42S: Less aggressive use of scientific notation for negative exponents?

[Dave Britten]

When using the "ALL" display mode on the 42S, is there a way to make it use scientific notation less aggressively for negative exponents?

For example, calculating 6/220 yields "2.72727272727E-2" (note that I'm using Free42 here; precision may vary on The Real Thing). But I'd prefer to have it stick with a floating point display until the exponent gets to around, say, -6 or so, i.e. I'd rather see "0.02727272727..." for that calculation. Is there a combination of flags or something that can control this? I know a few Casios have two different float display modes with a different tipping point for switching to scientific notation.

Having everything rendered without an exponent is handy for quickly comparing cost-per-unit-measure while at the grocery store, and for other financial exercises. Saves the trouble of switching to a FIX mode to keep things lined up.

[Dieter]

(02-22-2016 03:58 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  For example, calculating 6/220 yields "2.72727272727E-2" (note that I'm using Free42 here; precision may vary on The Real Thing). But I'd prefer to have it stick with a floating point display until the exponent gets to around, say, -6 or so, i.e. I'd rather see "0.02727272727..." for that calculation.

I'd prefer someting more moderate like –3, but I agree that this early switch to scientific notation in ALL mode can be annoying. On the other hand the mode is called ALL and not SOME, so there is no other way of displaying all (!) digits.

As far as I know there is no way to override this in HP's own calculators. But the problem is well known, and that's why the WP34s has an ALL command that accepts an argument. ALL 06 might be what you want here, while my 34s usually is set to ALL 03. This does exactly what you want. But not on the 42s – sorry.

Dieter

[rprosperi]

(02-22-2016 07:31 PM)Dieter Wrote:  I'd prefer someting more moderate like –3, but I agree that this early switch to scientific notation in ALL mode can be annoying. On the other hand the mode is called ALL and not SOME, so there is no other way of displaying all (!) digits.

One option (though not precisely what you asked) is to set it to the desired (SCI or ENG) mode, and manually press [SHIFT] [SHOW] (above the period) to see more decimal places when desired.

[Dave Britten]

(02-22-2016 07:31 PM)Dieter Wrote:  

(02-22-2016 03:58 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  For example, calculating 6/220 yields "2.72727272727E-2" (note that I'm using Free42 here; precision may vary on The Real Thing). But I'd prefer to have it stick with a floating point display until the exponent gets to around, say, -6 or so, i.e. I'd rather see "0.02727272727..." for that calculation.

I'd prefer someting more moderate like –3, but I agree that this early switch to scientific notation in ALL mode can be annoying. On the other hand the mode is called ALL and not SOME, so there is no other way of displaying all (!) digits.

As far as I know there is no way to override this in HP's own calculators. But the problem is well known, and that's why the WP34s has an ALL command that accepts an argument. ALL 06 might be what you want here, while my 34s usually is set to ALL 03. This does exactly what you want. But not on the 42s – sorry.

Dieter

Bummer, was hoping there might be some obscure flag tricks or something. In any case, perfect opportunity to get that feature added to Free42 for the upcoming DM-42L, right?