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How Metrics Are Calculated

Metrics in Galdera are defined by formulas that combine Measures and other Metrics. A formula chains any number of operators from one family, evaluated left to right:

  • Additive: + and − in any mix (e.g., Invested Capital = Debt + Equity − Cash)
  • Multiplicative: × and ÷ in any mix (e.g., EBITDA Margin = EBITDA ÷ Revenue × 100)

The two families cannot be mixed in one formula — Revenue + Units × 2 is rejected. When a calculation needs both, give the intermediate step its own metric with a name someone would say out loud (NOPAT = EBIT − Taxes on EBIT, with Taxes on EBIT defined first). Formulas can also include plain numbers (× 365, × −1 to flip a sign).

Each operand can reference a different point in time: this period, previous period, same period last year, a trailing sum over N periods, year to date, or an average balance. The same input may appear twice at different times — Depreciation = PP&E − previous-period PP&E is one measure read at two times, not two inputs. That is what makes balance-sheet and cash-flow formulas expressible.

You never type this as syntax: formulas are assembled visually, and every definition displays as a plain sentence (e.g., "DSO = Accounts Receivable ÷ Revenue (trailing 12 periods) × 365").

Metrics recalculate automatically when any of their inputs change — including when overlays adjust the underlying Measures. This means a 10% scale on Subscription Revenue will automatically flow through to Gross Profit, Gross Margin, and any other Metrics that depend on it. You do not need to manually update derived metrics.