OVERVIEW

FormulaGen is an incredible program that lets you add your custom formulas to the Newton’s built-in Formula application, accessible from the Extras drawer. FormulaGen is easy to use: enter a formula into the formula window, enter an equal sign, enter a carriage return (tap the carriage return button or tap a carriage return on a keyboard, software or hardware). If your formula is valid, FormulaGen will inform you that your formula has been entered. For an example of how to enter a formula, tap the 'Show Me!' button. 

To use your formula, select it in the Formula application in the Extras drawer, and use it as you would any other formula. 

FormulaGen has changed immensely since the release of version 1.0. These changes include: a larger window for entering formulas, buttons that access the Newtons built-in functions, a formula editor, and a formula remover.

The enclosed packages are demonstration versions which will expire 5 days after first use.

INSTALLING FORMULAGEN DEMO

Install FormulaGen the same way as you would any package for your Newton. However, FormulaGen should be installed in the internal memory of your Newton because if FormulaGen is installed on a card, the Formula application will become inaccessible when the card is removed. If you do this you will have to reset your Newton after removing the card, to be able to use the Formula application. You will not be able to use the formulas you have created until you insert the card.

If you are using an early Newton (OMP through early 120's) with Newton Operating System 1.x, install the FormG2D1.pkg on your Newton. If you are using a later model Newton with NOS 2.0 or 2.1 (later or upgraded 120's through MP2k's and eMates), install the FormG2D2.pkg.

THE FORMULA WINDOW 

When you use FormulaGen you will see what appears to be some sort of calculator. There is a large window at the top of the screen with several rows of buttons below. Formulas that you create with FormulaGen are created in this formula window. If a formula is larger than this window, the window will scroll when you get to the bottom of it (up to 15 lines). Use the scrolling arrows on the right side of the formula window to see the part of your formula that has scrolled out of the window. 

USING A KEYBOARD 

FormulaGen accepts keyboard input. Just type what you want to appear in its formula window. The "Keyboard" button opens an on screen keyboard, and you can also use a hardware keyboard.

EXPONENTIATION 

To exponentiate use the "X^Y" button. When you tap this button Pow(X,Y), will be entered into the formula window. You can change 'X' and 'Y' to other variable names and/or numeric values. When the formula is evaluated, whatever is before the comma will be raised to the power of whatever is after the comma. If you would like your formula to contain x squared do the following:

	1) tap the "X^Y" button   
	2) change the 'Y' to the number 2

This will add Pow(x,2) to the formula window and will be evaluated as x squared. 

ABSOLUTE VALUE 

To get an absolute value, the "abs" button is used . When you tap it, 'abs(' is entered in the formula window. Next enter the value that you would like the absolute value of followed by a ')'. To obtain the absolute value of the variable dogs do the following:

	1) tap the "abs" button  
	2) type or write dogs
	3) type or write a ')' or tap the ")" button

This will add 'abs(dogs)' to the formula window, and is the equivalent of |dogs| (the absolute value of dogs). You can also find the absolute value of an expression. 

MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS 

Ordinary mathematical operators such as +, -, *, /, and = are used in FormulaGen the same as they would be in any formula. Buttons have been supplied with these operators on them. To use one, just tap the button. You can also type these in with a keyboard or write them in.

PARENTHESES 

Parentheses buttons have been added to FormulaGen 2.0. The close parenthesis button is very useful when using a built in function, because all of them must end with a ')'.

SQUARE ROOT 

The "sqrt" button is used to get the square root of a value. When you tap it, sqrt( is entered in the formula window. Follow this with the value that you want to find the square root of, and end with a ")". To obtain the square root of the variable dogs do the following: 

	1) tab the "sqrt" button  
	2) type or write dogs  
	3) type or write a ')' or tap the ")" button 

This will have added sqrt(dogs) to the formula window, and is the equivalent of the square root of dogs. You can also find the square root of an expression by putting the expression in the parenthesis following sqrt.

LOGARITHMS 

The "log" and "log10" buttons are used to derive the logarithm and the base-10 logarithm. Tap the appropriate button, enter the value on which you want to perform the function, and finish with a ")".

TRIGONOMETRY 

Twelve trigonometric functions have been added to buttons in FormulaGen:
 
	cos, cosine	
	cosh, hyperbolic cosine	
	acos, arc cosine
	acosh, arc-hyperbolic cosine
	sin, sine
	sinh, hyperbolic sine
	asin, arc sine	
	asinh, arc-hyperbolic sine
	tan, tangent
	tanh, hyperbolic tangent
	atan, arc tangent
	atanh, arc-hyperbolic tangent

Use them as you would any other function. Tap the button, enter the value on which you want to perform the function, and finish with a ")".

Please note that the Newton trigonometric functions return values in radians rather than degrees; so if you want degrees, multiply the result of the function by the number of degrees/radian.

NAMING A FORMULA 

To name your formula, and is not evaluated. You can name your formula whatever you want. Keep in mind that names longer than twenty characters will be truncated to twenty characters while in the formula applications menu. 

After entering the "=" to denote the end of your formula, tap or key in the name you want. The Formula application will not display more than twenty characters of the name.

VARIABLES 

Most variable names are valid; although a good rule is to use only alphabetic characters as names beginning with numerics and/or punctuation are invalid, as are some names with embedded punctuation. Large formulas, those with lots of variables, consume large amounts of heap space; so you want to use the most efficient expression available.

EDITING A FORMULA 

To edit a formula tap the "Edit a Formula" button. A popup list of the names of all the formulas you have created with FormulaGen will appear. Select the formula that you wish to edit, and it will appear in the formula window. Edit this formula as you would a new formula. If you wish to replace the old formula with the new one, give it the same name. Give your edited formula a different name to keep the old formula in addition to the new one.

REMOVING A FORMULA 

To remove formulas tap the "Switch to Formula Remover" button. This will change the display on your Newton to the formula remover window. You will see a "Remove the Formula(s)" button, and the word Formula preceded by a black diamond. Tap the word formula or the diamond, to reveal a popup list of the names of the formulas you have created. Select the formula that you wish to remove. This formula is now partially removed. You can recover it before your Newton is reset, by using it in the formula application. To completely remove it tap the "Remove the Formula(s)" button. This will reset your Newton and completely remove all the formulas that you have selected.

KNOWN CONFLICTS

FormulaGen is known to conflict with NS Debug Tools (used by NTK programmers) on the MP2000. This conflict causes the Newton to freeze on reboot, leaving FormulaGen open on the screen. 

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

FormulaGen v2.0 will ship no later than April 28,1997 for $29.95. To purchase FormulaGen v2.0 please contact one of our resellers: ClubPDA (1-888-CLUBPDA), PDA Direct (1-800-279-4PDA), MEI/MicroCenter (stores in 12 major US cities) and The Newton Store (Canada: Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver). Thank you for your interest in our product. For further information please contact us at:

Pinehill Softworks Inc.
301 Main Street
Falmouth, MA 02540
(508) 548-4470
(800) 858-7956
(508) 548-8731 fax