Category : Printer + Display Graphics
Archive   : MCAL.ZIP
Filename : MANUAL.MC

MCAL - The Math Computer-Aided Learning tool
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DISCLAIMER:

In no event will the author of MCAL, Allen H. K. Luong, be liable to you or any
other party for any damages, including loss of profits, loss of savings, or any
other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of or
inability to use this program.

A NOTE TO THE USER:

MCAL is being distributed in the Public Domain. It may be copied and
shared freely, but MAY NOT be sold. If you enjoy and/or find MCAL of value,
send it to some other BBS's that you know available on Earth, not to the Moon
please, so that others can enjoy it, too.

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======================== USER'S GUIDE=======last updated: 03/12/1988===
MCAL - The Math Computer-Aided Learning Tools
Copyright (c) 1987,1988 by Allen H. K. Luong

Math Computer Aided Learning - ver. 1.0,1.1,1.2
------------------------------------------------
User's Guide
------------


Hello! Welcome to MCAL!

Math Computer Aided Learning Tool (MCAL) was written in C, using the
DeSmet C compiler. The program allows users to graph functions in 2D,
3D and functions using parametric or polar equations. The graphics
package also allows users to enter data points in world coordinates
and graphs the entry points (This feature is good for economics
students or any students doing work with statistics. MCAL also supports
text writing to the screen. Users can choose line styles, colors for
different functions, even different colors for the text. Users can set
their own window, viewport. The graphs can be accompanized with scales,
grids, labels, etc...
In this package, math functions are taken from "Calculus and Analytic
Geometry" by Mizrahi/Sullivan.
In order to run this program, you must have the following files
in the same disk drive:

m1.mc, m2.mc, ... m13.mc and mcad.exe or colrmcad.exe

Included in this graphics package is a file named "readme.mc" which
tells you the latest information related to MCAL.
m1.mc through m13.mc are menu files and help files.

This program is written for the Imagraf card running on Xenix.
A copy of the program is also available for the IBM PC/XT/AT.

mcal.exe is for the monochrome graphics card. And colrmcal.exe is used
for the color graphics card.

To start MCAL program

At the DOS prompt, type:
mcal
and then press

use 'colrmcal' for color graphics card.


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In Main Menu
------------

* OPTION #1 - Write Text
=========
Write Text lets you write text on the screen. You can choose
the size for your text (1 to 10). The screen then will show you
the current window setting. Then you will be asked to enter the
starting position (x, y) for your text. The (x, y) value must be
within the window in order to be seen. When writing text a back
slash `\' means a return (i.e. let you move to the beginning of
next line) Enter a `&' sign will terminate the text entering.
After the text has been displayed in graphics mode, press
will let you back to the main menu.
The window, viewport, line type for the text can also be
set in the Utilities Menu. (#5 in the Main Menu)



* Option #2 - 2D function plotting
=========
For each function plot, constant factor must be entered by the
user. For example, if you want F(x) = 10 sin ( 3.5(x) - 1.0 )
you must enter
A = 10, B = 3.5 and C = -1.0 .

If no value is entered, the defaults ( the last values ) are set.

After the constant factors are entered. MCAL will show you the
current setting for the domain of the function to be plotted, the
current setting of the window and viewport. The amount of change in
x is also shown. This amount indicated how fast you want to plot your
function. Choosing a big number ( say 2.0 ) will allow you to plot
the graph fast by poor quality. Choosing a small number for dx ( say
0.05 ) will give you a smooth graph ( high quality ). The window,
viewport and dx can be set at this point. Once set, you can NOT go
back to main menu UNTIL the whole graph is plotted.


* Option #3 - Graph in 3D
=========
Graph in 3D allows you to graph functions in 2D but there is a
change in Z - axis involved. The same function in 2D ( x,y ) values
will be plotted repeatly by the indicated number of curves, the change
in z axis. The z - axis is set to be viewed at 45 degree. The window,
viewport, change in x and z, number of curves, starting point ( a
starting point on the z - axis ) can be set at this time. Once the
graph plotting starts, nothing else can be changed until the plotting
is finished.

