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Options Window

This page details the settings available in DreamCalc Options Window. Many commonly used math mode and view settings may also be set directly from the calculator's View and Mode menus.

Main Settings Page

Main Options
Stay on Top	Keeps the DreamCalc main window on top of all other applications.
Auto-Hide Menu	Hides main window menu when not in use. It automatically re-appears when you move the mouse over the top of the window.
Icons on Menus	When checked, icon graphics will be shown on drop-down menus.
Resize with Mouse Wheel	Use mouse wheel to resize main window.
Roll-up Keypad with Mouse Wheel	Mouse wheel used to roll-up keypad.
No Mouse Wheel Action	Mouse wheel does nothing.
Disable Drag Resize	Disables the ability to resize the main window by dragging. The main window can still be resized by right-clicking or from the Options Window.
Start with Windows	Run DreamCalc in system tray and start-up with Windows.
Hide Task Bar	Hide the task bar when running in the system tray.
Double Click Icon	System tray icon requires a double click to show DreamCalc when checked. Single click when unchecked.
Save List Data	Save list data when DreamCalc exits.
Save Paper Roll	Save paper roll when DreamCalc exits.

Skins & Key Layout
Calculator	Allows for calculator specialization by provifing a range of function key layout options.
Calculator Skin	Select a different skin to change the look and color of DreamCalc.
Show Constants on Keys	Show constants on keypad (for use with the [CONST] key).
Default Keypad Layout	Show default numeric keypad layout.
US Keypad Layout	Show a layout similar to some American calculators.

Calculator Input
Input Order Notation	Set the input order when entering fomula. See Input Order Notation for more information.
RPN Stack	RPN stack size (9 is default). Used only in RPN mode.
Enable Complex Numbers	Enables support for complex numbers.
Key Sound	Select from click or beep sounds, or silent (default).

Numeric Screen Page

Number Format
Decimal Separator	Numeric decimal point separator. Default is to use your system setting.
Thousand Separator	Numeric thousands separator. Default is to use your system setting.
Negative Results in Red	Show negative results in red.
Base-N Digit Grouping	Automatically group digits when in base-N mode.
Base-N Zero Padding	Automatically pad base-n digits with leading zeros.
On-Screen Clock	Show an on-screen clock when the calculator is not busy.

Display Precision
Number of Digits	Select the maximum number of digits to display (default is 18). This option changes only the display, and does not affect the internal precision of calculations.
Precision Mode	Normal display precision mode, where: "Norm 1" automatically shows a scientific exponent when values become small, and "Norm 2" does not show exponents for small values unless it could not otherwise be displayed. Norm 1 is default.

Screen Font Settings
Font Name	Numeric screen font name.
Bold	Show numerals in bold.
Italic	Show numerals in italics.

Paper Roll Page

Paper Roll Options
Auto Line Break	Insert line breaks in the paper roll at arithmetic operators (not applicable for RPN).
Constant Abbreviation	Abbreviate known natural constant values (i.e. shows 3.142... as "pi"). Default is on.
Auto Brace Functions	Insert braces to automatically to indicate precedence. Closure of automatically inserted brace is automatic also. (Default is off).
Use ASCII Only	Use only ASCII characters in calculations (recommended for non-Western systems).
Record Polynomial Solutions	Record polynomial solutions in paper roll.

Font Settings
Font Name	Paper roll font name.
Font Size	Paper roll font size.
Bold	Show paper roll text in bold font.
Italic	Show paper roll text in italic font.
Background Color	Set paper roll background color.
Foreground Color	Set paper roll font color.
Use Windows Colors	Use standard window colors for the paper roll.

Graphing Page

Graphing is available in the Graphing & Professional Editions of DreamCalc only.

Graphing Window
Font Name	Font name used in the graphing window.
Font Size	Font size of graphing window text.
Background Color	Set graphing window background color.
Foreground Color	Set graphing window foreground color.
Use Windows Colors	Use standard window colors for the graphing window.
Show Chart Grid	Show a grid behind chart data.
Show Plot Labels	Show labels on plots.
Vertical Y-Axis Labels	Show vertical labels on y-axis.
Monochrome Printing	Print charts in black and white (uses less ink).
Trace Cursor	Provide coordinate feedback when cursor is over the chart.
Trace Plots	Provide feedback of the nearest data points to the cursor.
Animated Zoom	Performs animated zoom.
Chart Cursor	Type of cursor when mouse over chart. Select from "Gunsight", "Small Cross" or "Default".
Axis Precision	Number of digits of precision on axis labels. (Default is 4).

Dates & Finance Page

Date Calculations
Date Separator	Date separator character. Default is to use your system setting.
Time Separator	Time seperator character. Default is to use your system setting.
Date Format	Date fomat to use for days, months and years. Default is to use your system setting.
Date Arithmetic	Defines the "zero day" used when dealing with numerical date values. See Date Calculations for more information.
Convert Two Digit Year Inputs	Convert two digit year inputs to four (i.e. 79 to 1979).
TODAY Gives Universal Time	When checked, the TODAY function & on-screen clock give Univeral Time, rather than local time.
Week Starts	Set Monday or Sunday to be your first day of the week. This setting affects the DOW function.

Financial Calculations (Professional Edition Only)
Begin Payment Mode	Payments are made at the beginning of compounding periods. The setting affects TVM calculations.
End Payment Mode	Payments are made at the end of compounding periods (default).
Monthly Effective Annual Rate	Use monthly compounding rule (default) in Effective Annual Rate calculations.
Canadian Effective Annual Rate	Use Canadian rules for effective annual rate calculations.

Miscellaneous Page

Help & Reference
F1 Shows Contents Page	Pressing F1 will open help at the Contents Page.
F1 Shows Index Page	Pressing F1 will open help at the Index Page.
Hover Hints on Keys	Show key help hints automatically when cursor hovers over the keypad.
Show Hand Cursor over Keypad	Show "hand cursor" over the keypad area. Turn this option to show default arrow cursor.
Right-Click Key for Enlargement	Enables right-click of key to show an enlargement.
Right-Click Key for Help Hint	Enables right-click of key to show help hint and keyboard strokes.

Constant Groups
Constant Groups	Select the constants available for use in the "Insert" main menu. DreamCalc supports over 630 constants--you can select which ones you regularly from here.

Advanced
Max Denominator	Maximum denominator when converting decimals to fractions (1000 is default). This setting affects the operation of the natural fraction key.
Timeout	Timeout limit for certain calculations (2 seconds is default). If set to a value greater than 5, this setting also controls the maximum time allowed when graphing functions.
Disable Rendering Enhancements	Disables rending effects in the main calculator window.