Convert Unit
- Updated2025-01-28
- 3 minute(s) read
Convert Unit
If the input is a pure number (a number with no units), the output is a physical number with the specified unit. If the input is a physical number, then the value will be converted to the specified unit but the output will be a pure number. To remove the unit from a physical number, configure the function to the same unit as the input. To configure the unit, enter it directly on the diagram or right-click the function and select Build Unit String from the shortcut menu to build and edit a string of units.
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Inputs/Outputs
![]() x is a floating-point number with or without a unit. ![]() y is a floating-point number that has a unit if x does not have a unit. y does not have a unit if x does have a unit. |
Edit the unit string by using the Labeling or Operating tool to highlight the string and entering a new string. You also can right-click the function and select Build Unit String from the shortcut menu to display the Build Unit String dialog box. The unit you enter must be a unit available in LabVIEW.
If the input is a physical number measured in a compatible unit, the output is a pure number measured in the unit specified. For example, if x is 37 meters (m), and you enter m (meters) as the unit in the Convert Unit function, y is 37 with no associated units. If x is 37 meters and you enter ft (feet) as the unit in the Convert Unit function, y is 121.36 with no associated units.
If the input is a pure number, LabVIEW assigns the unit you specify in the Convert Unit function to the number and returns that physical number in the base unit (or a combination of base units) for that class of measurement, as indicated in the following table.
Class | Base Unit | Abbreviation |
---|---|---|
amount of substance | mole | mol |
angle (plane) | radian | rad |
angle (solid) | steradian | sr |
electric current | ampere | A |
length | meter | m |
luminous intensity | candela | cd |
mass | kilogram | kg |
temperature (thermodynamic) | kelvin | K |
time | second | s |
For example, if x is 10 and you enter s (seconds) as the unit in the Convert Unit function, y is 10 seconds because seconds is the base unit LabVIEW uses to measure time. If x is 10 and you enter min (minutes) as the unit in the Convert Unit function, y is 600 seconds. You then can change the unit the indicator displays to show minutes, hours, or any other unit of time.