HP42S: [GTO][.] in PRGM mode

[Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil)]

Hi, all HP42S users and owners d;^)

When I started using an HP42S (80's), I found myself with an "interesting" challenge/task. Let me just remember the HP41 before going further.

When the HP41 is in PRGM mode, [GTO][.] allows the user to go to an specific step number in the current program AND also allows the use of [ALPHA] for searching any glogal label WHILE the calculator is in PRGM mode, i.e., [GTO][.] is not programmable. The only problem of using [GTO][.][ALPHA] is the need of correctly spelling the ALPHA label.

The HP42S adds a PRGM catalog that is active anytime you press [GTO] or [XEQ], and both allow [ALPHA] to be activated so you can either use a softbutom or spell the ALPHA label. In both cases, they area programmable.

What if you want to "navigate" through programs while you are in PRGM mode? This means using [GTO][.][CATALOG]... Oops! A short BEEP tells me CATALOG cannot be active while using [GTO][.] in PRGM mode. After some "trial and error" I was able to find a way to see the PRGM catalog with [GTO][.] in PRGM mode.

I added an extra post in this thread with my keystroke sequence to accomplish the task, but I'd like to know if someone else have already tried to do this and what is the sequence they use to accomplish this task. I'm not posting my own sequence in this post so it will not misdirect others that want to try their own way, but the next post in this thread has it.

Any comments?

Cheers.

Luiz (Brazil)

Edited: 28 Mar 2004, 1:37 p.m. after one or more responses were posted

[Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil)]

Hi;

maybe someone has already done it with the same sequence shown here, so I want to apologize for a possible "closed file".

In PRGM mode:

[SHIFT][GTO][.] [ENTER] [SHIFT][CATALOG][PRGM][label]

and there it is: you can navigate through programs (global ALPHA labels) without leaving PRGM mode. Of course, there is one additional keystroke if you compare to:

[SHIFT][PRGM] [SHIFT][GTO][label] [SHIFT][PRGM]

and the sequence is not so intuitive, but at least it's possible.

Comments?

Cheers.

Luiz (Brazil)

Edited: 28 Mar 2004, 3:53 p.m.

[Chad Wagner]

Hello,
Pardon me since this is not an actual reply to your post.
I am searching for two unavailable 42s program books that were put out by Software by D’Zign.
They are “Urban Survey Programs” and “Spiral Curves”.
I would like to purchase the books or scanned copies of them so I could get them into one of my 42s calculators.
I apologize if I am bothering you with this.
Thank you for any help you might be able to provide.
Chad Wagner