Handling units of measure

apiMAX has a large library of units of measure, which accomplish the needs of all users. Each model may have its own unit of measure configuration, saved as LOCAL UNITS SETTINGS. apiMAX has possible presets for the local configuration, referred to as GLOBAL UNITS SETTINGS. These configurations can be used when building new models. The user can start building a model using SI units, Imperial units, or another configuration created for previous models.

The basics configurations of units are:

Imperial Master Settings. When this option is selected the model's input/output units are from the Imperial units system. This is the internal configuration of units used by apiMAX.
SI Master Settings. When this option is selected the model's input/output units are from the Metric (SI) units system.

Modifying the LOCAL UNITS SETTINGS of a model

Change the mass flow units from lbs/hr to t/day.
Double click on an empty space of the case model (or right-click on an empty space and select “Properties”). The window Case Model Properties appears.
Select the tab Unit Types. Two frames are displayed: Available Global Units Settings and Local Units Settings.
To change the mass flow units from lbs/hr to t/day, select from the Unit Types Mass Flow, and select, from the I/O Units, the wanted unit (t/day). See the example here.

Each time the user saves his model the LOCAL UNITS SETTINGS are saved. All users which open the model will see the same configuration of units. This configuration can be changed as described above and it will be saved when the model is saved again.

Note. In apiMAX the physical properties (usually referred to as parameters) are named Unit Types. The measurement units are named I/O units (input/output units).

Note: Some apiMAX models are connected to excel where some data are transferred. However, only the values are transferred, so, if the units are changed in a model, excel will just read the new values. Special care should be paid by the user that will work on models created by others.

Saving current configuration for usage in other modes

All changes can be saved in a new GLOBAL UNITS CONFIGURATION choosing Save As Global Configuration.
Make the desired changes to all units Check the Save As Global Configuration checkbox.
Type a name for the new configuration.

Press OK.
The customized configuration is saved as local configuration (the model will use these units) and it will be included in the global configurations list.
Therefore, it will be available as a possible preset for all the case models.

How to choose an existing GLOBAL UNITS CONFIGURATION

Select the Unit Types tab. Open the combo box Load from the frame Available Global Units Settings.
This frame allows you to select one of the available GLOBAL UNITS CONFIGURATIONS for units.
The basics configurations of units are: Imperial Master Settings and SI Master Settings.

How to create a new global units configuration, without having already a case model

Select Tools|Options.

The general menu of application contains the tab Unit Types.
The first frame allows you to view the available configurations for unit types and the I/O units of them.
To create a new global units configuration, the user must select from the configurations list New Units Settings.

The new configuration has by default the configuration of the Imperial Master Settings.
To customize the configuration, the user can make changes into the Units Settings frame by: adding new units, deleting existing units, making changes to existing units (name, equation to convert in default unit), etc.

The equation fields “Bias” and “Divider” are enabled only for the new Input/Output units created by the user.
The existents units and the correspondent equation to default unit (internal) cannot be modified.
When the OK button is pressed the unit is saved and the fields Bias and Divider are disabled.
The user has the ability to modify, delete, or change the equations only for the new I/O units added.