Formula Maintenance Screen Field Reference

General tab

Field Description
Return Unit Click to select the unit of measure for the result of the formula. For example, if you create a formula to calculate the area of a wall, you could select SF (square feet) as the return unit.
Status Click to select the status of the formula.
Memo Enter any comments or notes about the formula.
Parameter grid - Each row in the grid is a parameter for the formula. A parameter could be a value you enter when you create an enterprise level assembly or a value you have calculated based on other components in the enterprise level assembly.
Note:
  • Click to add a row to the grid
  • Click to delete the active row from the grid.
  • See Grids for more tips on using grids.
Parameter Enter a code of up to 32 alphanumeric characters to identify the parameter.
Note: Alphanumeric characters include the letters A through Z, the numerals 0 through 9, and all special characters except comma, dash, period, percent, tilde, semi-colon, double quote, and single quote.
Default Unit Click to select the unit of measure for the parameter. For example, if you create a formula to calculate the area of a wall and you define a parameter for the length of the wall, you could select LF (linear feet) as the default unit.

Calculation tab

Use this tab to define the calculation for the formula. You can use the parameters defined on the General tab in the calculation.

Note: The application interprets numbers used in calculations as being in one of the following base units (depending on the parameters in the formula): LF for length, SF for area, CF for volume, LB for weight, MIN for time, or EA for counts.

For example, say you want to add 6 IN to the length of a wall, which is also measured in IN. If you enter the calculation as: (Parameters("Length") + 6) the application converts the parameters of the calculation to the base unit (in this case, with length, IN is converted to LF), performs the calculation, and then converts the result back to the specified unit. The calculation as entered would add 6 LF to the length of the wall, not 6 IN. To have the formula calculate as you expect, you must convert the 6 IN to 0.5 LF and enter the calculation as: (Parameters("Length") + 0.5)

Field Description
Parameters Displays the list of parameters entered on the General tab. Select parameters as needed for the formula and click Select to paste the field in the Calculation field.
Operators and Functions Displays the list of valid operators and functions you can use in the calculation. This list includes any formulas already defined in the catalog or estimate. Select operators and functions as needed for the formula and click Select to paste the field in the Calculation field.
Calculation Displays the parameters, operators, and functions selected, in the order selected, which defines the calculation. You can also enter text directly in this field to create the calculation. The calculation must have valid vb.net syntax and must return a numeric value.