Measurement nodes

Three nodes of the field processing pipeline read, convert and write measurements — numbers with a unit, and measurement sets such as length × width × height. All three are offered in imports and in channel feeds alike.

Node	What it does	Listed in Add node under
Text to measurements	Reads numbers and their unit from text, such as 20x10x5 cm	Both Text and Numbers
Convert unit	Converts one number from one unit to another, such as cm to mm	Numbers
Measurements to text	Writes measurements and their unit as text, such as 20 x 10 x 5 cm	Both Text and Numbers

How to open a field’s pipeline and add a node, and every other node, are on Field processing pipeline nodes.

A node gets a unit from a Source field connected directly to it, or from Text to measurements. A source field that reads a number with a unit, a measurement set or one of its measurements passes its unit on, and Text to measurements outputs the unit it read. Any other node’s output carries no unit: Convert unit outputs a plain number, so to convert and then write text, set the unit in Measurements to text instead of chaining the two.

Text to measurements

Reads numbers with their units. In an import, as the field’s last node, it converts them to the unit of the attribute the field fills.

Setting	Choices	Default
Inputs	How the source gives the numbers — see the table below	One text
Decimal separator	Dot (.) · Comma (,)	Dot (.)
Unit if the source has none	The attribute’s unit, or any unit from the list	The attribute’s unit

Inputs	Connect	Example source
One text	One input: one or more numbers and their units	20 cm, 20x10x5 cm, 20cm x 100mm x 5cm
A number and a unit	Two inputs: the number, then the unit	200 and mm
One per measurement	One input per measurement, in the measurements’ order; each a number, or a number with a unit	20, 10, 5
One per measurement, then a unit	One input per measurement, then one for the unit	20, 10, 5 and cm

The text is read as pasting reads it — see Enter and paste values.

A number without a unit is taken to be in the unit set under Unit if the source has none. With The attribute’s unit, in an import, it is taken to be in the unit of the attribute the field fills; in a feed, it has no unit.

Into a field with a unit, as the field’s last node, the node converts every number to the field’s unit and keeps at most four decimal places; into an Integer number it rounds a converted number to the nearest whole number. The count of numbers must match the measurement set’s measurements.

Anywhere else — in a feed, into a field without a unit, or before another node — it outputs as many numbers as the text holds, converted to the first unit the source names: 20cm x 100mm x 5cm gives 20, 10 and 5 in cm. Their measurements have no codes then, so a Custom pattern in a following Measurements to text can use only {unit}, not a code such as {width}.

The canvas sums the node up as Reads 3 inputs, with , assuming mm when a unit is set.

Example: a supplier file has the columns Länge, Breite, Höhe and Einheit, with 200, 100, 50 and mm in a row. Map them onto a measurement set in cm, add Text to measurements with Inputs set to One per measurement, then a unit, and connect the four columns in that order. The set is stored as 20, 10, 5.

Convert unit

Converts a number to another unit of the same kind — a length to a length, a weight to a weight.

Setting	Choices	Default
Unit it is in	When the connected Source field has a unit: only The source field’s unit (cm). Otherwise any unit from the list, or empty.	The source field’s unit; otherwise empty
Unit to write	Any unit from the list. Required.	—

A value that carries its own unit, such as the output of Text to measurements, is converted from that unit whatever Unit it is in says; the setting is the unit of a number without one. Left empty, a number without a unit is left out. Unit to write must measure the same kind of thing as the number: Choose a length unit, such as cm.

The node takes one number — a number, a measurement, or a text that is a number written with a decimal point — and outputs a plain number in Unit to write, rounded to four decimal places. A list is converted item by item. A whole measurement set is refused: connect one measurement’s Source field, such as Package size › Height, instead.

The canvas sums it up as cm to mm.

Example: to send a marketplace the height in inches, add a feed field with the Source field Package size › Height, then Convert unit with Unit to write set to Inches (in). A height of 10.5 cm is written as 4.1339; to fix the decimals, follow it with Number to text.

Measurements to text

Writes measurements as text, in the unit and format a feed needs. It writes a source with a unit: a number with a unit, a measurement set, one measurement, or the output of Text to measurements.

Setting	Choices	Default
Unit	The attribute’s unit — each value stays in the unit it is in — or any unit from the list to convert to	The attribute’s unit
Format	One of the presets below, or Custom pattern	The first preset
Pattern	Shown with Custom pattern — see The pattern	—
Decimals	0 to 28. Empty writes each number as stored, without trailing zeros.	Empty
Decimal separator	Dot (.) · Comma (,)	Dot (.)
Thousands separator	None · Comma (,) · Dot (.) · Single quote (’) · Space	None

The presets are shown with the source’s own unit:

Source	Preset	Writes
A measurement set	20 x 10 x 5 cm	The unit once, at the end
A measurement set	20 cm x 10 cm x 5 cm	The unit after every number
A measurement set	20 x 10 x 5	No unit
A number with a unit	20 cm	The number and its unit
A number with a unit	20	The number alone

The unit is written as its symbol: cm, in, fl oz. A measurement left empty keeps its place empty: 20 x x 5 cm. The canvas sums the node up as the chosen format and the unit: “20 x 10 x 5 cm” in mm.

