Difference between revisions of "Formulae"

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'''Workbench Help'''
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{{Invitation to edit}}
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{{Workshop page introduction}}
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==Formulae Overview==
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This page presents a list of formulas (diets) that are available at the current [[Control levels|control level]].  To get to the [[Workbench]] for a particular formula, click on the name of that formula.  Or, you may create a new formula by clicking the '''New Formula''' button. 
  
All fields are listed alphabetically.  The section of the Workbench containing the field is in parenthesis following the field name.
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You may limit the formulas that are listed by using the [[Contains]] feature and/or selecting a specific species using the '''Species''' drop down box.
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'''Actual''' (Formula Nutrient)
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Actual is the amount of the nutrient that is actually in the formula solution after Solve.  
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You can further change the number of formulas shown on the page by changing the [[Max lines]] value.
'''Actual Pct''' (Formula Ingredient)
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Actual Pct is the percent of the ingredient that is actually in the formula solution after Solve.
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'''Actual Wgt''' (Formula Ingredient)
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Actual Wgt is the weight of the ingredient that is actually in the formula solution after Solve.
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Another option in the header area is to select a report in the '''Report name''' drop down boxWhen the '''Report''' button is clicked for a specific formula, a prompt for the selected report appears.
'''Batch Weight''' (Formula)
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Batch Weight is the target weight for the least-cost solution. Typically, it is a standard size of 1000 for metric system users and 2000 for English system users.  Batch Weight is required.
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It also could be the size of the batch mixer (say 5000) or even an individual daily intake size for an animal (say 30).
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Its interpretation is affected by Dry Matter.
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Reports such as Batch Mixer reports and the Formula Solution Report prompt for their own batch weight, so specifying a standard batch weight here does not limit the user later on in the system.
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'''Code''' (Formula Nutrient)
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Code is an alias for the nutrient that ensures compatibility with other systems.
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'''Cost''' (Formula Ingredient)
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Formula Ingredient Cost is derived from the Ingredient Cost.  However, the Formula Ingredient Cost depends on the selected Cost Type for the Formula.
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'''Cost''' (Formula Nutrient)
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Formula Nutrient Cost is the savings to the Total Cost that can be realized if the nutrient constraint is changed by one unit.
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If cost is positive, then if the maximum is increased by one unit, the total cost will decrease by approximately the cost.  Also, if the maximum is increased by one tenth of a unit, the total cost will decrease by approximately one tenth of the cost.
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If cost is negative, then if the minimum is decreased by one unit, the Total Cost will decrease by approximately the cost (regardless of the sign).  Also, if the minimum is decreased by one tenth of a unit, the total cost will decrease by approximately one tenth of the cost (regardless of the sign).
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'''Cost Type''' (Formula)
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Ingredient Cost Type determines how cost will be calculated.
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Enter one of the following:
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Market for replacement cost.  If zero, Cost will be used.
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Market Only for replacement cost.  If zero, zero will be used.
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Cost for a second cost.  It might contain a “cushion”, or it could be the actual cost, or it may be an artificially lower cost in order to use up an ingredient.  If zero, Market will be used.
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Cost Only for a second cost. If zero, zero will be used. 
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High for the higher of Market or Cost
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Low for the lower of Market or Cost
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Average for average Inventory cost.
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Zero for zero cost.  Can be used to "hide" costs on a report
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On Farm is the sum of Cost plus ingredient margin. Used to price producer feeds that are mixed at the mill for the producer.
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'''Dry Matter''' (Formula)
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This is a one character field that determines if the solution nutrients and the Batch Weight will be considered as 100% dry matter.  Solution ingredients will be printed “as is.”
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Enter one of the following:
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Y Solution Nutrients and Batch Weight as 100% dry matter.
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N (default) Solution Nutrients and Batch Weight “as is.”
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'''High Cost'''  (Formula Ingredient)
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This is the ingredient cost at which some of the ingredient will leave the solution, all other things kept the same.
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'''Infeasible Solution'''  (Formula)
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A common tendency for the novice is to put restrictions on everything in sight, the tighter the better, compounding the mistake with the thought that every minimum needs a maximum, and vice versa!
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Actually, the maxim "Less is More" should be followed by the user in setting up restrictions.  Unnecessary restrictions not only limit the "trade-offs" available to the least-cost algorithm, thereby resulting in a solution that is more costly, but also can cause infeasibilites.
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If you have no clues in "debugging" an infeasible solution, remove half the constraints and solve again, repeating until you have a feasible solution.
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Then add back half of the constraints that you most recently discarded, repeating until you have isolated the culprit(s).
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'''Ingredients'''  (tab)
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For ingredients, the minimum and maximum values are expressed in percent or in units of weight.  Typical units are kg (kilograms), or lb (pounds). 
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==Formulae Page Fields==
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In general, a nutrient restriction on salt is better than a restriction on a salt ingredient.
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'''Log ''' (Formula)
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This is a one character field which permits the LP solution statistics to be logged on the screen.
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Enter one of the following:
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N (default) Do not Log LP statistics.
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S Log LP statistics.
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D Debug LP
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'''Low Cost'''  (Formula Ingredient)
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This is the ingredient cost at which more of the ingredient will enter the solution, all other things kept the same.
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'''Margin ''' (Formula)
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This is a one character field that permits margins to be printed on the solution.
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Enter one of the following:
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Y Print margins.
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N (default) Do not print margins.
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===Formula Name===
'''Max''' (Formula Nutrient)
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{{Name}}
Max is the maximum units of the nutrient that is desired in the formula solution.
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===Code===
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{{Code}}
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===Batch Weight===
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{{Batch weight - general}}
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{Status}}
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===Species===
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{{Formula Species}}
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===Owner===
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{{Owner}}
  
