Automatic and Manual Calculation Modes |
When you start Mathcad, it is in Automatic Mode by default. Your worksheet updates results any time an equation or graph is within the window. The numerical results and graphs you see in your window are always up-to-date. However, if your worksheet contains lots of computationally intensive equations, you may find scrolling through the worksheet time-consuming.
| When You Are in Automatic Mode |
| Switching to Manual Mode |
If you don't want to wait for computations as you edit, you should change to Manual Calculation Mode by choosing Calculate from the Tools menu and unchecking Automatic Calculation. In Manual mode, you can scroll through worksheets faster because time-consuming calculations are not performed as you scroll. If results in your worksheet are not up-to-date, the word "Calc" appears on the message line of the status bar.
| Interrupting and Resuming Calculations |
Some equations take a long time to calculate, because they contain a large number of repeated evaluations, or because an algorithm is taking a long time to converge. You can press [Esc] to allow the worksheet to skip the calculation and move on to the next region. When you do, Mathcad flags the region it was calculating with the error:
You interrupted calculation. To resume, click here and press 'F9'.
To recalculate the marked equation, put the cursor in the equation and choose Calculate > Calculate Now from the Tools menu or press [F9].
To recalculate the entire worksheet, put the crosshair in the worksheet and press [Ctrl] [F9].
When you process a definition in automatic mode, this is what happens:
Although the definition you altered may affect equations throughout your worksheet, Mathcad performs only those calculations necessary so that whatever you can see in the window is up-to-date. This optimization ensures you don't have to wait for Mathcad to evaluate expressions that are not visible. If you print or move to the end of the worksheet, however, Mathcad automatically updates the whole worksheet.