12-04-2022, 11:38 PM
It's interesting how different calculators and pocket computers handle engineering format. Basically, can the calculator manipulate the number after it has been printed? Some can, some can not..
Key:
Operator: it means it converts the currently displayed number into engineering format.
Mode: it means all future numbers are printed in engineering format.
Mode+Op: it means all future numbers are printed in engineering format and the currently displayed number is changed.
Menu if you have to traverse menus to do it.
- - -
Casio BASIC pocket computers (like FX-850P): It's an operator. It works for numbers PRINTed from BASIC (when calculator is stopped). If there are multiple numbers printed, only the last one is reformatted.
Casio Fx-602p, FX-4000p: it's an operator and it works for numbers printed by the program (even though these calculators have completely different programming paradigms).
Casio PB-110: scientific functions, but no eng format
Modern Casios (fx-9750GIII and similar): It's an operator and a mode. The operator is buried in menus (optn->f6->f6->f1->f6->f2, ugh..). But also there is a setup mode so that all numbers are in printed in engineering format. In programming mode, ENG format operator is more accessible: it's in the top-level of optn key. The operator works on program output.
Sharp PC-XXXX in BASIC mode: it can not! (and 1/3 prints 3.333e-1). But you have USING to control the format.... Some Sharp PCs have calculator mode, like EL-5500III or E500, on these hit FSE to change to eng mode. FSE does not work for numbers PRINTed by a program. This is the biggest weakness of these Sharp pocket computers, I think.
Sharp EL-9600c: it's a menu mode+op
TI-58 / TI-59: it's an operator, it works for program output (in stop mode).
TI-74: no engineering formatting, sad.
TI-89: it's a mode in a menu.
TI-95: It's a mode+op.
TI-nspire CX: it's a mode "exponential format" in a menu. PITA to change it because of the document stuff.
TI-84, etc.: It's a mode in a menu.
HP-15C, HP-41, HP-42: it's a Mode+Op that takes precision as an argument, argument provided after hitting the operator. It's in a menu on the 42.
HP-28C: it's an mode+op in a menu that takes an argument, the argument is the precision. Argument provided before the operator. Every displayed number is changed.
HP-48..: it's a mode+op in a menu, when you change it, every displayed number is changed.
HP-35S: it's an operator, but oops, it's broken! You hit the key to put the current number into engineering format, but the exponent doesn't fit on the screen. You hit "show" to see the whole number, but engineering format is reverted before it shows it.
HP-33S: it's an operator, it works!
HP-Prime: it's a mode+op in a menu, when you change it every displayed number is changed.
HP-71B, I don't have one, but it looks like it's a mode (ENG command).
Key:
Operator: it means it converts the currently displayed number into engineering format.
Mode: it means all future numbers are printed in engineering format.
Mode+Op: it means all future numbers are printed in engineering format and the currently displayed number is changed.
Menu if you have to traverse menus to do it.
- - -
Casio BASIC pocket computers (like FX-850P): It's an operator. It works for numbers PRINTed from BASIC (when calculator is stopped). If there are multiple numbers printed, only the last one is reformatted.
Casio Fx-602p, FX-4000p: it's an operator and it works for numbers printed by the program (even though these calculators have completely different programming paradigms).
Casio PB-110: scientific functions, but no eng format
Modern Casios (fx-9750GIII and similar): It's an operator and a mode. The operator is buried in menus (optn->f6->f6->f1->f6->f2, ugh..). But also there is a setup mode so that all numbers are in printed in engineering format. In programming mode, ENG format operator is more accessible: it's in the top-level of optn key. The operator works on program output.
Sharp PC-XXXX in BASIC mode: it can not! (and 1/3 prints 3.333e-1). But you have USING to control the format.... Some Sharp PCs have calculator mode, like EL-5500III or E500, on these hit FSE to change to eng mode. FSE does not work for numbers PRINTed by a program. This is the biggest weakness of these Sharp pocket computers, I think.
Sharp EL-9600c: it's a menu mode+op
TI-58 / TI-59: it's an operator, it works for program output (in stop mode).
TI-74: no engineering formatting, sad.
TI-89: it's a mode in a menu.
TI-95: It's a mode+op.
TI-nspire CX: it's a mode "exponential format" in a menu. PITA to change it because of the document stuff.
TI-84, etc.: It's a mode in a menu.
HP-15C, HP-41, HP-42: it's a Mode+Op that takes precision as an argument, argument provided after hitting the operator. It's in a menu on the 42.
HP-28C: it's an mode+op in a menu that takes an argument, the argument is the precision. Argument provided before the operator. Every displayed number is changed.
HP-48..: it's a mode+op in a menu, when you change it, every displayed number is changed.
HP-35S: it's an operator, but oops, it's broken! You hit the key to put the current number into engineering format, but the exponent doesn't fit on the screen. You hit "show" to see the whole number, but engineering format is reverted before it shows it.
HP-33S: it's an operator, it works!
HP-Prime: it's a mode+op in a menu, when you change it every displayed number is changed.
HP-71B, I don't have one, but it looks like it's a mode (ENG command).