The Z #
(calc-kbd-query) command prompts for an algebraic
entry which takes its input from the keyboard, even during macro
execution. All the normal conventions of algebraic input,
including the use of $ characters, are supported. The
prompt message itself is taken from the top of the stack, and so
must be entered (as a string) before the Z # command.
(Recall, as a string it can be entered by pressing the
" key and will appear as a vector when it is put on
the stack. The prompt message is only put on the stack to provide
a prompt for the Z # command; it will not play any
role in any subsequent calculations.) This command allows your
keyboard macros to accept numbers or formulas as interactive
input.
As an example, 2 <RET> "Power: " <RET> Z # 3 <RET> ^ will prompt for input with “Power: ” in the minibuffer, then return 2 to the provided power. (The response to the prompt that's given, 3 in this example, will not be part of the macro.)
See Keyboard
Macro Query, for a description of C-x q
(kbd-macro-query), the standard Emacs way to accept
keyboard input during a keyboard macro. In particular, you can
use C-x q to enter a recursive edit, which allows the
user to perform any Calculator operations interactively before
pressing C-M-c to return control to the keyboard
macro.