Configulator Help

[Updated Jan 2020]

Configulator Calculator is a scientific calculator with 16 keys [F0-F15] which can be configured [Programmed]. This allows the user to define functions that are relevant to them, not what the calculator designer has decided.

Most in-built features follow standard operation and are therefore intuitive; the features that may not be intuitive are described below.

[Latest addition is Two’s Complement for Binary, Octal and Hexadecimal numbers. See instructions near end of this file.]

Display Format

Numbers can be displayed in four different separator formats. The default format is 2,354,497.99. Other international formats can be selected from the “Settings” menu. IE: 2 354 497,99

Input Review

By default the users input is displayed below the calculation display. This display allows the user to review their input; it does not allow the user to edit the input. If the text exceeds the display width it can be scrolled horizontally with a finger swipe. Input Review can be disabled from the settings menu.

Exponents

To enter a number with an exponent, press EXP then enter the exponent using the number and +/_- keys.

EG:

[5][*][1][Exp][2][=] - -> [ 500]

[5][*][1][Exp][2][⁺/_-][=] - -> [ 0.05]

NBase numbers

Numbers to the base 2, 8 and 16 are signed integers. The number of digits for each base is selected from the SETTINGS Menu. Options are 8 and 16 digits for bases 2 and 8. Base 16 has the choice of 2, 4, 8, and 16 digits.

The signed integer takes in to account the number of digits in operation. EG: In HEX mode 2 digits FF is -1, if the number of digits is changed to 8 then FFFF,FFFF will be displayed.

Changing the base provides the same consistency. EG: FF [-1] HEX will be displayed as 1111,1111 if the base is changed to 8 digit BIN.

Bit manipulation functions such as AND, OR, ASR etc. operate on the number displayed.

ASR Arithmetic shift right. Requests the number of digits to shift. All bits are shifted to the right by this number of bits. The MSB’s become the sign bit. The sign bit is maintained.

LSR Logical shift right. Requests the number of digits to shift. All bits are shifted to the right by this number of bits. The MSB’s become zero.

ASL Arithmetic shift left. Requests the number of digits to shift. All bits are shifted to the left by this number of bits, the sign bit is lost. The LSB’s become zero.

NOTE: There is no LSL as this is the same as ASL.

ROR Roll right. Requests the number of digits to shift. All bits are shifted to the right by this number of bits. Bits lost to the right become the bits on the left.

ROL Roll left. Requests the number of digits to shift. All bits are shifted to the left by this number of bits. Bits lost to the left become the bits on the right.

Note: Two’s Compliment is given by the +/- key.

Percentage Calculations

Percentage calculations are as shown below:

[7][+][5][%][=] - -> [ 7.35] Adds 5% to the display value

[7][+][5][%][=] - -> [ 8.1] Reduces display value by 10%

[20][*][15][%][=] - -> [ 3] Returns 15% of value to the display

[8][/][16][%][=] - -> [ 50] Returns the value of the division as a percentage

Power and Root Functions

There is no specific Square Root or Square keys, the Xⁿ and ⁿ√X by default perform these functions.

To obtain other power and root functions the second parameter is entered.

EG:

Square Root

[9][ ⁿ√][=] - -> [ 3] Returns the sqrt. of value to the display

Cubed Root

[9][ ⁿ√^x][=] - -> [ 2] Returns the cubed root of value to the display

Squared

[9][ Xⁿ][=] - -> [ 81] Returns the value squared of value to the display

Cubed

[2][ Xⁿ][3][=] - -> [ 8] Returns the value cubed of value to the display

The default square and square root functions are now activated by the =+-/*)

IE (3 Xⁿ + 4 Xⁿ) ^n√=5

Days Function

The Days Function Key is not normally visible but is automatically shown in place of the PGM key when the function may be required.

The conditions for the Days key to be displayed are: a valid start date on the display and either the “+” key or the “-“ key is clicked.

Days Function has two modes.

(i) Calculates a new date from a start date and N days.

