Language Modes

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Language Modes
==============

The commands in this section change Calc to use a different notation
for entry and display of formulas, corresponding to the conventions of
some other common language such as Pascal or TeX.  Objects displayed
on the stack or yanked from the Calculator to an editing buffer will
be formatted in the current language; objects entered in algebraic
entry or yanked from another buffer will be interpreted according to
the current language.

The current language has no effect on things written to or read from
the trail buffer, nor does it affect numeric entry.  Only algebraic
entry is affected.  You can make even algebraic entry ignore the
current language and use the standard notation by giving a numeric
prefix, e.g., `C-u ''.

For example, suppose the formula `2*a[1] + atan(a[2])' occurs in a C
program; elsewhere in the program you need the derivatives of this
formula with respect to `a[1]' and `a[2]'.  First, type `d C' to
switch to C notation.  Now use `C-u M-# g' to grab the formula into
the Calculator, `a d a[1] RET' to differentiate with respect to the
first variable, and `M-# y' to yank the formula for the derivative
back into your C program.  Press `U' to undo the differentiation and
repeat with `a d a[2] RET' for the other derivative.

Without being switched into C mode first, Calc would have
misinterpreted the brackets in `a[1]' and `a[2]', would not have known
that `atan' was equivalent to Calc's built-in `arctan' function, and
would have written the formula back with notations (like implicit
multiplication) which would not have been legal for a C program.

As another example, suppose you are maintaining a C program and a TeX
document, each of which needs a copy of the same formula.  You can
grab the formula from the program in C mode, switch to TeX mode, and
yank the formula into the document in TeX math-mode format.

Language modes are selected by typing the letter `d' followed by a
shifted letter key.
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