Calendar Magic V17.3 Now Available

Enhancements and improvements in V17.3 are listed below.

Successfully tested V17.3 on the 64-bit version of Windows 7 RC1.

Responding to a user’s suggestion, you may now password protect your copy of Calendar Magic by means of a new Password Manager (Options > Password Manager). Using it, passwords may be created, changed and removed. Any password created must be at least eight characters long and must consist of a combination of letters (a to z, A to Z) and/or digits (0 to 9).

If a password has been created, whenever anyone attempts to open that copy of Calendar Magic, he/she is prompted to input the password and Calendar Magic will not open until this has been done successfully.

Added new functionality to the Big Numbers Calculator – sqrt(x) , where x is a non-negative decimal number of arbitrary length, and the calculation of the mathematical constants pi, e and phi (the golden ratio). The calculation of these three constants is done using Steve Pagliarulo’s super-fast QuickPi program, distributed as part of V17.3 with Steve’s approval. By way of example, the calculation of pi to 1,000,000 decimal places takes around 2 seconds!

Implemented an algorithm for solving the Travelling Salesman problem (Utilities > Travelling Salesman Problem). The problem concerns a salesman who has to visit a number of cities/towns by air and who is keen to minimise the total distance travelled. The algorithm used is called “simulated annealing” and is based on the approach “nature uses” when a metal anneals or when a crystal forms. It was described by Shawn Carlson in the March, 1997 issue of Scientific American.

Implemented a Fraction Calculator (Utilities > Fraction Calculator) to calculate exactly the values of arithmetic expressions containing integers and fractions. For example, 22/7 - 355/113 simplifies to 1/791. Permissible arithmetic operators are + - * / and ^. Three types of parentheses, namely ( ), [ ] and { }, may be used and user defined variable names are also supported.

Implemented a Continued Fraction Calculator (Utilities > Continued Fraction Calculator) for evaluating continued fractions and for converting arithmetic expressions of various forms to continued fractions. The solution of linear Diophantine equations in two variables is also supported, as is the solution of Pell’s equation.

In the Big Numbers Calculator, rationalised the retention of input values when switching between different types of calculation.

In the Expression Calculator, improved the detection of invalid input.

Added a check box to the Calendar Options form (Options > Calendar Options) for suppressing seconds in the display of the current time. This applies to all forms in which the current time is displayed.

Extended the functionality of the Time Calculator by providing an option which supports the calculation of the positive difference between two date related times, for example 15:45:20 on Dec. 15, 2004 and 21:20:35 on Feb. 27, 2010.

When a form in Calendar Magic contains a single spin button (double red arrowhead in appearance), the keyboard key combinations Ctrl++ and Ctrl+- may now be used as alternatives to clicking the red arrowheads. Ctrl++ increases the value controlled by the spin button and Ctrl+- decreases the value. When a form contains more than one spin button, you must first left-click the control containing the value you wish to change.

Added new items to the File Menu for restoring backed up data files, namely Restore All, Restore Initialisation File, Restore Quick Notes and Restore Reminders.

In line with a user suggestion, the Display Fonts and User Fonts forms now contain “sample text” fields formatted using the chosen font specifications. This makes it much easier for users to assess the impact of choosing a different fixed width or proportional width font, changing font sizes etc.

Added Birkat ha-Hammah (The Blessing of the Sun) to the list of Jewish religious festivals. This festival is celebrated once every 28 years on a fixed date (March 26) in the Julian calendar.

Added Save buttons to various forms for saving results to a text file.

Improved the visual display of Moon phases on the Sun and Moon Data form and reworked the underlying code.