---
title: "How do I create a conditional function/numeric expression?"
slug: "how-do-i-create-a-conditional-function-numeric-expression"
updated: 2026-06-10T11:24:59Z
published: 2026-06-10T11:24:59Z
canonical: "help.cintra.co.uk/how-do-i-create-a-conditional-function-numeric-expression"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.cintra.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I create a conditional function/numeric expression?

> [!CAUTION]
> **Warning:** Creating your own complex functions with many calculations can have a serious impact on your payroll processing times and Cintra Support may not be able to assist you if they do not work as expected.

**Cintra iQ** controls automation of rates generated at employee level, by reference to other payment values, by using conditional numeric functions. A conditional numeric function is where a numeric function is applied to a set of records determined by a condition.

You can base overtime rates on the salary by a multiplication factor in the numeric function. The numeric expression can be different for different sets of records determined by the condition. After creating your numeric expressions and conditions you now need to link these together in a conditional function before you can then link this to a pay or deduction heading.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** You can create conditional functions for Period calculations or Standing data calculations.

## To create a conditional function

1. Navigate to the **Conditional Functions** definition window. Go to **Cintra iQ**: Payroll > Payroll Setup > Adjustments > Conditional Function
2. Select either the **Periodcalculation** or **Standing data calculation** option.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Ensure that the Period calculation option is selected in order to calculate and display standard pay period hours on the payslip.
3. Click the **New** button. The **New Conditional Function** window appears.
4. Enter the **Function Name**.
5. Create the **Function Body**
  1. Select the desired **Condition** in the **Record Filter** pane.
  2. Select the desired **Numeric Expression** in the **Numeric Expressions** pane.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** You can add a Constant Value as the Numeric Expression once you have highlighted the expression.
  3. Click the **Add Line** button. The **Condition** and **Numeric Expression** are combined to appear in the same line in the **Statements** pane.
  4. Continue to add the desired combinations of **Conditions** and **Numeric Expressions** to the **Statements** pane, if applicable.
6. Click the **OK** button. The newly created record appears in the **Conditional Functions Definitions** window. This can then be [attached](/iq/docs/how-do-i-attach-a-conditional-function-to-an-addition-heading) to the desired addition heading.

## To create numeric expressions

1. Navigate to the **Numeric Expression** definition window. A list of existing definitions may appears depending on your system set up. Go to **Cintra iQ**: Payroll > Payroll Setup > Adjustments > Numeric Expressions
2. Ensure that the **Standing data calculation** option is selected.
3. Click the **New** button. The **Numeric Expression** window appears.
4. Enter the **Expression Name**.
5. Create the **Expression Body**:
  1. From the **Field** pane, select the desired field from either from the **Addition Headings** or **Deduction Headings** drop-down lists.
    - The field lists include all payment and deduction headings that have been setup in the database. Depending on which sub-folder the heading belongs to, there can be different fields within each payment/deduction heading. e.g. for salary that comes from a spinal column table, within this table there is a field specifically for holding rates. When you create the values in the spinal column table this allows for capped rates. But, if you do not have capped rates you can use the Annual value field.
  2. Click the **Add Line** button. The field now forms part of the **Expression**.
  3. Select an **Operator**.
  4. Click the **Add Line** button. The **Operator** is added to the **Expression**.
  5. Continue to enter **Fields**, **Operators** and/or **Values** until the expression is complete.
    - Where you have multiple operations in an expression, you may need to put brackets in the necessary areas to ensure the calculation logic is correct. Click on the desired row in the Expression and click on the ( button to Add the bracket to the beginning of the Expression and the ) button to close the Expression. To remove a bracket, click on either ( or ) in the Remove section.
6. Click the **OK** button to save. If you already created a Condition, you can create a Conditional Function.

### Multiple calculation methods

You may have more than one method of calculation for the same Adjustment Heading, e.g. different payrolls may use different terms. So it may be that you create another expression where you use the same salary field but divide by a number of weeks per year and hours per day – in the example below:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064110.png)