Recalculate Options

The Always Recalculate option on the Element Name page, the Retro Recalculation Option on the Earnings/Deductions - Calculation page, and the Recalculate option on the section component determine the recalculation options.

If you select Always Recalculate on the Element Name page, the system recalculates the element whenever it encounters it in the calculation process. So when you're updating a formula and recalculating or resolving it, the system uses the previously resolved value of the element if this check box is deselected. Always Recalculate applies only to the period that's being resolved.

On the Earnings/Deductions Calculation page, the Retro Recalculation Option enables you to select Always Recalculate or Do Not Recalculate. If Do Not Recalculate is selected, the earning/deduction program doesn't resolve the element in a retroactive period, but returns the value from the previous calculation. This applies to earnings and deductions, their components, arrears processing, and retroactive adjustments.

Note:

The Recalculate setting on a section applies only to the element on that section, not to the entire element resolution chain. In other words, it does not apply to the elements used by the parent element.

PIN Manager Logic

When the PIN Manager is called to resolve an element, it:

1. Checks to see whether the element has already been resolved for the current time frame (segment or slice).

2. If the element isn't resolved, it calls the appropriate element resolution program to resolve it.

3. If the element is resolved, the system checks the recalculation logic.

Recalculation Logic

The recalculation logic is as follows:

1. The system reads the Always Recalculate check box on the Element Name page.

   If the check box is selected, the appropriate element resolution program is called; if it isn't, the system takes the next step.

2. If the PIN Manager was called from the process list, the PIN Manager reads the Recalculate check box from the section of the current element.

   If the check box is selected, the appropriate element resolution program is called. If the check box isn't selected, the PIN Manager returns the previously resolved value for the element. The element isn't recalculated.

Example 1

You assign a value of 10 to variable V1 in formula F1 and use V1 in a different formula, F2. If V1 has Always Recalculate selected, the following occurs:

When the formula program calls the PIN Manager to get the V1 value, it determines that V1 is resolved. Because Always Recalculate is selected, the PIN Manager calls the variable element resolution program to resolve the element. V1 is resolved to whatever the definition contains. The value assigned to V1 from F1 is lost.

If you deselect the Always Recalculate check box for V1, the value assigned to V1 from the formula isn't lost. The PIN Manager, called from F2 to resolve V1, determines that V1 is resolved. Additionally, it determines that Always Recalculate isn't selected and returns the previously resolved value to the formula program.

Dates, arrays, and brackets can assign values to variables. For proper calculation, you must consider recalculation logic.

Example 2

In this example, the Always Recalculate check box must be selected. During resolution of a count element, daily processing occurs. The PIN Manager is called to resolve the formula, which isn't used elsewhere, once each day. The formula is resolved for the first day. On the second day, the first-day value is used, unless Always Recalculate is selected for the formula.