Each computation command creates an internal graph which describes the operation to be performed. After constructing this graph, the Macaulay parameter ``autocalc'' (section 10.3) is examined. If the value is negative, the computation is instructed to run to completion. If the value is positive, the computation is instructed to proceed until it has finished the degree d part of the computation, where d is the value of the Macaulay parameter ``autodegree''. If the value of ``autocalc'' is zero, then the computation is not started.
One can use these two parameters ``autocalc'' and ``autodegree'' to control how much computation Macaulay should do. Often, one knows that the desired result must occur in a specific degree, but that there may be a large amount of computation after this degree. In this case, this added control can be essential.
After a computation has been completed though degree d, you may continue the computation in higher degrees using the calc command. Also, if the ``autocalc'' parameter is set to zero, the computation can be started using calc. This command is no longer used very much in Macaulay.