* Option #4 - Graph functions using polar equations
=========
Graph functions using polar equations allow user to graph function
using polar coordinates. User can enter the Number of revolutions
( where 1 revolution equal 2 * pi ) for the polar plotting.

Number of segments will change the quality of the graph. High no.
of segments ( i.e. 277 ) for high quality but slow.

At this point, before the plotting, the window and viewport can be
set. No change can be made until the plotting is finished.

* Option #5 - Utilities
=========
This option allows you to turn ON/OFF the scales, grid, labels, axes.
To do so, just press the desired option number and then . To
see what is set, choose the "status" option #11.

In this Utilities menu, option #4 and #5 allow you to set the desired
window and viewport.

window: x,y values in real world.
------
viewport: ( 0,1,0,1 ) (0,1)----------------(1,1)
-------- | |
| Hello... |
| |
(0,0)----------------(1,0)

lets you see your real world picture in the whole screen.

To change to viewport, use the following keys:

Left: left arrow
Right: right arrow
Up: up arrow
Down: down arrow
Left-Up: home key
Right-Up: PgUp key
Left-Down: End key
Right-Down: PgDn key
Select points: Center key (surrounded by arrow keys).

Note: you need two points to determine a rectangle or viewport.



Within option 5, there is a function that clears the whole plotting
screen. Also, it allows you to turn scales, grid, labeling and axes OFF.
( That is, all cleared. )

There is another function within Option 5 that lets you choose line
type. By pressing 1 you will obtain a new menu. You can choose
solid, dashed or dotted line for your current function plot. Pressing
0 will let you out back to the Utilities menu.

In the Utilities menu, there's another function that let you pick
the desired color for the current function plot. Currently available
are 7 colors. Pressing 0 will let you back to Utilities menu.

* Option #6 - Status
=========
This option gives you the current setting for the domain, window,
viewport, linestyle, linecolor and information about the plot
( i.e. scales, grid, label, axes ...)

* Option #7 - Help Menu
=========
This option gives you a short list of functions currently available
in MCAL and information related to setting the window, viewport, line
styles, etc...

* Option #8 - All about MCAL
=========
This option tells you a little about the author of MCAL and about
the program itself. Also included is information related to the last
updated features of MCAL.

* Option #9 - Plot File Data
=========
This option lets you plot data by entering two values ( i.e. (x,y)
or ( year, money spended )). The data can be retrieved from a file or
type in at the terminal.

If the data is entered from the terminal, the number of entries is
shown after every pair of entries. You terminate entries by typing
"9999". After you entered all the data, you can save them to the disk
by choosing option #3 "Save Data".

Along with this program is a sample of data (filename: show.dat)
First, set the window to xmin = -1
xmax = 80
ymin = -1
ymax = 80
Then plot the data.

* TIPS, HINTS & OTHERS
--------------------

> Make sure that you enter the starting position value (x,y)
for the text is within the indicated window; else you may not
see the text you entered.

> In case you stuck with this program keep press '0' and 'ENTER'
several times. The program should let you out to DOS if you are
using an IBM.

> Currently, labeling graph is not available.

> Once a graph is been plotted, you can NOT go back to a menu unless
the whole plotting is over.

> If you are using an IBM, you can only see either text OR graphics.
If you run this program in Xenix on the 386 and the Imagraph card,
you can see text and menu on one monitor while as many graphs as
you want on the Imagraf.

> On the IBM, line colors are currently not supported.

> Read the files: readme.mc, readme2.mc, readme3.mc !!!!!!!

> Coming Soon: - Spherical, Conic plotting...
- Labeling of the axes........
- Graph more complicated functions, such as
f(x) = g(x)*h(x) + k(x)
where g(x), h(x), and k(x) can be different desired
functions.

> For additional help related to computer graphics, read
"Computer Graphics" by Donald Hearn and M. Pauline Baker.


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Many thanks to Prof. James Murphy, T.A. Robert Skinner at UC Santa
Cruz for their comments and suggestions for this graphics package.

Thanks to Amy Mak for helping out with this MCAL user's guide.

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DeSmet C Development Package is Trademarks of C Ware Corporation.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Hercules is a registered trademark of Hercules Computer Technology.
Imagraph is a registered trademark of Imagraph ...

=====================end of USER'S GUIDE===============================
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