Editing Units

This article explains how to edit units for variables and drivers in Model Reef.

You will learn:

• How units affect display and interpretation of values.

• How to change units safely.

• How units interact with bounds and validation.

Units make it clear what a number represents and at what scale.

1

Where to edit units

Units are usually edited in the Units and bounds panel, accessible from:

• The Variable Editor.

• The Driver Editor for certain drivers that behave like assumptions.

Units apply to the variable or driver whose editor you have open.

2

Types of units

Two main aspects of units are:

• Nature of the quantity, for example:

  • Currency.

  • Physical units (items, hours, kilograms).

  • Percentages.

• Display scale, for example:

  • Whole units.

  • Thousands.

  • Millions.

The nature of the quantity helps humans interpret the value. The display scale affects how numbers are shown on screen, not how they are stored.

3

Changing display scale

If a variable is stored in whole currency units, you can switch the display to thousands or millions.

When you change display scale:

• Underlying stored values do not change.

• Only the way they are shown in grids, charts and reports changes.

• This can be done per variable or per output context depending on the interface.

For example, 1,000,000 stored units may show as 1.0 if the display scale is millions.

4

Consistency across the model

To keep the model readable:

• Use the same unit conventions for similar variables, such as all revenue lines in the same currency and scale.

• Avoid mixing units for comparable items, as it makes comparisons harder.

• Use notes to document any variable that uses unusual units.

Consistent units also make charts and dashboards more intuitive.

5

Units and formulas

When using variables and drivers in formulas:

• Be aware of the underlying units being combined.

• Ensure that multiplications and divisions are conceptually correct (for example price times quantity, not price times price).

• If necessary, convert units before using a series in a formula.

Model Reef does not automatically enforce dimensional analysis; that judgement remains with the modeller.

6

Units and validation

Units interact with validation in two ways:

• Bounds are defined in the same scale as the stored values.

• Display units must be understood when interpreting error or warning messages.

If a variable is displayed in thousands, a bound that seems large in the interface may still be appropriate at the underlying scale.

Related articles

• Editing Bounds

• Editing Driver Time Series

• Mapping Units & Frequency

• Build a Debt Schedule & Covenants Model