Copyright Ó 2001-2003 Ling Nero. All Rights Reserved.

1. SnapCalc

2. Using snapCalc

3. Release Information

SnapCalc comes in a Palm OS5 only version and a HackMaster version for pre-OS5 handhelds. The instructions in this document apply to both versions, and will hi-light any differences between the two versions. For clarity, snapCalc refers to both versions, snapCalc5 refers to the OS5 only version, and snapCalcHack refers to the HackMaster version.

SnapCalc allows you to pop up a basic calculator from within any PalmOS® application, do some calculations, and, if you choose, copy the result to the underlying application. SnapCalc also allows you to paste a value to the display and use it in your calculations. SnapCalc5 is a standalone program. SnapCalcHack requires HackMaster or other HackMaster-replacement programs to work (I use the freeware X-Master). It runs on PalmOS® 2.0 and up. SnapCalc does not require MATHLIB.PRC but it does not do trig functions.

• Activate snapCalc from within any application
• Small (quarter-screen) and large window sizes
  -- Quarter-screen window can be dragged around
  -- Window sizes can be switched without losing your place in the calculation
• Copy or append displayed number to the underlying application
• Paste a value from a hi-lighted selection or the clipboard and use it in the calculation
• Basic operations of +, -, x, and ¸
• Operational precedence (configurable)
• Memory plus, memory clear, and memory recall
• Memory indicator and operator indicator
• % and sign keys
• Backspace key

• Maximum input and display of eight digits (very big and small values will be displayed in exponential form)
• Cannot input in exponential form
• Cannot truncate or round to particular decimal precision

IMPORTANT: SnapCalcHack requires HackMaster or a HackMaster-like program (I use X-Master) to work.

You can install and delete snapCalc in the same way as stand-alone PalmOS® applications. After installation, enable snapCalc5 in the snapCalc configuration screen. Enable snapCalcHack from within HackMaster or X-Master.

Configure snapCalc5 by running the application. Configure snapCalcHack through HackMaster. The configurable features are:

• SnapCalc5 only: Enable snapCalc: Check to enable snapCalc5. Uncheck to disable snapCalc5. When checked, snapCalc5 will be automatically re-enabled after a soft reset.
• Activation method:
  Cmd Bar - Activate by '/' Calc (snapCalcHack only: graffiti command stroke, then 'Calc' silkscreen button). In this mode, if your handheld displays the command tool bar when you do the graffiti command stroke, you will see a calculator button to activate snapCalc. NOTE: On pre OS3.5 units, if you configure snapCalc to activate by '/' Calc, you will not see the "Command:" popup when you stroke '/' Calc again while snapCalc is up. The stroke will still work, however, and snapCalc will switch to the other screen size. SnapCalc5 only: Command stroke activation is only via the command bar button. Doing '/' Calc will NOT work in snapCalc5.
  Swipe - Activate by swiping on the graffiti area from one silkscreen button to another. You can change the swipe by selecting different 'From' and 'To' positions. Setting 'From' and 'To' to the same position is the same as tapping that silkscreen button.
  Key - Activate by pressing or holding down a hard key.
• Preserve clipboard: By default, this option is enabled. SnapCalc will try to save the clipboard upon entry and exit. If you use a clipboard extension program, don't care if the clipboard gets changed, or are having problems entering and exiting snapCalc, disable this option.
• Pass tapping outside snapCalc: By default, this option is enabled. When you tap outside the snapCalc window, snapCalc exits and passes the tap to the underlying application to be acted upon. If you're having problems with this "pass the tap" behavior, disable this option. With the option disabled, snapCalc will continue to exit when you tap outside its window, but will no longer pass the tap.
• 1+2x3=7: By default, this option is disabled. SnapCalc performs calculations as you enter the equation and allows you to change the pending operator (e.g. from + to x). If you want snapCalc to observe operational precedence -- multiplication/division before addition/subtraction -- enable this option. When this option is enabled, snapCalc will not allow you to change the pending operator.
• Copy thousand separator: Starting with ver 1.4, snapCalc displays numbers with the thousand separator. To keep the same result as previous versions, snapCalc strips away the thousand separators when doing a 'Copy to App.' If you wish snapCalc to copy the thousand separator when doing 'Copy' or 'Append,' enable this option.

By default, stroke from Find to Calc on the silk screen area to activate snapCalc. See the Configuration section above to change the activation method. Stroking again when snapCalc is already up will toggle snapCalc's window size. You can switch the window size at any time without losing your place in the input or calculation. For example, you can enter 12+, switch the window size, then continue with entering 3.5, switch it back to the other window size, tap =, and you'll get 15.5 as the result.

Tapping outside snapCalc while it is up will cancel snapCalc and pass the tap to the underlying application.

To move the quarter-screen snapCalc, place stylus on the number display and drag the window outline to the desired location.

2.3 Operations

Perform calculation as you would on any other calculator. You can enter using the buttons or Graffiti strokes. The supported Graffiti strokes are:

• digits '0' - '9', and '%'
• backspace
• '+' for plus, '-' for minus, '*' and 'x' for multiply, '/' for divide, '=' for equal
• 'c' for clear
• '.' or ',' for decimal character, depending on your system preference

Tap the "Paste" button if you have a value in the clipboard you want to use in your calculations. When you're done and you do not want to copy the value to the underlying application, tap the "Done" button ("OK" in small screen). If you want to copy the displayed value to the underlying application, tap the "Copy" button. If you want to insert the displayed value after the hilighted selection in the underlying application, tap the "Append" button.

