Calc98 Version 5 Beta - Update 5.29

Thanks for your interest in the Calc98 Beta Program. The new beta version of our calculator software Calc98 (Version 5) is available for download. This version runs on PCs running Microsoft Windows95, Windows98, WindowsNT, Windows2000 and WindowsME. There are also separate downloads, below, for WindowsCE, and you need to select the appropriate processor type and CE version. Where possible we have indicated which devices are supported by each version. Help files are included with the package.

If this is your first visit to this page, we would be grateful if you would PLEASE complete our brief questionnaire, which will help us plan future development. If you discover a bug, or just have a suggestion, please use our bug report form or Email us with the details. Please do not pass on copies of the beta version of the software to others.

Please bear in mind that this is beta software and is more likely to contain bugs and may be unstable. Please back up your system as a precaution, particularly on WindowsCE devices, and we suggest you close other applications or save their data before running the beta version, in case you need to reset the device. You may need to do this (equivalent to rebooting a desktop computer) in the unlikely event that the device "locks up". This should not affect the contents of the filestore - it should never be necessary to do a complete (cold) reset.

Updated: 8/6/2001

An updated version 5.29 is now online. This fixes a few more bugs and includes another update to the help files. From the release note:

Release 5.29 (Release candidate - public)

WindowsCE version should shut down if insufficient resources - fixed
Removed the File/Close command on WindowsCE (WindowsCE UI design guidelines)
Better CPU calibration on WindowsCE device
Strange behaviour of display array scrollbars on WindowsCE - fixed
Confusing behaviour of brackets in certain complex expressions - fixed
Changing bracket button legend is unhelpful and breaks UI design guidelines - removed
In RPN mode, no warning on stack overflow - fixed
In RPN array mode, valid entry sometimes not recognised (so operator does nothing) - fixed
WindowsCE installer doesn't warn if try to install CE3 version on CE2 device - fixed
Strange display behaviour when initially loading data with different array size from file on WindowsCE - fixed

Release 5.28 (Release candidate)

Two's complement display implemented correctly.
Negative numbers truncated to zero showed "-0" - fixed.
"Clear All" button added to memory select dialog.
Some incorrect button legends if enter "opt" while keypad shifted - fixed.
Engineering notation displayed 10 as "1e1" - fixed.
Select added unit, property or constant when editing properties database.
Change time constants (Time in Month etc.) to be in consistent units.
Stopwatch timer inaccurate on WindowsCE - fixed.
Warn if properties database modified but not saved.
Help title bar button removed from Modes property sheet
CAB install for WindowsCE devices
Spell checked the help files and made corrections
Cursor keys control stopwatch in time mode
Keyboard accelerator added for RPN stack display
Improved tab order on memory dialog to improve keyboard use
A button added to the Options/Data page to delete the registry key
If property added but no units it was not saved - fixed

Release 5.27 (Release candidate)

Inconsistent behaviour for factorials of very large numbers - fixed
Meaningless large values for tangents at infinity - fixed
On Unicode versions (e.g. CE) input of angle degrees did not work - fixed
Addressed some internationalisation problems with non Latin-1 codepages
Tooltips not cleared when changing mode e.g. Hex to Bin - fixed
Bitwise shift button implemented for baseN, hex, octal, binary modes.
Added a Unicode build for WindowsNT, Windows2000, WindowsXP
Added number base modes to help files
Corrected boiling point of methanol
Some fixes to the help files
We are now including the full point release in the download filename to avoid cacheing problems
A known problem with helpfiles on CE2 devices is addressed in the installation instructions

Release 5.26 (Release candidate)

Display invisible on Windows CE 2 if display font is changed - fixed
RPN stack rolldown does nothing - fixed
Percent key not working - fixed
Ctrl-X (cut) not working - fixed
Periodic table group headings can be misaligned - fixed(?)
Decimal and thousands separator now default to Windows locale settings when Calc first run
In some locales there are problems with key legends - (outstanding problem)
Pi button does not push stack correctly in RPN mode - fixed
OS Version information was incorrect - fixed
Help files updated

Downloading Calc98

Windows95/98/2000/ME/NT/XP

Download the self-extracting zip file (approx. 400k). When you have got the file, double click on it to extract the distribution files. The files are then automatically extracted. Drag a shortcut to "\Windows\Start Menu\" and rename the shortcut to "Calc98" if you want to run it from the Start Menu. Further instructions and documentation are provided in the extracted files.

Windows2000/NT/XP only - international versions

These operating systems support Unicode which solve problems with a few of the key legends if you are using a non-Latin 1 codepage (e.g. Hebrew, Arabic, Eastern European). Download the self-extracting zip file (slightly larger than the non-Unicode version). When you have got the file, double click on it to extract the distribution files. The files are then automatically extracted. Drag a shortcut to "\Windows\Start Menu\" and rename the shortcut to "Calc98" if you want to run it from the Start Menu. Further instructions and documentation are provided in the extracted files. Note that this version will not run on Windows95/98/ME.

Windows CE

First you need to decide which version to download. Then download the appropriate self-extracting zip file from the links below. When you have got the file, double click on it to extract the distribution files. The files are then automatically extracted into a directory on your PC, which should be called Calc98CE. Then follow the instructions in the Readme.txt file - the installation procedure has changed with version 5.28. You may want to make sure your version of ActiveSync is up-to-date - currently Version 3.1 is available on Microsoft's web site.

Some very early WindowsCE devices run Windows CE 1, which is no longer supported. Most of these devices can be upgraded to Windows CE 2, for which you will need to contact the manufacturer of the device.