comparison man/calc.texi @ 62389:fbb23c0ada57

(Storing Variables): Mention `calc-copy-special-constant'.

62388:413b0a1cca76

contain no value at all.  If they appear in an algebraic formula they
will be left alone even if you press @kbd{=} (@code{calc-evaluate}).
The @kbd{s u} (@code{calc-unstore}) command returns a variable to the
void state.

The only variables with predefined values are the ``special constants''
@code{pi}, @code{e}, @code{i}, @code{phi}, and @code{gamma}.  You are free
to unstore these variables or to store new values into them if you like,
although some of the algebraic-manipulation functions may assume these
variables represent their standard values.  Calc displays a warning if
you change the value of one of these variables, or of one of the other
special variables @code{inf}, @code{uinf}, and @code{nan} (which are
normally void).

Note that @code{pi} doesn't actually have 3.14159265359 stored
in it, but rather a special magic value that evaluates to @cpi{}
at the current precision.  Likewise @code{e}, @code{i}, and
@code{phi} evaluate according to the current precision or polar mode.
If you recall a value from @code{pi} and store it back, this magic
property will be lost.

@kindex s c
@pindex calc-copy-variable
The @kbd{s c} (@code{calc-copy-variable}) command copies the stored
value of one variable to another.  It differs from a simple @kbd{s r}
followed by an @kbd{s t} in two important ways.  First, the value never
goes on the stack and thus is never rounded, evaluated, or simplified
in any way; it is not even rounded down to the current precision.
Second, the ``magic'' contents of a variable like @code{e} can
be copied into another variable with this command, perhaps because
you need to unstore @code{e} right now but you wish to put it
back when you're done.  The @kbd{s c} command is the only way to
manipulate these magic values intact.

@node Recalling Variables, Operations on Variables, Storing Variables, Store and Recall
@section Recalling Variables

@noindent

@c
@r{       @:      s c   @:var1, var2   @:    29  @:calc-copy-variable@:}
@r{       @:      s d   @:var, decl    @:        @:calc-declare-variable@:}
@r{       @:      s e   @:var, editing @: 29,30  @:calc-edit-variable@:}
@r{       @:      s i   @:buffer       @:        @:calc-insert-variables@:}
@r{    a b@:      s l   @:var          @:    29  @:@:a  (letting var=b)}
@r{  a ...@:      s m   @:op, var      @: 22,29  @:calc-store-map@:}
@r{       @:      s n   @:var          @: 29,47  @:calc-store-neg@:  (v/-1)}
@r{       @:      s p   @:var          @:    29  @:calc-permanent-variable@:}
@r{       @:      s r   @:var          @:    29  @:@:v  (recalled value)}

62389:fbb23c0ada57

contain no value at all.  If they appear in an algebraic formula they
will be left alone even if you press @kbd{=} (@code{calc-evaluate}).
The @kbd{s u} (@code{calc-unstore}) command returns a variable to the
void state.

@kindex s c
@pindex calc-copy-variable
The @kbd{s c} (@code{calc-copy-variable}) command copies the stored
value of one variable to another.  One way it differs from a simple
@kbd{s r} followed by an @kbd{s t} (aside from saving keystrokes) is
that the value never goes on the stack and thus is never rounded,
evaluated, or simplified in any way; it is not even rounded down to the
current precision.

The only variables with predefined values are the ``special constants''
@code{pi}, @code{e}, @code{i}, @code{phi}, and @code{gamma}.  You are free
to unstore these variables or to store new values into them if you like,
although some of the algebraic-manipulation functions may assume these
variables represent their standard values.  Calc displays a warning if
you change the value of one of these variables, or of one of the other
special variables @code{inf}, @code{uinf}, and @code{nan} (which are
normally void).

Note that @code{pi} doesn't actually have 3.14159265359 stored in it,
but rather a special magic value that evaluates to @cpi{} at the current
precision.  Likewise @code{e}, @code{i}, and @code{phi} evaluate
according to the current precision or polar mode.  If you recall a value
from @code{pi} and store it back, this magic property will be lost.  The
magic property is preserved, however, when a variable is copied with
@kbd{s c}.

@kindex s k
@pindex calc-copy-special-constant
If one of the ``special constants'' is redefined (or undefined) so that
it no longer has its magic property, the property can be restored with 
@kbd{s k} (@code{calc-copy-special-constant}).  This command will prompt
for a special constant and a variable to store it in, and so a special
constant can be stored in any variable.  Here, the special constant that
you enter doesn't depend on the value of the corresponding variable;
@code{pi} will represent 3.14159@dots{} regardless of what is currently
stored in the Calc variable @code{pi}.  If one of the other special
variables, @code{inf}, @code{uinf} or @code{nan}, is given a value, its
original behavior can be restored by voiding it with @kbd{s u}.

@node Recalling Variables, Operations on Variables, Storing Variables, Store and Recall
@section Recalling Variables

@noindent

@c
@r{       @:      s c   @:var1, var2   @:    29  @:calc-copy-variable@:}
@r{       @:      s d   @:var, decl    @:        @:calc-declare-variable@:}
@r{       @:      s e   @:var, editing @: 29,30  @:calc-edit-variable@:}
@r{       @:      s i   @:buffer       @:        @:calc-insert-variables@:}
@r{       @:      s k   @:const, var   @:    29  @:calc-copy-special-constant@:}
@r{    a b@:      s l   @:var          @:    29  @:@:a  (letting var=b)}
@r{  a ...@:      s m   @:op, var      @: 22,29  @:calc-store-map@:}
@r{       @:      s n   @:var          @: 29,47  @:calc-store-neg@:  (v/-1)}
@r{       @:      s p   @:var          @:    29  @:calc-permanent-variable@:}
@r{       @:      s r   @:var          @:    29  @:@:v  (recalled value)}