Enter Formulas

Explanation

This activity is used to create formulas. When creating formulas, you must first enter the information to identify the formula, and then proceed to enter the formula items. These items are used to build the formula. Different methods are used to enter the values for the Variable type formula items, when the formula is used. You can perform a test calculation finally to verify that the formula returns the correct result. Once you have verified the formula, you can promote it to the Valid status.

Formulas in the Valid status can be connected to the input UoM groups, and used in the Multiple Units of Measure feature.

Prerequisites

This activity has the following prerequisites:

• The units of measure must have been entered in IFS/ Application Services.
• The variables must have been entered in the Formula Variables window.

System Effects

As a result of this activity, formulas will be created, saved, and validated.

Window

Formula
Formula Variables

Related Window Descriptions

Formula
Overview - Formula Variables, Overview - Input UoM Groups

Procedure

To identify the formula:

1. Open the Formula window. You can populate the window if you want to view the existing data.
2. Click New to create a new record.
3. In the Formula ID field, enter a unique code to identify the formula.
4. Enter a description of the formula in the Description field.
5. In the Formula UoM field, select the UoM from the List of Values or enter the unit code manually. The value in the Formula UoM Description field will appear automatically.

To build the formula:

6. In the upper table, create a new line.
7. In the Sequence field, enter a number to determine the order in which you want to enter the items to develop the formula.
8. In the Item Type list, select the type of the formula item. This list includes the options: Operator, Function, Value, and Variable.
9. In the Item list, select the item you will be including in the formula. The items available in the list depend on the value you have selected in the Item Type field:

Operator: Select an operator [ (,) , +, -, *, / ]
Function: Select a function [ ABS, CEIL, COS, etc.]  
Value: Enter a fixed value
Variable: Select a variable name

The value in the Description field will appear automatically for the items of the Variable and Function type.

10. Enter a note if required.
11. Save the record. 

If any of the formula items you have selected are of the Variable type, upon saving the record, the lower table will be populated with details regarding the variables.

12. To indicate how to determine the values of these variables, select a value type of either User, Default, or Fixed from the  Value Type list.
13. In the Value field, enter the values of the variables if they are of the Default or Fixed type.

To test the formula:

14. In the Test Value field, you must enter the values to be substituted. This is for the variables of the User Defined or Default value type.
15. Save the record.
16. Click Test Formula to perform a test calculation of the formula.
    The Test Result field will display the results of the test calculation.
    The Formula field will display the entire formula as a concatenation of variables, functions, operators, and values.

Note: If the formula you have built is mathematically incorrect, a message will be displayed when performing the test calculation.

17. If you are satisfied with the formula and test results, right-click on the header and then click Valid. This will set the formula to the Valid status.

The formula has now been created and you can connect it to an Input UoM Group.

Note: If you want to modify the formula, you must first change the status back to Invalid. A formula connected to an input UoM group or in the Valid status cannot be modified.