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^Cby
^CDan Harrison


    CONVERT is a fascinating mathematical program that compares standard
 units of measurement.  Enter a value for a specific unit of measurement and
 CONVERT instantly calculates the equivalent values for a variety of related
 units.  There are 13 different Conversion Tables and a Generic Conversion
 Table.

    The Main Menu contains the following choices:

      A. Length (Distance)                  H. Force (Weight)
      B. Mass                               I. Velocity (Speed)
      C. Volume (Dry)                       J. Energy (Work)
      D. Capacity (Liquid)                  K. Power
      E. Area                               L. Time
      F. Density (Concentration)            M. Temperature
      G. Pressure                           N. Generic Table

    Direct the highlight bar around the Main Menu with the <UP> and <DOWN>
 arrow keys;  press <TAB> to move from the left column to the right.  Press
 <ENTER> to select a highlighted table or simply type in the letter located
 to the left of the conversion table you want to work with.  For example, to
 bring up the Volume Table, type in <C> at the Main Menu.


                               Getting Started

    Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius is a common problem.  Type in <M> at the
 Main Menu for the Units of Temperature Table.  Move the highlight bar to
 Fahrenheit with the <ARROW KEYS>.  NOTE: The <ARROW KEYS> and <TAB> move the
 highlight bar just like they do in the Main Menu.  To convert 100 degrees
 Fahrenheit to Celsius type in <100>.  Erase the extra characters with <DEL>.
 Press <ENTER> and CONVERT instantly calculates the equivalent value of 100
 degrees Fahrenheit for ALL the units of measure on the screen!  A value of 100
 degrees Fahrenheit equals 37.77778 degrees Celsius, 310.9278 degrees Kelvin,
 or 559.67 degrees Rankine.

    How many Quarts in a gallon?  Press <ESC> to return to the Main Menu.
 Type in <D> to access the Units of Capacity Screen.  Move the highlight bar to
 Gallon with the <ARROW KEYS>; type in <1>; erase the extra characters with
 <DEL>; and press <ENTER>.  One gallon contains four quarts - eight pints -
 sixteen cups - and many teaspoons!  How many Hogsheads are in a gallon?



                              The Function Keys

      F1 - Help:  Access a help screen with information on Editing Numbers, the
      Insert Mode, Movement Keys, Function Keys, and Special Keys.

      F2 - Calculate:  Perform the four basic mathematical functions with the
      value highlighted in the Units of Measurement Screen.

      F3 - Modify:  Modify selected conversion formulae.

      F4 - General Info:  General information on a class of measurements:
      Length, Mass, Area, etc.

      F5 - Info:  Information on a specific unit of measurement: Slugs, Pluto
      Years, Abvolts, etc. (Check this out!)

      F6 -  Transfer the formula from the highlighted cell to bottom lefthand
      corner of a Units of Measurement Screen.

      F7 -  Transfer the formula copied with <F6> to the highlighted cell.

      F8 -  Copy #: Transfer the cell value from the highlighted cell to bottom
      righthand corner of a Units of Measurement Screen.

      F9 -  Paste #: Transfer the value copied with <F8> to the highlighted
      cell.

     F10 -  Print: Print the Conversion Table.

     ESC -  Exit: Exit the conversion tables or exit CONVERT to the Big Blue
     Main Menu from the CONVERT Main Menu.



^CThe Calculations

    For each table, one unit of measure is set up as the Base Formula which
 may NOT be changed.  Each other value in the table is calculated based on its
 relationship to the Base Formula.

    This has an interesting side effect.  Try this in the Temperature table.
 Change the value for Fahrenheit to <0>.  The program calculates the Centigrade
 value (the Base Formula value) from the Fahrenheit value and rounds the
 Centigrade appropriately.  Then, the program recalculates each value in the
 table from the Base Formula value, including the Fahrenheit value.  The
 resulting Fahrenheit value is very small, but not zero.



^CAdding or Changing Formulae

    Not all units of measurement are contained in CONVERT.  You may want to
 create a special formula or change an existing one for a specific task.

    In an existing table you may change any unit of measure, EXCEPT the Base
 Formula.  You must define a formula for calculating the new measure from the
 Base Formula unit.

    To calculate centimeters from meters (the Base Formula), you multiply the
 number of meters by 100.  You might write a formula like:

                   number-cent = number-meters X 100.

     To see how this is described in Convert:  On the Units of Length table
 screen, highlight the value for centimeters.  Press <F3> to display the Modify
 Formula screen.  The Current Formula line describes our formula:  *100 +0.
 CONVERT uses <*> to represent multiplication.  The option of adding or
 subtracting some value is available, but unnecessary in this example.

    All new formulas must be described in this manner:

                new-value = Base-value X multiplier + number.

    To change the information for a unit of measure, press <F3> when the value
 is highlighted.  Type the desired description, then the abbreviation.  (Line
 up the abbreviation with the * appearing above the box.)

    To change the formula being used to calculate the value, press the <DOWN>
 arrow key after changing the description.  The current value for the
 multiplier will be displayed, labeled m:.  Type in the new multiplier.  Press
 the <DOWN> arrow once more to display the current value for the added-number,
 labeled b:.  Type in the new number.  To subtract the final number, type
 <-> then the <number>.  Press <ENTER> to return to the table screen.

    To add a new unit of measure, highlight the value on a blank line and
 press <F3>.  Then continue as with a change, relating the new unit to the
 Base Formula unit.

    When leaving CONVERT you will be prompted to SAVE any formula changes you
 have made.  If you want your work to show the next time you run CONVERT, be
 sure to answer YES.  If you have just been experimenting you will probably
 want to respond NO to the prompt.



^CThe Generic Conversion Table

    You may add a complete new table for a specific application.  Use the
 <N> selection from the Main Menu to access the Generic Conversion Table.  The
 first entry MUST be for the Base Formula value.  Highlight the value field,
 and press <F3>.  All you will be able to enter is the description, followed by
 the abbreviation.  (Line up the abbreviation with the * appearing above the
 box.)  Press <ENTER> to return to the table screen.  Add additional units to
 your new table on blank lines, following the suggestions under the heading
 Adding or Changing Formulae.



^CPrinting the Conversion Table

    The Conversion Table includes special print characters known as "IBM
 graphic characters."  If the print option <F10> is chosen for non-IBM
 printers, the resulting print will be difficult to read.



^CTechnical Notes

    When you add or change formulae a new file is created on the disk.  This
 new file, CONVERT.DAT, contains the changes.  If there is not enough space
 remaining on the disk to create the changes file, any changes will be lost.
 Since space on the BBD distribution disks is limited, this program might best
 be copied to another disk, using the COPY option from the BBD menu, before
 making changes.

    To undo changes after taking the Save Changes option upon exit from
 CONVERT, return to the DOS command line and delete the CONVERT.DAT file ONLY.


^COutside BBD

    To run this program outside ^1Big Blue Disk^0, type: ^1CONVERT^0.

 DISK FILES THIS PROGRAM USES:
^FCONVERT.EXE
^FCONVERT.INF
