Types of parameters

Type	Description	Examples
Character Info	Allows string (i.e., alphanumeric characters) entry for a parameter value. These are categorized as Information parameters on the Lab form. Use this type if the parameter is going to be selected from an enumerated list.	Solvent, medium
Numeric Info	Allows a numeric value to be specified as a parameter value. These are categorized as Information parameters. These can also be Equation Total parameters with an equation that is attached to the parameter. These parameter types do not undergo unit of measure conversions.	Boiling point, PH, SPF
AND True/False	Use to test that all conditions are true. If all conditions are true, the parameter value is set to 1. If one or more conditions are false, the parameter value is set to 0. These are categorized as Rollup parameters. When this parameter type is used, set the Data Type field to Long. If you attach an equation, set the Equation Indicator to "rollup param total test".	Are all items FDA approved? Are any items toxic? Attach an equation with a message function to warn the user when the formula contains unallowed items.
Cost	Use to specify cost type parameters. These parameters behave like Unit Activity parameters. They are categorized as Cost parameters.	Lab costs
Weight %	Use to specify the weight percentage for parameters. These can be Rollup, Information, or Equation Total parameters. Optiva calculates the parameter from the formula’s items if entered as a Rollup. If the UOM Extend value is not % and the Per UOM is not blank, the type is changed to `7=Unit Activity`. This has no affect on the values that are calculated. The UOMs are displayed on the Formula, Items and Projects instead of %.	Pigment weight %, weight fraction filler
Volume %	Use to specify the volume percentage for parameters. These can be Rollup, Information, or Equation Total parameters. Optiva calculates the parameter from the formula’s items if specified as a Rollup.	Solvent volume %, pigment volume %
Equivalent Weight	Use to specify equivalent weights. Optiva calculates the equivalent weight for a formula from its items if the parameter is specified as a Rollup parameter. Can also be used as an Information or Equation Total parameter.	Hydroxyl equivalent weight, isocyanate equivalent weight
Unit Activity	Use to store concentration levels. Optiva calculates unit activities for a formula from its items if the parameter is specified as a Rollup parameter. These can also be used as Information or Equation Total parameters.	Cholesterol, complex carbohydrates, fiber, saturated fats
UOM Extend	Not currently used. Originally created to convert an item quantity unit of measure for a spreadsheet; this issue has since been corrected.
UOM Conversion Factor	Use for parameters to define a conversion of a unit of measure. The conversion is for one UOM type to another unit of measure of a different UOM type, such as density `MASS` to `VOLUME`. Another example of conversion is `EA` to `MASS` or `EA` to `VOLUME`. Density must be the first parameter that is defined in a lab if you have a parameter that depends on it. Include a Per UOM value on the Parameter form. These `9=UOM Conversion Factor` parameters are categorized as Rollup parameters. Any number of Conversion Factor parameters are permitted in a lab. Cannot be used for an alternate unit of measure.	Density
Summed Numeric Info	Use to add numbers at the item level to compute the formula level. Use for parameters defined by an equation at the item level; then rolled up. Use for parameters that are calculated at the item level and rolled up to the formula. Example: If Total Fat is set up as a `Summed Numeric Info` and calculated parameter, and added to the lab as a rollup parameter, the total fat is calculated (and thus visible) at the item level and then rolled up to the formula level. You are not required to assign Total Fat as a `Summed Numeric Info` parameter for it to calculate at the item level. You can also assign Unit Activity to Total Fat for it to calculate at the item level.	`Total Fat = Sat Fat + Unsat Fat` Use with equation indicator `4=Calculated Parameter`.
OR True/False	Use to test if one condition is true. If one condition is true, then the parameter value is set to 1. If no conditions are true, the parameter value is set to 0. These are categorized as Rollup parameters. When this parameter type is used, specify Long for the Data Type field. If you attach an equation, set the Equation Indicator to "rollup param total test".	Are any items restricted?
Numeric Minimum	Use to indicate the lowest value for a parameter. The lowest value at the item level is set to the value at the formula level. This is categorized as a Rollup parameter.	Lowest boiling point
Numeric Maximum	Use to indicate the highest value for a parameter. The highest value at the item level is set to the value at the formula level. This is categorized as a Rollup parameter.	Highest melting point, upper explosive limit
UOM Ratio	Use for parameters that are expressed as a ratio. This is categorized as a Rollup parameter.	colonies/kg
Summed Character Info	Use to roll up and combine (concatenate) single and multi-value strings from item parameters. If the same value for a parameter is used in more than one item, it is displayed only once for the formula’s parameter. When the Byproduct has a negative quantity, the values for Summed Character Info parameters, for that Byproduct, are included in the calculation.	France;Italy

Character Info

Allows string (i.e., alphanumeric characters) entry for a parameter value. These are categorized as Information parameters on the Lab form. Use this type if the parameter is going to be selected from an enumerated list.

