How They Work

Installation

After purchase, you will download a Zip folder containing an executable file with the name of the calculator.

If for some reason you were unable to download the Zip folder and have been sent a copy by email, the folder name extension will have been changed from ????.zip to ????.--- in order to prevent it being stripped by your email server.
You will need to rename the folder to ????.zip before you can open it.

You open the Zip folder by double-clicking its icon.

The executable file inside the Zip folder is not the calculator, it is an installation package.

To install the calculator, you double-click this executable file and follow the instructions.
After installation, the program is run via the Start button: Start>CalQlata>Program Name

If you need to reinstall the calculator, you must first uninstall the installed version. You do this through the Control Panel as follows: 'Start>Control Panel>Programs and Features', then double-click the program [calculator] name.

Keep the Zip folder and the security information in a safe place in case you need to reinstall in the future.

The Calculator

All our calculators have been designed on the basis of minimal input for maximum output.

They are simple in both appearance and operation and should be fairly intuitive. Therefore it should be possible for you to 'trial-and-error' your way through most of their functions in a few minutes with no assistance from this web page.
Simply float your cursor over the window and look for a hand or a question-mark cursor to appear then click or double-click and see what happens. These calculators are pretty bomb-proof, you won't do any harm by clicking incorrectly.

If you need clarification of window activation areas, take a look at the Legend below. Should you need more detailed help, however, you should find everything you need on this page from Selecting calculation options and Switching Screens on and off: and beyond.

If you still don't find what you are looking for, then please Contact Us

Your input data is saved automatically every time you exit a calculator.

Your saved input data is reloaded and automatically recalculated every time you reopen the calculator.

The calculator automatically recalculates every time you change your calculation option.

The calculator will automatically recalculate every time you change your input data.

Images and Diagrams:

It is CalQlata's policy to try and keep all diagrams 'static' (unchanging) in order to minimise program (bit) size, maximise calculation speed and maximise operating system (version) compatibility. You will be notified on this site for which programs this policy has been relaxed.

Legend

① Menu Items
File: Load Data, Quick Load, Open Data File, Reset to Default Data, Save Data, Exit
Print: Help, Data Listing
Help: General, Context, Technical, CalQlata Website, About, License Agreement

Selecting calculation options and Switching Screens on and off:

If a hand appears when you float the cursor over ②, clicking the mouse button will switch the 'Data Listing' window ⑪ on.

If a hand appears when you float the cursor over ③, clicking the mouse button will switch the picture ⑩ on.

If a question mark (?) appears when you float the cursor over ④, clicking the mouse button will switch the 'Context Help' screen ⑫ on.

Data Listing ⑪ and Help ⑫ information appear in the same window as the diagram ⑩ when selected.

Select your calculation option (where more than one is available) from ⑤. Each time you select a new option, CalQlata will immediately and automatically attempt to recalculate using existing data.

If a hand appears when you float the cursor over the picture ⑩, there will be more than one picture available. By clicking the mouse button when the cursor is over the picture you can flip through them without losing your calculation option. If the picture displayed is not associated with the current calculation option a 'Select Option' switch will appear immediately above the picture ⑯. Should you wish to select the calculation option associated with the picture displayed, just click the mouse button whilst the cursor is floated over this switch.

A hand will appear when the cursor is floated over areas of the background where auto-sizing can be performed ⑰. Whilst you can re-size the window by dragging its edges, you can quickly revert to the normal operating size by double-clicking the mouse button when the cursor is floated over background areas that display a hand. Double-click again and the window size will reduce to its minimum 'pocket-size'. Double-click again and the window will return to its normal operating size.

Units:

Unless otherwise stated, all of our calculators neither ask for, nor give out, units in their calculations. The user is expected to enter their input data values in his or her preferred consistent units, and the output will be in the same units.

This approach has been adopted in-line with CalQlata's 'GiGo' principle, maximising calculation flexibility; enabling the user to mix units should he or she wish to do so, even metric with Imperial!

Whilst this may appear daunting at first glance; it is actually very simple, given that there are only four fundamental scales of measurements; length, time, mass and electrical charge (and temperature), and every hybrid unit of measurement (Newton, slug, horsepower, calory, Watt, Joule, etc.), whether metric or Imperial, comprises these four scales (and temperature).

The only important consideration is to ensure that your input data is entered in consistent units.
Remember, you get out what you put in!

Entering Data:

Select the input symbol (or description) from ⑥. Input data is displayed in Blue text in ⑦ and in the diagram

You type your input variable into ⑦. There is no need to press the 'Enter' key. The calculator automatically recalculates every time you change the data

Just as with hand-written formulas, our calculators operate on a 'GiGo' principle. I.e. you can put any nonsense you like in here and the calculator will 'have-a-go' if it can. For example:

Enter: '23.5tyd' and CalQlata will read 23.5

Enter: '23.5e23' and CalQlata will read 23.5E+023

Enter '23..5' and CalQlata will read 23

Do not include commas in the input data; if you enter 23,456.67 CalQlata will read 23

The Answers:

You select the output symbol from ⑧. Output data is displayed in Red text in ⑨ and in the diagram

Clicking the 'Data Listing' Logo ② will list all input and output data ⑪

If you see 'NaN' (not a number), 'infinity' or unexpected zeros in the output data, you should check your input data, there may well be an erroneous zero or missing number (e.g. when swapping between calculation options with differing inputs). If you make an error, the calculator will let you know (if it has realised the error) ⑬. Cautions (as opposed to errors) appear in this box in a red font on a white background.

