Simple Expression Evaluator

Purpose

Use the Simple Expression Evaluator to run one or more qCalc expressions in a single calculation. It is useful when you want to carry out several related steps, reuse intermediate values, or display more than one result.

Enter your expressions in the code editor, then select Calculate. Select Format Code to tidy the code in the editor before calculating it.

Input

Code

Enter one or more expressions, with each step on its own line when helpful. You can use qCalc functions, numbers, arithmetic operators, and values with units. Use q(...) to create a quantity from text containing a value and unit.

For example:

x = q('5 ft') + q('3 m')
show(x.to('inch'))

Displaying Results

Use show(...) to add a value to the calculator results. Use one show(...) statement for each value you want to display.

length = q('5 ft') + q('3 m')
show(length)
show(length.to('inch'))

The final expression is also displayed when it produces a value, even if you do not use show(...).

You may use print(...) for text output. Printed text appears in the calculator's console output area, separately from values displayed by show(...).

Example

This example adds two lengths, converts the result, then calculates a cost:

length = q('5 ft') + q('3 m')
length = length.to('inch')
show(length)

price = q('75 usd/inch')
show(length * price)

The first displayed result is the combined length in inches. The second is the cost calculated from that length and the specified price per inch.

Choosing a Tool

Use the Command Line for short, interactive calculations, quick unit conversions, and temporary variables entered one command at a time. Use this evaluator when a calculation needs several steps and several displayed results in one code entry.

Use Create My Calculator (mycal) when you want to save named calculator code and reuse it later as a qCalc calculator. It also provides controls to load, check, validate, format, and delete your saved calculator code.

Important Interpretation

The evaluator runs the expressions entered for that calculation. Values shown with show(...) are limited by qCalc's configured result limit; attempting to show more values than that limit produces an error.

If qCalc cannot evaluate an entry, it displays an error message and, where available, the line that caused it. Correct that line and calculate again.

qCalc checks entered expressions before running them and may reject expressions that are not permitted. This calculator is intended for qCalc calculations and expressions, not for unrestricted program execution.