Solvent, medium

Numeric Info

Allows a numeric value to be specified as a parameter value. These are categorized as Information parameters. These can also be Equation Total parameters with an equation that is attached to the parameter. These parameter types do not undergo unit of measure conversions.

Boiling point, PH, SPF

AND True/False

Use to test that all conditions are true. If all conditions are true, the parameter value is set to 1. If one or more conditions are false, the parameter value is set to 0.

These are categorized as Rollup parameters. When this parameter type is used, set the Data Type field to Long. If you attach an equation, set the Equation Indicator to "rollup param total test".

Are all items FDA approved? Are any items toxic?

Attach an equation with a message function to warn the user when the formula contains unallowed items.

Cost

Use to specify cost type parameters. These parameters behave like Unit Activity parameters. They are categorized as Cost parameters.

Lab costs

Weight %

Use to specify the weight percentage for parameters. These can be Rollup, Information, or Equation Total parameters.

Optiva calculates the parameter from the formula’s items if entered as a Rollup.

If the UOM Extend value is not % and the Per UOM is not blank, the type is changed to 7=Unit Activity. This has no affect on the values that are calculated. The UOMs are displayed on the Formula, Items and Projects instead of %.

Pigment weight %, weight fraction filler

Volume %

Use to specify the volume percentage for parameters. These can be Rollup, Information, or Equation Total parameters. Optiva calculates the parameter from the formula’s items if specified as a Rollup.

Solvent volume %, pigment volume %

Equivalent Weight

Use to specify equivalent weights. Optiva calculates the equivalent weight for a formula from its items if the parameter is specified as a Rollup parameter. Can also be used as an Information or Equation Total parameter.

Hydroxyl equivalent weight, isocyanate equivalent weight

Unit Activity

Use to store concentration levels. Optiva calculates unit activities for a formula from its items if the parameter is specified as a Rollup parameter. These can also be used as Information or Equation Total parameters.

Cholesterol, complex carbohydrates, fiber, saturated fats

UOM Extend

Not currently used. Originally created to convert an item quantity unit of measure for a spreadsheet; this issue has since been corrected.

UOM Conversion Factor

Use for parameters to define a conversion of a unit of measure. The conversion is for one UOM type to another unit of measure of a different UOM type, such as density MASS to VOLUME. Another example of conversion is EA to MASS or EA to VOLUME.

Density must be the first parameter that is defined in a lab if you have a parameter that depends on it.

Include a Per UOM value on the Parameter form. These 9=UOM Conversion Factor parameters are categorized as Rollup parameters. Any number of Conversion Factor parameters are permitted in a lab.

Cannot be used for an alternate unit of measure.

Density

Summed Numeric Info

Use to add numbers at the item level to compute the formula level. Use for parameters defined by an equation at the item level; then rolled up.

Use for parameters that are calculated at the item level and rolled up to the formula.

Example: If Total Fat is set up as a Summed Numeric Info and calculated parameter, and added to the lab as a rollup parameter, the total fat is calculated (and thus visible) at the item level and then rolled up to the formula level.

You are not required to assign Total Fat as a Summed Numeric Info parameter for it to calculate at the item level. You can also assign Unit Activity to Total Fat for it to calculate at the item level.

Total Fat = Sat Fat + Unsat Fat

Use with equation indicator 4=Calculated Parameter.

OR True/False

Use to test if one condition is true. If one condition is true, then the parameter value is set to 1. If no conditions are true, the parameter value is set to 0.

These are categorized as Rollup parameters. When this parameter type is used, specify Long for the Data Type field. If you attach an equation, set the Equation Indicator to "rollup param total test".

Are any items restricted?

Numeric Minimum

Use to indicate the lowest value for a parameter. The lowest value at the item level is set to the value at the formula level. This is categorized as a Rollup parameter.

Lowest boiling point

Numeric Maximum

Use to indicate the highest value for a parameter. The highest value at the item level is set to the value at the formula level. This is categorized as a Rollup parameter.

Highest melting point, upper explosive limit

UOM Ratio

Use for parameters that are expressed as a ratio. This is categorized as a Rollup parameter.

colonies/kg

Summed Character Info

Use to roll up and combine (concatenate) single and multi-value strings from item parameters.

If the same value for a parameter is used in more than one item, it is displayed only once for the formula’s parameter.

When the Byproduct has a negative quantity, the values for Summed Character Info parameters, for that Byproduct, are included in the calculation.

France;Italy