Automatic Line Item Formatting

Overview

Line items on invoices follow a predetermined format when generated by the Paigo. In this chapter, we take a deep dive into how line items are constructed in invoices. The line items automatic formatting also applies to the automatic invoices generated by Paigo. Off-cycle invoices with line items manually entered will be not formatted by Paigo.

Line Item Format

Format for line items are determined by properties of dimensions and offerings:

  • Offering Name

  • Dimension Name

  • Consumption Unit

  • Usage Increment

A standard line item follows the following structure:

${Dimension Name} - ${Converted Unit} - ${Offering Name}

The element ${Converted Unit} is automatically determined by Paigo. It is based on the consumption unit and usage increment. For definitions of these two properties, see Product Items. As a quick example, when the consumption unit is Byte and usage increment is 1024, the converted unit becomes Kilobyte. So the invoice will show Kilobyte for ease of understand and better user experience.

More Examples

We are providing a more detailed example regarding line item formatting.

Assume a SaaS business that wants to bill customers on two dimensions Queries and CPU Hours for an offering called Professional Plan. The dimensions are defined as below.

  • Seats Usage Increment: 1000 and Consumption Unit: Count

  • Process Time Usage Increment: 1 and Consumption Unit: Hour

An invoice is generated for the following usage amount:

  • Seats 400,000 Seats

  • Process Time 72 Hours

The sample invoice is shown below.

The explanation of line items:

  • Line item Seats is shown in thousands because the usage increment is 1,000. Therefore, the quantity is showing 400, and the line item name is showing as Seats - Thousand - Professional Plan.

  • Line item CPU Hours is shown in its original terms Hour because the usage increment is 1.

Unit Conversion Reference

Below is a table reference for the different automated conversion units.

Time Units

Data Units

Count-based Units / Custom Units

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