(ii) Calculates the number of days between two dates.

Dates are entered in a six digit format, ddMMyy without separators.

IE: 23 August 2014 is entered as 230814

If 0 is used as a date, todays date will be used.

Assume the current date to be 23 Aug 14

Adds 15 days to the date 10 Nov 14

[ 101114] [+][1][5][Days] - -> [Tue 25 Nov 2014]

Adds 15 days to the current date

[ 0] [+][1][5][Days] - -> [Sun 7 Sep 2014]

Calculates days between 10 Nov 14 & 25 Nov 14

[ 101114] [-] [ 251114] [Days] - -> [ 15 Days]

Calculates days between today and the date.

[ 0] [-] [ 070914] [Days] - -> [ 15 Days]

Random Numbers

The RND# key generates random numbers in two modes

With value 0 displayed the RND# key generates a random decimal between 0 and 1 inclusive.

[ 0] [RND] - -> [ 0.1419265]

With an integer [N] displayed, the RND# key generates a random integer between 0 and [N] inclusive.

[ 100] [RND] - -> [ 67]

In both cases if the original displayed value is not an integer it will be rounded to the closest integer before the random number is generated.

Round Numbers

The Round key gives the option to round the displayed number using normal rounding rules or to “truncate the number to a specified number of decimal places.

The user enters the number for decimal places after the operation of the Rounding/Truncate key. The user input is always converted to a positive integer.

DRG Key

The DRG key cycles the calculator through modes of angles. Degrees, Radians and Grads. The DRG key only changes the calculator mode not the current value displayed.

EG If the calculator is in the default mode of Degrees with 45 displayed changing the mode to Radians means the calculator will interpret this as 45 Radians.

DRG> Key [Shift DRG]

The DRG> key cycles the calculator through modes of angles. Degrees, Radians and Grads.

The DRG> key also converts the current value display.

EG If the calculator is in the default mode of Degrees with 45 displayed changing the mode to Radians means the calculator will change this to 0785398 Radians.

Hyp Key

The Hyp key activates the Hyperbolic functions. The default for Hyp is that it latches in to Hyperbolic mode until the Hyp key is operated. The Settings menu allows the user to set this to non-latching and the calculator reverts to normal mode after each Hyperbolic operation.

FFSE Key [Previously DFSE]

The FFSE key cycles through modes of number display. Float, Fixed decimal places, Scientific and Engineering modes.

NDP Key

The NDP Key is used to define the number of decimal places displayed.

For Float, Scientific and Engineering modes this is the “Maximum” number of places.

For “Fixed” that number of decimal places is always displayed.

EG [ 5] [Shift][FFSE] Sets the number of decimal places to 5.

ABS Key

The ABS key toggles the calculator in and out of “Absolute” mode. This mode returns all results as absolutes.

EG 3 - 11 = |8|

HIST Key

This key shows recent calculated results [Max 20].

MENU

The Menu can be accessed via the device menu key or “Shift” “AC” on the calculator key board

Settings available are Vibrate On/Off, Click On/Off, Hyp Latch On/Off and “Keep Screen On” to stop screen automatically blanking.

PGM Key

This key takes the user in to Programing mode to define the functions of keys F0-F15.

Full details of programming are below.

Rslt Key

Rslt key shows the result/s of the most recent F0-F15 operation.

Programming Keys F0-F15

The programming in the Configulator is basically a key stroke recorder.

As a key stroke recorder there is virtually no capacity for editing, so the user should carefully plan the actions before starting.

1. When the PMG key is operated the user is first requested to select which key to assign.

[If the key has already been assigned a function the user is presented with three options:

“Delete?”, obvious

“Overwrite?” new PGM as per the following steps

“Edit?” see Editing section below.]

