Formulas and Batches

Weight and Volume

When you define a batch size by weight or volume, you are usually relating it to the size of the container that holds the batch, for example a vat.

Weight and volume are interrelated. Changing the weight of a batch causes the volume to change automatically, and vice versa. The ratio of weight to volume is determined by the Target Specific Gravity. By default, this is 1.000.

The Batch Size Floats property of the formula specifies whether the weight and volume of the batch change as you change the weights of ingredients.

When Batch Size Floats is not selected, the weight and volume of the batch do not change as you change ingredient percentages and weights in the formula grid.

When Batch Size Floats is selected, the batch size automatically updates to match the total weight or volume of the ingredients in the formula grid. You cannot edit the batch size manually. You also cannot edit ingredient percentages in the formula grid, only ingredient weights. This is because there is no fixed batch size according to which the ingredient percentages can be calculated.

Having Batch Size Floats selected is useful when you are adjusting the amounts of ingredients in the formula composition, but have not decided on a batch size.

Pieces

You can specify a batch size in terms of pieces. Pieces are items into which the batch is divided, for example tablets, packets, bottles, or servings.

When you define a batch size by pieces, the formula is applied to individual pieces, rather than to the batch as a whole. As you adjust the number of pieces, the weight and volume of the batch are adjusted.

Pieces are measured by dry weight — that is, weight after processing. If you increase the processing loss of an ingredient in a batch, the weight and volume of the batch increase. This is because weight and volume are measured by wet weight: more of the ingredients are required to compensate for the processing loss.

You can select Piece Size Floats to make the number of pieces in the batch constant. The size of the pieces scales as you change the per piece weights of ingredients in the formula grid. Note that when Piece Size Floats is selected, you cannot change the total dry weights and percentages of ingredients in the formula grid.