The Function selector task enables you to browse available functions and obtain the name and number of arguments for each function. It also enables you to insert a function name into your calculation ready for you to type its arguments.
The Function selector task can be started from the Main menu. Press the 'Menu' [Alt] key. Select the Calculation > Function selector menu item and the Function selector task starts.
You are placed in the Function list control, the only control in this list. The first item in the list is the 'Function information'. Press the Select [Enter] key to get help on how to obtain information for individual functions; this information is explained further below.
You can navigate this list control in the usual way by pressing the Up [up arrow] and Down [down arrow] keys. The functions available in the Function list depend on the function categories included. The categories available in turn depend on whether the Standard or Scientific calculator mode is specified. Both the calculator mode and the categories used can be set using the CalcPad settings task which can be started from the Calculator task's main menu.
Each function is defined by its name and the number of arguments it takes. When you browse the list, the function name and purpose is announced.
Press the 'Info' [F2] key to get information about the function's full name and the arguments it takes. Note that every function name is preceded with 'f.' to indicate that it is a function rather than a variable. Function arguments always appear enclosed in brackets and the type and number of arguments is indicated. Arguments are separated by commas.
Press * 'Info' [Ctrl + F2] to get the spelling of the function name.
To insert the function name at the position of the cursor in the calculation select 'Insert function to calculation' from the Main menu. To insert the function name before the calculation select 'Insert function before calculation' from the Main menu. Note that in both cases the function name is inserted followed by the brackets ready for you to insert the arguments. If more than one argument is required arguments must be separated by commas.
The following is a simple example. We want to calculate the sum of the number 3 and the square root of 16.
In the Calculation task in the Tab control type:
3 +
If you know the name of the function and the arguments it takes you can just type it in. If you are not sure, start the Function selector task as explained earlier in this page and browse down the Function list control until you hear 'sqrt - square root'. You can get information on the full name of this function by pressing [F2] and its spelling [Ctrl + F2]. You can insert the function name by selecting 'Insert function to calculation' from the Main menu. The 'Function selector' task ends and you are back in the Calculator task's Pad EditCombo control. The calculation you entered above now has the function name and brackets as follows:
3 + f.sqrt()
Since you want the square root of 16, enter the number 16 between the function brackets as follows:
3 + f.sqrt(16)
Result: 7
Of course if you just want to calculate the square root of the number 16, you can clear the calculation and follow the instructions above. Alternatively, if you know the function name 'sqrt', you can just type it in.
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