2. When a selection has been made the user is then requested to enter the “Name” for the function via the virtual keyboard. This “Name” will replace the default Fnn label. The name has a maximum of 5 characters.
3. The user is then requested to enter the “Name” for the result via the virtual keyboard. The name has a maximum of 15 characters. [Does not need to be the same as the function name.]
4. After the result name is entered the calculator keyboard is displayed with a changed format. Some keys are blanked as their functions are not available during programming. Three 3 memory keys [MS, M+, MR] can be restored temporarily by operation of the Shift key.

Ø VAR key is used to initiate the entry of a variable name. EG X, Y Etc.

Ø NEXT key is used to complete one formula and commence the next formula in the same function.

Ø DONE key ends the programming sequence.

5. After the DONE key is operated the calculator returns to normal function with the new name displayed in place of the default Fx label.

NOTE 1:

When PGM mode is entered or a programmed function is activated Configulator is set to a standard configuration: Degrees, Float8 Etc. Configulator is reset to the pre-existing configuration when the function is completed.

This can lead to confusion if the user is using Radians and does not realize Configulator defaulted to Degrees Etc. In these modes some indicators are shown in red as an alert to the user.

NOTE 2:

In PGM Mode the keys M+, MS and MR are available with use of the Shift key. Functions M-, STO and RCL are accessed by a long press on the M+, MS or MR key respectively.

NOTE 3:

In PGM Mode and when a programmed function is being run the “EXIT” button will exit the PGM Mode or function.

Editing

Editing of the program can be done as the program is entered or when an existing function key is selected and the “Edit” option is chosen.

Items of the program can be removed by use of the DEL key and the LEFT & Right Arrow keys. New items can be entered at the current cursor position.

The Function key label and the corresponding Result Name can be edited moving the cursor to the extreme left and using the DEL.

When a “NEXT” is deleted the corresponding Result Name is also deleted. If a new “NEXT” is inserted a new Result Name will be required.

Examples:

A number of pre-programmed functions are available for download at http://softwarehorsetrailer.simplesite.com/

Assign a Constant: Assign the “Golden Number” to F0 [1.6180339887499]

Programming sequence:

[PGM][F0][GoldN][ENTER][GoldN][ ENTER] [ 1.6180339887499][DONE]

Select PGM, select F0, enter GoldN as label name, enter GoldN as result name, enter the number and click the done key.

F0 will now be displayed as “GoldN” and Shift-Zero will enter the Golden Number in the display.

Assign a Formula: Assign the formula for circumference of a circle to F1 [C=2πr]

Programming sequence:

[PGM][F1][Circ][ENTER][Circumf][ENTER] [ 2] [*][ π ][=][*][VAR][ r ][ ENTER][ =][DONE]

When Shift-One is operated the user will be requested to enter a value for “r”. The equals key becomes the ENTER key.

The result will be the circumference of a circle for radius “r”

NOTE: When a programmed function is run, variables are usually entered as a number but can be entered as calculation.

IE: Enter “r” as “5” or “2+3”. The result is the same.

Assign two Formula: [nPr(n,r) = n! / (n-r)!] [nCr(n,r) = nPr(n,r) / r!]

nCr and nPr are functions commonly found on calculators, with Configulator both functions

can be assigned to one key and calculated simultaneously.

Programming sequence:

[PGM][F4][nXr][ ENTER][nPr][ ENTER][ VAR][n][ ENTER][n!][=][/]

[ ( ][ VAR][n] [ ENTER][-] [ VAR][r] [ ENTER][ ) ] [n!][=][NEXT][nCr] [ ENTER][ANS][ / ] [ VAR][r] [ ENTER][n!][=][DONE]

When Shift-Four is operated the user will be requested to enter 2 inputs [n,r] and 2 outputs will result:

nCr and nPr.

Definition: nCr the number of different, unordered combinations of r objects from a set of n objects.

Definition: nPr the number of possibilities for choosing an ordered set of r objects from a total of n objects.

Clock:

The clock is in the top/right corner of the display. Clock has two formats: HH:mm and HH:mm:ss selectable from the settings menu.

