Introduction – What Are Complex Properties?

The following image is a snapshot of the Formula Development section. The Complex Properties information for FDM, Lactose/Water and Ortho/Water are shown (A). A Complex property is not the same as property. A property describes a compositional component of an ingredient. Percent Total Solids is an example of a property. Complex properties are equations made up of other properties. An example of a complex property is the ratio of % water to % protein in a formula. In this case, the equation is Water/Protein where Water and Protein are both properties. Complex properties can be created and used to formulate a recipe to meet a required value just like regular properties.

Adding Complex Properties to a Formula

In the Formula Development section, press the Add Properties button.

The Add Properties window appears. Select the Complex Properties tab (A). To add a property from the list, select it and press the Add button (B) or double-click the property.

If the wrong property is selected and added to the formula, select the property in the Current formula list and click the Delete Selected button (C) to remove it. When finished adding properties, close the form.

The user can search for a property name using the search feature (D).

Creating a Complex Property

Introduction

A complex property is an equation made up of other properties. All the properties you wish to use as part of the complex property equation must already be in the ingredient file. All the properties that are part of the complex property equation must be added to the formula to use the complex property for a formula. There are two types of complex properties, formula and ingredient. A formula complex property uses an equation that works on the entire formula. We will use examples to show how to create each type of complex property. Contact technical support if you are not sure which type of complex property to create.

How to Create a Complex Property

In this example, we will create a formula complex property called Formula Protein. The equation is % Nitrogen x 6.25. This calculates the total % Protein content of the formula. It is assumed that the property, Nitrogen, is already in the ingredient file. If not, it would need to be added to the ingredient file first before continuing. Since Nitrogen is part of the complex property’s equation it must be added to the formula before this complex property can be utilized.

Click the Editor button (A) in the Formula Development section.

The Complex Property Builder window appears (shown below).

Select the Create Complex Property Equation tab (B) if not already visible.
Enter the name of the complex property in the space provided (C). For this example, Formula Protein is entered.
To create the equation, first click the Properties tab (D), select the property Nitrogen from the list (E), and click the Add from List button (F). Nitrogen is added to the Current Equation Components list (G) and the Current Equation box (H).
Next add the multiplication operator (x) by clicking on the Operators tab (I). For convenience, the tab contents are shown on the left. Select the “x” operator (J) and click the Add from List button (F).
For this example, the number 6.25 is part of the equation; click the Add Number button (K) and enter 6.25 when prompted. Click the Check Equation button (L) to make sure the equation is properly constructed.
To change the order of the equation components or to remove some of the equation components, select the component from the list (G) and use the appropriate button (M) to move the component to a different position in the equation or remove the component.
Click the Save button (N) and the Close button (O). The new formula complex property is ready to use.

Rename Complex Property

Caution should be used when renaming complex properties. The complex property that you wish to rename will not be updated in the individual formulas that use the original name. You will have to manually update each formula. To rename a complex property, please do the following:

Click the Editor button (A) in the Formula Development section.

The Complex Property Builder window appears.

Select the View/Edit Complex Properties tab (B) at the top.

Select the property you wish to rename from the list (C).

Click the Rename button and follow the instructions provided (D).

Modifying a Complex Property Equation

Caution should be used when editing complex properties. All formulas that have minimum and maximum values set for this complex property will use the new equation.

Click the Editor button (A) in the Formula Development section.

The Complex Property Builder window appears (shown below).
Select the View/Edit Complex Properties tab (B) at the top.

Select the property you wish to edit from the list (C).

Click the Edit button (D).

The equation is loaded into the Create Complex Property Equation section. You can use the instructions described in Creating a Complex Property to modify and save the modified equation.

Deleting a Complex Property

Caution should be used when deleting a complex property. The complex property that you wish to delete may be used in saved formulas. To delete a complex property, please do the following:

Click the Editor button (A) in the Formula Development section.

The Complex Property Builder window appears (shown below).

Select the View/Edit Complex Properties tab (B) at the top.
Select the property you wish to delete from the list (C).
Click the Delete button and follow the instructions provided (D). Click the Close button.