Typing Greek letters into TI-Nspire Teacher Software v3.1

[Bob Mathews]

In the Teacher Software, I can expand the symbols palette and have my choice of any of the upper- or lower-case Greek letters. I've checked the TI-Nspire CAS Reference Guide, as well as the "Dummies book", and it seems as if the only Greek letters I can type directly from the computer keyboard are lower-case pi and lower-case theta. What if I want an upper-case Delta? How about a lower-case omega? Is there a way to type these from the keyboard, or am I limited to point & click?

How about programming commands?

Bob

[Bob Mathews]

I should say also that I've checked the most obvious reference -- the TI-Nspire Teacher Software Guidebook. What an incredible disappointment that in 692 pages, there's not a listing of keyboard shortcuts for entering expressions into the software.

[alcoonslists]

On Nov 17, 2011, at 5:32 PM, Bob Mathews wrote:

I should say also that I've checked the most obvious reference -- the TI-Nspire Teacher Software Guidebook. What an incredible disappointment that in 692 pages, there's not a listing of keyboard shortcuts for entering expressions into the software.

I just spoke to tech support about this yesterday.  They have been asked about this recently and are in the process of creating a list of shortcuts.  Apparently there are a fair number of undocumented ones.  

Al

-------------------------

Albert Coons

al_c...@bbns.org

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Gerry's Landing Road

Cambridge, MA 02138

(617) 800-2264

AP Statistics Web Site:  www.bbn-school.org/us/math/ap_stats

[Bob Mathews]

That's good to know, Al; thanks for the info.

Did tech support let you know how they were going to make this list available?

Bob

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[alcoonslists]

Each copy will have a serial number  ---- just joking.

He mentioned that the techs have to add to the knowledge base on some regular interval and they realized this was a worthy item.  Not quite sure where that is, but if we don't hear in a month or so I will do a search/give them a call and see how it is coming.

Here are some shortcuts that may get some of us started:

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/tinspire-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html

but I am looking for things like a keyboard equivalent to enter the fraction template

Al

[Bob Mathews]

You can enter a fraction by just using a slash. I've written a translator to take a MathType equation and let you paste it into the Teacher Software. Where I got a lot of the shortcuts that I programmed into the translator was the TI-Nspire Reference Guide (http://education.ti.com/calculators/downloads/US/Software/Download/en/6776/7003/TI-Nspire_ReferenceGuide_EN.pdf) and TI-Nspire CAS Reference Guide (http://education.ti.com/calculators/downloads/US/Software/Download/en/6778/7041/TI-NspireCAS_ReferenceGuide_EN.pdf). Now why that information is in the calculator reference guide and NOT the teacher software reference guide is beyond me. The list in these guides is incomplete, but it's a start.

Bob

[Jim Fullerenex]

Quick ask: is there a keyboard shortcut to insert comment in program editor? (I'm using SS)

Best,

Jim

2011/11/18 Bob Mathews <afw...@gmail.com>

[alcoonslists]

Thanks Bob.

You can use a "/" for inline typing such as (x+3)/(x+4) which is often the fastest way to enter items.  But I am looking for the shortcut equivalent for CTRL-{division sign}.  This will give the fraction TEMPLATE.  Very helpful for typing complex fractions. 

Al

[Sean Bird]

Al,
Try this:
Press    CTRL 0 to open up a Scratchpad.
Press    CTRL / to get your lovely fraction template.
Type   sqrt(3x+2)
Press    TAB
Type     abs(5-2x^2)|x=3

Try typing sin(30
Press CTRL ' for the degree symbol
Then even if you are in radians you will get the expected answer

Type nSolve(x^2 
Press TAB
Type   +2x-5=0,x)|x<=1

How is that for a bit of fun.

- Sean Bird

[Bob Mathews]

Sean, in which of the Applications are you doing that? Calculator? Statistics? Notes? Just wondered, because I couldn't get it to work.

Bob

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[alcoonslists]

On the Mac it is Command /.  That is great.  

The rest I know.  Was hoping for a Command R for root.

Thanks,

Al

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[Sean Bird]

All of them: Calc, L&S, Notes, Graphs...
 I use a PC.
With a mac would it be commode, I mean command, or something. ;)

[Bob Mathews]

Yeah, I'm on a PC too, using v3.1 of the CAS Teacher Software. I'm not doing it right, I guess.

--

[Sean Bird]

OH, I get it now. Thanks for sticking with the question.
There are nice features that work only if you use the calculator view and not computer view. 

ALT+SHIFT+H will put it in handheld view. If you want to go back again quickly, do ALT+SHIFT+C
See if that helps and let us know.

- Sean Bird

[Bob Mathews]

Aha! I never thought to switch to calculator view. All is well now.

As an aside, the translator I mentioned also works in calculator view, so whatever you've created in MathType you can paste directly into the Nspire Software in both views. I'm wondering about calculator view though -- is this view used mostly to show students the right keypresses & sequence to use to solve a problem, or not necessarily?

Bob

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[Ellen Browne]

I use the calculator view almost exclusively in class because that is what the kids are looking at.  I only use the computer view for longer lists or big graphs.

Ellen

[alcoonslists]

I agree with Ellen.  Also great when you want to look at a calculator page with many calculations.  However, in computer view you cannot switch pages and there are other limitations which don't come immediately to mind. But it is great when you need it.

Al

[Jim Fullerenex]

Hi,

Two questions.

First, is there a computer shortcut in program editor for inserting comment?

Second, (for Bob), where can I see the "translator" that you keep referring to? How does it work?

Best,

Jim

2011/11/18 alcoonslists <alcoon...@verizon.net>

[Bob Mathews]

Jim, I've made 3 videos about how to install and use the translator. If you'd like to be in the beta, email me off-list at bo...@dessci.com, and I'll send you the translator. Here are the 3 videos:

* Video 1: Covers "installation" and basic use. Length 3:30 minutes
 http://screencast.com/t/AhichEqvVI

* Video 2: Covers 2 suggestions for using the translator. Length 4:23 minutes
 http://screencast.com/t/rDFG3YbreJ

* Video 3: Covers the third suggestion for using the translator, as well as some of the things the translator can and can't do. Length 5 minutes
 http://screencast.com/t/6hGN8Hl1kN

Bob

[Jim Fullerenex]

That's helpful. Thanks so much. I'll be replying off-list.

Best,

Jim

2011/11/19 Bob Mathews <afw...@gmail.com>