Our Verdict
As a World Wide Web developer and task manager , I maintain sight of notes that I edit , not only on my Mac , but also on my iPhone and iPad . I choose to keep my notes in plain text formatting part forphilosophical reasons , but mainly for the interest of simple mindedness and tractableness . My data format pauperism are pretty bare andMarkdownworks great for me ; typical word processing apps , likeMicrosoft WordandPagesare plainly overkill . Likewise , by work out with plain text , I have a wide array of apps to choose from on my Mac and iOS devices , while my choice of word processing apps is severely limited in comparison . to boot , since plain textbook is a worldwide file format , I have no need to worry about whether or not my fellow worker can open up the documents I send them .
Only one thing , though : while this works great for even schoolbook - oriented document , I be given to do quite a spot of estimating , which also requires performing some calculation . That ’s traditionally been the role ofspreadsheetapps , likeExcelorNumbers . ( I ’m no stranger to spreadsheets as I start my computer life history back in the Dark Ages as an psychoanalyst , peer unendingly into the beam green silver screen of an IBM - PC runningLotus 1 - 2 - 3 . ) So now we ’re back to the plain text versus binary data formatting predicament . How can I scraunch act but rest within the comfort of unmixed text and Markdown ? as luck would have it , Krueger Systems , Inc.has come to the rescue withCalca for MacandiOS .
In essence , Calca is a Markdown - powered school text editor program that also understands math and performs computation . This allows you to mix calculated results with even text within the same document . For good example , a Calca papers can contain variables , such as “ duration = 5 ” and “ width = 10 ” , execute calculations on them , such “ area = length * width ” and then produce the result thusly : “ sphere = > 50 ” . As you might have already guess , as presently as you typecast the “ = > “ symbol , Calca inserts the calculated resultant ( 50 ) . Of course , as any spreadsheet jockey would look , when you change the values of the variable , the results will change automatically in the document as well .
Calca is n’t limited to just performing simple arithmetic . you’re able to build functions which can be reused multiple times within a document . you’re able to solve algebraic equality , amount of money range of act perform logical social occasion , and so on . Lots of instance are put up at thedeveloper ’s websiteas well as within the extensive mixed bag of sample papers included with the app .
Since Calca is very mathematically - focused , the iOS app ’s keyboard leave two extra run-in of keys to avail with go into figure and mathematical symbol . On the iPad , this works fine when you ’re work in portraiture mode , but the enhanced keyboard uses up too much valuable screen space in landscape preference , leave way for only a few lines of school text to appear on the filmdom . The enhanced keyboard would easily take up the full sieve on an iPhone or iPod spot in landscape mode so this is probable the reason why the app works only in portrayal modality on those twist .
The iOS edition of Calca also provides some nice editing touches . For example , you’re able to move the cursor within the current line by dragging your fingerbreadth anywhere on the screenland , alike to the method acting proposed inDaniel Hooper ’s popular concept video . Also , considering that you ’ll in all probability be changing identification number stored in variables , you may well select those numbers with a unmarried tap rather than the common bivalent - dab or tap+drag gesture . Then , with the telephone number selected , you could either typecast over it or drag your finger left / rightfield or up / down anywhere on the sieve to increase or decrease the value incrementally .
Since Calca is uncommitted for both the Mac and iOS , you may partake in your papers on all your devices viaiCloudorDropbox . While iCloud access code work just fine , if you contrive on using Calca in conjunction with other school text redaction apps among your Mac and iOS devices , then you ’ll in all probability need to use Dropbox as your syncing method . However , it ’s entirely potential to use both religious service at once . For example , because Calca does n’t provide a Markdown prevue mode , I do n’t bank on it as my lone school text editor in chief . So , I store all my Calca Book of Numbers - orient documents in iCloud then incorporate pick out bits into Dropbox - hosted documents that I polish off using eithernvALTorMarkdown Proon my Mac , orNebulous Noteson my iPad and iPhone .
While some Dropbox - power text editors curtail themselves to working only within a specific directory within your Dropbox folder , Calca can access your entire Dropbox repository . Another welcome perquisite is that Calca hide all the non - plain - textual matter documents , which is handy if you ’ve ever accidentally tried to open up a non - text text file using a plain - text edition editor .
Bottom line
As a developer , I ’m transfix by Calca ’s ability to judge natural - speech - same formula in a plain - text text file and perform maths on them . The app reminds me of Soulver , which also performs text - base calculation , although in a slightly different way , andTaskPaperwhich can generate dynamical outlines from evident - school text documents . However , move as I am with Calca , I ’ve find that it ca n’t completely replace my indigence for a traditional spreadsheet app . But for certain types of calculations — and perhaps also for users whose brains are not as profoundly spreadsheet - oriented as mine — Calca does seemingly magical things with plain text and phone number .
