Need multiple precision calculator for Max IS

Please help...


I am an amateur (math & astronomy) and I needed a calculator
software which would allow basic numerical (incl. trig.) comp-
utations with accuracy out to 50 decimal places, or more, de-
pending. A number of people on the sci.math newsgroup sug-
gested the PARI software developed at Université Paris-Sud.


So, on the assurances that "nothing could be easier" than installing
PARI, I downloaded version


      pari-2.1.5.tgz (~1.4MB),


after first downloading something called


      Fink-0.6.2-Installer.dmg (~19MB?),


(which, if I understand correctly, was recommended to facilitate
installing the PARI.) into my computer which is a (2001) iMac,
OS X(Jaguar).


Unfortunately I am COMPLETELY ignorant of even the most
fundamental first steps of 'compiling' (I think that is the word?)
a software, as opposed to just punching a key saying ok, so
it can simply assemble itself. Think of me as Curly's slow
relation. When I double click on the pari-2.1.1 icon on the
desktop, a window opens up with '22 items' labeled "Configure",
"INSTALL.tex", "README", etc.


When I clicked on the README icon, it said:
This is PARI/GP, version 2.1.x (*).


PARI/GP Number Theory-oriented Computer Algebra System
                Copyright (C) 2000 The PARI Group, Bordeaux.


==========================================================================


To get started, run TeX on the file INSTALL.tex and have a look at the
dvi (extracted verbatim from Appendix A of the user manual). If you
are in a hurry, look at INSTALL.txt (ascii file). But a lot of
information is missing there.


Typing 'make doc' should typeset the PARI/GP user's manual, a tutorial
and reference card in directory doc.


See the files NEW and COMPAT for new features and incompatible changes
respectively between 2.0 and older versions. See Changelog for (a
terse description of) subsequent patches.


The file README.DOS is specific to DOS, OS/2 and Windows 3.1 users.
The file README.WIN is specific to Windows 3.2 (95/98/2000/NT) users.


For the adventurous:
* If you want to check up-to-date, but possibly unstable, development
versions of PARI/GP or do development work yourself, see the file
CVS.txt.


* Directory Odos/ contains information to compile binaries on
DOS-based systems (DOS, OS/2, Win3.1, Win95/98/NT/CE).


Afterwards, you're on your own...


I abjectly confess that I haven't a clue what any of the above means
or 'where' I could possibly 'run' anything, or on what I would 'type'
anything.


Furthermore, when I *do* click on INSTALL.tex, a confusing sequence of
messages pops up: 'There is no default application specified to open
the document "INSTALL.tex" ' and I click on"choose application", I get
a big 'Choose Application' pop-up with 3 columns. It obviously
expects me to wisely choose something, but I don't know what or how,
and especially, I don't know how to retrieve such an item (say,
INSTALL.tex), after 'choosing'. In the past I've tried to do just
that with things I down- loaded, when it was requested by that pop-up,
and I haven't been able to find them since. :-|


Can someone possibly help solve this, or have I simply bitten off
waaaayy more than I can chew and should I just try to find a way to
erase all this software and settle for doing calculations on my
fingers and toes? All I want is my silly calculator.


hopefully,
Gene
[Since Mac OS 10 is FreeBSD underneath, I suggested he open a shell window
and type "man bc". -John]

Return to the comp.compilers page.
Search the comp.compilers archives again.