Description
Calcpad uses a simple programming language for the development of engineering worksheets. It mostly includes mathematical expressions, mixed with text/Html comments. Some advanced options for conditional execution, iterations, units and numerical methods are also available. Detailed description is provided in the user manual. Bellow, you can find a quick reference guide:
Expressions
Constants
Real
All real values are stored in double precision floating point fields. They can range from -1.7976931348623157E+308 to 1.7976931348623157E+308. The smallest nonzero value is 4.94065645841247E-324. Smaller values are considered exactly zero. You can use the following input formats:
| Format | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Integer | 34 | -34 |
| Decimal | 3.45 | -3.45 |
| Fraction | 3/4 | -3/4 |
| Exponential | 3.4*10^5 | -3.4*10^5 |
The last two formats are nothing but simple expressions.
Complex
Complex numbers are represented by a couple of values ±a ± bi, where “a” is the real part, and “bi” is called “imaginary”. The imaginary unit in Calcpad is entered as 1i. It is defined so that (1i)^2 = -1. You must switch to “Complex” mode in order to use complex numbers.
Predefined
There are four predefined constants that are stored as named variables:
e = 2.71828182845905 – the base of the natural logarithms (Euler’s number);
π = 3.14159265358979 – (Pi) the ratio of circumference to diameter of a circle;
g = 9.80665 – the gravitational acceleration on Earth;
i = 1i – the imaginary unit.
Variables
Variable names can contain Latin and Greek letters, digits, commas “,”, underscores “_” and some special symbols: ” ′, ″, ‴, ⁗, ø, Ø, °, ∡”. The first character must be a letter. The underscore is used to start a subscript. Variables are created by assigning a value, e.g.:
a_1 = 2
Operators
You can use the following operators with Calcpad:
| Type | Symbol | Description |
|---|---|---|
| arithmetic | ! | factorial |
| ^ | exponent | |
| / | division | |
| ÷ | division bar | |
| * | multiplication | |
| – | subtraction | |
| + | addition | |
| integer | \ | integer division |
| % | reminder | |
| comparison | ≡ | equal |
| ≠ | unequal | |
| < | less than | |
| > | greater than | |
| ≤ | less or equal | |
| ≥ | greater or equal | |
| special | = | assignment |
| ? | input field |
Instead of special symbols for comparrision operators ≡ ≠ ≤ ≥, you can use C/C++ style shortcuts, respectively: ==, !=, <=, >=.
Functions
Built-in
The following functions are predefined and can be used directly:
| Type | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| general | abs(x) | absolute value (modulus) |x| |
| sign(x) | sign of a number = -1, if x < 0; 1, if x > 0; 0 if x = 0 | |
| random(x) | random number between 0 and x | |
| trigonometric | sin(x) | sine |
| cos(x) | cosine | |
| tan(x) | tangent = sin(x)/cos(x), for each x ≠ kπ, k=1, 2, 3… | |
| csc(x) | cosecant = 1 / sin(x) | |
| sec(x) | secant = 1 / cos(x) | |
| cot(x) | cotangent = cos(x) / sin(x), for each x ≠ π/2 + kπ, k=1, 2, 3… | |
| inverse trigonometric | asin(x) | inverse sine, defined for -1 ≤ x ≤ 1 |
| acos(x) | inverse cosine, defined for -1 ≤ x ≤ 1 | |
| atan(x) | inverse tangent | |
| atan2(x; y) | the angle which tangent is y/x | |
| acsc(x) | inverse cosecant = asin(1/x) | |
| asec(x) | inverse secant = acos(1/x) | |
| acot(x) | inverse cotangent = atan(1/x) | |
| hyperbolic | sinh(x) | hyperbolic sine = (ex – e-x) / 2 |
| cosh(x) | hyperbolic cosine = (ex + e-x) / 2 | |
| tanh(x) | hyperbolic tangent = (ex – e-x) / (ex + e-x) | |
| csch(x) | hyperbolic cosecant = 1 / sinh(x) | |
| sech(x) | hyperbolic secant = 1 / cosh(x) | |
| coth(x) | hyperbolic cotangent = 1 / tanh(x) = (ex + e-x)/ (ex – e-x), for x ≠ 0 | |
| inverse hyperbolic | asinh(x) | inverse hyperbolic sine = ln(x + √(x2 + 1)), for -∞ ≤ x ≤ +∞ |
| acosh(x) | inverse hyperbolic cosine = ln(x + √(x + 1)·√(x – 1)), for x ≥ 1 | |
