Reference Guide

1
RPL Programming 1-1
1.RPL Programming
If you’ve used a calculator or computer before, you’re probably familiar with the idea of programs. Generally
speaking, a program is something that gets the calculator or computer to do certain tasks for you — more than a
built-in command might do. In the HP 48gII, HP 49g+, and HP 50g calculators, a program is an object that does the
same thing.
Understanding Programming
A calculator program is an object with « » delimiters containing a sequence of numbers, commands, and other
objects you want to execute automatically to perform a task.
For example, a program that takes a number from the stack, finds its factorial, and divides the result by 2 would
look like this: « ! 2 / » or
«
!
2
/
»
The Contents of a Program
As mentioned above, a program contains a sequence of objects. As each object is processed in a program, the action
depends on the type of object, as summarized below.
Actions for Certain Objects in Programs
Object Action
Command Executed.
Number Put on the stack.
Algebraic or `Algebraic` Algebraic put on the stack.
String Put on the stack.
List Put on the stack.
Program Put on the stack.
Global name (quoted) Put on the stack.
Global name (unquoted)
 Program executed.
 Name evaluated.
 Directory becomes current.
 Other object put on the stack.
Local name (quoted) Put on the stack.
Local name (unquoted) Contents put on the stack
As you can see from this table, most types of objects are simply put on the stack — but built-in commands and
programs called by name cause execution. The following examples show the results of executing programs containing
different sequences of objects.