Parameters

Parameters can be created if you calculate with variables in the post.

We are using the post from the crisp article: "Calculating in Robaws"

In the post we offer the possibility to choose between 2 colours of paint. However, we can only make that choice if we use a parameter.

How do we go about it? We create a new parameter and always give it a unique name. In the “Description” field we then turn the parameter into a question: which colour is used? This question can only be answered by entering the correct colour, namely blue or red. To be able to enter these values, we switch on the “Show details” function.

An extra “Possible values” column is displayed, where we can now fill in blue or red.
Attention! To have text displayed by the system, we put both values between quotation marks (“). If we then press the Enter key, the value is saved. In the last column, “value”, both possible values are now effectively displayed as text.

We have created a parameter to choose the colour. However, this parameter does not influence the quantity of a particular item in the calculation yet. So we still have to draw up a formula for that. This is how we go about it:

In the formula we assign a condition to the parameter. If it is met, the quantity of this item has to be counted with a particular value (1). If not, the quantity of the item has to be counted with a particular value (0). The formula looks like this:

If blue is chosen for the “kleurverf” parameter, the quantity of this item will be counted. If red is chosen, the quantity of the item will not be counted.

The “parameters” section is also a scratchpad where formulas can be tested straight away. We indicate that both formulas are a calculation. If we then deactivate the “Show details” function, both formulas will no longer be displayed in the overview.

We copy the formula and now paste it in the “Quantity” field of the item concerned. We leave the quantity originally filled in unchanged. We only add the formula and put it between brackets.

We repeat this step for the red paint.

Once both formulas have been assigned, we see that only one of the items is counted, namely the item whose formula matches the chosen value of the parameter.

The number of days for which the aerial work platform has to be provided is also a variable for which a parameter can be created. Unlike the other parameter, here we cannot offer a choice with values such as blue or red. We will also not have to take “Possible values” into account. We only have to enter a number in the “Formula” column.

To have the number of days for which an aerial work platform has to be provided counted in the calculation, we only have to paste the “aantaldagen” parameter at the quantity of the parameter, and the value from the parameter is taken over immediately.

By using this parameter we are already assuming that the aerial work platform will certainly be used. That is again a variable for which we can create a parameter such as “kleurverf”, but this time to have the aerial work platform counted or not.

For the last item we can, by using a parameter that has already been predefined, refer straight away to the number of kilometres that is calculated automatically in the quotation. For this we use the DISTANCE_KM parameter.

Use of automatic text by making a reference to the parameter concerned.

We would like to show the value of a particular parameter automatically on the quotation. How do we go about it?

For this we use the extended description, where we can make a reference to a particular parameter.

In the extended description of the post we refer to the parameter. We do this by using a few symbols: $ and { }. We put the name of the parameter between the curly brackets, like ${naamparameter}.

Example:

We make a reference to the “kleurverf” parameter and draw up the following reference for it: ${kleurverf}. We put this reference in the “Extended Description” field. In front of the reference we also put some text, so that the information given is displayed clearly in the quotation.

Entry in the post: Kleur: ${kleurverf}
Display on the quotation pdf: Kleur: blauw

Besides that, we can also draw up a parameter with which we can have text shown on the quotation depending on the choice made in another parameter.

Example:

We create a “teksthoogtewerker” parameter. In this parameter we enter text that will be shown on the quotation pdf on the basis of the choice made in the “hoogtewerker” parameter.

Formula:

hoogtewerker == “ja”? "Er zal een hoogtewerker door ons voorzien worden voor " + aantaldagen + " dagen." : "Er wordt er hoogtewerker voorzien door de klant."

We then make a reference to the parameter at the extended description. It looks like this:

${teksthoogtewerker}

On the basis of the choice we make in the “hoogtewerker” parameter, the following text will be shown on the quotation pdf

Hoogtewerker = ja

Er zal een hoogtewerker door ons voorzien worden voor 5 dagen.

Hoogtewerker = nee

Er wordt een hoogtewerker voorzien door de klant.

Codes

Mathematical formulas

Updated on: 04/09/2026