Purpose of this article
This is a quick overview of how units work in Scaler, so you know which setting controls what. For the full detail, including currencies, see Understanding units and currencies in Scaler.
The three unit contexts
Scaler keeps units in three separate places, each with a different job:
- Asset unit system — the unit system an asset's data is entered in (
metricorimperial). It is descriptive: changing it reinterprets the existing numbers, it does not convert them.
- Reporting unit system — set at portfolio level. It controls which units reports are generated in. Scaler converts data to this system when it generates a report.
- Your display preference — set in your user profile. It controls which units you see in the Analytics Portal only, and never changes stored data, calculations, or reports.
What this means in practice
- The Data Collection Portal always shows an asset's own input units, whatever your personal preference.
- The Analytics Portal shows your chosen display units.
- Reports always use the portfolio reporting unit system.
So the same value can look different in analytics and in a report. That is expected.
Note: Changing the asset unit system does not convert values. If data was entered in the wrong system, update the system and then update the values to match.
Where to go next
- Understanding units and currencies in Scaler — full detail, including currencies
- Portfolio Settings overview — set the reporting unit system
- Account & user settings overview — set your display preference