(New) Formula-Field Table Column

Claire Lin

A read-only table column that calculates each row's value from the other columns.

The new Formula-Field column calculates a value for every row of a table from the other columns in that same row — for example Mass × Amount. It works like the layer-level formula field, scoped to a single table row, and recalculates automatically as the data changes.

Table of Contents

  1. Key Features
  2. For Designers — building a formula column
  3. For Users — entering data
  4. How It Works
  5. 🚀 How to Participate in the Preview

Key Features

Audience: Template Designers, Researchers

Interface: Chemotion ELN / Generic Template Designer

  • Per-row calculation: Each row’s formula value is derived from that row’s other columns, updated automatically.
  • Read-only cells: No one types into a formula cell — it recalculates on its own whenever its inputs change.
  • Number & System-Defined operands: Formulas use Number and System-Defined (unit-bearing) columns of the same table; any other column counts as 0, so formulas can never reference each other in a loop.
  • Stable references: A formula tracks the column itself, not its heading text — so renaming a column never breaks it.
  • Unit-safe results: A pinned default unit keeps results consistent no matter which unit a viewer is displaying.

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For Designers — building a formula column

  1. In your table, add a column and set its Column Type to Formula-Field.
  2. A Formula button appears on that column. Click it to open the formula editor.
  3. The editor lists the other columns with their Id, Heading, Type, and a short abbreviation you use to refer to each one (e.g. m for Mass, a for Amount). Abbreviations are auto-suggested from the heading and can be renamed. Eligible columns (Number / System-Defined) are editable; ineligible columns are greyed out and labelled “counts as 0”.
  4. Type the Formula using those abbreviations and standard math operators — e.g. m * a or (a + b) / 2.
  5. Set the Decimal precision (the maximum number of decimal places shown).
  6. Click Save. The Formula button becomes highlighted, and hovering it shows the saved formula.

Validation and warnings

  • A duplicate or invalid abbreviation must be fixed before you can save (shown as an error).
  • An unknown name in the formula, a reference to a retyped column, or a reference to a deleted column are shown as warnings — they don’t block saving.

Good to know

  • Renaming a column heading is safe — the formula keeps working because it tracks the column itself, not its heading text.
  • If you change an operand column to an ineligible type, the formula treats it as 0 until you switch the type back — then it reconnects automatically.
  • When a formula uses a System-Defined (unit-bearing) column, the result must not change just because someone displays the value in a different unit. To guarantee this, you pin a Default Unit for the column, and the formula always calculates in that unit.

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For Users — entering data

  • A formula cell is read-only and right-aligned. It recalculates instantly whenever you edit any column it depends on.
  • Empty inputs count as 0. If a formula was written incorrectly, the cell shows an error message instead of a number.
  • The decimal setting is a maximum — trailing zeros are not shown (e.g. 2.50 displays as 2.5).
  • Units stay consistent: changing the unit you view a System-Defined value in does not change any formula result. Hover the small information icon on a System-Defined column header to see its default unit; a formula column’s tooltip notes that it uses the referenced columns’ default units.

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How It Works

  • Stable references. A formula stores the identity of each column it uses, not its heading text, so renaming a heading never breaks a formula.
  • A pinned base unit keeps results stable. Before a System-Defined operand is used, its value is normalized to the column’s pinned default unit, so the result is always expressed in that unit — unaffected by the unit a viewer happens to be displaying.
  • Results are stored, not just shown. Each computed value is written back into the saved table data, so exports and server-side reads get the real numbers. Editing a cell, switching a cell’s unit, adding or removing a row, or reloading the template all trigger a recompute so the stored values stay correct.

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Note: This feature is currently in preview and may undergo further refinements based on user feedback.

🚀 How to Participate in the Preview

Follow these steps to explore the new features and share your insight:

  1. 🖥️ Visit the Staging Instance
    Access the preview environment at: labimotion-stage.ibcs.kit.edu

  2. 🔍 Explore and Test
    Try out the enhancements — see how they fit your workflow.

  3. ❤️ Your Feedback Matters
    Share your comments or report any issues in our GitHub Discussion Thread.

We appreciate your help in testing these new features!

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