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{{Delete/Revert}}
'''Max Pct''' (Formula Ingredient)
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Max Pct is the maximum percent of the ingredient that is desired in the formula solution.
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===Report===
'''Max Wgt''' (Formula Ingredient)
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The '''Report button''' takes you to another page that corresponds to the report selected in the '''Report Name''' drop down box.  On the report page, you are allowed to change default values for the generation of that instance of the report.  Currently, you may select either the '''[[Solution Report]]''', the '''[[Batch Report]]''' or  '''[[Parametrics]]'''.
Max Wgt is the maximum weight of the ingredient that is desired in the formula solution.  
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{{:Workshop}}
'''Min''' (Formula Nutrient)
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Min is the minimum units of the nutrient that is desired in the formula solution.
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'''Min Pct''' (Formula Ingredient)
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Min Pct is the minimum percent of the ingredient that is desired in the formula solution.
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'''Min Wgt''' (Formula Ingredient)
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Min Wgt is the minimum weight of the ingredient that is desired in the formula solution.
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'''Number''' (Formula)
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Number is an alias for the formula that ensures compatibility with other systems
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'''Nutrients'''  (tab)
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'''Opt Den'''
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{{Optimum Density}}
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'''Rng%'''
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{{Optimum Density Range Percent}}
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'''Prev Cost'''
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Previous Cost  (Formula)
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Total ingredient cost of the formula before current Solve Formula.
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'''Ratios'''
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Ratio Specifications consist of a nutrient pair, an ingredient pair, or a nutrient and an ingredient.  These are followed by an optional minimum ratio or a maximum ratio (or both).
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For example, for a Calcium/Phos ratio of from between 1:1 and 2:1, the following Ratio Specification was entered:
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No        Name                        No        Name                        Min        Max
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32        Calcium %                33        Phos %                      1.00        2.00
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Ratios can be between nutrients and ingredients, "mix 'em or match 'em".
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'''Round ''' (Formula)
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Round Code is a one character field that determines how the solution will be rounded.             
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Enter one of the following:
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N (default) does NOT round the ingredients.
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R rounds the ingredients exactly to the batch weight (the largest ingredient will have any leftover amounts from rounding the other ingredients).
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Y rounds the ingredients without regard to the batch weight.
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U rounds the ingredients UP without regard to the batch weight.
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'''Solve Formula'''
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The Solve Formula button creates a new least-cost solution.  It updates the Actual (Nutrient amount), Actual Pct (Ingredient), Actual Wgt (Ingredient), Previous Cost (Formula), Total Cost (Formula), Cost (Nutrient), High Cost (Ingredient), Low Cost (Ingredient), and Yield (Formula).
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If the Solve Formula calculation is successful, an Optimal Solution message is displayed above the Solve Formula button.
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If the Solve Formula calculation is unsuccessful, various Infeasible Solution messages will be displayed above the Solve Formula button.
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'''Species'''
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Formula Species is a MANDATORY field.
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The following Species codes are pre-loaded:
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Beef
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Dairy
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Poultry
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Swine
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Sheep
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'''Total Cost'''  (Formula)
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Total ingredient cost of the formula after Solve Formula.
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'''Type '''
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{{Formula Type}}
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'''Unit ''' (Formula Nutrient)
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The units in which the nutrient minimum and maximum values are expressed are determined by the user in the setup area, where nutrients are added or modified.  Typical units are    ppm (parts per million), mg/kg ( a synonym for parts per million), % (percent -- meaning percent of total weight). % occurs most frequently
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Unit expresses a ratio and is often a compound  consisting of a fundamental unit of measure  or a derived unit of measure divided by another one.
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Examples of compounds are: mg/kg, IU/lb, mcal/kg.
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Examples of fundamental units of measure are lb, g, IU.
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Examples of derived units of measure are kg, mcal, mg. 
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'''UoM'''  (Formula)
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Unit of measure is kg for metric system users and lb for English system users.  It is inherited from the setup.
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'''Yield ''' (Formula)
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The actual weight of the least-cost solution.  The Solve Formula button creates the Yield.  It should be the same or very nearly the same as the Batch Weight.  If not, the least-cost solution may be infeasible.
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When Optimum Density is enabled, the yield may differ greatly from the Batch Weight.
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Revision as of 21:24, 11 October 2013

Please help us improve and expand our help text.
Email corrections and suggestions to support@towergrovesoftware.com. Let us know if want to edit the help text directly.


