Re: table formula w/o calc

[Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik@gmail.com>]

On Dec 16, 2006, at 6:14, Eddward DeVilla wrote:

> On 12/15/06, Xiao-Yong Jin <xj2106@columbia.edu> wrote:
>> "Eddward DeVilla" <eddward@gmail.com> writes:
>> Maybe you've already tried this.  But I guess it's still worth
>> mentioning.  You probably need a `#' in the first row as following
>>
>>   |---+------+----+----+----+----------------|
>>   |   | name | P1 | P2 | P3 | TOT            |
>>   |---+------+----+----+----+----------------|
>>   | # | Al   | 10 |  9 |  8 | ='(+ $3 $4 $5) |
>>   | # | Bob  |  9 |  8 | 10 |                |
>>   | # | Carl |  8 | 10 |  9 |                |
>>   | # | Dan  | 10 | 10 | 10 |                |
>>   |---+------+----+----+----+----------------|
>
> Not sure if I've done this variation before.  Just tried now without
> luck.  Thanks for the suggestion though.

You don't necessarily need these markers in the first column.
To evaluate the equation, simply put the cursor into the field
where you have typed the equation, and press either TAB or RET.
This will store the equation in a #TBLFM line below the table and
replace it in the table with the result of this calculation.

To get it applied to all line in the table, press `C-u C-c *', or, 
alternatively, `C-u C-c C-c'.

This is in the manual, section 3.3 to be precise.  But obviously
not explained clearly enough.  Please, if you find time, read that part
and tell me what should have been there or anywhere else, so that you
would not have gotten stuck.

The # markers in the first line mean that each time you press
TAB, all equations in that line will be re-applied.  This can be useful
if you have lots of equations, but it can slow down editing.

- Carsten



--
Carsten Dominik
Sterrenkundig Instituut "Anton Pannekoek"
Universiteit van Amsterdam
Kruislaan 403
NL-1098SJ Amsterdam
phone: +31 20 525 7477