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

[bxparks]

(12-19-2023 06:51 PM)bxparks Wrote:  I'm about 60-70% done with complex number support.

An update on this before heading into the holidays: I had wanted to give you folks a Christmas present and get this done. But realistically, it will be just a little longer, maybe 2-3 weeks. I'm about 80-90% done:

- [done] redesign RPN stack and storage registers to support both real and complex numbers
- [done] extend arithmetic, algebraic, transcendental handlers to support complex numbers
- [deferred] complex numbers for trigonometric and hyperbolic functions (not supported by TI-OS)
- [done] add explicit CPLX menu group with (currently): REAL, IMAG, CONJ, CABS, CANG
- [done] support RRES (real result) and CRES (complex result) menu settings
- [done] support RECT (Rectangular), PRAD (Polar Radian), PDEG (Polar Degree) menu settings
- [done] display complex numbers in RPN stack in rect and polar modes
- [done] support complex numbers in SHOW, in rect and polar modes
- [done] support Linking/Unlinking a complex number and its 2 real components. This is the COMPLEX key button on an HP-42S, but the TI-83/84 does not have a COMPLEX button. The most reasonable alternative seemed to be 2ND LINK.

These features make the RPN83P basically on-par with the HP-42S. What's left? Well, I've never been happy with the COMPLEX button being the only way to enter complex numbers on the 42S. Instead, I am inspired by the HP-35s to extend the user interface for entering and editing complex numbers:

- [TBD] support entering complex numbers in Rectangular mode using the 2ND IMAGINARY-I button
- [TBD] support entering complex numbers in Polar mode using the 2ND ANGLE button (an alternative is the ALPHA THETA button if people prefer that, that's a one-line change, so we can discuss that later)

It's funny because I don't actually own a 35s and have never used one, so I am depending on its User's Manual to be reasonably accurate.

Once I finish the coding part, I suspect it will take me about a week to update the documentation. So with my holiday schedule involving some traveling, I am looking at early January for v0.9 with complex number support.

Brian