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How Does the Recipe Template In Numbers Handle the Measurement Conversions?

I’m trying to recreate something similar but cannot wrap my head around it! The Recipe template in numbers automatically changes the scaled amount based on what measurement unit you choose from the pop-up menu (such as 8 oz = 1 lb). How does Numbers know how to convert these measurements? I don’t see a lookup table or anything similar. Would EXTREMELY appreciate your help. I’ve been looking at the template for hours and can’t figure it out!
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Gabriela

Comments: 4 Responses to “How Does the Recipe Template In Numbers Handle the Measurement Conversions?”

    7 years ago

    Mostly, it is using the CONVERT function. Look that up in the Numbers help and you'll find that it converts one amount to another given the two units as strings. The strings need to match a specific set of constants you can see in that help entry, such as "pt" for pints.
    But it is a little more than that. I also has two hidden columns, D and G. You can reveal them buy selecting that table and choosing Table, Unhide All Columns. These extra columns use IF statements to convert some strings like "oz" to "ozm" (ounces to ounces, modern). This is just to feed into the CONVERT function so it converts ozm to pt or whatever instead of oz to pt.
    If you are trying to create something similar, you can probably do it with just the CONVERT function, so read up on it and play with that. It sounds like a good topic for a tutorial in the future. You can use CONVERT for more than just cooking measurements. You an do distances, times, etc.

    Gabriela
    7 years ago

    Thank you so much! I was racking my brain more than I needed to apparently lol. A tutorial would be AWESOME!

    Gabriela
    7 years ago

    New issue:

    When trying to recreate the measurement conversion, some measurements are converting perfectly and others convert is a thousands number! The same formula is added in all cells. I'm stumped. Would appreciate any insight!

    7 years ago

    Gabriela: Can you give me the formula you are using and examples of values you are passing to it?

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