(Comp.sys.handhelds)
Item: 3770 by tedb at hpcvra.cv.hp.com.
Author: [Ted Beers]
  Subj: PDL Tips
  Date: Fri Jul 26 1991

    If you have a variable you transferred from the HP 48 to your PC
    using Kermit, you can easily load it into the HP 48 Program
    Development Link (PDL) environment.  Here's how:

    1. Start PDL.

    2. Execute File / Open Application.  Type the name of the file
       containing the variable (e.g., "FRED.VAR") and choose OK.

       PDL interprets the "%%HP" header line (if any) in the variable
       file and sets the proper modes for your new application.  The
       variable is initially unnamed.

    3. Execute Variable / Name/Move Variable.  Type the name of the
       variable (e.g., "FRED") and choose OK.

       You've now created a new PDL application consisting of the
       variable loaded in step 2.  To simplify future work with the
       application, you should save it in a file with the ".APP"
       (application) file name extension.  (Remember that PDL
       distinguishes between HP 48 variable names [which are highly
       flexible in format] and DOS file names [which must match rigid
       DOS file naming conventions].)

    4. Execute File / Save As.  Replace the old extension (if any)
       (e.g., ".VAR") with ".APP" and choose OK.

    The variable (and your new application) can now be maintained with
    PDL.  You can edit the variable, add new variables to the
    application, transfer the variable(s) to the HP 48, and so on.

    This technique works for an ASCII-format variable obtained from most
    any source, including your own editor.  For HP 48 directory
    variables, you should use a text editor to divide the directory
    contents into individual variables first.  See "Converting
    Applications from Other Formats" in "Creating and Editing
    Applications" in the PDL on-line Help.

    Ted W. Beers
    Hewlett-Packard

--------------

(Comp.sys.handhelds)
Item: 3802 by tedb at hpcvra.cv.hp.com.
Author: [Ted Beers]
  Subj: HP 48 PDL Tip of the Week
  Date: Mon Aug 05 1991

    Creating New Variables
    ----------------------

    The HP 48 Program Development Link (PDL) organizes and presents your
    HP 48 application as a set of variables--either simple names (e.g.,
    FRED) or relative or absolute HP 48 paths (e.g., { HOME UTIL CLIP }).
    Since variable creation is a major component of application
    development, PDL is optimized for easy and fast variable creation.

    The "easiest" (i.e., most obvious) way to create a variable is to
    pull down the Variable menu, click on New Variable, type the new
    variable name or path, and press Enter.  However, there is a faster
    way for experienced PDL users to create variables.  Here it is:

      In any variable window, at the beginning of a new line, type "/"
      followed by the new variable name or path, and press Enter.

    The new variable is created and its empty variable window replaces
    the one you were in before.

    For example, after typing the last few lines of a program:

        ...
        SWAP DROP
      >>

    You can immediately create the next new variable by typing:
    
      /FRED

    This is much faster than mousing around!

                                Ted W. Beers
                                Hewlett-Packard