| atanh(x) | inverse hyperbolic tangent = 1/2·ln[(1 + x) / (1 – x)], for -1 < x < 1 | |
| csc(x) | inverse hyperbolic cosecant = asinh(1/x) | |
| sec(x) | inverse hyperbolic secant = acosh(1/x) | |
| acoth(x) | inverse hyperbolic cotangent = atanh(1/x) = 1/2·ln[(x + 1) / (x – 1)], for |x| > 1 | |
| logarithmic and roots | log(x) | decimal logarithm (with base 10), for each x > 0 |
| ln(x) | natural logarithm (with base e ≈ 2.7183), for each x > 0 | |
| log_2(x) | binary logarithm (with base 2) | |
| exp(x) | exponential function = ex | |
| sqr(x) or sqrt(x) | square root (√x), defined for each x ≥ 0 | |
| cbrt(x) | cubic root (³√x) | |
| root(x; n) | n-th root (n√x) | |
| comparison | min(x; y; z…) | the smallest of multiple values |
| max(x; y; z…) | the greatest of multiple values | |
| rounding | round(x) | rounds to the nearest integer |
| floor(x) | rounds to the smaller integer | |
| ceiling(x) | rounds to the greater integer | |
| trunc(x) | rounds to the nearest integer towards zero | |
| complex | re(a + bi) | returns the real part only, re(a + bi) = a |
| im(a + bi) | returns the imaginary part as a real number, im(a + bi) = b | |
| abs(a + bi) | complex number modulus = sqrt(a^2 + b^2) | |
| phase(x) | complex number phase (argument) = atan2(a; b) | |
| conditional | if(cond; val-if-true; val-if-false) | conditional evaluation |
| switch(cond1; value1; cond2; value2; …; default) | selective evaluation; | |
| aggregate | sum(x; y; z…) | sum of multiple values = x + y + z…; |
| sumsq(x; y; z…) | sum of squares = x² + y² + z²…; | |
| srss(x; y; z…) | square root of sum of squares = sqrt(x² + y² + z²…); | |
| average(x; y; z…) | average of multiple values = (x + y + z…)/n; | |
| product(x; y; z…) | product of multiple values = x·y·z…; | |
| mean(x; y; z…) | geometric mean = n-th root(x·y·z…); | |
| vector/interpolation | take(n; a; b; c…) | returns the n-th element from the list; |
| line(x; a; b; c…) | linear interpolation; | |
| spline(x; a; b; c…) | Hermite spline interpolation; |
Custom
You can define custom functions of multiple arguments:
f(x; y; z; ...) =
Function names are subjected to the same rules as variable names (see above).
Plotting
There are several different plotting commands:
$Plot{y(x) @ x = a : b} – Plots the function y(x) within the interval [a; b].
$Plot{y1(x) & y2(x) & ... @ x = a : b} – Plots several functions y1(x), y2(x), etc. in a single plot.
$Plot{x(t) | y(t) @ t = a : b} – Plots a curve where both x(t) and y(t) are functions of a single parameter t.
$Plot{x1(t) | y1(t) & x2(t) | y2(t) & ... @ t = a : b} – Plots several parametric curves on a single plot.
$Map{f(x; y) @ x = a : b & y = c : d} – Plots a function of two variables as a color/grayscale map.
Size of plot area
You can specify the size of the plot area in pixels by defining the PlotWidth and PlotHeight variables, e.g.:
PlotWidth = 400 PlotHeight = 250
The above values are the default ones.
Numerical and iterative procedures
You can use numerical methods for problems that do not have a closed form solution:
$Root{f(x) = const @ x = a : b} – Finds the root of the equation f(x) = const within the interval [a; b], using modified Anderson Bjork method.
$Root{f(x) @ x = a : b} – Finds the root of the equation f(x) = 0.
$Find{f(x) @ x = a : b} – Finds the point where the function crosses the abscissa (it is not required to be a root).
$Inf{f(x) @ x = a : b} – Finds the minimum value f_inf of the function f(x), using the golden section search method. The location of minimum on the abscissa is stored in the x_inf variable.
$Sup{f(x) @ x = a : b} – Finds the maximum value f_sup of the function f(x), using the golden section search method. The location of maximum on the abscissa is stored in the x_sup variable.
$Area{f(x) @ x = a : b} – Finds the definite integral of the function f(x) in the interval [a; b], using the adaptive Gauss-Lobatto quadrature rule.
