Computers in Physics

Computers in Physics EXP Formats Equations at Low Cost L. David Roper and Margaret Gjertsen Citation: Computers in Physics 6, 426 (1992); doi: 10.1063/1.4823093 View online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4823093 View Table of Contents: http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/cip/6/4?ver=pdfcov Published by the AIP Publishing Articles you may be interested in On the Exp‐function method for constructing travelling wave solutions of nonlinear equations AIP Conf. Proc. 1212, 280 (2010); 10.1063/1.3367069 Low cost turntable Phys. Teach. 24, 102 (1986); 10.1119/1.2341958 Low cost air track Phys. Teach. 13, 438 (1975); 10.1119/1.2339221 Precise Solutions of Linear Simultaneous Equations Using a Low Cost Analog Rev. Sci. Instrum. 22, 746 (1951); 10.1063/1.1745753 Diffraction Gratings at Low Cost Am. J. Phys. 12, 105 (1944); 10.1119/1.1990549

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PRODUCT REVIEW

EXP Formats Equations at Low Cost

Department Editor: Margaret Gjertsen

Reviewed by L. David Roper

EXP system requirements: IBM PC, XT, AT, or PS/2 computers or compatibles with 384-kbYle RAM and MS-DOS 2.0 or later; CGA, EGA, VGA, MCGA, Hercules Graphics Card, Paradise Super VGA, Video-Seven Super VGA, or VESA Super VGA standard; IBM Graphics printer, Proprinter, Proprinter X24E, Epson MXJFXJRXlLQ, NEC 24-Pin Series, Tandy 24-Pln Series, Toshiba 24-Pin Series, or HP LaserJet Series IlIDeskJet PlusillP. Available from: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 511 Forest Lodge Road, Pacific Grove, CA 93950-5098; Tel. (408) 373-0728, (800) 354-9706 for ordering; Fax: (408) 3756414. List price: $295, educational discounts available; site licenses available. n 1988, our department began using EXP, a graphics-based scientific word processor for PCcompatible computers (mostly 386 and 386SX microprocessors). It was recommended by The College of Engineering, which owned a site license and found it to be very powerful. We currently run it on a LANtastic network. For us, the cost per user is about $35 for the program and $38 for the manual. The cost per user for a network varies depending on the size of the network. EXP has the typical formatting capabilities of most wordprocessing programs, including line spacing, tabs and margins, a new page command, headers and~ footers, footnotes, centering, find and replace commands, and a spell checker. What appears on the screen is what appears on the printed copy - or WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). However, because EXP is not currently Windows-based, and does

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L. David Roper is the Head of the

Department of Physics at Virginia Polytechnic Institllte and State University, Blacksbllrg, V A 24061-0435; e-mail: raperld@ vtccl.cc. vt.edll.

not use pull-down menus, a sigQificant learning curve must be overcome so as to use it effectively. EXP uses function keys extensively. Mathematical symbols are entered with the [IT] function key and are preceded by a backslash (\) on the command line. For example, 11: is entered by pressing the keys [IT] \pi [Return J, and n is entered by pressing [IT]\Pi [ReturnJ. The main part of the screen below the command line shows the special symbols, graphics, and proportional spacing as they will appear on the printed document. As you move the cursor through an EXP file, the command line will show you exactly what must be entered to produce. the desired symbol. This provides an excellent way to learn EXP. To format mathematical expressions properly, you must enter the ASCII characters as symbols; that is, preceded by a backslash on the command line.

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can be created to automate common operations, expressions, and symbols. For example, a macro is available for numbering equations. EXP comes with thirteen 8and lO-point fonts, and the 12-point sizes are available as options. A supplemental package including 18and 24-point fonts is available. These larger font sizes are particularly useful for overhead presentations. For an example of an 18-point font, see Fig. 2. EXPFE, a Windows-based font editor, is available for modifying existing fonts or creating new fonts. The major fonts are activated by [6ill plus the font number. All fonts can be activated by [6ill plus the font name. Graphics in PCX or TIFF formats can be imported into EXP files, and vice versa. I use this capability to put the school seal and letterhead at the top of correspondence. Translation into TEX