This page last updated: 18 Oct 97
Casio graphical calculators
Looking for programming info? Try the
Casio Graphical Calculator Encyclopaedia.
(The part of my pages I put most effort into. Sorry it's been down for a while, but it's new and improved now.)
Looking for programs? Try my programs
page.
For quite a while I've been interested in these fascinating little doohickeys.
These pages contain anything which I think is useful to know about programming
them and a range of some of the best (IMHO) programs for them around.
My calc
My first graphical calculator was an fx-7000. This had 422 bytes of
available programming space. My second graphical calculator was an fx-9700GE,
which had 24000 bytes of programming space. I noticed a difference. A few
weeks ago, I got a cfx-9850G. It has these pros and cons compared to
the fx-9700GE:
Advantages:
- Built-in text for graphics (variable width, 5 pixel height).
- A couple of kb more available programming space.
- GetKey (returns value of key being pressed, allows real-time games.)
- Clearing pixels and Exclusive-Or plotting (allows quick redraws)
- PixelTest (tests colour of pixel, for simple collision detection etc.)
- Postitionable text (allows for clever text effects)
- Lists (might allow for some clever new programming techniques)
- Saving pictures to memory (may allow for hacking a z-shell!)
Disadvantages:
- Colour screen
- No "Mcl" function
- A[1]<>B, so many old progs don't work
- Only 28 variables
- Considerably slower drawing on graphics
- Sucky editor mode
- More bugs
Hacking
Over the past few years myself and Tom Wheeley have been gradually
hacking away at these calcs and discovering their inner workings.
A lot of this work is currently being organised into the CTF (calculator
text format), a standard format for writing down calculator programs so
that they can be read by humans but can also be sent via cable to the
calculator. In a few months, if all goes well, all Casio calculator
websites will be adopting this format for their programs.
For general info on Casio calculator hackery, the CTF, and links to other good
calc pages, you should try
Tom Wheeley's
calc page. It also has software (CaS) for transferring files between
a calculator and computer via a cable and info about where to get cables.
Casio now provide free software for up/downloading files over a cable.
It can be downloaded from:
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ucfcasio/programs.htm
Now available: Progs in .cas format for uploading with this or
CaS.
This page was created by Tom Lynn. Comments etc. to:
tom-calcs@mythic-beasts.com.
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