What is the process (key strokes) to set the fx-300ES to decimal mode as the default rather than fraction mode? I know I can use the S-D key to switch between modes but would rather not have to switch.

Press the S<->D button located just above the DEL button.

To convert a single value from symbolic to decimal, press the S-D key (just above the DEL key). To have all results come out in decimal, press SHIFT MODE 2 to switch to the LineIO mode.
You can download the manual and the appendix here.

I am not sure about what you want.

1. Decimal results or fraction/radicals?
2. Decimal numeration as opposed to binary/octal/hexadecimal?

For the first case, set Input/Output IO mode to LineIO (SHIFT MODE 2:LineIO)
For the second case set Computational mode to COMP etc, but NOT to BASE-N

What is the question? Do you want fractions or not?

• If you want to perform exact calculations (that is with fractions and radicals) you should set the calculator Input-output mode to MathIO. Even with this mode set as default you can still convert the final result to a decimal number. This can be done 2 ways.

1. Result is already displayed in fraction/radical format: Press the [S-D] key to toggle between the two formats.
2. Result has not been calculated yed (expression still in command line), then press [SHIFT][=] to ensure it is displayed in decimal format.

• If you do not want fractions nor radicals (roots) just set the default Input-Output to LineIO

To set one or the other IO modes, do as follows.

1. Press [SHIFT][MODE] to open setUp and select [1:MathIO] to select natural display with fractions/radicals.
2. Press [SHIF¨][MODE] and select [2:LineIO]
   

The calculator has two Input/Output modes: MathIO and LineIO.

LineIO
LineIO is the old way of entering numbers in calculators and results are always displayed as decimal numbers. Some calculators have a fraction feature and would convert a fraction to a decimal number and back.

MathIO
In MathIO you enter expressions as you would by hand or as you see them written in textbooks.
In this mode, results are by default displayed as fraction or fractions/ radicals.
Conversion
To convert the fraction/radical to decimals you just press the [SD] key. If you press again you cycle through all the available display formats.
So you can (if you want) use the MathIO to manipulate expressions and convert only the last result to decimal. By the way, fractions and radicals are generally more accurate than their decimal representations.

SetUP
If however seeing fractions and radicals is too painful, just set the LineIO as your default mode. To do so press [SHIFT][MODE] to open (SETUP), then select [2:LineIO]

Press SHIFT MODE 2 to select the LineIO mode. To select the number of displayed digits in fixed decimal notation, press SHIFT MODE 6 and select the desired number of digits.

If the result is already calculated and displayed, press the [S<=>D] key It will convert a fraction or radical to decimal. This is always possible. If the result is decimal it may be converted to a fraction or a radical (Not always possible).

If the expression to be evaluated is still in the command line and you have not pressed the [=] key, you can force the result to be displayed in decimal format by pressing [SHIFT][=] instead of just [=].

More permanently. If you do n o care for fractions and radicals, set the Input/Outpout mode to LineIO. To do do press [SHIFT][MODE] to access the (SETUP) screen and select [2:LineIO]

The default Input/Output mode is MthIO. In this mode result may be fractions or radicals or a mix of both.
To set this mode Press [SHIFT][MODE] to enter the (SETUP) screen, then select [1:MthIO]


There is a limitation on how many symbols can be displayed on the screen. If there is not enough space to display the result as a fraction, the calculator will use decimals.

There is a key that can toggle the display from fraction/radicals to decimals. That is the [S<->D] key.

Keep in mind that while you can always convert a fraction/radical result to a decimal one, the reverse may, under ceratin circumstances , not be possible.

Hello,
To change the displayed result from fraction format to decimal, press the [S<->D] key.
You can also configure the calculator to be in LineIO mode. In this mode, all results are in decimal format.
To set the LineIO mode , press [SHIFT][MODE][2:LineIO]
Hope it helps.

Hello,
Since you bent on deactivating the very features that make your calculator so versatile and so powerful, here it is.
Press [SHIFT][MODE][2:LineIO] and you will see no more fractions, nor radicals etc. You asked for it.
Hope it helps.