John's Calculators (and other programs)

General and special purpose calculators designed to be simple to use for simple jobs, but powerful if needed. For practical and/or educational use.
December 2005 update. New version 8.6 CalcByJohn. Factorial function added. Display options improved.
August 2005 update. Differential Equation Solver is new. Also, a new version 2 of JPlotter.
June 2005 update. John's Plotter is new. Elliptic functions are in JPlotter, CalcByJohn8.5, and Integrator3.
January 2008. New versions (bug fixes) of CalcByJohn, AddressBook, JPlotter, Integrator3, DiffEqnsolver, and Big Decimal.
December 2008. C++ style comments and macro capability added to JPlotter and DiffEqnSolver.
April 2009 CalcByJohn Version 9.0

CalcByJohn-General Purpose Calculator         Address Book

Big Decimal Calculator                        Number Base Converters

JPlotter-Graph Plotter                        Special Purpose Calculators

DiffEqnSolver                                 Miscellaneous Programs

Notes on downloading and installing.

Introduction

Although these programs give the correct answer on everything we've tested them with, it is possible that there are situations where the answer is incorrect. Therefore, if the result is to be used for any important purpose, it should be checked for accuracy by completely independent means.

These programs are free for non-commercial use. For the latter, e-mail

Programs may be individually downloaded. Many of the smaller programs are included in ALL.zip(578K-2.4 min.)
Download times are approximate for a dial-up connection.

CalcByJohn-General Purpose Calculator

This general purpose calculator has the following features:

• Optimized for adding columns of numbers, the most common use for a calculator.
• Numbers that are added or subtracted are shown in columns.
• All input that produces the result is displayed.
• Input can be modified to get a new result instantly.
• Choice of display formats-from 0 to 10 fixed decimal places or floating.
• All scientific functions.
• Can be set for trigonometric functions in degrees or radians.
• Many options for saving and using intermediate results.
• Calculation sessions can be printed out and/or saved to a file.
• Instruction windows can be printed out.
• Expressions can be entered with variables x, y, z, whose values are entered in separate input boxes.

• Improved memory options. Memorized results can be entered wherever the cursor is, as can copied text from other programs.
• Expressions can be entered in the x, y, z input boxes.
• Results can be saved to the x, y, z boxes.
• Smaller initial window which grows as needed.
• Bugs fixed. Will now display properly with the Windows Display set to 'Large Fonts'.
• Reminder on closing-"Do you want to save?".

• Elliptic functions are included.

• Factorial function is added. Display options are improved.

Java Version
Developed and tested with jdk1.3. For Windows download CalcByJava.zip (28K-7 sec.) This zip archive file contains all the class files. Create a sub folder titled 'corejava' and place sFormat.class and Console.class in it. You'll need a Java interpreter to run the program. Use 'java CalcByJava' at the command line in the directory with java.exe in it. CalcByJava.bat runs this command. You will have to adjust the file provided to match the path in your computer.
May work in Linux and Mac if you have a working Java interpreter installed, but I haven't tested.
Download same zip file CalcByJava.zip (28K-7 sec.)

Tcl-Tk Versions
You need a Tcl-Tk interpreter to run these scripts. See http://www.tcl.tk/ and http://tcl.activestate.com/.
There are Windows, Linux, and Mac Versions which have been tested with Tcl-Tk 8.4.1, 8.3.1,
and 8.4.2 (OS 8.1) respectively, but will probably work with earlier or later versions.
The printing and a few other functions are not functional in the Tcl-Tk versions.
CalcByJohn-TK.tcl, CalcByJohn-TK-Linux.tcl, CalcByJohn-MacTk.tcl, All three scripts are in one zip file.
Download CalcByJohnTclTk.zip (24K-6 sec.)

Big Decimal Calculator

John's Plotter

This graph plotter is new Jun 2005. It uses the same internal calculations that CalcByJohn8.6 does, but plots the results. You input the data as one would for a paper plot, but the hard work is done for you. Version 2, Aug 2005, has automatic axis scaling and many other new features. The new zip file includes files of example graphs.
Updated version 1/25/2008.
New version 2.25 with macro capability for defining symbols and end-of-line comments '//'. December 2008.
Download zip file JPlotter.zip (54K-14 sec.)

