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Section 1: Getting Started 16
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When the HP-41C is in USER mode, all keys that have not been reassigned retain
their normal mode functions. (‘‘Normal mode’’ means
that the calculator is not in PRGM, ALPHA or USER mode.) Normal mode
functions are the ones printed above and on the faces of the keys.
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PRGM
Mode Key
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When the calculator is in PRGM mode, keystrokes are recorded as program
instructions. Programming and PRGM (mode) are covered in detail in part II
of this handbook.
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ALPHA
Mode Key
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ALPHA mode is an exciting HP-41C feature that allows you to use both
numbers and letters al well as several special characters. When you press
ALPHA, the primary keyboard functions
become the alphabetic characters printed in blue on the lower face of the
keys. In addition, the ALPHA annunciator will turn on to show you that the
calculator is in ALPHA mode. To take the HP-41C out of ALPHA mode, simply
press ALPHA again.
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Display
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Initial Display
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Should you see MEMORY LOST in the
display the first time you turn the HP-41C on, do not worry—it
means that power to the continuous memory of the calculator has been
interrupted at some time. Merely press
(the correction key) to
clear the error, then continue. When power to continuous memory is
interrupted, all information you placed into the HP-41C is lost.
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Whenever the HP-41C is turned on, the display shows the number or
ALPHA characters that were in the display before you turned the
calculator off.
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Display Capacity
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The HP-41C display has 12 full character positions. You can put up to
24 characters in the display. As you place a string of ALPHA characters
in the display that is larger than 11 characters the HP-41C automatically
‘‘scrolls’’ the characters off to the left (more
about this later). For example, place the calculator into ALPHA mode, and
press the following keys:
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ABCDEFGHIJK _
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BCDEFGHIJKL _
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CDEFGHIJKLM _
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0.0000
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