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Formula

A self-updating field that calculates its value automatically using logic, maths, or details from linked Records.

type: data-model · status: draft · abstraction: instance

What it is​

Formula is the user-facing name for a self-updating field. Instead of someone typing in a value, the platform works it out automatically. You can mix and match three different building blocks to create a Formula: from a related record (pulling a specific detail, like a customer's email, from a linked account), rollup (summarising a list of linked items, like adding up the total cost of an order), and formula expressions (applying maths or logic to the record's own details, like multiplying width by height).

Formulas are calculated live from your actual data, ensuring an always-accurate result without manual data entry. The platform automatically prevents infinite calculation loops and handles missing information gracefully.

Crucially, even though these values are calculated on the fly, you can still use them to sort and filter massive lists of records. Users can also use this same tool to pull linked information into a temporary view without having to permanently change how the core data is structured.

Why it exists​

Calculated information is essential to any business. A sales order's total inherently depends on its line items, and a project's status might rely on whether its sub-tasks are finished. If you rely on humans or clunky automations to keep these connected fields updated, you inevitably end up with errors and outdated data.

Formulas exist to make self-updating values a built-in, completely reliable part of the platform. By handling lookups, summaries, and maths natively, IMOS ensures these calculations are perfectly accurate everywhere. Crucially, the platform manages the heavy lifting behind the scenes, allowing you to filter and run complex analytics across thousands of records without slowing down the user experience.

Relationships​

Outgoing

Neighbourhood​

Stakeholder summaries​

  • Product — Allows users to establish complex conditional data flows natively in the schema, driving self-updating readouts on their records.
  • Investor — Reduces manual data entry significantly, improving data quality and making complex analytics extremely reliable across the platform.
  • Marketing — Always accurate, self-updating calculations. Save time and end the frustration of manual number crunching and data copying.
  • Engineering — A dynamic value computed seamlessly on-the-fly via defined formal logic (traversals, rollups, expressions) without data duplication.