Manuals for the WP34S / WP31S

[Didier Lachieze]

As a follow-up from this discussion on the SwissMicros forum here is an history of the different manual versions that I've tried to summarize here, I may have missed some and/or have wrongly captured the different versions details.

Please see the Project page for up-to-date information.

Q: Where can I find a user’s manual for the WP 34s / WP 31s?
The User’s Manual for the WP 34s / 31s is the work of Walter Bonin. This is the main reference for each of these two calculators and includes a huge amount of information covering all aspects of the products (software and hardware). This is the first stop if you have any question related to the WP 34s/31s.

WP 34s:
A pdf manual is available on Sourceforge for firmware v2.2 and v3.1 (here).
Starting with v3.2 the manual moved to a printed version and is not available freely in electronic format.
An electronic version of the manual is available for a ≥ 9 US$ donation on the Project page.
The electronic version I got in 2015 is: v3.3 - 339 pages - April 11, 2015. I don't have details about the electronic version currently available.

There have been different formats for the different versions, driven by the book shops where the manual were printed:

• v3.2 was available as a print-on-demand large footprint
• v3.3 was initially offered as a spiral bound A5 format. There were two batches with some slight changes in-between.
• v3.3 is now offered as a print-on-demand book at the same supplier as v3.2 but with a reduced footprint.

For the WP 34S, the printed editions had/have:

• 244 pages (v3.2 large footprint – 8.55”x11”)
• 370 pages (v3.3 spiral bound batch 1 – A5) - Jun 6 2014
• 374 pages (v3.3 spiral bound batch 2 – A5) - Sept 9 2014
• 344 pages (v3.3 perfect bound – 6” x 9”) – Feb 11 2015 - Edition: 3rd revised edition
• 404 pages (v3.3 perfect bound – 6” x 9”) – Jun 11 2016 - Edition: 4
• 410 pages (v3.3d perfect bound – 6” x 9”) – Oct 15 2018 - Edition: 4 - see the Project page for a link to the order page

WP 31s:
A preliminary manual for the WP 31s v1.2 is available in pdf format on Sourceforge here.
The final WP 31s v1.2 manual is available as a printed book. There was an initial batch printed as a spiral bound A5 format, it’s now offered as a print-on-demand book at the same supplier as WP 34s v3.3. It had/has:

• 143 pages (v1.2 spiral bound – A5 )
• 150 pages (v1.2 perfect bound – 6” x 9”) Dec 11 2014 - see the Project page for a link to the order page

[Eric Rechlin]

I have two additional versions with different bindings that you don't have listed.

I have the 150-page 31S manual version 1.2, but it has a wire binding rather than a perfect binding, and is printed on A5-sized paper. It is dated with the addresses verified on 2014-07-04, and says to be for build 3671.

I have the 370-page 34S manual version 3.3, but it has a wire binding rather than a spiral binding, and is printed on A5-sized paper. It is dated with the addresses verified on "10.4.2014" (I'm assuming that means 10 April 2014 but I suppose it could also mean October 4, 2014), and says to be for build 3666.

I don't recall where or when exactly I purchased these.

[Didier Lachieze]

(05-27-2021 03:03 PM)Eric Rechlin Wrote:  I have two additional versions with different bindings that you don't have listed.

I took the "spiral bound" description from Walter here. But I think it's the same as what you call wire binding. Here is my WP34S 370 pages (v3.3 spiral bound batch 1 – A5) manual:



So I may need to change "spiral bound" to "wire bound" if it's the correct terminology.

For the WP31S manual, please look to this post and check the picture. Is it the same binding as yours but with a different number of pages?

[Eric Rechlin]

Yes, mine looks just like the one in the photo but has 150 pages instead of 143. And yes, it appears he is incorrectly using the term "spiral binding" for wire bindings (also known as twin loop), when actually they are quite different. Spiral bindings can be wire or plastic, but the pictured books are not spiral bound -- they are more similar to comb bindings in how they attach, as there is no spiral.

Perhaps my books are the same as the ones you listed, just the listings were incorrect.

[Keith Ostertag]

On the SourceForge Project page (thank you Didier for the link) I do not see any reference to the WP34S v3.3 electronic manual for a $9 contribution. Is that no longer available? Anywhere?

The latest file on the Project page is wp34s_V3.zip, but it contains Manual_wp_34s_3_1.pdf (211 pages). So is there a V3.3 of the manual somewhere? (Didier says 339 pages?)