The pattern

A pattern is literal text with placeholders in braces. Everything outside the braces is written as typed, spaces included.

Source	Placeholders
A measurement set	Each measurement’s code, such as {length}, {width}, {height}, and {unit}
A number with a unit	{number} and {unit}

Pattern, for a set of 40 × 20 × 10.5 cm, Unit millimeters	Writes
{length} x {width} x {height} {unit}	400 x 200 x 105 mm
L {length} / W {width} / H {height}	L 400 / W 200 / H 105
{height}{unit}	105mm

A pattern can leave measurements out and repeat them. Every { needs a closing }; a { can’t be written as text. To write " for inches, type it into the pattern in place of {unit}: {height}".

The pattern	Message under Pattern
Empty	Enter a pattern.
A code the set doesn’t have	"{depth}" isn't a measurement of this attribute. Use {length}, {width}, {height}, or {unit}.
A placeholder other than {number} or {unit}, for a number	"{weight}" isn't a placeholder for this attribute. Use {number} or {unit}.
A { without }, as in H {height	The { at position 3 has no closing }. Add the }, or remove the {.
A name that isn’t shaped as a code, as in {Height}	"{Height}" isn't a placeholder. Use lowercase letters, digits, and _ in braces, starting with a letter, such as {unit}.

Preview

A node’s Preview uses the unit of the Source field connected to it. For a Source field with a unit, the first test input offers Number or Measurements — for a measurement set, Enter 3 numbers, such as 20 x 10 x 5 cm. In a feed, it is the default; in an import, it is listed after Text.

When a value is refused

A node that can’t handle a value leaves that field out of the record, as any node does — see when a node can’t build a value. The run’s log has one warning for the value. Each message begins The record was imported without this field’s value. in an import, or The record was exported without this field’s value. in a feed, and goes on as below.

Text to measurements as the last node of a field with a unit, and an import into a field with a unit — as an import writes them:

Why	The rest of the message
The text isn’t a number with a unit	"20 by 10" isn't a number with a unit. Change the value in the file and import again.
A unit the list doesn’t hold	"parsec" isn't a unit this field accepts. Use a length unit in the file and import again.
A unit of another kind than the field’s	"kg" is a weight unit, and this field holds length values in cm. Change the unit in the file and import again.
The count of numbers doesn’t match the measurement set	This value has 2 numbers, and this field has 3 measurements. Change the value in the file and import again.
Measurements into a number without a unit	"20 x 10 x 5 cm" was read as measurements, and this field holds a number without a unit. …
Measurements into a field of another type	"20 x 10 x 5 cm" was read as measurements, and this field can't hold them. …
Text to measurements assumes a unit of another kind than the field’s	"Text to measurements" assumes kg, a weight unit, for numbers without a unit, and this field holds length values in cm. …

Anywhere else — in a feed, or before another node — there is no field’s unit to compare with, so the count of numbers is never refused, and a unit is compared with the value’s own first unit: "kg" is a weight unit, and the rest of this value is in cm, a length unit., "parsec" isn't a unit. In a feed, every such line ends Change the value and export again., and the line about the unit to assume … and export again. The two lines about measurements read the same in a feed: "20 x 10 x 5 cm" was read as measurements, and this field can't hold them. Add Measurements to text after "Text to measurements", and export again.

Convert unit and Measurements to text — as a feed writes them:

Why	The rest of the message
Convert unit got something that isn’t a number	"n/a" isn't a number. Change the value and export again.
Convert unit got a whole measurement set	This value has 3 measurements, and "Convert unit" converts one number. Connect one measurement's field instead, or use Measurements to text in its place, and export again.
Convert unit has no unit to convert from	This value has no unit to convert from. In "Convert unit", choose the unit this value is in, and export again.
A node converts between units of different kinds	This value is in kg, a weight unit, and "Convert unit" converts to cm, a length unit. Choose a weight unit in "Convert unit" and export again.
The converted number is too large to write	Converted to nm, it is too large to write. Choose a larger unit in "Convert unit" and export again.
Measurements to text got a value without a unit	This value has no unit to write. Connect a field with a unit, or Text to measurements, and export again.
The pattern names a placeholder the value has none for	"{width}" isn't a placeholder for this value. Change the pattern in "Measurements to text" and export again.
A node is set to a unit that no longer exists	"Convert unit" is set to a unit that no longer exists. Choose another unit in "Convert unit" and export again.

In an import, these lines end … and import again.; a line that says Change the value reads Change the value in the file and import again.

Related articles

• Measurements and units — the Unit setting, measurement sets, and pasting values
• Import or delete products from a file — the import’s Map columns step
• Data sources — a dataset’s Mapping tab
• The data in a template — measurement sets in a template channel