About Calculator++

Calculator++ is a cross-platform, arbitrary-precision, customizable, multifunction, scientific calculator. Using Calculator++, you can perform any of the operations for which you would customarily use a handheld or online calculator, and many more. While Calculator++ serves as an excellent complete replacement for your operating system's built-in calculator, it also offers many powerful features that are not available together in any other handheld or computer-based calculator.

Calculator++ is written entirely in Java, so you can use it on the platform of your choice. Calculator++ requires Java Runtime Environment 5.0 or later. You may download it HERE.

You do not need to read and understand this manual to use Calculator++. However, understanding the material will greatly enhance your use of it.


Highlights of the User Interface


Scientific Mode


Conversion Mode

2ndF and HYP Buttons

Many buttons have two or more functions. Press the 2ndF button to view the second functions of buttons. The SIN, COS, and TAN buttons also support hyperbolic functions, which are available when the HYP button is invoked.

Numeral Buttons

Depending on the number base used, the 0 through 9 and A through F buttons may be active. You can click these to enter numbers or use your system's keyboard or numeric keypad. For bases 17 through 36, you can use your system's keyboard to enter numerals G through Z.

Clearing and Editing

An important feature is correcting and clearing numbers, clearing the memory, clearing statistical data, and clearing everything at once. The buttons with red labels clear or erase data.

Menus

Below are brief descriptions of each of the application menus.

Menu Description
File: Operations for interacting with entire files, as well as the exiting (quitting).
Edit: Menu for editing data and interacting with the system clipboard.
View: How data is viewed, and what features of Calculator++ are viewable.
Data: Features of your data, such as the precision, base, and size.
Input: How you input data.
Preferences: Access to the Preferences dialog.
Help: Access to the About dialog and this help system.

Input Method

Calculator++ can perform arithmetic operations by several different input methods. These include Simple Algebraic Notation, Algebraic Notation, and Reverse Polish Notation (RPN).

Calculating data using the Simple Algebraic Notation input method, the operator precedence is the order in which operators are entered, and there is no use of parentheses.

Calculating data using Algebraic Notation, algebraic operator precedence and parentheses are observed.

Using RPN, intermediate results of calculations are stored automatically, so there is no need for parentheses.

Example:

We'll calculate 2 + 3 x 4 = 14. Mathematically, 3 shoud be multiplied 4 before being added to 2.

Using Algebraic Notation, you enter 2, click/press [+], enter 3, click/press [x], enter 4, then click/press [=] to get the result; 14.

Using Simple Algebraic Notation If you enter everything in the same order as for Algebraic Notation, the result would be 20; not 14. This is because the result is calculated in the order in which the numbers and operators are entered. Thus, it calculates:

	2 = 2
	+ 3 = 5
	x 4 = 20
This method common for financial calculations, thus implemented in four-function calculators and adding machines.

Using RPN, you first enter 2, click/press [ENTER], enter 3, click/press [ENTER], then enter 4. Next, click/press [x] to multiply 3 x 4, then click/press [+] to add 2 to the result.

Simple Algebraic Algebraic RPN
[3] [x] [4] [+] [2] [=] [2] [+] [3] [x] [4] [=] [2] [ENTER] [3] [ENTER] [4] [x] [+]

Troughout this manual, there will be examples of how to use each input method for different tasks.

Annunciators

Below the display(s), and above the buttons are annunciators. Each one signifies something when it appears.

Annunciator Description
n=... This shows number of statistical data.
#... The current statistical datum. When Calculator++ is ready for a new datum to be entered, this number is one greater than the total, n.
2ndF Signifies that buttons which support a second function have their second functions active. Such buttons will also reflect those functions.
HYP Signifies that the buttons which support hyperbolic functions have their hyperbolic functions active.
DEG, RAD, GRAD Signifies whether degrees, radians, or grads is active.
FLT, FIX, SCI, ENG, DMS, HMS Signifies whether floating-point, fixed-point, scientific, engineering, degrees-minutes-seconds, or hours-minutes-seconds is active.
BIN, OCT, DEC, HEX, B... Signifies whether binary, octal, decimal, hexadecimal, or a custom base is active.
BIT, CRM, NBL, BYT, WRD, DWD, QWD, OWD, UNL Signifies whether bit, crumb, nibble, byte, word, double word, quadruple word, octuple word, or unlimited data size is active.
LOW, MED, HI, CUS Signifies whether low, medium, high, or a custom precision is active.
SALG, ALG, RPN Signifies whether simple algebraic notation, algebraic notation, or reverse polish notation (RPN) is active.
+, -, X, ÷, etc. Signifies which binary (two-number) operator is active. This only appears when using as-entered or algebraic notation. For example, when entering 5 [+] 6 [=], the + annunciator appears when [+] is clicked/pressed. For algebraic notation, the annunciator disappears when [=] is clicked/pressed. For as-entered, it continues to display because pressing [=] again will re-apply the operator and last entered number to the display number.
(=... This shows number of left parentheses entered in the current calculation. This only appears in algebraic notation, as it is the only input method that supports parentheses.
M Signifies whether there is a value other than zero stored in memory.

Unit Conversion

Combined with multipliers, Calculator++ supports over 25,000 units for conversion in an ever growing list of categories and units. To view Conversion mode, select Conversion from the View menu. There are two displays with corresponding popup menus for multipliers and units. First, select the unit category from the Category popup menu. The multiplier popup menus will only be active for categories for which they are appropriate. Next, select multipliers and units for To and From. Enter a number for From, then click Convert to convert the number to the To unit. The To number will appear in the To display.