Using the currency macro in currency fields

PolicyCenter includes a currency macro, which is a user interface feature that converts alphanumeric values entered in currency fields into numeric values. For example, in the base configuration, the user can enter an alphanumeric like 1.54k, and the currency macro immediately converts it to 1,540.

The characters that you enter depend on your regional format and whether the currency accepts decimal values. The macro can support up to three decimal values, but the number you can enter might be limited by the currency field.

In the base configuration, this macro supports the following values:

  • k for thousand
    • If the regional format is United States (English), entering 1.54k produces 1,540.
    • If the regional format is Germany (German), entering 1,54k produces 1.540.
    • If the regional format is France (French), entering 1,54k produces 1 540.
  • m for million
    • If the regional format is United States (English), entering 1.54m produces 1,540,000.
    • If the regional format is Germany (German), entering 1,54m produces 1.540.000.
    • If the regional format is France (French), entering 1,54m produces 1 540 000.
  • b for billion
    • If the regional format is United States (English), entering 1.54b produces 1,540,000,000.
    • If the regional format is Germany (German), entering 1,54b produces 1.540.000.000.
    • If the regional format is France (French), entering 1,54b produces 1 540 000 000.
  • t for trillion
    • If the regional format is United States (English), entering 1.54t produces 1,540,000,000,000.
    • If the regional format is Germany (German), entering 1,54t produces 1.540.000.000.000.
    • If the regional format is France (French), entering 1,54t produces 1 540 000 000 000.

Enabling and disabling the currency macro

In the base configuration, the currency macro is enabled by default.

To disable the currency macro, log in to PolicyCenter and click the Options menu , and in the Settings dialog under Currency, clear the check box for Enable macro characters in currency inputs.

To enable the currency macro, select the check box for Enable macro characters in currency inputs.

Configuring the currency macro keys

The macro characters are defined in the following display keys:

Web.Preferences.Currency.macroCharacter.Billion =  b
Web.Preferences.Currency.macroCharacter.Million =  m
Web.Preferences.Currency.macroCharacter.Thousand =  k
Web.Preferences.Currency.macroCharacter.Trillion =  t

You can change these keys or localize them. If you do so:

  • The new value must be a single character that can be typed with a single stroke on a keyboard.
  • The macro produces groups of three for each order of magnitude. For example, if the locale is United States:
    • One thousand is formatted as 1,000.00.
    • One million is 1,000,000.00.
    • One billion is 1,000,000,000.00.
    • One trillion is 1,000,000,000,000.00.

See also