Quick Start
A major goal in writing Napier was to build a very powerful calculator for complex applications that also would be very easy to use for simple problems.
It is quite reasonable to use for just adding two numbers or calculating a restaurant tip, but it can also do calculate the number of workdays between two dates taking all weekends and holidays into account. You can start using Napier as just a normal calculator, then as you become more familiar with it, start exploring its additional capabilities in the area you are interested in. There is no need at all to understand anything more than how to enter an arithmetic expression on one line and tap the ENTER key.
First take a look at this image to see where the main parts of the Napier calculator are:
Napier is an expression based calculator, not really either classic algebraic or RPN type. To use it, just enter an expression to be evaluated then press the ENTER key. There is no need to evaluate inner expressions first, then reuse them to build the overall expression, just enter the whole expression, and when youíve got it they way you want it, tap ENTER.
You can edit what youíve entered using the BSP key to backspace or the UnEdit key to reverse the last edit or input. The normal cut and paste functions are available under Tools in the command bar, and you can move the insertion point by tapping where you would like it in the expression you are editing. The command box is scrollable and can hold thousands of characters, so you can enter a very complex expression.
Basic Operators
ENTER ñ This is like an ì=î key on some calculators, it evaluates the expression. If you donít edit the expression after tapping ENTER, and tap it again, the last expression will be evaluated again. This will be discussed more below.
DataIn ñ Identical to the ENTER key, but the results are appended to the Data Set. This will be discussed more below.
* ñ Multiply
^ ñ Raise to a power, 2 ^ 3 = 8; 16 ^ .5 = 4 (square root is the ‡ power), 4 ^ -1 = .25 (the ñ1 power is the same as 1/x)
- + ñ Subtract, Add
SP ñ Insert a space character, used after editing an expression
, ñ Insert a comma, used to separate function arguments and elements in a Data Set
E ñ Scientific notation operator. 2.345E3 = 2345.0; 2.345E-3 = .002345
( ) ñ Parenthesis, used to group terms to change the order of evaluation, or after editing to bracket the arguments to a function, there is no limit to the number of levels of parenthesis.
To evaluate an expression, such as 1.5 times the sin of 45 as shown above, just tap the keys to enter the expression, then tap the ENTER key. The order of expression evaluation is standard algebraic, 2 + 3 * 5 = 17, not 25, although (2 + 3) * 5 = 25.
The displayed format and precision of the result depends on the current settings in the Options (discussed more below), and the real stored precision is that of the IEEE floating point routines Napier uses, which is a bit better than 15 decimal places, with a value range between about +/- 2E-308 and 2E308. If you are doing a long series of chained operations, or using values near the limits, be aware that you can get round off errors depending on the values you are using.
Chaining Calculations Together
The following is the result of tapping the ENTER key, note the information box shows more precision to let you know how the displayed answer was rounded:
At this point, you can start another expression, or continue starting with the previous answer. If an operator, such as +, -, etc. is entered, the existing answer will be kept to start the next expression. If a number is entered, the previous answer will be erased, but it is still available, you can enter it anywhere in the expression with the Val key. This is discussed more below. As a convenience, if a function which takes one argument, e.g. Sin, is entered before any other editing is done, the function automatically is loaded with the Val reference as its argument.
This is after tapping the + key:
From here on, just enter the rest of the expression and press the ENTER key to get the next answer.
For example, suppose you have a restaurant bill of $182.55 and there are 5 people who want to split it evenly, including tip. Use the wTip function to start:
Then tap ENTER
Now divide by 5 (just enter / 5 ), to use the previous answer (Val = 209.9325) to start the expression.
Actually, you could just have done this all as one expression wTip( 182.55 ) / 5 and gotten the same result, although you wouldnít have seen the total bill.
Function Help
The Function Help key (the ? in the command line), will give an explanation for any key or function. To use it, tap it, then tap the function or key to get help on it.
This is the help after tapping the Function Help Key, then the wTip key:
Convenient Use of Memory 1
There are 100 memories to hold values that can be used in calculations. The easiest way to use one is with the MIn, M+, and M1 keys on the main keys, the others are under the function dropdown keys.
The convenience memory keys all use just first memory, M1, MIn stores the current answer in memory 1, M+ adds the current answer to the memory contents, and M1 recalls the memory. The name M1 appears in the expression rather than the value, both to save screen space, and so the expression can be saved for use with other values in the memories. This will be discussed further below.
This is after pressing the M1 key in an expression.
Thatís enough to start, but here are some conveniences
At this point, you know enough to use Napier much as you would a conventional calculator, but here are some features that make using it a bit easier.
UnEdit ñ If you enter or delete something in the expression, then realize it was a mistake, just hit the UnEdit key to reverse the previous edit. It is similar to an Undo key, but wonít undo things like changing memories, it only affects the command box and starts over when the ENTER key is tapped.
Move the insert point ñ If you want to edit other than at the end of the expression, just tap in the command box where you want to go to. The vertical bar insert marker will go there and further input will too. To get back to the end, just tap to the right of the last character. If you need to, use the horizontal scroll bar to move the view area over the entire expression. The virtual width of the command bar is several thousand characters.
BSP Key ñ This behaves the same as the BackSpace key on a keyboard, it erases the character to the left of the current insert point. If you select a section of the expression by dragging over it with the stylus, the BSP key will delete it all.
CLR Key ñ This just clears the entire command box.
Copy, Cut, Paste ñ These are under the Tools entry in the bottom menu bar. They behave the same as with other standard windows programs. You can cut and paste between Napier and other Windows applications too.