You can assign an alternate unit of measure on the Specifications FastTab of the Item card. The unit assigned as the alternate unit of measure cannot have the same type as the item's base unit of measure. When you set up a unit of measure code, you can assign it a type of length, weight, or volume. You can also leave this blank if it does not apply to the unit of measure code. An item's alternate unit of measure can have Anywhere Mobility Solutions type setting (including blank), provided the type is not the same as the base unit. For example, if an item's base unit of measure is kilograms, you cannot assign grams as the item's alternate unit.
You must decide to record alternate units of measure for an item before Anywhere Mobility Solutions activity is posted for it. Once a ledger entry is recorded for an item, the alternate measure settings, or lack thereof, cannot be modified.
There are two ways to record alternate units of measure: fixed or caught.
Fixed quantities
Fixed alternate quantities are calculated automatically by the program according to a conversion you have defined between the item's base and alternate units. This is similar to the conversion between a secondary unit of measure and an item's base unit in standard Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. The calculated alternate quantity amount appears on the transaction line containing the item.
Recording alternates as fixed amounts is convenient for companies that do not require a high level of precision in maintaining alternate units. Because the program calculates fixed amounts automatically, you do not need to perform Anywhere Mobility Solutions additional steps when entering these items on transaction lines.
The automatic calculation that makes fixed alternates preferable for some companies may be inadequate for others. In environments that require a greater degree of detail when recording alternate quantity data, fixed alternates may be too simplistic a solution.
Caught quantities
"Catching" an alternate quantity means recording the precise quantity of an alternate unit on a transaction line. While the program uses the defined conversion between the alternate and the base unit as a guideline, you must enter the actual alternate quantity on the transaction line. You cannot post the transaction line until you enter this quantity.
Catching alternate quantities provides the greatest level of accuracy when recording alternate quantity values. You can also integrate Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with an automated data capture device or scale to automate the process of recording this information.
Note that catching the alternate quantity is supported in receipt and shipping transactions. There is no concept of a "catch weight" in a warehouse process, with the notable exception of containers. If a catch weight item is entered on a container line, the alternate quantity or catch weight must also be entered on that container line.
A potential drawback to catching alternate quantities is the level of data entry required. When an item is set up in this manner, you must record an alternate quantity whenever the item is entered on a transaction line. Depending on a company's existing operations, it may not be realistic to maintain the additional procedures necessary to record this information effectively.