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Using Linked Materials and Level Hierarchy to Determine Relative Weight Calculations
Using Linked Materials and Level Hierarchy to Determine Relative Weight Calculations

Handle complex products by nesting materials multiple levels deep

Bill Hoffman avatar
Written by Bill Hoffman
Updated over a week ago

Overview

In 3E Exchange, Products are composed of Materials. Each Material in turn can be composed of sub-materials.

Use Levels to represent the nesting relationship of Materials. Levels create a "hierarchy" within a Product.

Levels can be arbitrarily deep. For example, main materials on Level 1, sub-materials on Level 2, and substances on Level 3.

Linked Materials

Use Linked Materials to construct Products from Materials that are automatically updated when the Material is updated. Materials themselves may also contain Linked Materials.

For more information about creating and attaching these materials, see Linked Materials.

Auto-Calculations with Multiple Levels

When working with a Bill of Materials (BOM), 3E Exchange can automatically calculate values for weight-related columns. You should choose an auto-calculation mode based on what information you have available, and what information you'd like 3E Exchange to calculate.

For general information about auto-calculation options and choosing the right mode for your materials and products, see Weight Auto-calculations.

Weight Calculations

In the mode Weight (Absolute) the Weight of each row is calculated by multiplying the parent part's Weight and the row's Material % by Weight. 

In the mode Quantities/Unit Weights, the top-level Weight is calculated by multiplying the Unit Weight and Quantity (note: Quantity is defaulted to "1" if not provided). The Weight of each row is then calculated by multiplying the parent part's Weight and the row's Material % by Weight. 

Product % by Weight Calculations

In the mode Percentage (Relative), the Product % by Weight of each row is calculated by multiplying the parent part's Product % by Weight and the row's Material % by Weight.

In the modes Weight (Absolute) and Quantities/Unit Weights, Product % by Weight is determined by first finding a Total Weight for the product and then dividing the individual Weight of each row by the Total Weight.

There are two methods for determining a Total Weight:

  • Using Substance Rows for Summing Total Weights

  • Use Absolute Weights Entered for Summing Total Weights

When using Substance Rows for Summing Total Weights, 3E Exchange will add together the weights of all lowest-level substances in the product hierarchy to find the Total Weight.

When using Absolute Weights Entered for Summing Total Weights, 3E Exchange will find and sum the first Absolute Weight rows in the product hierarchy. An Absolute Weight is a row in which a Weight is provided without a Material % by Weight; this value is deemed to be the total weight of the row (and its children) within the product.

Putting It All Together

Here are some examples using the auto-calculation methods and linked materials.

Percentage (Relative)

In the example below, the product consists of two linked materials and Product % by Weight is auto-calculated using the product's Product % by Weight and linked materials' Material % by Weight.

Solvent A's Product % by Weight is calculated to be 50% based on its Material % by Weight and parent (Level 1) Product % by Weight: 50% x 100% = 50%. 

Component A's Product % by Weight is calculated to be 15% based on its Material % by Weight and parent (Solvent A) Product % by Weight: 30% x 50% = 15%.

Weights (Absolute)

In the example below, the product consists of two linked materials and the spreadsheet is using the mode Weights (Absolute) - Use Substance Rows for Summing Total Weights

First, weights for each row are calculated based on the parent row's Weight and the row's Material % by Weight. Second, Product % by Weight is calculated based on the sum of all substance-level row weights in the product.

Solvent C's Weight is calculated based on its Material % by Weight and parent (Level 1) Weight: 50% x 600 = 300.

Component A's Weight is calculated based on its Material % by Weight and parent (Solvent C) Weight: 30% x 300 = 90.

Solvent C's Product % by Weight is calculated base on the "using substance rows" method, which adds all of the lowest points of the product hierarchy to find a Total Weight, which is then divided into Solvent C's Weight to find its Product % by Weight: 90 + 60 + 150 + 75 + 225 = 600. 300 / 600 = 50%.

Quantities/Unit Weights

In the example below, the product consists of one part containing two linked materials, and a second part containing a single substance. The spreadsheet is using the mode Quantities/Unit Weights - Use Substance Rows for Summing Total Weights

First, the Weights of the top-level rows are calculated by multiplying the Quantity and Unit Weight. Second, weights for each row are calculated based on the parent row's Weight (calculated in the previous step) and the row's Material % by Weight. Second, Product % by Weight is calculated based on the sum of all substance-level row weights in the product.

Level 1's Weight is calculated by multiplying its Unit Weight and Quantity: 300 x 1 = 300.

Solvent E's Weight is calculated based on its Material % by Weight and parent (Level 1) Weight: 50% x 300 = 150.

Component A's Weight is calculated based on its Material % by Weight and parent (Solvent C) Weight: 30% x 150 = 45.

Solvent E's Product % by Weight is calculated base on the "using substance rows" method, which adds all of the lowest points of the product hierarchy to find a Total Weight, which is then divided into Solvent C's Weight to find its Product % by Weight: 45 + 30 + 75 + 75 + 75 + 200 = 500. 150 / 500 = 30%.

Getting Help

If you have questions about using 3E Exchange or the material covered in this help article, reach out in chat in the bottom right-hand corner or email support@3eco.com.

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