HP Forum Archive 08

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HP-41cx Message #1 Posted by Darrell on 10 May 2002, 4:01 p.m. Being almost totally illiterate with my 41CX, and after having searched for the answer, I hope someone can answer this quickly and easily. Since my calc didn't come with a manual, could you give me the keystrokes or instruction on setting modes. The unit was fine and then one day I see it set for radians modes and all I want to use it for is standard calc functions. I know, dumb question but it still needs answered. Thanks for the help.

Re: HP-41cx Message #2 Posted by Ernie Malaga on 10 May 2002, 7:42 p.m., in response to message #1 by Darrell To change angular modes: [XEQ] [ALPHA] DEG [ALPHA] [XEQ] [ALPHA] RAD [ALPHA], etc. To change display format: [shift] [FIX] 0..9 to set it to fixed decimal point. [shift] [SCI] 0..9 to set it to scientific notation. [shift] [ENG] 0..9 to set it to engineering notation. There are other modes, but they are not as important as these two. As you can see in the first case, there are functions available in the machine that are nowhere in the keyboard. You can browse the complete list of functions by pressing [shift] [CATALOG] [3]. Have fun. -EM

Re: HP-41cx Message #3 Posted by Spice_Man on 10 May 2002, 11:31 p.m., in response to message #1 by Darrell Try holding the clear button ( "<-" button ) and turning it on. It should clear everything to defaults.

Re: HP-41cx Message #4 Posted by Johnny on 11 May 2002, 11:44 a.m., in response to message #3 by Spice_Man Yes, and also remove any programs the guy have in the calculator. A MEMORY LOSS is seldom the correct answer to anything. If he by "modes" means angular modes, or numerical presentation, then Ernie already gave the answer. In addition, flags 28 and 29 control if comma or period is used for decimals, and wether you have 1000-goupings.

Re: HP-41cx Message #5 Posted by Spice_Man on 13 May 2002, 2:55 a.m., in response to message #4 by Johnny MEMORY LOST is a correct answer to his question, as he mentioned that "all I want to use it for is standard calc functions."

Re: HP-41cx Message #6 Posted by Thibaut.be on 13 May 2002, 8:28 a.m., in response to message #5 by Spice_Man Well, UMHO, ON / -> does solve the described problem but might cause some irreversible damage, even more prejudicious that the user apparently does not master his calculator. On my side I would recommend this operation only if other tries have been unsucessful. I would recommend this setup (than can also be stored as a program) to "reset" the machine as standard use : where @ is the [ALPHA] toggle and f the gold shift key XEQ @SF@ 28 (or @CF@ 28) - . decimals (or , decimals) XEQ @DEG@ XEQ @CLST@ f FIX 4 Of course many flags can be set/cleared to resume the intial state of the calculator, but I guess this short sequence solves most of the common problems.

Re: HP-41cx Message #7 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 13 May 2002, 10:10 a.m., in response to message #6 by Thibaut.be Hi; just to remind that CF and SF are also available at the keyboard. Make sure the USER annunciator is off (press [USER] key one or two times to be sure it lits and goes off) and then the sequence [SHIFT] [SF] 28 or [SHIFT] [CF] 28 will work the same. [SF] is available at the [7]-key and [CF] is available at the [8]-key. I believe ON/-> and MEMORY LOST are harmless. The fact is that EVERYTHING (except for time/date settings) is lost. Is that what is meant by prejudicious? I use ON/-> a lot, but if it has some potential damage influence, I would really like to know. Cheers.

Re: HP-41cx Message #8 Posted by Thibaut.be on 14 May 2002, 5:51 a.m., in response to message #7 by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) Yes, that's right, thanks Luiz !

Re: HP-41cx Message #9 Posted by HPhreacke[r] on 26 May 2002, 11:16 p.m., in response to message #8 by Thibaut.be But this abuse of ON <- may cause damage to memory. I had an organizer and it died because of much clears.

HP-41cx irreversible damage from [<-] [ON] Message #10 Posted by Spice_Man on 13 May 2002, 10:35 p.m., in response to message #6 by Thibaut.be I frequently use [<-] [ON] on the 41C series that I have... what sort of irreversible damage could this cause?

Re: HP-41cx irreversible damage from [<-] [ON] Message #11 Posted by Johnny on 14 May 2002, 4:51 a.m., in response to message #10 by Spice_Man No, ON/<- will not cause any physical damage. It will just make you loose your memory, but if you don't use the calculator for anything more than just adding numbers it sure don't matter. For people who really use the calculator, however, causing memory loss can be considered equivalent of causing permanent damage, since you can loose stuff you have written that you really don't want to loose. It does beg the question, though. Why use a HP-41 if you're only interested in a plain calculator? A HP-15 should do the trick just fine for you.

Re: HP-41cx irreversible damage from [<-] [ON] Message #12 Posted by Ren on 14 May 2002, 1:02 p.m., in response to message #11 by Johnny "Johnny" wrote: It does beg the question, though. Why use a HP-41 if you're only interested in a plain calculator? A HP-15 should do the trick just fine for you. Actually the HP-15C IS programmable and with its "Constant Memory" will retain user programs after power down. Now, I'm not implying that a 15C does HALF the stuff a 41 does. But that it is more than just "plain". Someday I'll have to get around to fixing the posts on my 41CV and start comparing it to my 15C...

Re: HP-41cx irreversible damage from [<-] [ON] Message #13 Posted by Ellis Easley on 14 May 2002, 4:25 p.m., in response to message #12 by Ren I think a 41C/CV/CX is probably easier to find and cheaper than a 15C. (though I did see a 41CX go for about $350 the other day) But even if the 15C is more expensive, you might make up the difference in batteries!

Re: HP-41cx irreversible damage from [<-] [ON] Message #14 Posted by Johnny on 15 May 2002, 4:37 a.m., in response to message #12 by Ren I was not trying to defame the -15, I was just trying to name a calculator with fairly advanced mathematics, while still being a bit simpler than a -41. I don't know if you can find any HP which isn't programmable, unless you go really far back. (And I'm talking calculators now). The same goes for continous memory. Another option would have been to mention the -11, but that one is also programmable. However, if someone is interested in using it for mathematics, the -11 *might* not have everything you want.

Re: HP-41cx Message #15 Posted by Ion Abraham (New Mexico USA) on 12 May 2002, 11:42 a.m., in response to message #1 by Darrell Hi, It looks like you got most of your questions answered with the previous messages. I just thought I'd add that the manuals are available (sort of) on the Museum CD. I say sort of because the C/CV manuals plust Extended Functions and Time Module manuals give you about 99% of the capabilities of the CX (no CAT 6 for example). Have fun, Ion Abraham Albuquerque, New Mexico

Re: HP-41cx Message #16 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 13 May 2002, 9:56 a.m., in response to message #15 by Ion Abraham (New Mexico USA) Hi; Ion is completely right, but I should suggest there is about 90% of the CX covered by the C/CV material, mostly when we consider the new functions (more than a dozen), the three new catalogs (CAT 4, 5 and the mentioned 6) and the ED (text EDitor), not so much refered to, but a great add-in for those who deal with ASCII files. The CX is THE calculator. For the time it was offered till today. Ion is right again: you WILL have fun indeed; just let the babe show what "she" can do. Cheers.

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