Default Unit field
The Default Unit field in the Measurement Type file lets you set a default measurement unit for a measurement type if you do not specify otherwise.
Examples
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Centimetre
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Inch
How this field works
We recommend that your default unit is a unit of measure that you most frequently enter measurements for, as this will save you having to enter the unit each time.
For example, if you enter 19h 14d 30w (instead of 19cm h x 14cm d x 30cm w), the system must make an assumption about what you have entered, and it will do so based on what you specify in the Default Unit field.
When to create separate Measurement Type terms
If you frequently enter measurement data in different units of measure (for example, if the nature of your data means you sometimes enter measurements in inches and sometimes in centimetres), then it's better to create separate Measurement Type terms to facilitate this. For example you can create one called Dimensions (Metric) and one called Dimensions (Imperial).
Overriding the default unit
You can always override a default unit by entering a different one when you enter the measurement reading. For example even if you have specified Centimetre as the default unit, you can enter 19 x 4 x 3in in the Measurement Reading field. The system would accept this, and would convert the measurement to your specified display unit.
Difference between default unit and display unit
The default unit is different from the display unit. The term you enter in the Display Units fields tells the system how you want measurements displayed, regardless of the way they were entered. For example, you can enter a measurement in inches or centimetres and it will always be displayed as inches if that is the display unit you have specified.
The default unit tells the system what a measurement is if no unit is entered with it, and has no effect on how measurements are displayed. For example you could indicate that measurements should be centimetres unless otherwise specified, but that you want them displayed in inches.
This might be a useful thing to do if the data you have been supplied with is all in centimetres, but your institution uses inches. That is, by entering Centimetre in the Default Unit field, you can avoid typing cm for each measurement, but these will then be converted and displayed as inches.
Field details
Field type
Location
Measurement Type file > Unit Aspects tab
Internal field name
DEFAULT_UNIT
Searching on this field
Use a Select Statement.
Reporting on this field
Select Default Unit in Reporting.
You can sort on this field.
