Elementary question about WolframAlpha

[epenguin]

TL;DR Summary

How to delete selectively from history.

I am trying to use this WolframAlpha app (free if I remember) to portray some 3D surfaces. Having succeeded up to a point I don't want to switch to anything else while I complete an investigation bearing on some homework help.

Although I have read stuff claiming Wolfram is a smart system that can understand natural language I find just like anything with computers I cannot do anything of the above if it is not spelt out rigidly according to the prescriptions of example illustrations with their ( {} , ] etc. I also find that in >80% of cases I cannot do anything if I do spell out rigidly according to the prescriptions of example illustrations with their ( {} , ] etc! Result I have a History column 90% of which is useless and making it hard to find my useful results. So I would like to delete the rubbish, one item at a time.

Top Left there is a thing saying 'Clear'. I suppose this deletes just the one item but it comes with the dire warning it cannot be undone. I have tried to find out what this actually does, but could not find anything telling me this simple thing in WolframAlpha or outside - though there is plenty about how to perform massacres of data which seems a large preoccupation

So can anyone reassure me?

 

[DrClaude]

Top Left there is a thing saying 'Clear'. I suppose this deletes just the one item but it comes with the dire warning it cannot be undone. I have tried to find out what this actually does, but could not find anything telling me this simple thing in WolframAlpha or outside - though there is plenty about how to perform massacres of data which seems a large preoccupation

So can anyone reassure me?

No. It deletes the entire history.

 

[epenguin]

No. It deletes the entire history.

Phew, glad I asked, was almost thinking it was a silly question.
Do you know a way to delete single memory items which are every single calculation I asked it to do including the ones it couldn't understand.

 

[DrClaude]

Do you know a way to delete single memory items which are every single calculation I asked it to do including the ones it couldn't understand.

Unfortunately, no. I simply tried it in the app and saw that it deleted everything (which was not a problem for me).

I also find that in >80% of cases I cannot do anything if I do spell out rigidly according to the prescriptions of example illustrations with their ( {} , ] etc!

I do not know what examples your are talking about, but I share your frustration. I use Mathematica and sometimes WolframAlpha will understand Mathematica commands and give the answer and sometimes just return a blank stare.