Section 5: Programming Basics; Why Write Programs; Program Control; Automatic Memory Reallocation - HP -11C Owner's Handbook Manual

Section 5
Programming Basics
The Basics In Brief
What Is a Program?
A program is a sequence of keystrokes that is remembered by the
calculator. You can execute a given program as often as you like—
with just one or two keystrokes. The stack responds to instructions
in a running program in exactly the same way it responds to an
identical set of instructions executed from the keyboard. The
answer displayed at the end of program execution is likewise the
same as the one you would obtain by executing the instructions
from the keyboard. No prior programming experience is necessary
to learn HP-11C programming.
Why Write Programs?
Programs save you time on repetitive calculations. Once you have
written the keystroke procedure for solving a particular problem
and recorded it in the calculator, you need no longer devote
attention to the individual keystrokes that make up the procedure.
You can let the calculator solve each problem for you. And because
you can easily check the procedure in your program, you have more
confidence in your final answer since you don't have to worry each
time about whether or not you have pressed an incorrect key.
The following information covers the operation of your HP-11C's
programming features. For guidelines that can help you in
planning and developing your programs, refer to page 206,
Structure, in part III of this handbook.
Program Control
Automatic Memory Reallocation
The HP-11C's reallocation of memory space between program
memory and data storage is controlled automatically by the
calculator. Because of this internal control, memory reallocation
Section 5: Programming Basics 75
does not affect the display or your keyboard operations. For this
reason, you need be concerned only with:
1. What causes reallocations, and
2. What happens in memory when a reallocation takes place.
When program memory is cleared, or when Continuous
Memory is reset, the calculator's memory configuration is 20
data storage registers (plus the |-register) and 63 lines of
available program memory.
HP-11C MEMORY CONFIGURATION
Permanent Memory
aC [oo
[oor |
Shared (Convertible) Memory—Initial Configuration
Zero Additional
Program Lines 20 Data Registers
VTNNAITAI
Zz °
a> vnxaD @aiaiada
Po) °