How to use DaCalc

DaCalc is an formula calculator running on Android mobile system. It can be used to calculate like tips, tax and so on. In the following session, I will show you how to use DaCalc to calculate tips in your Android mobile phone, like Hero.

[caption id=”attachment_268” align=”alignright” width=”200” caption=”Figure 1 Main Window”]Main Window[/caption]

Session 1, use the pre-defined function:

  1. After started, main window of DaCalc looks like figure 1.
  2. Click the menu button on your phone, an option menu will pop-up.
  3. Click the “Load“ menu item, it will switch to the “expression load” window. There is a default expression name tips.
  4. Short click the function “tips“, DaCalc will switch to the main window after the function loaded. The expression for “tips“ is “cost * 0.2“. Variable “cost“ is added to the spinner.
  5. Input value for the variable “cost“, then click “=“ on the panel to calculate the result.

Session 2, define your own function:

  1. Click the menu button on your phone when the main window is displaying.
  2. Click the “Edit“ menu item, it will switch to the “composing“ window.
  3. In put cost * 0.2 / person.
  4. Click the “Save“ button. If you input an invalid expression, there will pop-up a text message. But the verifier is very week, so you should ensure that your input is a correct expression.
  5. If the expression is correct, a dialog will pop-up. You must input a name for the function/expression, like “tips-per“.
  6. Click “Okay“, the function will be saved to database. You can click “Load“ button to check.
  7. Click “Back“ button to switch to the main window.
  8. Now, click the “Load“ menu item and click on the “tips-per“ function to load.
  9. Input a value for the variable “cost“, then press “=“, the spinner will swith to the next variable “person“.
  10. Input a value for the variable “person“ to calculate the result.

If you encounter any problem when using DaCalc, please do not hasitate to send me a email, with your expressions.