The Formula Comparison Grid | |||||||
|
| ||||||
Comparing formulas is useful when you are developing multiple formulas for a single product line — for example, lipsticks in different shades from a single base formula. You can:
- View the combined ingredient list and the levels of ingredients in the compared formulas
- View the total ingredient levels of the compared formulas
- Identify variations in ingredient levels between the formulas
When you compare formulas, they are shown in the formula comparison grid. Each formula has a column in the grid, showing the wet % of each ingredient. You can expand the column so that the wet weight and unit are also visible.
The formula on the left of the grid is the base formula against which the
other formulas are compared. You can show and hide markers (
and 
) that indicate ingredient levels that are higher or lower than
in the base formula. You can also edit the levels of ingredients directly in the formula
comparison grid.
Formula Compatibility
Compared formulas must be compatible with each other in the following ways:
- They must have the same number of phases.
- Their phase types must align. That is, standard and premix phases must occur in the same order in all compared formulas.
- Their premix phases must match in terms of whether their size is fixed or floating.
- They must not be in summary mode.
You cannot add a formula to the comparison if it does match the existing compared formulas in these ways.
Formula Comparison Toolbar
The Formula Comparison Toolbar contains tools for using the formula comparison grid:
Show/Hide Difference: Shows or hides ingredient
difference markers. See Comparing Multiple Formulas.
Undo: Undoes the most recent action or actions. See
Undoing and Redoing Actions in Compared Formulas.
Redo: Redoes one or more undone actions. See Undoing and Redoing Actions in Compared Formulas.
Example
In the schematic formula comparison grid below, three formulas for a soap are
compared. The first formula, Nature Pure Dish Soap (Base), is the basis for the
comparison. In the second and third formulas, ingredients whose levels are higher
than in the base formula are indicated by . Ingredients whose levels are lower than in the base
formula are indicated by :
| Materials | Nature Pure Dish Soap (Base) | Nature Pure Dish Soap (Variant #1) | Nature Pure Dish Soap (Variant #2) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material Name | Wet % | Wet % | Wet % | ||
| Main Phase | 100.00% | 
|
100.00% | 100.00% | |
| SD-Alcohol | 1.50% |
|
1.94% |
|
1.40% |
| Water | 85.50% | |
85.80% |
|
85.40% |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - 25% | 10.00% |
|
9.32% |
|
10.20% |
| Link to Fragrances | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% | ||
| Colorants | 1.00% | 
|
0.94% | 1.00% | |
| FD&C Yellow No 6 Aluminum Lake | 1.00% |
|
0.94% | 1.00% | |
| Fragrances | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | ||
| Methyl Salicylate | 20.00% | 20.00% | 20.00% | ||
| Benzaldehyde | 20.00% | 20.00% | 20.00% | ||
| Ethyl Butyrate | 60.00% | 60.00% | 60.00% | ||
| TOTALS: | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | ||