Trident Help

RPN Advanced 42 manual · Chapter 8 of 18

ALPHA mode and names

Type letters with the top-row menu keys, build variable names and labels, and use the ALPHA register.

8.1Turn ALPHA mode on and type letters#

Press shift ENTER to turn ALPHA mode on. The display shows a cursor and the top row now offers six groups of letters: ABCDE, FGHI, JKLM, NOPQ, RSTUV and WXYZ. Press the top-row key of the group, then the key of the letter inside that group.

ALPHA mode: the six menu keys pick a group of letters. The display shows: _ / A-E F-I J-M N-Q R-V W-Z.
ALPHA mode: the six menu keys pick a group of letters.
After picking the first group the five letters A to E appear on the menu keys. The display shows: _ / A B C D E .
After picking the first group the five letters A to E appear on the menu keys.
  1. ⇧ALPHAENTER (ALPHA)
  2. LN (group R S T U V)
  3. 1/x (second letter, S)
Typing the letter S
Example 8.1

Type a short word

  1. Turn on ALPHA and type B (A group, second key), then S (R group, second key).

    ⇧ALPHAENTERΣ+1/xLN1/x
Result of the example "Type a short word" The display shows: BS_ / A-E F-I J-M N-Q R-V W-Z.
You should seeBS_
Example 8.2

Digits and symbols

  1. The digits type digits. In ALPHA mode the swap key types a space and the add key a plus sign.

    ⇧ALPHAENTERΣ+Σ+42+
Result of the example "Digits and symbols" The display shows: A42+_ / A-E F-I J-M N-Q R-V W-Z.
You should seeA42+
Example 8.3

Lowercase letters

  1. Press shift before the letter key to get lowercase.

    ⇧ALPHAENTERΣ+⇧Σ−Σ+
Result of the example "Lowercase letters" The display shows: a_ / A-E F-I J-M N-Q R-V W-Z.
You should seea_

8.2Edit and leave ALPHA mode#

← deletes the last character. ENTER or EXIT leaves ALPHA mode. If you are already in the middle of a group, EXIT first goes back to the group list.

Example 8.4

Delete a character

  1. Type AB, then press backspace.

    ⇧ALPHAENTERΣ+Σ+Σ+1/x←
Result of the example "Delete a character" The display shows: A_ / A-E F-I J-M N-Q R-V W-Z.
You should seeA_

8.3The ALPHA register and AVIEW#

Text you type in ALPHA mode away from a prompt goes to the ALPHA register, which holds up to 44 characters. Show it with AVIEW from the PGM.FCN menu (shift 3, fifth key). Typing again after leaving starts a new text. Programs use the register to show messages with AVIEW or PROMPT.

Example 8.5

Type and show a message

  1. Turn on ALPHA and type HI, then ENTER.

    ⇧ALPHAENTER1/x√x1/xLOGENTER

  2. Open PGM.FCN and press AVIEW (fifth key).

    ⇧PGM.FCN3LN
Result of the example "Type and show a message" The display shows: HI / LBL RTN INP VEW AVW XEQ.
You should seeHI

8.4Names for variables and labels#

At prompts that accept a name (STO, RCL, XEQ, GTO, LBL, VIEW, INPUT, CLV and others) press shift ENTER to start ALPHA, type the name, and press ENTER. For MVAR and DIM the ALPHA mode starts automatically. Names are limited to seven characters.

HP-42S is a trademark of HP Inc.. Trident Calculator is an independent product by South View Studios and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by HP. The name is used only to describe the kind of calculator this model resembles; Trident's names, keys, display, fonts and software are its own clean-room design.