You may select and copy output results from ⑨. Should you accidently erase or modify this output value, just overwrite any part of the input data (⑦) and the correct result will automatically reappear. Open the drop-box and scroll down to select any other result.

You may select and copy all output results from the Data Listing window ⑪ and paste it into a spreadsheet for further processing. You may also type in your notes, remarks or units against the output data in this window before copying.

The Data File (or text file):

Your most recent input data and calculation option are automatically stored on the hard drive when closing the calculator or saving to disk via the 'File > Save' menu. This Data File ⑭ will have the same name as the associated calculator but with the extension '.txt' and is stored in your 'Libraries>Documents>calqlata' folder.

You may modify input data (and calculation option) in this file using a text editor (e.g. Microsoft's Notepad) instead of within the calculator should you prefer. However, it is unlikely that you would use this facility unless the calculator you are using has a prodigious input requirement, you are making numerous simultaneous changes and you are a confident computer operator.

This facility allows the user to modify data independently of the calculator. Immediately this data is loaded into the calculator via ① (File>Load data) or ⑮ (Quick Load Switch) the calculator will automatically recalculate using all the revised data.

Important: Don't forget to save the modified data in the text editor before trying to load it into the calculator.

Menu item: 'File>Load Data' loads the input variables from the Data File into the calculator, which automatically recalculates using this new data.

Menu item: 'File>Quick Load' activates a 'Load-Switch' ⑮ that bypasses the menu facility. This switch replicates the action performed by 'File>Load Data' menu item.

Menu item: 'File>Save Data' saves the input data (in the calculator) to disk (into the Data File). This is exactly the same action as that performed by the calculator on closure.

If you corrupt the file and it becomes unreadable to the calculator, do not worry, your calculator will automatically recreate a new file with default data when it tries to access it again.

The calculator does not use the symbols and headings shown in the Data File, they are only included to remind you what the numbers represent.

This facility is aimed at the experienced and confident user. It can be particularly useful in calculators where you are changing many inputs at the same time, e.g. Fatigue

What you can and cannot do with this file:

"<CALCULATION OPTION>": This heading is included in the file every time it is saved. It is not used in the calculator. It is included to remind you what the following number means. As long as any text or a blank line is inserted here the file will save correctly. This line will reappear correctly next time you open the file. If this line is missing when the file is saved, the calculator will automatically generate a new file with default data the next time it is accessed.

"1": This number is included in the file every time it is saved. It is the calculation option number and used by the calculator. The file will save correctly if this number is equal to a recognised calculation option. If the number is not an integer recognised by the calculator or if the number of input variables does not match expectations for the calculation option, the calculator will automatically generate a new file with default data the next time it is accessed.

"<INPUT DATA>": This heading is included in the file every time it is saved. It is not used in the calculator. It is included to remind you that the following lines include the input variables used in the calculator calculation option. As long as any text or a blank line is inserted here the file will save correctly. This line will reappear correctly next time you open the file. If this line is missing when the file is saved, the calculator will automatically generate a new file with default data the next time it is accessed.

"a,5", etc.: These lines contain the input symbol followed by a comma (',') followed by a number. The symbols are not used by the calculator, they are included here to remind you what the following number represents. If you delete the symbol but leave the comma in place, the file will save correctly. If you delete a comma or any line of data when the file is saved, the calculator will automatically generate a new file with default data the next time it is accessed.

"<OUTPUT DATA>": This heading is included in the file every time it is saved. Whilst it is not used in the associated calculator, it may be used in data importing activities (see Data Import below). It is included to remind you that the following lines include the output results produced by the calculator. If this line is deleted, it will be replaced next time the data is saved (or the calculator is closed).

"dx,6.936702", etc.: These lines contain the output symbol followed by a comma (',') followed by a number. Nothing in this section of the Data File is loaded into the operating calculator, therefore corruption of this data will not affect its operation. However, as other calculators may be able to access this Data File and use this data (see Data Import below) it should not be disturbed.

Data Import:

A few calculators (e.g. Fluid Forces and Vortex Shedding) are able to extract information directly from the Data Files of other calculators. CalQlata only provides this facility where significant time and effort can be saved along with a reduction in potential errors.

This facility is only available where the import calculators are installed. In which case, an 'import switch' ⑱ will appear immediately above the Options drop-box ⑤ for each import calculator that the operating calculator can see.

If you click the left mouse button whilst the cursor is over an 'import switch', the operating calculator will access the associated Data File and extract the information it needs. It will then insert this information into the operating calculator and automatically recalculate.

Important: Don't forget to save the data in export calculators before loading this information into the importing calculator

Menus ①:

File:

Load Data: Loads the input data saved from the Data File into the calculator. The calculator automatically recalculates using this loaded data (see above)

Quick Load: Activates the 'Load-Switch' ⑮

Open Data File: Opens the Data File using your default text editor

Reset to Default Data: Resets all input data to a default condition (the data is not saved automatically at this stage)

Save Data: Saves the calculation option and the input data to disk in text format

Exit: Exits the calculator and automatically saves the input data to disk

Print:

Help: Sends the text displayed in your Help window to your default printer

Data Listing: Sends the text displayed in your Data Listing window to your default printer

Help:

General: Displays the General Help (calculator operation tips) in the Help window ⑫

Context: Displays a description of each input and output symbol in the Help window ⑫

Technical: Displays technical help on the calculator subject in the Help window ⑫

CalQlata Website: Connects the User to CalQlata's internet website

About: Displays information on the calculator and CalQlata in the Help window ⑫

License Agreement: Displays the License Agreement text in the Help window ⑫

Symbols: Switches input ⑥ and output ⑧ between symbols and descriptions (with symbols)