
--                            MathPad 2.6.5

-- MathPad is a general purpose graphing scientific calculator. It uses a text window rather than simulating buttons on a hand held calculator. This live scratchpad interface allows you to see and edit your entire calculation.

---------- Installation -----------------------
-- MathPad 2.6 runs on OS-X (tested with 10.3 and 10.4) 
-- It also runs on older macs with System 8.6 or better and Carbonlib.
-- No special installation is required. Simply copy the MathPad folder to wherever you want it on your disk. MathPad can be run directly from the distribution folder. It does not require any auxiliary files to be installed elsewhere.

---------- Upgrading to version 2.6.5 ----------------
-- If you already have a MathPad folder set up, you may want to copy only the new application and documentation files. This would preserve your existing  active XFun configuration and any custom includes.
-- The readspice XFun has been updated so if you use this XFun you should replace your copy with the new version.
-- The easiest way to upgrade is to delete any old MathPad applications. If you keep old versions of MathPad around you may have to use Get Info Open with: to force the Finder to launch the new version by default.
-- If you are upgrading from version 2.5 or earlier you must upgrade  all XFuns.  XFuns for version 2.5 or earlier WILL NOT WORK. 
-- See the file "What's New" for a details on how to use new features.

---------- Using MathPad --------------------
-- MathPad may be used as a calculator simply by typing in numbers and operators. When the ENTER key is hit, each line is evaluated and the results are inserted into the text.

   2*(3+4):14.000

-- MathPad inserts the ":" and the result "14.0". A status line at the bottom of the window will show a "" to indicate that evaluation is complete. If any problems are encountered, they will be reported in the status line and the cursor will be moved to the problem in the text. You can edit and reevaluate the text at any time. The RETURN key simply terminates a line. It does not cause any evaluation. The ENTER key is on the numeric keypad (or next to the space bar on laptops).

-- MathPad can do much more than act as a simple calculator. Built-in help is available via the Help  menu. The "Documentation" folder contains more information about MathPad's capabilities.

-- The "Examples" folder contains examples and utility functions. These examples show how to implement such things as equation solving, curve fitting, vector calculations and numerical solutions of differential equations.

-- The "incl" folder contains some utility routines that can be accessed by adding an include statement to your file. For example
~
 include "::incl:complex ops"
~
-- The "XFuns" folder contains various extensions that can be added to Mathpad's function menu by moving them into MathPad's "Active XFuns" folder. (If MathPad is already running you must quit and restart it to see the new XFun). This distribution includes XFuns for linear fitting, FFT signal processing, 3D plotting etc. 
-- The distribution folder contains the XFun file "intro help". This  adds a few simple examples to the help menu and may be useful for beginning users. This file can be removed to save a little memory and space in the help menu.

-- Check out the MathPad web page
-- <http://pubpages.unh.edu/~mwidholm/MathPad/> for more examples and XFuns.


----------- Distribution -------------------
-- MathPad is Copyright  1993-2006 by Mark Widholm.
-- MathPad is freeware.  Selling it for profit without my permission is forbidden.

-- If you use MathPad, send me some e-mail. I can notify you of any bugs, updates etc.

-- Send comments, questions, suggestions and bug reports to:

--       Mark.Widholm@UNH.edu

-- Let me know if you are interested in seeing more examples or if you have a MathPad example that others might be interested in seeing.