DiffEqnSolver

This program is new Aug 2005.
This program will solve a set of up to ten simultaneous first order differential equations. The equations, initial conditions, parameters, and integration range are entered in an input screen. The solution is plotted when the 'Run' button is clicked. The calculated points are shown with circles and are connected with blue straight lines. A function in red can also be plotted for comparison to the solution.
The inputs are made in text boxes where one can use the clipboard cut, copy and paste functions. The data can be saved to a file and then recalled. Results can be printed or saved to a file.
The zip file contains many example files which can be easily run and then modified as one learns to use the program.
Updated version 1/25/2008.
New version 1.3 with macro capability for defining symbols and end-of-line comments '//'. December 2008.
Download zip file DiffEqnSolver.zip (69K-18 sec.)

Number Base Converters

B2B_2
This calculator converts a number in any base from 2 to 68 into another in any base in the same range.
There are radio buttons to pick binary, octal, decimal, hexadecimal.
New Version 2.0, October 2004 will convert larger numbers, has more colorful display, and better error messages.
Download zip file B2B_2.zip (57K-14 sec.)
Old version B2B.zip (31K-8 sec.)

base2base
This is a command line version (DOS) of a base converter. It has some more capabilities (complications ?) and has its own explanation document BASE2BASE.TXT.
Download zip file base2base.zip (64K-16 sec.)

AnyBaseCalc
This calculator does arithmetic (+, -, *, /) in any base from 2 to 68. Updated December 2005.
Download zip file AnyBaseCalc.zip (8K-2 sec.)

ComplexCalc
A calculator for complex numbers. Does arithmetic (+, -, *, /) with complex numbers. Also complex conjugate and conversion between rectangular and polar coordinates. Expressions and functions are automatically evaluated.
Download ComplexCalc.zip 34K-8 sec.)

VectorCalc
A calculator for 3D vectors. Adds, subtracts vectors. Computes scalar (dot) and vector (cross) products. Converts between rectangular and spherical coordinates. The zip file also has an html file of the vector analysis formulas.
Download VectorCalc.zip (32K-8 sec.)

Integrator
This program calculates the value of a definite integral (area under a curve). A function and lower and upper limits are entered.
New version 3, June 2005, includes elliptic functions.
Updated version 1/25/2008.
Download Integrator3.zip (31K-8 sec.)

Reverse Polish calculators

HP21
A computer desktop simulation of the HP21 pocket calculator(1974). A short description is included in a text file in the zip file.
Download HP21.zip (10K-3 sec.)

HPCAL
A command line version (DOS) of a RPN calculator. Has all the functions of the HP21.
Download HPCAL.zip (25K-6 sec.)

JAddressBook2.2
A simple address book with search and print. Version 2.2, 5/1/04.
Updated version 1/25/2008.
Download zip fileAddressBook.zip (86K-20 sec.)

Morse
A Morse code converter. Type text in one window and Morse code shows in another, or type Morse and see text.
Download Morse.zip (61K-15 sec.)

Roman
A command line program that converts decimals to Roman numerals.
to_decimal
A command line program that converts Roman numerals to decimals.
Run these programs in The MS-DOS prompt window.
Download both roman.exe and to_decimal.exe in one zip file Roman.zip(54K-13 sec.)
Roman2
A GUI program combining conversion to Roman numerals and vice-versa.
Download Roman2.zip.(9K-2 sec.)

Most of these programs are only one file which is compressed in a .zip file. Some programs have additional help and example files.

If you have WindowsXP you can use the built-in zip file extraction utilities, otherwise you will need a program like WinZip (www.winzip.com) or similar to extract the zip files. After extraction, the files can be placed wherever you wish. Double click on the .exe file to run the program or make a shortcut and put it on the desktop or task bar. To uninstall, simply delete the file.

For questions, comments, and bug reports,

Updated 12/11/05

Reviewed 7/1/06

Reviewed 7/31/06

Updated 1/25/2008

Updated 11/24/2008

Updated 4/24/2009