for the want of a nail ...

[ji3m]

In cas mode , the command line entry

expr ("'catnip'")

produces the identifier: catnip ,as expected and desired.

But

EXPORT foobar ()
BEGIN
expr ("'catnip'");
END;

In home mode foobar() --> c*a*t*n*i*p

In cas window foobar() --> p*i*n*t*a*c

neither of which is at all useful.

At least in cas is there some way to get a program to follow
cas rules.?

The fact that 'abc' gives a*b*c in home mode is astonishing
to me. Why simulate single letter algebra. It doesnt really work without subscripts,etc.
But it causes grief at higher levels.

[cyrille de brébisson]

Hello,

Old, bad, habit die hard.

They was a requirement for ABC to be treated like A*B*C (because lots of math guys do that on paper).

It is astonishing for me to see how un-formal, and non rigorous most math teachers are. Whatever they do, a LOT of information is hidden in the, non written, context. This is one of them.
- Of course, when I write ABC I mean A*B*C!
- Of course, when I write ABC I mean the Angle formed by the AB and BC segment!
- Of course, when I write ABC I mean the Angle formed by the AB and AC segment (yes, verify these 2 are different, depending on your culture, you will use a different norm)!
- Of course, when I write ABC I mean the ABC variable!
- (silently in the programmer's head) Of course, let me just go ahead and implement a mind reading algorithm!

This feature is mostly useful for small, quick calculations, but as you so rightfully pointed out, it shoots you in the foot as soon as you try to do something more complex.

The main issue here is that the calculator needs to make everyone happy; and can't.

I am sorry that this is causing you issue.
Cyrille

[ji3m]

All it really does is save some keystrokes momentarily since it inmediately translates it. It not as if it that syntax lived on.

But the effect is that it makes it impossible to write a program that works with unbound identifiers (algebraic variables), so I can then evaluate a string algebraicaly.

Maybe a hidden flag in some future release to turn
it off, kind of expert mode?

[ji3m]

I found the nail. The kingdom is saved.

In my thread "makes me crazy" the answer is with #cas functions
which then behave in a "what i expect" manner.

I think I'll reassign the home key to "beware all ye who enter here"

Just kidding. But for old rpn folks like me i prefer exact mode with selective reduction to approx.

Now if i just make my rpl emulation work.....