Re: On the missing comma as thousand-separator Message #2 Posted by Gerry Schultz on 4 Sept 2009, 6:42 p.m., in response to message #1 by Luca
I have both RPN and RPL machines and I have always preferred the RPN style with a 4-level stack. I do understand the issue in the RPL machine where the command line needs to parse an entry for its data type and extra commas can confuse it. But aren't we dealing with two separate issues? On a 41 when you type in a number, the commas are inserted automatically and maintained by the display but are not a part of the number itself. In the RPL machines, commas are never displayed for either integers or real numbers (as I remember). So, the issue is, as I see it, inputting of numeric data verses the display of numeric data.
As a compromise, why not disallow commas when inputting a real (it has a radix displayed in a 50g) number or integer (no radix in a 50g) number so the command line can properly parse the input. Then, after the number type is identified, have the calculator firmware put commas in the display of those number types only. It's not perfect but it would be a step getting the commas back in a number.
It does raise the question of if you have large numbers in the real and imaginary axises of a complex number, can the firmware also insert display commas? I don't see why it couldn't but I'm no expert. The displaying of all numeric data types would have to be rewritten. Sounds like a lot of work and that would cost.
My 2 cents.
Gerry
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