# Unit number parameter

WARNING

GSA-Grasshopper plugin [GsaGH] is pre-release and under active development, including further testing to be undertaken. It is provided "as-is" and you bear the risk of using it. Future versions may contain breaking changes. Any files, results, or other types of output information created using GsaGH should not be relied upon without thorough and independent checking.

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UnitNumber

# Description

GsaGH includes a new way to work with units inside Grasshopper; we call this parameter a UnitNumber. For components that are using UnitNumber as input parameter you can typically simply input a number like you are used to and the component will automatically convert it into the selected unit on the component or the default unit set in the plugin settings.

A UnitNumber is technically a Quantity defined as: Quantity = Value (number) x Measure (unit).

We are using the open source library UnitsNet (opens new window) and extended by Oasys with engineering units.

# Create unit number

The following units have been exposed (many more are available in UnitsNet, let us know if you need them exposed...):

  • Length
  • Force
  • Moment
  • Stress
  • Strain
  • Temperature
  • Mass
  • Velocity
  • Acceleration
  • Time
  • AxialStiffness
  • BendingStiffness
  • Curvature

As mentioned, most components having UnitNumber inputs will also have a dropdown for you to select the unit . You can input a normal slider component to create a UnitNumber input of the selected unit, or you can use the Create UnitsNumber component to create (and mix) your own: CreateUnitNumber

# Convert unit number

Aside from creating a Unit Number from scratch, you can also convert a UnitNumber between units of the same type. This is handy for results that you may want to convert into a more familiar unit.

ConvertUnitNumber