Enter expressions in
QuickCalc using standard mathematical rules of precedence; review
and retrieve computations from the History area; and understand
the rules for using imperial units: length, area, and volume.
QuickCalc evaluates
expressions according to the following standard mathematical rules
of precedence:
- Expressions in parentheses first, starting
with the innermost set
- Operators in standard order: exponents
first, multiplication and division second, and addition and subtraction
last
- Operators of equal precedence from left
to right
The Input box of the
calculator is where you enter and retrieve expressions. With QuickCalc,
there are two ways you can enter data in the Input box. You can
either enter expressions using the QuickCalc Number Pad buttons,
or you can use the computer keyboard or numeric keypad. To use the
computer numeric keypad, you must have NUMLOCK on.
To evaluate an expression,
click the equal (=) sign on the QuickCalc Number Pad, or press Enter
on the computer keyboard.
Understand the Syntax of
Expressions
The
syntax for QuickCalc expressions and Command prompt calculator expressions
is identical. For example, to perform an operation on the vector
or coordinates 5,2,0, you enter [5,2,0] in the Input box.
You can use the GETVAR
function to read the value of a system variable. The syntax is
getvar(variable_name)
For more information
see CAL.
Use the History Area
The History area keeps
an ongoing record of calculations, similar to the paper tape in
a physical desk calculator. You can use the History area to review
previous operations and pass them back to the Input box for re-evaluation
with different parameters.
Rules for Displaying and
Handling Units
QuickCalc
adheres to the following rules:
- Results of calculations are always expressed
in decimal format unless a distance is entered in feet and inches
- Angular
values entered in the Input box are assumed to be degrees regardless
of the settings in the Drawing Units dialog box. To specify radians,
grads, and degrees, append an r, g, or d after
the angle value.
- Results of angular calculations are always
expressed in degrees with full AutoCAD precision.
When
the drawing units are set to architectural units, the calculator
displays the results of calculations of imperial units in the architectural
format and rounds to the display precision (LUPREC) specified in
the drawing. The results for all other calculations display in decimal
format with full precision.
You can separate feet,
inches, and fractional inches with a dash, a space, or nothing.
You can use any of the following syntax cases to enter valid feet-inch
formatted values:
- 5' or 60"
- 5'-9" or 5' 9" or 5'9"
- 5'-1/2" or 5' 1/2" or 5'1/2"
- 5'-9-1/2" or 5' 9-1/2" or 5'9-1/2"
- 5'-9 1/2" or 5' 9 1/2" or 5'9 1/2"
To designate inches for
linear calculations, entering double quotes (") is optional. For
example, instead of entering 5'9-1/2", you could enter 5'9-1/2.
WarningWith imperial units,
QuickCalc interprets a minus or a dash (-) as a unit separator rather
than a subtraction operation. To specify subtraction, include at
least one space before or after the minus sign. For example, to
subtract 9" from 5', enter 5' -9" rather
than 5'-9".
You can use QuickCalc
to calculate square feet and cubic feet. To enter square or cubic
feet, you must enter units using these abbreviations:
- sq. ft. or sq ft
- cu. ft. or cu ft
Convert Decimal Units into
Imperial Units
For distance measurements,
enter an inches sign (") after the number in the results display.
For example, if the computed distance is 15, enter " after the 15,
press Enter or click = and the result displays in imperial units as
1'-3".
For computed results,
enter the initial values in feet (') and inches (") to display the
results in feet and inches. For example:
- 5 * 6 = 30
- 5" * 6 = 2'-6"
- 5" * 6" = 30 sq. in.
- 5" * 0'-6" = 0.208333333 sq. ft.
To change the font color
of values or expressions in the QuickCalc History area
- Right-click in the History area. Click
either Value Font Color or Expression Font Color.
- In the Color dialog box, click a Basic
Color or click Define Custom Colors.
With Define Custom Colors,
you can select a custom color and add it to Custom Colors.
- Click OK.
The colors you selected for values and expressions
in the History area are displayed.
To modify a property in
the Properties palette with QuickCalc
- Click View tab
Palettes panelProperties.
- Select an object.
NoteIf QuickCalc is displayed
on your desktop when you work with the Properties palette, it is
temporarily hidden while you use the modal calculator from within
the Properties palette.
- In the Geometry section of the Properties
palette, click on the value of a property.
A small calculator icon
is displayed to the right of the value.
NoteOnly properties that
are displayed with a white background can be changed.
- Click the calculator icon.
QuickCalc opens and displays
the current value of the object in the Input box.
- Perform a calculation on the displayed
value and click the equal sign (=) button.
The new value is displayed
in the Input box.
- Click Apply.
NoteThe Apply button
is only available for editable number-based properties.
The calculator closes
and the new value is displayed in the Properties palette. The object
is modified in the drawing.
To obtain X, Y, Z coordinate
values for a point using QuickCalc
NoteThe QuickCalc toolbar
Get Coordinates button uses the cur function.
QuickCalc temporarily
closes and you are prompted to specify a point.
- In the drawing, click a point.
QuickCalc opens and displays
the coordinate values of the point in the Input box.
To measure the distance
between two points using QuickCalc
NoteThe QuickCalc toolbar
Distance Between Two Points button uses the dist(p1,p2) function.
QuickCalc temporarily
closes and you are prompted to specify two points.
- In the drawing, click the first point
and then the second point.
QuickCalc opens and displays
the value of the distance between the two points in the Input box.
To get the angle of a line
defined by two points using QuickCalc
NoteThe QuickCalc toolbar
Angle of Line Defined by Two Points button uses the ang(p1,p2) function.
QuickCalc temporarily
closes and you are prompted to specify two points.
- Enter the coordinate values for the first
point and then the second point.
QuickCalc opens and appends
the value of the angle between the two points to the end of any
value or expression already present in the Input box.
To get the intersection
of a line defined by four points using QuickCalc
NoteThe QuickCalc Intersection
of Two Lines Defined by Four Points button uses the ill(p1,p2,p3,p4)
function.
QuickCalc temporarily
closes and you are prompted to specify four points.
- Enter the coordinate values for the first
point of line one, then the second point of line one. Next, enter
the coordinate values for the first point of line two, then the
second point of line two.
QuickCalc opens and appends
the value of the evaluated expression to the end of any value or
expression already present in the Input box.
CommandsQUICKCALC
Opens the QuickCalc
calculator.
QCCLOSE
Closes the QuickCalc
calculator.
