DB48X: HP48-like RPL implementation for DM42

[grbrum]

Hi Christophe, thank you for the thoughtful and engaging answers.

Quote:Now, what could be done is to have VAR alternate between "programs only" and "all variables" modes, where the "programs only" mode would only let you evaluate programs, but then could show up to 18 programs at a time. Is that what you are suggesting?

Separating programs from variables may not be the best solution, as you know programs can be used as subroutines for other programs and these are sometimes useful to be "hidden"or in the background, where the main program is useful to be in the forefront for easy access.
This is why I suggest a hybrid of CST/ASN solution.
Say you press VAR once, then you get to the normal VAR menu, with all VAR contents (in the future I guess you will implement directories)...
Say you press VAR VAR, then this can show only the items (programs or variables that the user decides to assign to those 18 blocks (or you can set F6 to change page).
this solution will give some advantages:
1 - the user decides what goes there
2 - the user decides the position of each program in the grid, maybe one program makes sense to stay next to another (in my case, chemical reaction programs can stay in the first page, cost and price calculation in the second page, finance in the third page, special conversion programs in a forth page)
3 - subroutine programs will not be in this VAR VAR menu even though they are <<>> programs.

Quote:The ASN key is used for key assignment on the DM42, and I initially kept it that way in DB48X. But on HP48, it is not a primary key, it's in the MODES menu, and when I realized that I had forgotten to find a spot for "->Num", I repurposed ASN with the "as number" mnemonic. I finally updated the keyboard layout images to match that. ->NUM is too important in daily use on an RPL machine to not have a primary key. Its priority on the keyboard is definitely way above ASSIGN

I agree, in my overlay it is still ASN... it was an oversight.
other options can be considered, for instance, in the VAR menu, if you hold the soft key representing the program, you get the help menu, but is is possible to implement a 2 step process, hold for a second and you get assign, hold for 4 seconds and you get help (just an idea)

Quote:The DB48X library is probably the best alternative to the CST menu today. While most of the content now is actually defined by files in the library/ folder, the actual definition of the LIB menu is in config/library.csv.

I failed to notice this detail, I saw in the Shift Shift VAR the config folder and thought cumbersome to try to edit that. I didn't notice it was one of the files in config/
I see the file structure you mention and I will review it, but I do not have the calculator on me while I am on this business trip. Thanks for the tips you shared with me. I will look into it and reply when I return to the office.

Quote:

Quote:I guess that my idea of using VAR as one or two clicks is more practical to access the programs, rather than using a shifted key.

Why would you need to access a shifted key to access the programs? The current VAR menu evaluates programs when unshifted, and you recall the program with shift. CST (and the library) evaluate the program as well. So I am not sure that I understand this particular point.

This was assuming that the CST would be the LIB, then it would be necessary to use shift shift var in order to reach the program in a structure that is user defined.
As VAR follow same principle of HP48, where new programs are added to the left of the row and the older programs are shifted right and off to the next screen, some of these older programs are sometimes used frequently and should be front and center to the user. Which brings me now to another idea (sorry).
Maybe one VAR should show only the favorite programs/variables in the order of the user preference, and VAR VAR could show the possibility to call/reassign value to the variable (as it is today).

Anyway, I just want to contribute ideas as an enthusiast. I am not a programmer and my abilities to program in RPL are also limited. I am just very excited about this project because I used my HP48 during my college years and beyond, and I use the DB48x every day now at work.

Thanks again.