Define Multiple Units of Measure

Overview | Use Units of Measure on Documents

Pro

The use of multiple units of measure allows you to purchase and sell an item in up to four different units (sizes, or pack quantities). For example, you might buy a canned item by the case but sell it by both the case and individual can. You can define a separate UPC, alternate lookup, sales price, and default purchase-by and sell-by units in inventory and Point of Sale will automatically suggest the correct unit on documents.

To define multiple units of measure in inventory:

1. Turn on the multiple unit of measure feature and add the various units you are likely to use on the Inventory page of company preferences.

2. As adding or editing an item, specify the base unit for the item in the Base Unit field. Select from the units defined in preferences in Step 1 or enter a new unit (it will be added to preferences when you save).

It is strongly recommended you make the smallest unit in which you buy or sell the item the base unit. This helps avoid fractional calculations. Other information entered on the main item form (UPC, price and cost, quantities, etc.) should be for your base unit.

3. Click the Units button adjacent to the Base Unit field. The Units of Measure window is opened.

View Example

4. Enter each alternate unit of measure. Click the Unit of Measure 1, 2, or 3 labels to expand the section and then enter or select:

- Unit: Select from the drop-down list of previously defined units or type a new one.

- # of Base Units: How many base units there are in this unit?

- UPC and ALU: Unique values in these fields allow you to list the item in the correct unit by scanning or entering the unique value on documents. If these values are not different for each unit, leave them blank for alternate units.

- Regular Price: For selling this unit; click Pricing to add additional markdown price levels.

- Average Cost and Quantity on Hand for alternate units are calculated from your base unit values and are not editable for alternate units.

In this example, the base unit is a 12 oz. bottle and now we are entering a case unit which contains 12 bottles.

5. At the top of the window, specify default order-by and sell-by units.

If your default order-by unit is different than your base unit, you will be prompted to enter an order cost. Enter the order cost and click OK.

6. Select Close to return to the main item form.

7. Enter information in other item fields as necessary.

8. Select Save.

Notes:

- Each unit can only be added once per item. For example, if you selected "case" as the base unit of measure, case will not be available to select as an alternate unit of measure. To use a unit in another position, first remove it from the previous defined position (remove by selecting blank as a unit).

- If using the Data Import Wizard to import item information, you can import information for your base unit only. If exporting item list information, the base unit information is exported.

Changing Base Units of Measure: Use caution if you need to change your base unit of measure after having been in operation for awhile. Review and update all item fields for each of your units after the change, paying particular attention to cost, price, and quantity values. Point of Sale will create adjustment memos for any cost and quantity edits related to the change, but there should be no net change in your inventory value.