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The Command Line
Modes of operation
The command line editor is an area of the screen that opens up whenever the user needs to input data on the calculator. The command line has several different modes of operation, indicated by the letter of the blinking cursor.
The editor will switch between modes of operation automatically most of the time based on context. The user can manually switch by using the ENTRY
key (RS+Alpha).
- 'D' - Direct mode: When a number is first pressed, the editor opens up in direct mode. In this mode, commands and operations will close the editor, compile what was typed, and perform the operation all in a single keystroke. For example typing
2
and pressing1/X
will immediately produce an answer of0.5
. - 'A' - Algebraic mode: This mode is specifically for entering symbolic expressions. It is activated when the user types the single quotes
''
, or it can be entered into manually usingENTRY
. In this mode, commands and operators will not perform their functions, but rather will insert themselves into the expression as text. For example pressingSIN
in this mode will insert the textSIN()
. - 'P' - Programming mode: This is the default mode for programming in RPL, it is activated automatically when the user enters the program delimiters
« »
. In this mode, functions and operators will be inserted into the editor as commands, and automatically separated with spaces. For example pressingSIN
in this mode will insert the textSIN
separated with spaces as needed. - 'C' or 'L' - Alphanumeric mode: This is the preferred mode for entering arbitrary text. It is activated manually using
ALPHA
, or automatically when the user inserts the double quotes""
. In this mode most keys will insert letters, numbers and symbols. The 'C' in the blinking cursor stands for Capitals, and will produce capital letters. On the other hand 'L' stands for Lowercase, and will insert lowercase letters. To switch between 'C' and 'L' modes, press theALPHA
key once. A second press of 'ALPHA' without pressing any other key in between will disable alphanumeric mode, and return to the previous mode. To temporarily alternate between 'C' and 'L', press and holdALPHA
, and the cursor will change from 'C' to 'L' or vice versa. This change is only temporary while holdingALPHA
and pressing other keys. When releasingALPHA
the mode will revert back. Alphanumeric mode can also be used temporarily. When in any other mode, press and hold theALPHA
key and the cursor will change to 'C' or 'L'. Without releasingALPHA
you can type letters and symbols. Upon releasingALPHA
, the editor will return back to the previous mode of operation, ending alphanumeric mode.
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Navigation
To move the cursor through the text, use the cursor keys in the keyboard. Depending on the shifts, they will perform different operations:
- Cursor right: Moves one character to the right. At the end of the line it will move to the start of the next line.
- RS-Cursor right or RS-Hold-Cursor right: Moves to the end of the current line.
- RS-Cursor left or RS-Hold-Cursor left: Moves to the start of the current line.
- RS-Cursor up: Moves to the first line of text.
- RS-Cursor down: Moves to the last line of text.
- RS-Hold-Cursor up: Moves up one page of text.
- RS-Hold-Cursor down: Moves down one page of text.