 |
 |
 |
Appendix F. Version History |
Version 2.09 (Dec 7 1999)
- A Korean language interface is now available; the translation was performed by the
Mathlove company of Korea.
- Closing both relation windows (algebraic and structural) or custom ticks windows
now removes the relations or custom ticks from the graph. Earlier versions would
hide the windows but keep the contents in the graph; hidden windows could be
shown again by selecting the appropriate menu item from the Graph menu.
Version 2.08 (Sep 6 1999)
- A Dutch language interface is now available; the translation was performed by Hans Klein
of the Netherlands.
- Simple periodic function detection has been added. For example, with the polar graph
r=sinq, GrafEq will determine that the relation is periodic in q with
a period of 2p; subsequently, GrafEq will automatically restrict
q to lie between 0 and 2p which will improve graphing efficiency.
- The contact and registration information, along with the license agreement, have been
moved from external files into the program. To display the information, select the
appropriate menu item from under the help menu. The license agreement will automatically
appear the first time you use the program.
Version 2.07 (Feb 19 1999)
- Greek letters may now be entered by typing in their name. For example, “a”
may be entered by typing in “alpha”.
- Implicit multiplication symbols (small dots between terms) are no longer mandatory.
To hide them, use the Display implicit multiplications checkbox
within the Algebraic Window - Formatted Display - Defaults
section of the preferences window.
- The code for recognizing irrational numbers has been improved; this affects exponentials
with negative bases. Previous versions would only recognize p and e as being
irrational. Version 2.07 will recognize irrational radicals, such as the square root
of two and the cube root of four, and will try to deduce the irrationality of compound
expressions by using simple rational/irrational propogation rules. An example rule
is that the sum of an irrational number and a rational number is irrational.
- Marginal axes are now available. Previous versions always displayed axes
directly over a view, which can obscure important information. Marginal axes
are placed to the side of a view and do not obscure the plotted graph.
This version also lets you choose the size of ticks and arrowheads.
The new controls are available within the view buddy; defaults are set within
the preferences window.
Version 2.06 (Dec 22 1998)
- The exponentiation code has been improved. With previous versions, xy
was defined for negative x only when y was an integer. Now, xy
is defined for negative x whenever y is a rational number which has an odd
denominator when expressed in lowest terms. As a result, GrafEq can now correctly
graph y=xx (as well as many other interesting
exponential functions); we know of no other graphing program that can. For negative
x, xy remains undefined whenever y is an irrational number
or when y is a rational number which has an even denominator when expressed in
lowest terms. We will add a small section to the manual explaining exponentiation
in more detail.
- The interface for saving graphs and views has been changed. To save a graph, you
now select either Save Graph or Save Graph as... when the
desired graph is foremost. To export a view, you now select Export View... when
the desired view is foremost. With previous versions, there was no Export View...
menu item; you would select either Save Graph or Save Graph as...
and then specify whether you wanted to save a graph or export a view from within the
“Save” dialog box.
Version 2.05 (Oct 1998)
- Graphs are no longer forced to have a 1:1 aspect ratio. When creating a view,
this restriction may be lifted by deselecting Preserve Aspect Ratio
in the create view window.
- A tutorial on McLaurin approximations has been added to the manual.
Version 2.04 (May 1998)
- The view and page sidebars have been moved into separate floating windows, as have
the easy buttons. The custom ticks control bar has been reorganized using a collection
of iconic pop-up menus instead of a collection of pop-ups and checkboxes.
- The
preferences window is no longer modal, and it now presents preferences as a hierarchical list.
The organization of the user interface is now mirrored in the organization of the
preferences so that a preference should be easier to find - you can now look for a
preference based on what part of the interface it would change or otherwise interact
with.
- The equation parser has been improved. You may now enter “y=sin^2x+cos^2x” to
specify y=sin2x+cos2x. Function superscripts are
currently treated as exponentials; this will be
refined in a future version. (sin-1 is treated as cosecant and not as inverse sine.)
- A new relation view has been added - a structural view that shows a relation as a flow chart.
Nested commutative operations may be shown either as a binary tree or collected together into one
n-ary operation.
- When editing relations, you can now select portions of a relation by dragging over it or by
using the cursor keys, or mouse-clicking, while holding the shift key down. This allows you to
cut, copy, and paste portions of relations.
- The G function has been implemented. It may be thought of as a continuous version of
factorial since G(x+1) = x!.
- The family of trigonometry functions has also been expanded
- there are now square and diamond functions, based on the unit square and unit diamond, as
well as circular and hyperbolic functions.
- A new file format has been introduced which should allow this version and future versions
of GrafEq to read and write files that are compatible with this version and future versions
of GrafEq.
- An American English interface is now available.
- The formatting of piecewise definitions has been improved.