There are several ways to run a calculation or a series (the term "calculation" refers to both "calculation" and "series" in this topic):
- By opening the addon interface, selecting the calculation and clicking the Run button. That's what we saw in the topic called Creating a calculation;
- By assigning the calculation to a field so that the calculation takes place when you change the value of this field. That's what we saw in the topic called Assigning a calculation to a field;
- By adding a button to your layout and assigning the calculation to this button;
You might wonder why you would want to use a button when you can have everything run automatically. Well, there are situations you might want to consider a button. We described one in the Assigning a calculation to a field topic. Let's see another one.
Let's say your calculation involves 5 fields. As we saw in the topic about automatizing a calculation, to make sure you calculation is run automatically, you would assign it to the 5 fields involved in the calculation.
Now let's say that when you calculate or recalculate, you typically enter new data into the 5 fields (for instance, you are calculating a new monthly payment that requires you to enter the loan amount, interest rate, number of periods, etc.). If you have assigned the calculation to the 5 fields, it means the addon will run the calculation 5 times, ie. every time you tab out of one of the 5 fields.
Not too efficient, is it? Furthermore, even if the addon performs the calculation quickly, it might create a small delay before the user can enter information in the next field. This is a typical case where a button might be a better idea.
It is all the more true if your calculation involves 20, 30 or more fields which is not unusual when you start discovering the potential of Automatic Field Calcultions.
Here's a video showing how to add a button to your layout (contact, company, group or opportunity).