calc: Queries in Macros
18.2.5 Queries in Keyboard Macros
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The ‘Z #’ (‘calc-kbd-query’) command prompts for an algebraic entry
which takes its input from the keyboard, even during macro execution.
All the normal conventions of algebraic input, including the use of ‘$’
characters, are supported. The prompt message itself is taken from the
top of the stack, and so must be entered (as a string) before the ‘Z #’
command. (Recall, as a string it can be entered by pressing the ‘"’ key
and will appear as a vector when it is put on the stack. The prompt
message is only put on the stack to provide a prompt for the ‘Z #’
command; it will not play any role in any subsequent calculations.)
This command allows your keyboard macros to accept numbers or formulas
as interactive input.
As an example, ‘2 <RET> "Power: " <RET> Z # 3 <RET> ^’ will prompt
for input with “Power: ” in the minibuffer, then return 2 to the
provided power. (The response to the prompt that’s given, 3 in this
example, will not be part of the macro.)
(emacs)Keyboard Macro Query, for a description of ‘C-x q’
(‘kbd-macro-query’), the standard Emacs way to accept keyboard input
during a keyboard macro. In particular, you can use ‘C-x q’ to enter a
recursive edit, which allows the user to perform any Calculator
operations interactively before pressing ‘C-M-c’ to return control to
the keyboard macro.
Info Catalog
calc: Local Values in Macros
calc: Keyboard Macros