Set Up Units of Measure

A unit of measure tells users what a quantity means. For example, a quantity of 5 could mean 5 pieces, 5 liters, 5 kilograms, or 5 sets. Without a clear unit, inventory quantities can be misunderstood.

Units of measure are especially important before you start creating inventory items or importing inventory data.

What a unit of measure contains

Each unit of measure includes:

• Name
• Symbol
• Type
• Status

The unit is then used when creating inventory items.

Name

The name is the full name of the unit.

Examples:

• Each
• Piece
• Set
• Liter
• Kilogram
• Meter

Use names that are clear and easy for your users to understand.

Symbol

The symbol is the short version of the unit.

Examples:

• EA
• PCS
• SET
• L
• kg
• m

Symbols make the unit easier to read in lists, forms, and inventory records.

For example, the unit may be displayed as:

Kilogram (kg)

or:

Each (EA)

Type: Whole Number or Decimal

Each unit of measure can be configured as either a whole number unit or a decimal unit.

This controls whether quantities using the unit must be entered as whole numbers or whether decimal values are allowed.

Whole number units

Use whole number units when the quantity should only be counted in full units.

Examples:

• Each
• Piece
• Set
• Box

For these units, a quantity like 1, 2, or 10 makes sense.

A quantity like 1.5 each usually does not make sense.

If a unit is marked as requiring whole number quantities, users should enter quantities as whole numbers.

Decimal units

Use decimal units when partial quantities are valid.

Examples:

• Liter
• Kilogram
• Meter

For these units, decimal quantities may be needed.

Examples:

• 1.5 liters
• 0.25 kilograms
• 2.75 meters

If a unit does not require whole number quantities, decimal values are allowed.

Status: Active or Inactive

A unit of measure can be active or inactive.

Active units

Active units can be used when creating new inventory items.

Use active status for units that your organization currently uses.

Inactive units

Inactive units are kept in the system, but they are not shown in dropdowns when creating new inventory items.

Use inactive status when a unit should no longer be used for new items, but may still exist on older records.

This is useful when you want to stop using a unit without removing historical data.

Where to find Units of Measure

Units of Measure are managed from the setup area.

To open Units of Measure:

1. Go to Administration.
2. Open Units of Measure.

Depending on your permissions, you may be able to view, create, edit, or delete units.

Units of Measure list

The Units of Measure page shows a list of configured units.

The list includes:

• Name
• Symbol
• Type
• Status
• Items Using
• Actions

Items Using

The Items Using column shows how many inventory items currently use the unit.

This is important because a unit that is already used by inventory items cannot be deleted.

If a unit is in use, you should consider making it inactive instead of deleting it.

Create a new unit of measure

To create a new unit:

1. Go to Administration.
2. Open Units of Measure.
3. Select New Unit.
4. Enter the unit name.
5. Enter the symbol.
6. Choose whether the unit requires whole number quantities.
7. Choose whether the unit should be active.
8. Save the unit.

After the unit is created, it can be used when creating inventory items if it is active.

Edit a unit of measure

To edit an existing unit:

1. Go to Administration.
2. Open Units of Measure.
3. Select the unit you want to update.
4. Edit the name, symbol, quantity type, or status.
5. Save the changes.

Be careful when editing units that are already used by inventory items. Changes may affect how users understand existing inventory data.

Delete a unit of measure

A unit of measure can only be deleted if it is not used by inventory items.

If the unit is in use, FlightLogger Maintenance prevents deletion.

This protects existing inventory records from losing their unit reference.

If a unit should no longer be used, but is already linked to inventory items, make it inactive instead.

Choosing the right unit type

Before creating a unit, decide whether quantities should be whole numbers or decimal values.

Ask:

• Can this item be counted only as full units?
• Can this item be measured in partial quantities?
• Will users need to receive or issue decimal quantities?
• Does the unit represent a countable object or a measurable amount?

Examples:

Use Whole Number for:

• Each
• Piece
• Set
• Box

Use Decimal for:

• Liter
• Kilogram
• Meter

Choosing the correct type helps prevent users from entering quantities that do not make sense.

Why units should be set up early

Units of measure should be reviewed before creating or importing inventory items.

If units are inconsistent, you may later need to clean up item records, import files, or stock data.

Set up units before:

• Creating inventory items
• Importing inventory data
• Importing stock
• Receiving goods
• Setting up purchasing workflows
• Training inventory users

Best practices

• Use clear unit names.

• Use consistent symbols.

• Avoid duplicate units with the same meaning.

• Decide whether each unit should allow whole numbers or decimals.

• Keep commonly used units active.

• Make old or unused units inactive instead of deleting them.

• Do not delete units that may be needed for historical records.

• Review units before importing inventory data.

• Keep units understandable for stores, purchasing, planning, and workshop users.

Summary

Units of measure help FlightLogger Maintenance record inventory quantities clearly and consistently.

Each unit has a name, symbol, quantity type, and status. Whole number units are used for countable items, while decimal units are used when partial quantities are valid.

Set up units of measure before creating or importing inventory items so your inventory data remains clear, consistent, and easy to maintain.