Units

Hi,

I typically have models with multiple layers, with different display units (t/d, kg/d, ... ).

In Data Explorer, it looks like the "data out" and "unit out" settings, are those of the currently selected layer, while the explorer shows all layers.
This was quite confusing, since I had no idea how to change the units, until I change the selected layer by accident.

Suggestion:
Would be really helpful to have a button "units" in Data Explorer to set all units consistently.

Since we export to CSV or Excel, when all units in a column are the same, it's easy to select the column, and use find/replace to remove the unit. One can also use find/replace to swap the decimal separator.

Best regards,
Geert

 

Unfortunately, this is a bug in STAN.
Here is an excerpt from our issue tracker:
"In the Data Explorer, when switching to display units, the display units of the currently active layer are always used for all displayed data (goods and substances). So if the goods layer is active, the selected display units of the goods layer are used for all data (goods and substances. This should not be the case! The individually configurable display units for each respective layer should always be displayed!"
However, we haven't tackled the issue yet because it would need some modificatiosn deep in the core of our software, which could cause a lot of side issues. Sorry for not having better news.

Hi,

Thanks for quick reply.

No need to update the software.
But this thread might help other users who struggle with units.


You say that the goal is to have Data Explorer showing the specific display units of each layer, instead of a single display unit of the active layer.

In my view, having different units for the layers in a CSV or Excel output makes postprocessing considerably harder.
Currently, the values are exported as "value unit" strings.
As long as the unit in a single column (say 'Mass flow') is the same, it's easy to use find/replace to remove all units, and assign a unit to the column header.
It becomes a lot more tricky when different records have different units:

 

To postprocess this in Excel, you would either have to:

• add extra columns to track the units of all values, then remove the units from the values;
• or remove all units, then convert the different values to a single unit, so unit can be assigned to the column header.

Either way, tricky stuff and prone to errors.

Sticking to a single unit in a column is way more reliable in my view.


Best regards,

Geert



 

Hi Geert,
I finally got your point.
Let's say the display unit of the layer of goods was set to t/a and the one of the layer of a substance to kg/a. If the values and units were dispayed correctly, when choosing "unit out", my plan would be to display the values of the goods in t/a and the values of the substance in kg/a.
According to your suggestion, you would like to have an additional option to select in which unit the values should be displayed inside of the data explorer (to be able to export them in the same unit), independent of the fact which unit they were entered with or which display unit was chosen for the respective layers. This is definitely something to think about.
Thanks for your suggestion.
KR
Oliver