Also, was there ever an updated electronic manual for the WP31S? The one I see is wp_31s_1_2q_manual.pdf.

Thanks if someone can clarify this for us,
Keith

[rprosperi]

(12-12-2024 12:58 AM)Keith Ostertag Wrote:  On the SourceForge Project page (thank you Didier for the link) I do not see any reference to the WP34S v3.3 electronic manual for a $9 contribution. Is that no longer available? Anywhere?

The latest file on the Project page is wp34s_V3.zip, but it contains Manual_wp_34s_3_1.pdf (211 pages). So is there a V3.3 of the manual somewhere? (Didier says 339 pages?)

Also, was there ever an updated electronic manual for the WP31S? The one I see is wp_31s_1_2q_manual.pdf.

Thanks if someone can clarify this for us,
Keith

There is no free version of the manual later than the v3.1. I'll check if the v3.3 manual is still available and will post information here if it is.

[Thomas Klemm]

Here's another one: WP 34S pocket reference

[Nigel (UK)]

Here’s a link to an “unofficial” V3.3 manual (from literature.hpcalc.org).

Nigel (UK)

[Keith Ostertag]

@ Thomas- yes indeed, the WP34S Pocket Reference is so very helpful!!!

@ Nigel- thank you so much for the link to the unofficial v3.3 manual!

I wonder why Didier reported that the electronic v3.3 has 339 pages? That was what had me thinking the v3.3 had a lot more material than the v3.1.

Keith

[Didier Lachieze]

(12-12-2024 02:29 PM)Keith Ostertag Wrote:  I wonder why Didier reported that the electronic v3.3 has 339 pages?

Because the v3.3 pdf file I have has 339 pages.

[Keith Ostertag]

Hi Ddier, thanks!

Can you explain the difference? What material do you have in your v3.3 that is not in the "unofficial" v3.3? Or maybe the content is the same but the size of the pages is different?

And how does one obtain the version that you have, if so desired?

Thanks,
Keith

[Didier Lachieze]

I don’t know the details of the differences between the official and unofficial v3.3 manuals. The unofficial one built from the v3.1 should have all new 3.3 commands and changes covered but will likely miss any additional content added after the v3.1 publication.

I got my personal official v3.3 pdf manual in 2015 after sending $9 to the author, as communicated at that time.

[Steve Simpkin]

My understanding is that you can still get a personalized PDF version of the V3.3 manual at the sourceforge site for the WP 34s project at: https://sourceforge.net/projects/wp34s/
See the quote: "Alternatively, you can get a personalized pdf-manual for a ≥ 9 US$ donation here."

There is also a link to a printed version of the V3.3 manual at Amazon.

[rprosperi]

Here's info on how to order the official and complete v3.3 manual from Walter, the author:

The website for the project is here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/wp34s/

There, under Summary, at the end of its third paragraph, it tells how to get a manual and also how the 9-US$-donation way works.

I've requested clarification on the order process as I could not see the ordering process, and I'll update this reply when I have that.

[rprosperi]

Update:

To order the manual from the sourceforge site, click on the DONATE tab, and you can then send the 9 Euro to Walter Bonin (the author) for a customized copy of the PDF file.

Note that these files will include a watermark identifying the buyer/owner to discourage improper sharing of this copyrighted work. Some people don't approve of such measures, however this is the author's right, and it should be respected. If you don't agree with this restriction please do not purchase it.

The 'unofficial' version of the v3.3 manual ostensibly contains all the features added since the 3.1 release, but it lacks the integration and refined consistency of this formal release. If you are a fan of quality documentation, and don't mind not sharing it, I can easily recommend you purchase this official copy, it is easily better IMHO.

[Keith Ostertag]

Thank you Rob-

I made the donation via Paypal by clicking on the donate button on the sourceforge page, but there was no obvious way to request the pdf.

The only sentence on the sourceforge page dealing with the pdf is: "Alternatively, you can get a personalized pdf-manual for a ≥ 9 US$ donation here.", which is curious since there is no form or text box or checkbox on that page. Where is "here"? Is that meant to be a link? (it is not)

Paying via Paypal by clicking the donate button never provides a textbox to input a request either.

So... Walter will automatically send a pdf?

Do you see what I mean about it not being obvious or unambiguous about how to request the official v3.3 pdf??

Keith

[Keith Ostertag]

Subsequently Walter has contacted me :-) So I now understand it is automatic that he sends the pdf with a donation of at least $9 Eu.

Thanks for the assistance and support! The WP34S is a great project.

Keith