SnapCalc will remember both the memory register and the display register when you exit. Unlike switching window sizes, however, exiting snapCalc will not retain any unfinished calculations. For example, if you quit snapCalc after tapping the '+' button, snapCalc will not put you back to the state of awaiting an operand for an add operation.

While the display is limited to 8 digits, plus a 2-digit exponent, the values are calculated in double precision. For example, 1.3333333 + 1000 = 1001.3333 (displayed). A subsequent subtraction of 1000 gives you back 1.3333333. The memory register is also stored in double precision.

When you tap an operator key (+, -, x, ¸), it will be shown on the left side of the number display to signal the pending operation (except on the quarter-screen snapCalc). When the memory register is not empty, a small "m" will be shown on the left side of the number display.

 2.4 Copy and Append

Tap the "Copy" or "Append" button when you want to pass the displayed value to the underlying application. SnapCalc will pass each character as if you entered them via Graffiti, and the underlying application will react as if you entered the value manually. If you have a text field selected, "Copy" will enter the displayed value at the current cursor location or replacing any hi-lighted text. "Append" will insert the displayed value after any hi-lighted text, or at the current cursor location if there's no hi-lighted text. If you have no field selected, the result will be dependent on how the underlying application would react to your manually entering the displayed value via Graffiti. For example, in DateBook, with nothing selected, if you start writing Graffiti, a new appointment is created. Similarly, if you're inside DateBook, call up snapCalc with nothing selected, and "Copy" the displayed value, DateBook will create a new appointment with the displayed value as input. "Copy" and "Append" will not overwrite the clipboard.

 2.5 Paste

Tap the "Paste" button when you want to use a value you've hi-lighted or previously saved to the clipboard in your calculations. If you hi-light some text in a field before activating snapCalc, snapCalc will transfer the selection to the clipboard. Upon exit, snapCalc will restore the clipboard to any previous content, unless you've configured snapCalc not to do so. When you tap "Paste," snapCalc converts the content of the clipboard to a numeric value, then inserts it in the number display.

In ver 1.2 and before, snapCalc is fairly stupid about the content of the clipboard and assumes a single, well-formed number. In ver 1.3, snapCalc will accept the clipboard (or hi-lighted) content as if you entered them via graffiti/tapping. In this way, you can copy to the clipboard (or hi-light) a string "1+2x3=", place the cursor after "=", invoke snapCalc, tap "Paste" to have snapCalc do the calculation automatically, and tap "Copy" to transfer the result back to your app.

Ver 5.6 (OS5) (December, 2003)

• Fixed compatibility problems with some 320x480 aware applications
• Added support for Clie 320x480
• Added support for Treo 600 hard keys & opt + hard keys
• Cosmetic bug fixes with number display

Ver 1.7 (OS3-OS4) (December, 2003)

• Fixed compatibility problems with Treo hard keys
• Cosmetic bug fixes with number display

Ver 5.5 (OS5) (December, 2003)

• Added color
• Added support for Tungsten T3's expanded area for both Portrait and Landscape mode
• Added hard key activation

Ver 1.6 (OS3-OS4) (December, 2003)

• Added color and hard key activation

Ver 5.4 (November, 2003)

• Added support for Tungsten T3's virtual silkscreen for both Portrait and Landscape mode

Ver 5.3 (April, 2003)

• Fixed the command-bar activation bug
• Configuring Swipe from and to the same button is the same as tapping that button to activate

Ver 5 (March, 2003)

• Palm OS5 only release. Does not supercede Ver 1.5.

Ver 1.5 (October, 2002)

• Added Append -- insert result after any hi-lighted text

Ver 1.4.4 (September, 2002)

• Changed Font used in large display for pre-PalmOS4.0 units to support thousand separator

Ver 1.4.3 (September, 2002)

If you install 1.4.3 over a previous version, go into the snapCalc configuration screen after installation to make sure it picks up your settings from the previous version.

• Support Treo thumbboard -- activate snapCalc via option+hardkey
• Display number with thousand separator
• Fixed 'Paste' to work in table fields
• Fixed 'Divide' character to display correctly on non-Latin language handhelds

Ver 1.3 (July, 2002)

• Enhanced Paste - accepts strings such as "1+2x3=" and calculate as if you entered the characters via graffiti/tapping
• Fixed the tap-outside bug! Thanks to Mike Onines for suggestions and testing the fix.

Ver 1.2 (June, 2002)

• Configurable activation stroke

Ver 1.1.1 (June, 2002)

• Fixed bug that crashed Palm IIIc OS3.5

Ver 1.1 (October, 2001)

• Enable or disable clipboard preservation
• Enable or disable "pass the tap" behavior
• Enable or disable operational precedence

Ver 1.0 (First public release. September, 2001)

Send bug reports and suggestions to RnLNero@yahoo.com. Include snapCalc in subject line.