Within ValuePRO, certain fields make use of formulas to automatically generate comments based on other fields.
Example Formula
For the field, Main Interior Linings, we are going to generate a comment based on the values of the Walls and Window fields (as nonsensical as it may be, this is strictly an example)
Our goal will be to develop a formula in the format of "This house has [Walls] walls and [Window] windows as a part of the main interior linings."
To begin, right click on the field name and click on Edit Field in the popup.
Then, navigate to the 'Manage / Add Auto-Generate Formula for this Field' button.
(NOTE: You may want to tick the 'Auto-calculate and replace on save:' box here, as doing so will auto update your fields using a formula when you save your job card.)
Once there, you'll be presented with the formula editor page.
To add a new datapoint, select Text/Fields from the 'Basic Fields' dropdown, and click on the insert button.
You will then be presented with a blank field, in which you can add both text and field names.
To insert a field, navigate to the 'Fields:' dropdown and select a field you would like displayed in your formula. In this case, we will be selecting the 'Window' and 'Walls' fields.
Note how the report field reference is surrounded by $$ on both sides? This is ValuePRO's way of letting the formula know that this is a field from the DET and to pull it into the formula.
Once you have added the required fields to the template, ensure you click on the save button to the right of the 'Value:' box.
At this point in the tutorial, your formula should look a little something like this:
The next and final step will be to add text surrounding these fields.
To do this, simply select the Value: textbox and insert text surrounding the two $$ fields. So long as you do not modify text between the $$ markers, you will be able to add whatever you like here.
As per the example, this is what your text should look like now:
Congratulations! You have finished making your formula.
Ensure you save the formula before closing the window and returning to your page.
Now, if data is entered into the Walls or Windows fields, it will be automatically pulled through into the Main Interior Linings field depending on whether the job card is saved or if the 'auto' button is pressed (this will depend on whether you ticked the auto calculate on job save option earlier).
This is the first part in a multi-part series covering field formulas and their usages.
A second article will be added to the portfolio soon!