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GizmoDVD

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Oct 11, 2008
2,653
5,348
SoCal
Hello

Looking to find a Mac Calculator app that will do specific functions with a button is pressed (i.e. 100 x PRESS button which might be x 1.5 = ) Looking to save some time.
 
What you are looking for is a programmable calculator app with repurposable keys. Hewlett-Packard calculators have emulator apps for Mac; I run HP-15C, HP-48G, HP-67, and HP-41C on my Macs, iPhone, and iPad. The actual calculators offered such capabilities, although not all the above models. On emulators, I haven't tried it, but I guess your best chance might be with the 41C. The specific app is under the name "my41CX" and its interface looks like this:

Screenshot 2023-03-13 at 19.14.27.png

However, if your goal is to save time, why don't you try to learn the so-called RPN arithmetic with any of these HP apps? With some training, you will be able to save a lot of time. After all, the HP calculators have been famous exactly for their RPN logic. You may find a lot on the Internet; also, the calculators' manuals are legally pdf downloadable from the Hewlett-Packard website.
 
Last edited:
Looking to save some time.

I run HP-15C, HP-48G, HP-67, and HP-41C on my Macs, iPhone, and iPad.

I use an app called “Retro 15C” that emulates, well, the HP 15C and an app called “RPN 30” that is my main iOS/iPad calculator. On macOS I use Apple’s stock calculator set to RPN mode.

I’ve been running all of these for years without any problems. It’s been awhile since I looked, but my ideal would be a free HP 12C (HP’s classic financial calculator) emulator.

RPN is easy to learn and a big timesaver. It is definitely worth the short time required to become proficient (for those who remember, the learning curve is much shorter and gently sloped than with Palm OS).
 
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Maybe make a shortcut that will paste in "* 1.5 =" when you press a particular key. It might work with any calculator app.

 
I've use PCalc for many years; https://www.pcalc.com/. I bought the iPhone version in 2010 and the Mac version in 2014; they're both worth having. It has an RPN mode, which I always use. In the Mac version, you can define custom functions and assign keyboard shortcuts to them.
 
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