Is there a simple way of entering brackets/parentheses into an expression? I’m using the Expression builder in the Expression option but it’s not letting me. I’ve also tried with Maths.js plugin but again, it’s not letting me yet I’m sure I’ve used brackets before possibly using :append although there is no append option available to me. It does seem quite laborious though so can someone tell me if I’ve missed something?
Many thanks
Hi there, @joefarrowsmith… I haven’t used it, but you might want to give this plugin a shot.
Also, I can’t find a reference to it right now, but I believe there is a trick (I think I have actually used it before) where you can use the Arbitrary text operator to create parts of an expression and convert the output to a number and then string the operators together.
Hope this helps.
Best…
Mike
Thanks ever so much, Mike. I’m just playing around with breaking the expression down into Custom States and concocting it that way but I’ll have a play with the Instant Calculator to see how that pans out. The Arbitrary Text thing sounds interesting - is it a bit like Excel’s “Indirect” function (don’t know if you’re familiar with that) - I’ll check it out.
Actually just having it confirmed that I haven’t necessarily missed something fundamentally basic is a huge boost.
Thanks again.
Joe
I have recently used Math.js API to use parentheses in a calculation.
Where you stuck exactly?
To be honest, I’m stuck at literally trying to insert the bracket into the expression. Even if I manage to type it in, it vanishes. It could be because I’m editing an existing expression but it’s quite long so I don’t want to delete it all and start from scratch. It’s seems such a basic thing to be stuck on that I can only assume it’s my own user error (for which I apologise in advance) but I can’t work out a way round it.
Thanks for helping me with this…here’s my mystery (and why I suspect it’s my own error causing this…)
This is an example of a calculation I did with an expression a while ago where I clearly used brackets but I can’t replicate it today…
I have actually managed a workaround using custom states but I’ve tried the Maths.js thing and, if you can forgive my horrible video (done on phone because I have no screen recording software) you can see how it’s a load of fumbling around getting nowhere…hopefully this link will work.
[https://photos.app.goo.gl/92tojKwcwfJhPmpJ9]
I’m interested to learn where I’m going wrong and I hope that in real life I’m not quite as much of an idiot as this video makes me look!
Thanks though
Joe
Haha come on man, we all have been there.
I made this video. Check if it’s of any help
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YUXDALt6Fote1v23iLNexWjaZqr_dJDx/view?usp=drivesdk
Ah, the old “you have to click in exactly the right spot” thing. That one trips everyone up from time to time!
Oh wow! Thank you both! Yes, two things here I’ve learned…Type the *-/+ etc rather than pick it from the list. And then it’s clicking in exactly the right place…which, after some experimenting I’ve achieved. Still can’t quite establish where exactly the right spot is but I’ve done it and I know it can be done so I’m a happy camper today! Thank you both again.
Haha I think it’s the empty space you get right next to (more…). Glad you solved it!
