Setting Up Units of Measure
To set up units of measure, you first create a record for each units type you want to assign to your items. For example, you can create a units type named Length. Then, create units for the units type. Each units type can have several units. For example, you can create length units of Inch, Foot, and Yard.
If you are creating a unit of measure for a statistical account, see Creating a Unit Type for a Statistical Account.
To create a unit type:
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Go to Lists > Accounting > Units of Measure > New.
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On the Units Type page, in the Type Name field, enter the name of the kind of unit you are creating.
For example, you can have a units type named Length.
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In the Name column, enter a name for the unit you want to create.
For example, you can have a Length unit named Inch.
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In the Plural Name column, enter the plural name for the unit.
For example, the plural for the unit Inch is Inches.
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In the Abbreviation field, enter the abbreviation for the singular unit.
For example, the abbreviation for the unit Inches is in.
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In the Plural Abbreviation field, enter the abbreviation for the plural unit.
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Check the box in the Base Unit column if the unit you are entering is used to define the other units in this group.
For example, inch is the base unit to create length units of foot and yard.
Each units type must have a base unit, and can have only one unit designated as the base.
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In the Conversion Rate field, enter the quantity of base units that corresponds to one unit of the current line.
When the Base Unit box is checked, the conversion rate for the unit is set and locked at one.
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Click Add.
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Repeat these steps for each unit you want to create in this units type.
Note:You cannot create more than 650 units of the same type,
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Click Save.
Now the units type can be assigned to item records.
After you assign a units type to an item, the item's unit type cannot be changed. Also, after a units type is assigned to any item, the units type cannot be edited except to add more units.
After a units type is marked as a base unit and saved, you can change the base unit by editing the current base unit. On the units type record, clear the existing Base Unit box and then check the Base Unit box on the new base unit.
Next, assign a units type to an item to define quantities for purchasing, stocking, and selling the item. For example, when you assign the units type of Length to your inventory item cable, you can purchase the cable in yards. Then you can stock the cable in feet, and sell the cable in inches.
If you change the purchase unit on the item record, NetSuite automatically performs a conversion. It converts the prior standard cost in prior units to the new standard cost in new units at save.
For example, the standard cost field is $1 and the purchase unit is inches. If you change the purchase unit to cm, at save, the standard cost field changes to $1 x conversion units, or $0.39.