$Integral{f(x) @ x = a : b} – Finds the definite integral of the function f(x) in the interval [a; b], using double exponential Tanh-Sinh quadrature.
$Slope{f(x) @ x = a} – Finds the slope of the tangent to f(x) at the point x = a.
$Sum{f(k) @ k = a : b} – Sums the values of f(x) for all integer values of k between a and b.
$Product{f(k) @ k = a : b} – Multiplies the values of f(x) for all integer values of k between a and b.
You can use this command to define your own function for calculation of factorial and binomial coefficients:
F(n) = $Product{k @ k = 1 : n}
C(n; k) = $Product{(i + n - k)/i @ i = 1 : k}
$Repeat{f(k) @ k = a : b} – Calculates f(x) repeatedly for all integer values of k between a and b.
$Repeat{x = f(x; k) @ k = a : b} – Similar to the above, but sores the result into a variable to be used for the next iteration.
Units of measurement
Calcpad supports the use of physical units in the calculations. Just write the units next to the respective values. You can also specify target units for the result, separated by a vertical bar at the end:
1.23m + 35cm + 12mm|cm
The above expression will evaluate to 159.2 cm. Version 3.0 supports metric, imperial and US units.
Metric units (SI and compatible):
| Physical property | Units of measurement |
|---|---|
| Angles | °, ′, ″, deg, rad, grad, rev |
| Mass | g (gram), hg, kg, t, kt, Mt, Gt, dg, cg, mg, μg, ng, pg, Da (Dalton), u |
| Length | m (meter), km, dm, cm, mm, μm, nm, pm, AU (astronomical unit), ly (light year) |
| Time | s (second), ms, μs, ns, ps, min, h, d |
| Frequency | Hz (Hertz), kHz, MHz, GHz, THz, mHz, μHz, nHz, pHz, rpm (rotations per minute) |
| Velocity | kmh (km per hour) |
| Electric current | A (Ampere), kA, MA, GA, TA, mA, μA, nA, pA |
| Temperature | °C (degree Celsius), Δ°C (difference of one °C), K (Kelvin) |
| Amount of substance | mol (mole) |
| Luminous intensity | cd (candela) |
| Area | a (are), daa (decare), ha (hectare) |
| Volume | L (liter), mL, cL, dL, hL |
| Force | N (Newton), daN, hN, kN, MN, GN, TN, dyn, gf, kgf, tf |
| Moment | Nm (Newton-meter), kNm |
| Pressure | Pa (Pascal), daPa, hPa, kPa, MPa, GPa, TPa, dPa, cPa, mPa, μPa, nPa, pPa, bar, mbar, μbar, atm, at, Torr, mmHg; |
| Energy, work | J (Joule), kJ, MJ, GJ, TJ, mJ, μJ, nJ, pJ, Wh, kWh, MWh, GWh, TWh, cal, kcal, erg, eV, keV, MeV, GeV, TeV, PeV, EeV; |
| Power | W (Watt), kW, MW, GW, TW, mW, μW, nW, pW, hpM, ks; |
| Electric charge | C (Coulomb), kC, MC, GC, TC, mC, μC, nC, pC, Ah, mAh |
| Potential | V (Volt), kV, MV, GV, TV, mV, μV, nV, pV |
| Capacitance | F (Farad), kF, MF, GF, TF, mF, μF, nF, pF |
| Resistance | Ω (Ohm), kΩ, MΩ, GΩ, TΩ, mΩ, μΩ, nΩ, pΩ |
| Conductance | S (Siemens), kS, MS, GS, TS, mS, μS, nS, pS |
| Magnetic flux | Wb (Weber), kWb, MWb, GWb, TWb, mWb, μWb, nWb, pWb |
| Magnetic flux density | T (Tesla), kT, MT, GT, TT, mT, μT, nT, pT |
| Inductance | H (Henry), kH, MH, GH, TH, mH, μH, nH, pH |
| Luminous flux | lm (lumen) |
| Illuminance | lx (lux) |
| Radioactivity | Bq (Becquerel), kBq, MBq, GBq, TBq, mBq, μBq, nBq, pBq, Ci, Rd; |
| Absorbed dose | Gy (Gray), kGy, MGy, GGy, TGy, mGy, μGy, nGy, pGy; |
| Equivalent dose | Sv (Sievert), kSv, MSv, GSv, TSv, mSv, μSv, nSv, pSv; |
| Catalytic activity | kat (katal) |
Imperial/USCS units:
| Physical property | Units of measurement |
|---|---|
| Mass | gr (grain), dr (drachm), oz (ounce), lb (pound), kip (kilopound), st (stone), qr (quarter), cwt (hundredweight), cwt_UK, cwt_US, ton, ton_UK, ton_US, slug |
| Length | th (thou), in (inch), ft (foot), yd (yard), ch (chain), fur (furlong), mi (mile), ftm (fathom), cable, nmi (nautical mile), li (link), rod, pole, perch, lea (league) |
| Velocity | mph (miles per hour) |
| Temperature | °F (degree Fahrenheit), Δ°F (difference of one °F), R (Rankine) |
