RPN83P: RPN calculator for TI-83+ TI-84+ inspired by HP-42S

[johnb]

(04-14-2024 11:30 AM)floppy Wrote:  Under windows, looks like a student TI-NSPIRE whatever graph&OS SW must be installed, a license key must exists (since I bought one as second hand, no license key so far given) = I am stuck there, too.

Have you considered reaching out to TI's support and asking what it takes to get a license key for a used Inspire? This cannot be the only scenario that leaves a user stranded. It may be as simple as providing them the serial number of your device.

[bxparks]

(04-14-2024 11:30 AM)floppy Wrote:  What are the instructions for installing on "TI-Nspire with TI-84 Plus Keypad (OS v2.46)"?

So far my findings.

Under linux, a first try with OS 2.54 and tilp was not successfull (the upload of the rpn83p.8xk had no effect: no error, app not seen in the calculator).

Under windows, looks like a student TI-NSPIRE whatever graph&OS SW must be installed, a license key must exists (since I bought one as second hand, no license key so far given) = I am stuck there, too.

I'm not sure what's causing your problems. My Nspire (w/ the 84+ keypad) behaves exactly like a regular 84+SE. I used the same tilp program (the package name is 'tilp2' on my Linux Mint 21.1, basically an Ubuntu Linux 22.04). I needed no license key, no OS upgrade, nothing. I verified the installation process using both the mini USB-B port and the 2.5mm GraphLink port.

[floppy]

(04-14-2024 03:37 PM)bxparks Wrote:  My Nspire (w/ the 84+ keypad) behaves exactly like a regular 84+SE

In TILP under Linux, by chosing the device "TI84+USB" and NOT "TI-NSPIRE" , the RPN83P was uploaded. Will see if it works fully like the usual TI84+ hardware. I assume that will be the case.

[bxparks]

(04-14-2024 08:30 PM)floppy Wrote:  In TILP under Linux, by chosing the device "TI84+USB" and NOT "TI-NSPIRE" , the RPN83P was uploaded.

Yes, that's definitely a potential source of confusion, since people may not fully realize that "the TI-Nspire is emulating a TI-84+" really means exactly what that says. I have updated the USER_GUIDE.md document with a note that explains this.

[bxparks]

I am changing the appearance of the RPN83P menus so that a MenuFolder is displayed with a small line above the box, so that it looks like a file folder icon. This makes the menus look like the HP-48 series, instead of the HP-42S. Here's a screenshot:

   

If anyone has strong objections, this would be the time to raise them, before I spend multiple days updating the 400-500 screenshots of those menus in various documents. It is possible to make this configurable with MODE options (a "42S-style" or a "48-style"), but I'm not seeing any downsides to the 48-style menus, so I would prefer to avoid a MODE option for this.

Funny story: I had seen screenshots of the HP-48 series for 20+ years, and I never knew what those little lines meant. Until 1-2 months ago, when I realized that those are file folder icons.

[Steve Simpkin]

(04-16-2024 06:43 PM)bxparks Wrote:  I am changing the appearance of the RPN83P menus so that a MenuFolder is displayed with a small line above the box, so that it looks like a file folder icon. This makes the menus look like the HP-48 series, instead of the HP-42S. Here's a screenshot:



If anyone has strong objections, this would be the time to raise them, before I spend multiple days updating the 400-500 screenshots of those menus in various documents. It is possible to make this configurable with MODE options (a "42S-style" or a "48-style"), but I'm not seeing any downsides to the 48-style menus, so I would prefer to avoid a MODE option for this.

Funny story: I had seen screenshots of the HP-48 series for 20+ years, and I never knew what those little lines meant. Until 1-2 months ago, when I realized that those are file folder icons.

I would be surprised if anyone complained since it just makes it obvious that it is a Menu Folder rather than just a command. It would have been nice to have this feature on the HP-42S but I suspect they didn't have space on the limited LCD.

[johnb]

(04-16-2024 06:43 PM)bxparks Wrote:  I am changing the appearance of the RPN83P menus so that a MenuFolder is displayed with a small line above the box, so that it looks like a file folder icon.

...

If anyone has strong objections, this would be the time to raise them, before I spend multiple days updating the 400-500 screenshots of those menus [...] It is possible to make this configurable with MODE options [...], but I'm not seeing any downsides to the 48-style menus, so I would prefer to avoid a MODE option for this.

I see no reason for the option, either. Why would you _want_ to not see the difference? BTW, I think this is definitely a worthwhile change. I like the fact that the difference is subtle but obvious, and I always found the on screen menus of the 48-series to be pretty intuitive.

(04-16-2024 06:43 PM)bxparks Wrote:  Funny story: I had seen screenshots of the HP-48 series for 20+ years, and I never knew what those little lines meant. Until 1-2 months ago, when I realized that those are file folder icons.

I think this must be an occupational hazard with scientists, engineers, and technical types. We see what others don't, but sometimes miss the obvious. Either that, or it's a built-in "feature" of our personality type. My own canonical example is that I've liked "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" since my teen years (in the 1970s), but it wasn't until a dozen years ago when I was writing a funny response to someone and called them "a filthy English Knnn--nigit!" that I realized they were just grossly mispronouncing "knight!"