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This page is part of the Workshop, one of three main sections of Tower Grove Feed. The other two are Setup and the Workbench. For an overview of the Workshop go to Workshop overview.

Contents

Formulae Overview

This page presents a list of formulas (diets) that are available at the current control level. To get to the Workbench for a particular formula, click on the name of that formula. Or, you may create a new formula by clicking the New Formula button.

You may limit the formulas that are listed by using the Contains feature and/or selecting a specific species using the Species drop down box.

You can further change the number of formulas shown on the page by changing the Max lines value.

Another option in the header area is to select a report in the Report name drop down box. When the Report button is clicked for a specific formula, a prompt for the selected report appears.

Formulae Page Fields

Formula Name

The name is the primary way to identify objects in Tower Grove Feed. No two objects of the same type in the same hierarchy can have the same name, no matter what the language. The same object can have different names in different languages. The name can be changed only by the owner of the object, but any user can make the first translation of a name into another language. Objects of different types may have the same name. For example, 'salt' can be the name of both a nutrient and an ingredient. (This is only an example, and, as this is not usually a good practice, Tower Grove Feed has not used the name 'salt' this way at the system level.)

Code

An arbitrary short name, abbreviation, or other ID that can be used as an alternative identifier of objects. The code can be used to group objects. By default, ingredients are sorted by code. For formulas and ingredients supplied by the system, Tower Grove Feed provides a systematic coding.

Batch Weight

Batch Weight is the weight the least-cost solution targets. {Status}}

Species

A formula is created for a specific Species. The type of animal a formula is designed for. This may or my not correspond to a biological species. For instance, beef cattle and dairy cattle are the same biological species, but have different nutritional requirements..

Owner

Every object has an owner. The owner is a control level. When you create an object, the owner is the level you are at. An object may subsequently be moved to another level, using the Copy or move page.

Delete/Revert

The rightmost column may contain a button that says either Delete or Revert.

Delete

The delete button appears if your current control level owns the object. Clicking delete brings up the Delete page, from which you can eliminate the object completely. Deletion can't be done if other objects depend on the object you are trying to delete.

The delete button also provides a visual signal as to which objects your current level owns.

Revert

The revert button appears if changes have been made to an object at your current control level, but the current level is not the owner. Clicking revert brings up the Revert page, from which you can undo all changes made at the current level. Values revert to the values inherited from levels above your current level.

For formulas, the changes you revert are nutrient, ingredient, and ratio restrictions, as well any new ratios introduced at the current level. You also revert any changes to formula attributes (like dry matter only, rounding type, and optimum density usage).

For ingredients, the changes you revert are ingredient cost and nutrient values. You also revert any changes to ingredient attributes (like ingredient type, rounding, or cost units).

Notice that even though ingredient costs may be changed in the Workbench while working on one formula, the change affects all formulas that include that ingredient at your current level (and perhaps have other descendant levels that inherit your level's cost). Therefore, reverting a formula does not revert changes to cost. Costs can be reverted only by changing the ingredient itself.

Note that any single change can be reverted by simply blanking out the value and clicking Save. The revert button allows you to revert all changes to an abject at once.

The revert button also provides a visual signal as to which objects have changed.

Report

The Report button takes you to another page that corresponds to the report selected in the Report Name drop down box. On the report page, you are allowed to change default values for the generation of that instance of the report. Currently, you may select either the Solution Report, the Batch Report or Parametrics.

Workshop overview

The Workshop is one of three main sections of Tower Grove Feed. The other two are the Workbench and the Setup.
The Workshop provides access to the information you normally need in setting up formulas. By default, when you log in, you arrive at the formula list, which you can return to from other Workshop pages by clicking the Formulas tab. The formula list provides access to the Workbench where you can work on a particular formula.

The two other pages in the Workshop are the Ingredients and the Formula defaults pages. (Note: There are two additional tabs on the Workshop page, but these tabs take you to pages outside of the Workshop.)

The list of tabs in the Workshop are as follows:

Workshop tabs

Formulas

The list of formulas (diets) that you have access to at the current control level. To get to the Workbench for a particular formula, click on the name of that formula.

Ingredients

An editable list of ingredients. All formula ingredients must exist in this master ingredient list.

Defaults

The Formula Defaults page includes fields that control the solution calculation or the appearance of formulas.

Setup

The Setup area provides access to nutrients, species, control levels, ingredient types, user profile information, control level defaults, and the copy/move facility.

Workbench

This tab takes you to the last formula you were working on in the Workbench.