Export/Import Programmed Functions:

Export:

Open the Menu and select Export Function. A list showing F0-F15 with the programmed positions named and highlighted. Select the desired function and you will be asked for a file name. Enter a name without a file extension, hit the “Enter” button and the file name is displayed with a .txt extension. This file has been saved to the “Download” folder as a text file.

Import:

Open the Menu and select Import Function. A list showing F0-F15 with the valid files found in the “Download” folder. Select the desired file and you will be asked for a position to assign the function. The position is then programmed and the function name is displayed.

Files saved in the Download folder can be transferred to other devices via various means. [Email attachment, File mangers, Etc.]

Files can be stored elsewhere as a back-up.

By a combination of Export/Import and the Delete option under the PGM key the keyboard layout of functions can be re-arranged.

Saved files can be edited by the adventurous user with a text editor. NOTE: Do not delete blank lines. Careful, there be dragons here.

Editing Exported Programmed Functions:

When the Programmed Function is read by a text editor the structure of the PGM can be seen line by line.

The first line of text is the label above the calculator key

The second to sixth lines are the name of the five possible results. If there are less than five results some lines will be blank.

DO NOT DELETE THESE LINES.

From here the program really starts. The PGM is based on three Operations:

Val: Which is a Value, [Number] entered during programming and cannot be altered.

The number is on the line following Val.

Var: This is a Variable that is only given a name during programming.

The user is asked to input a value when the Var is first encountered as the function is run.

The variable name is on the line following Var.

Sub: This is a Configulator Subroutine.

The subroutine name is on the line following Sub.

The function/operation of the subroutine name is not always obvious. The following table and graphics should help cross reference the subroutine name and the key.

EG.

Below is an example of a programmed function:

Calculate circumference from the radius of a circle.

2*π*Radius*Radius=

The text file that is exported:

VAL The value of 2

2

SUB Subroutine to multiply

Multiply_Click

SUB Subroutine to fetch Pi from the Android system.

PI_Click

SUB

Multiply_Click

VAR First encounter with Variable Radius at runtime. User input required.

Radius

SUB

Multiply_Click

VAR Second encounter with Variable Radius at runtime. No input required.

Radius

SUB Subroutine to finalise calculation.

Equal_Click

SUB Subroutine to end PGM

EndPlay

When editing PGM text files and Sub names are encountered, look up the name in the table and note the LINE REF#.

Scroll down to the LINE REF# in the graphics and see the related key.

SUB NAME	LINE REF#
Absolute	63
aCosh	110
ANS_Click	22
aSinh	111
aTanh	110
btnCosh_click	77
btnPower_Click	7
btnSinh_click	78
btnTanh_click	77
ChangeSign_Click	8
Const0	42
Const1	43
Const2	44
Const3	45
Const4	46
Const5	47
Const6	48
Const7	49
Const8	50
Const9	51
Const10	52
Const11	53
Const12	54
Const13	55
Const14	56
Const15	57
Const16	58
Const17	59
Const18	60
Const19	61
Divide_click	17
e_Click	11
EndPlay	6
Eng_Click	21
Equal_Click	23
Factorial_click	46
icos_click	37
iLn_Click	44
iLog_Click	43
isin_click	38
itan_click	45
Lbracket_click	5
Minus_click	20
MMinus_Click	39
mod_click	54
MPlus_click	40
MRecall_click	42
MStore_click	41
Multiply_Click	16
NEXTFORM	5
nRoot_click	6
OneOverX_click	15
percent_click	18
PI_Click	12
Plus_click	19
RBracket_click	10
RCL_0	27
RCL_1	28
RCL_2	29
RCL_3	30
RCL_4	31
RCL_5	32
RCL_6	33
RCL_7	34
RCL_8	35
RCL_9	36
STO_0	27
STO_1	28
STO_2	29
STO_3	30
STO_4	31
STO_5	32
STO_6	33
STO_7	34
STO_8	35
STO_9	36
tCos_Click	3
tLn_Click	8
tLog_Click	9
tSin_Click	4
tTan_Click	7
VAR	4

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