HP Forum Archive 12

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HP49G IF-structure bug? Message #1 Posted by Juergen Rodenkirchen on 10 Apr 2003, 2:51 a.m. I'm currently using an HP49G with ROM version 1.18 (afaik, the last "supported" version) which seems to have a serious bug with "IF THEN (ELSE) END" structure: When I'm trying to use short cuts (usual LEFT- or RIGHT SHIFT with IF) with the IF-structure soft-key to obtain the "IF THEN (ELSE) END" sequence at once, the machine will stall with the busy annunciator active and a "3:" at the right lower part of the display (stack level 1). The same may happen even if working without any short cut if the structure words are not typed in in sequence one after the other (but are "interrupted" by any commands as you normally would work) ... hope, you know what I'm talking about ;-) Thus, the only work-around seems to be to press soft key IF, THEN, (ELSE), END by soft key, one after the other in ADVANCE and subsequently fill in the if-sequence, then-(else-) sequence. Does anyone know more about this? Juergen

Re: HP49G IF-structure bug? Message #2 Posted by James M. Prange on 10 Apr 2003, 4:27 a.m., in response to message #1 by Juergen Rodenkirchen Works normally for me with both 1.18 and 1.19-6. You don't happen to have anything assigned to these keys do you? Any libraries loaded? If so, then try holding down the backspace key while warmstarting to keep any library configuration routine from being executed and see if that cures it. Regards, James

Re: HP49G IF-structure bug? Message #3 Posted by Juergen Rodenkirchen (GER) on 10 Apr 2003, 6:14 a.m., in response to message #2 by James M. Prange > You don't happen to have anything assigned to these keys do you? No, I'm almost sure that nothing's assigned to the keys, but I'll double check that tonight (I haven't the machine at hand right now). > Any libraries loaded? If so, then try holding down the backspace key while warmstarting to keep any library configuration routine from being executed and see if that cures it. There's indeed a library loaded (Periodic table). I bought the machine 2nd hand as it's alas no longer available "officially" here :-( so that I'm not really aware about what the library's doing in detail. I'll try to avoid lib-config-routine execution at warmstart too. Thanks a lot for your valuable input! Regards, Juergen

Re: HP49G IF-structure bug? No success ... Message #4 Posted by Juergen Rodenkirchen (GER) on 11 Apr 2003, 2:54 a.m., in response to message #2 by James M. Prange James, JFYI the "remedies" you suggested didn't work: RCLKEYS gives {S}, so no assignments. I even purged all existing libraries. I guess, the FlashRom has got corrupted somehow ... if you have any other ideas, they'd be appreciated, of course :-) Thanks for your help anyway. Juergen

Re: HP49G IF-structure bug? No success ... Message #5 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 11 Apr 2003, 6:10 a.m., in response to message #4 by Juergen Rodenkirchen (GER) Hello, Jurgen; a few weeks ago someone at this forum posted a message about another problem related to the HP49G behavior, but in his case, O.S. version was earlier than the one installed in yours. Mine runs with 1.19-5 and runs fine. What is the sequence you use to call the PRGM menu to the top key roll? If I use 23 MENU [ENTER] and press [left-shift][IF] or [right-shift][IF} I get one of both IF-THEN-(ELSE)-END structures. Aren't you willing to upgrade just for checking pourposes? If not, don't you consider reloadind current installed O.S.? If it is data corruption, reloading may solve the problem. I'd also try another copy. BTW, did you observe this behavior before? I mean, have any idea of any particular alteration/addition/removal before the symptoms being observed? It might help further analysis. Best regards. Luiz C. Vieira - Brazil

Re: HP49G IF-structure bug? No success ... Message #6 Posted by Juergen Rodenkirchen (GER) on 11 Apr 2003, 8:26 a.m., in response to message #5 by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) Hi Luiz! >What is the sequence you use to call the PRGM menu to the top key roll? If I use 23 MENU [ENTER] and press [left-shift][IF] or [right-shift][IF} I get one of both IF-THEN-(ELSE)-END structures. I'm using here [left-shift] PRG BRCH IF to get there (I'll try 23 MENU [ENTER] tonight). Then I encounter either of the following phenomenons: 1. [left-shift] [IF] returns IF THEN END ok. But subsequently pressing [left-shift] [IF] (e.g. in order to insert an IF THEN END after the 1st IF) stalls the machine. 2. [right-shift] [IF] returns IF THEN ELSE END but stalls the machine immediately. > Aren't you willing to upgrade just for checking pourposes? If not, don't you consider reloadind current installed O.S.? If it is data corruption, reloading may solve the problem. I'd also try another copy. It has just been curiosity if there's some sort of bug in OS 1.18 ... > BTW, did you observe this behavior before? I mean, have any idea of any particular alteration/addition/removal before the symptoms being observed? It might help further analysis. Well, I've just started to use this HP49G which I bought 2nd hand. So, I can't tell what the previous owner did with it (except of loading 2 libs that I purged lately). Anyway, I'm currently enjoying the excellent Trigonometry-, ComplexNumbers- and SequencesSeriesLimits-Marathons of Nick (can't remind his complicated, long greek name)-- b.t.w., an absolutely incredible work that the guy did here. I have had some problems to follow the course due to missing commands with OS 1.18 and so I'm indeed planning to upgrade to 1.19-5 soon anyway. However, thank you very much for your help! Best Wishes and a have Nice Weekend :-) Juergen

