the SDK, but it seems that making an Add-In working in every CP application is such a universal problem.

I hope Casio hear the requests from their users, and will implement a "full help system" in one of the next OS releases.

A lot of people are disappointed by the OS releses we have seen until now. I don't really hope that this will change in the future. I'm afraid that you will not see a "full help system" in a next OS release.

[Kilburn]

Hi! I find your addin very good, and I have some suggestions for your addin:
For example, the function inverse cosine is showed as cos^-1, but it would we good if the "-1" is showed as superscript.
So, here is how I would do: Just write "cos\xED\xFC" instead of cos^-1 (See ClassPad SDK Programming guide to see all character codes)

More example : E for EXP : "\xEE\x03"
pi : "\xEE\x04" ...

And you could add the hidden functions:
Here they are:

-insert(a,op,: op = 0 -> a+b
op = 1 -> a-b
op = 2 -> a*b
op = 3 -> a/b
op = 4 -> a^b
-element(List,index) Returns List[index] List must be only a variable name
-element(Mat,row,col) Returns Mat[row,col] Mat must be only a variable name
-completeSqr(Eq[,var]) Eq must be a formula of type ax?+bx+c Var is the variable (default is x)
I don't know what this returns...
-conicsForm(Eq,n) Eq is a conics equation and -1<n<1
I don't know what this returns too...
-Receive, Send and CheckNaturalNum: I didn't understand these functions yet

I often prefer putting PegBitmapButton's in the Toolbar, instead of PegTextButton's.
But it's your program...so it's your choice.

Bye!

[Overlord]

completeSqr returns what we call here the canonical form of the polynom :
(ax?+bx+c) -form ----> (k(x+m)?+p) -form

[SoftCalc]

Good point, but it seems I have to change the UI elements, because these ones I use cannot display such special characters.

Cheers ...

What function are you using to display. All the ClassPad display functions should recognized these codes.

What do you see when you try to use these codes? If you see the explicit "\xEE\x03" then it's possible the string is incorrect.

[SoftCalc]

I'm currently using PegVertList, PegTextButton and PegEditBox UI elements.
These UI elements display the special characters as a "checked square".

These should all display multi-byte characters correctly. Are you using a special font, or the built-in font? How are you defining the strings? Also, what codes are you using? The SDK help file has all the correct codes. You have to use both bytes of the multi-bytes characters. If you use the correct 2-byte codes in a string and you are using the built-in font it should display correctly.

[SoftCalc]

Forgot to say:

I'm not setting any special font, so I assume I'm using the built-in standard font.

The multi-byte character codes are in the Programming guide on page 85...

http://www.cpsdk.com...mming Guide.pdf