NAME

       tapecalc - full-screen editing calculator

USAGE

       tapecalc [options] [file-specifications]

SYNOPSIS

       Tapecalc is a fixed-point calculator that operates as a full-screen editor.

DESCRIPTION

       Tapecalc  performs  fixed-point  computation.   It  is designed for use as a checkbook or expense-account
       balancing tool.

       Tapecalc maintains a running result for each operation.  You may scroll to any position in the expression
       list  and  modify  the  list.   Enter  data by typing numbers (with optional decimal point), separated by
       operators.

       An output transcript may be saved and reloaded for further editing.  Scripts  are  loaded  from  left  to
       right (with the "output" processed first).

OPTIONS

       Command line options of tapecalc are:

       -h     Prints the list of options.

       -i interval
              Sets compounding interval for interest computation.

       -o script
              Specify file in which to save output transcript.

       -p num Sets precision (number of digits after the decimal place).

OPERATIONS

   Computations:
       The operators are all single-character:

       +      begins an addition

       -      begins a subtraction

       ~      negates the result

       *      begins a multiplication

       /      begins a division

       %      begins an interest computation (uses interval): rate=number.

       $      begins a sales-tax computation: rate=number.

       (      opening  parenthesis.   This  may  enclose  a unary '-', more parentheses, or data (implicit unary
              '+').

       )      closing parenthesis, expects another operator, not data.

       =      flushes out the current number, forces re-computation of the running result.

       A space flushes out the current number-input, and (by default) sets the next operator to be the  same  as
       the current one.  You may repeat the last arithmetic operation of any type:

       a      repeats the last '+' (default 0).

       s      repeats the last '-' (default 0).

       n      repeats the last '~'.

       m      repeats the last '*' (default 1).

       d      repeats the last '/' (default 1).

       i      repeats the last '%' (default 4).

       t      repeats the last '$' (default 4).

       You may toggle the prefix operator of any number by typing a single character:

       A      toggles the operator to '+'.

       S      toggles the operator to '-'.

       N      toggles the operator to '~'.

       M      toggles the operator to '*'.

       D      toggles the operator to '/'.

       I      toggles the operator to '%'.

       T      toggles the operator to '$'.

   Editing:
       As  you  enter data, you may edit it.  A backspace deletes the last digit of the current number (if it is
       visible).  Use the arrow keys or vi-style 'h' and 'l' to move left and  right  within  the  line.   Other
       editing commands include

       u      undoes the last x/X command (restricted to restoring the current data only).

       x      deletes the current data.  If the data is null, deletes the following line.

       X      deletes the current data.  If the data is null, deletes the preceding line and moves up.

       o      opens a new line after the current line.

       O      opens a new line before the current line.

       #      edit the associated comment.

       An  "open"  permits  you  to  insert  a  new operator and data into the expression list.  You may type an
       operator character (e.g., '+'), and continue with the new data, or an operator-repeat  (e.g.,  'A').   In
       either  case, you may edit the new data, just as you would the old data.  A 'u' (or other toggle, such as
       'o', 'O', or 'q') typed after an open will undo the open (and close it).

   Scrolling/cursor movement:
       H      move to the top line on the screen.

       M      move to the middle line on the screen.

       L      move to the last line on the screen

       CTL/F  scroll forward one screen.

       CTL/B  scroll backward one screen.

       j      move forward one line.

       k      move backward one line.

       z<CR>  move the current line to the top of the screen.

       z.     move the current line to the middle of the screen.

       z-     move the current line to the bottom of the screen.

       Like vi, tapecalc allows you to jump to a particular line with a ":" command

       :$     jumps to the last entry

       :1     jumps to the first entry.

   Scripts:
       Transcript files are formatted to permit line-oriented entries:
       <operator><value><tab><ignored><tab># comment

       The transcripts saved by tapecalc contain the running result in the  "ignored"  part.   To  exit  without
       saving  a  transcript,  type  'Q'.   A normal exit, by typing 'q', saves the list of operators, data (and
       running result) in the specified file.

       You can read and write scripts without leaving tapecalc.  reads a script at the current entry

       :e file
              clears the current script and reads a script from the file.

       :f     shows the current script name.

       :r file

       :w file
              writes a script to the specified file.

ENVIRONMENT

       Tapecalc runs in a portable UNIX® environment.

FILES

       Tapecalc is a single binary module, with a help file tapecalc.hlp installed in the same directory.

FUTURE WORK

       It would be nice to be able to change the precision within the program.  In particular, the interest  and
       sales tax computations would be more useful if their precision was independent of the running total.

AUTHOR

       Thomas Dickey

SEE ALSO

       wc (1), vi (1)

                                                                                                     TAPECALC(1)