Re: HP49G IF-structure bug? No success ... Message #7 Posted by James M. Prange on 11 Apr 2003, 10:07 p.m., in response to message #6 by Juergen Rodenkirchen (GER) Hi Juergen, It sure sounds strange. I expect that if Revision 1.18 had this bug, then I would've read about it long ago, and besides, I have a 49G with revision 1.18 that gives me IF THEN END for LeftShift IF and IF THEN ELSE END for RightShift IF (where the IF key pressed is the sub-menu key), and I can fill in the blanks just fine. I even tried two consecutive LeftShift IF presses (it is plausible that a bug in that case may have gone unnoticed), and that also worked as it should. I agree with Luiz that the next thing to try would be to re-install the "ROM", but I'd skip 1.19-5 and upgrade to 1.19-6 instead. You can get it at http://www.epita.fr/~avenar_j/hp/49.html or somewhere on http://www.hpcalc.org/. Lots of other good stuff on hpcalc.org too. By the way, you may want to look into the CASE structure as a replacement for nested IF structures. Regards, James

From me, thank you too, James Message #8 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 11 Apr 2003, 11:11 p.m., in response to message #7 by James M. Prange Hi, James; are you using 1.19-6 O.S. version? As it is available at Avenar's homepage, no doubts about stability, so there's no need to ask... ;^) I am using 1.19-5 since it was available and I must confess I did not try 1.19-6 because I was just lazy enough to install it... |^( Thanks for your support on trying it. I'll do it this very weekend. Best regards. Luiz C. Vieira - Brazil

You're welcome Message #9 Posted by James M. Prange on 12 Apr 2003, 2:27 a.m., in response to message #8 by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) I've been using 1.19-6 since shortly after it became available. See JYA's page for a list of changes, additional features, and bug fixes. In my opinion, it's the stablest and generally "best" 49G ROM so far, and the general consensus on comp.sys.hp48 seems to be the same. Regards, James

O.S. already updated Message #10 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 13 Apr 2003, 9:34 p.m., in response to message #9 by James M. Prange Hi; this is to let you know I have already updated my HP49G's O.S. to 1.19-6 version. I did not use any "suspicious" resources, but all data that what was already stored in the calculator (as all programs and libraries) prevailed. Thank you again, James. And Juergen: now I can say I recomend based on my own experience. Success. Luiz C. Vieira - brazil

Re: O.S. already updated Message #11 Posted by Juergen Rodenkirchen (GER) on 14 Apr 2003, 2:21 a.m., in response to message #10 by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) Thanks for the message and encouragement, Luiz! As mentioned, I'll follow you and will update my OS most probably on the upcoming Easter weekend ... well, at least, I hope so: You know, Holidays often turn out to be very preoccupying ;-) Juergen

Re: James, Luiz: Thanks a lot for helping! Message #12 Posted by Juergen Rodenkirchen (GER) on 12 Apr 2003, 1:37 p.m., in response to message #1 by Juergen Rodenkirchen ... and am looking forward to install 1.19-6 :-) Thanks for the link, James and - as Luiz said - for the testing of 1.19-6! Juergen

Let us know... Message #13 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 12 Apr 2003, 6:57 p.m., in response to message #12 by Juergen Rodenkirchen (GER) ...if you have success. I believe everyone in here looks forward for anyone's successfull results. Best regards. Luiz C. Vieira - Brazil

Re: Let us know... Will do :-) Message #14 Posted by Juergen Rodenkirchen (GER) on 13 Apr 2003, 3:52 p.m., in response to message #13 by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) > ...if you have success. I believe everyone in here looks forward for anyone's successfull results ... and that's why I always feel surrounded by friends when entering this forum :-) Btw, I've already downloaded all the necessary files for 1.19-6 from Jean Yves' site and do plan to upgrade on Easter weekend (hopefully I will have the time). I let you know when I'm done with it ... Best Wishes, Juergen

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