| Area | rood, ac (acre) |
| Volume (fluid) | fl_oz (fluid ounce), gi (gill), pt (pint), qt (quart), gal (gallon), bbl (barrel), bu (bushel, dry) |
| fl_oz_UK, gi_UK, pt_UK, qt_UK, gal_UK, bbl_UK, bu_UK | |
| fl_oz_US, gi_US, pt_US, qt_US, gal_US, bbl_US, bu_US | |
| Force | ozf (ounce-force), lbf (pound-force), kipf (kilopound-force), tonf (ton-force), pdl (poundal) |
| Pressure | osi (ounce per sq. inch), osf (ounce per sq. foot), psi, psf, ksi, ksf, tsi, tsf, inHg |
Comments
Everything inside a Calcpad script is considered to be math expressions unless it is enclosed by quotes. Then it is treated as comments. You can use them to add contents to your calculation notes, such as titles, text, images, tables etc.
Comments can be enclosed in double (“) or single (‘) quotes. Double quotes are used for “titles” and single quotes for ‘normal text’. You can have several expressions in a single line, separated by comments. The closing quote is not required if there is nothing else in the line.
Comments can contain plain text as well as Html, CSS, JS (jQuery), SVG, etc. for providing rich formatting and user experience for your calculation notes. For example, you can use Html to fold part of the content:
<div class="fold"> "This is a folded content 'This line is hidden unit you unfold it '</div>
Program flow control
You can split the flow of your calculation notes depending on certain intermediate values. It will not only use different formulas for calculations, but it can also display different text and images in your report.
You can use the following patterns:
Conditions
#If ◄condition1►
◄code if condition1 is true►
#Else If ◄condition1►
◄code if condition2 is true►
#Else If ◄condition3►
...
#Else
◄code if non of the conditions is true►
#end if
Shorter forms are also possible:
#If ◄condition►
◄code if condition is true►
#Else
◄code if conditions is false►
#end if
or:
#If ◄condition►
◄code if condition is true►
#end if
Loops
Simple:
#Repeat n
◄Put some code here►
#Loop
Here n is the number of iterations and not the counter. If you need a counter, you have to define it as follows:
i = 0
#Repeat n
i = i + 1
◄Put some code here►
#Loop
With conditional break:
#Repeat
◄Put some code here►
#If ◄condition►
#Break
#End if
#Loop
Modules and macros/string variables
Modules:
#Include ◄filename► - incudes external file/module #Local - starts a local section in a module (not to be included) #Global - starts a global section in a module (to be included)
Inline string variable:
#def variable_name$ = ◄content►
Multiline string variable:
#def variable_name$
◄content line 1►
◄content line 2►
...
#end def
Inline macro:
#def macro_name$(param1$; param2$; ...) = ◄content►
Multiline macro:
#def macro_name$(param1$; param2$; ...)
◄content line 1►
◄content line 2►
...
#end def
Output control
You can control the visibility of your code in the output using the following keywords:
#Hide – hide the contents after the current line;
#Pre – show the contents in input form mode only (see “Input forms” bellow) and hide it otherwise;
#Post – show the contents in calculated mode only and hide it in input form mode;
#Show – always show the contents (revoke all other commands);
You can also modify the rendering style of the calculations as follows:
#Val – shows only the result as a single value;
#Equ – shows the complete equation and the result;
#Noc – shows only the equation without the result (no-calculations).
The next two keywords allows you to select the default units for angles inside your calculation notes:
#deg – assumes that angles are in degrees: sin(90) = 1;
#rad – assumes that angles are in radians: sin(π/2) = 1;
#gra – assumes that angles are in grades: sin(100) = 1;
These settings affect all calculations after the current line.
Calcpad 