## How formulas work in Pave

Formulas let you create calculated columns that derive values from other data in the cycle. You write them using a templating language called Handlebars. If you've written spreadsheet formulas, the concepts are the same: reference a cell (here, a column), apply a function, get a result.

Every formula goes inside double curly braces: `{{ }}`. Inside the braces, you reference employee data with `columns.fieldName` and call built-in functions (called helpers) by name.

### Your first formula

To output an employee's base pay, just reference it:

```
{{columns.basePay}}
```

To multiply base pay by 5%:

```
{{multiply columns.basePay 0.05}}
```

To nest one function inside another, wrap the inner one in parentheses:

```
{{round (divide columns.annualBonusCash columns.basePay) 2}}
```

This divides bonus by base pay, then rounds to 2 decimal places.

That's the entire syntax. The rest of this guide covers what helpers are available and how to combine them.

## If/else: choosing between values

This is the most commonly used pattern. Use `#if` to branch based on a condition.

**Simple if/else:**

```
{{#if columns.isPromotion}}
  {{multiply columns.newBase 0.10}}
{{else}}
  0
{{/if}}
```

**Multiple branches (if / else if):**

```
{{#if (eq columns.level "P1")}}0.10
{{else if (eq columns.level "P2")}}0.15
{{else if (eq columns.level "P3")}}0.20
{{else}}0
{{/if}}
```

**Inline if (one-line, inside another expression):**

```
{{add columns.salary (inlineIf columns.eligible columns.bonus 0)}}
```

**Unless (opposite of if):**

```
{{#unless columns.isExcluded}}
  {{columns.salaryRaise}}
{{/unless}}
```

Every `{{#if}}` must end with `{{/if}}`. Every `{{#unless}}` must end with `{{/unless}}`.

## Comparison helpers

Use these inside `#if` to compare values. They return true or false.

| Helper | Meaning | Example |
|----|----|----|
| `eq` | Equals | `(eq columns.country "Japan")` |
| `ne` | Not equals | `(ne columns.variablePay 0)` |
| `gt` | Greater than | `(gt columns.tenureDays 1095)` |
| `gte` | Greater than or equal | `(gte columns.daysInRole 365)` |
| `lt` | Less than | `(lt columns.startDate '2025-01-01')` |
| `lte` | Less than or equal | `(lte columns.compaRatio 1.0)` |

## Logical helpers

Combine multiple conditions.

| Helper | Meaning | Example |
|----|----|----|
| `and` | True if all are true | `(and (eq columns.dept "Sales") (gt columns.tenure 1))` |
| `or` | True if any are true | `(or (eq columns.level "P1") (eq columns.level "P2"))` |
| `not` | Flips true to false | `(not columns.isPromotion)` |
| `includes` | True if text/list contains a value | `(includes columns.tags "Sales")` |
| `isNullOrUndefined` | True if the field is empty | `(isNullOrUndefined columns.bonusOverride)` |

## Math helpers

| Helper | What it does | Example |
|----|----|----|
| `add` | Adds numbers | `{{add columns.basePay columns.variablePay}}` |
| `subtract` | Subtracts | `{{subtract columns.newBase columns.basePay}}` |
| `multiply` | Multiplies | `{{multiply columns.basePay 0.05}}` |
| `divide` | Divides | `{{divide columns.basePay 12}}` |
| `round` | Rounds to N decimals | `{{round columns.value 2}}` |
| `ceil` | Rounds up | `{{ceil (divide columns.shares 100)}}` |
| `floor` | Rounds down | `{{floor (divide columns.shares 100)}}` |
| `max` | Largest of the values | `{{max columns.a columns.b}}` |
| `min` | Smallest of the values | `{{min columns.a columns.b}}` |
| `abs` | Absolute value | `{{abs (subtract columns.a columns.b)}}` |
| `mod` | Remainder after division | `{{mod columns.x 2}}` |
| `power` | Raises to a power | `{{power columns.x 2}}` |

### Rounding to specific increments

The `round` helper rounds to decimal places. To round to the nearest $100 or $1,000, combine `round` with `multiply` and `divide`:

```
Nearest $100:    {{multiply (round (divide columns.newBase 100)) 100}}
Nearest $1,000:  {{multiply (round (divide columns.newBase 1000)) 1000}}
Nearest cent:    {{divide (round (multiply columns.newBase 100)) 100}}
```

## Date helpers

| Helper | What it does | Example |
|----|----|----|
| `dayDiff` | Days between two dates | `{{dayDiff '2025-01-01' columns.startDate}}` |
| `monthDiff` | Full months between two dates | `{{monthDiff columns.startDate '2026-02-01'}}` |
| `duration` | Human-readable tenure | `{{duration columns.startDate '2026-02-01'}}` |
| `dateAdd` | Add days to a date | `{{dateAdd columns.startDate 90 'days'}}` |
| `dateFormat` | Format a date for display | `{{dateFormat columns.startDate 'MM/dd/yyyy'}}` |

## Text helpers

| Helper | What it does | Example |
|----|----|----|
| `concat` | Joins strings | `{{concat columns.firstName " " columns.lastName}}` |
| `split` | Splits text; optional index returns one piece | `{{split columns.fullName ' ' 0}}` (first name) |
| `substring` | Extracts part of a string | `{{substring columns.level 0 1}}` (first character) |
| `replace` | Replaces text | `{{replace columns.salary ',' ''}}` (strip commas) |
| `formatCurrency` | Formats a number as currency | `{{formatCurrency columns.basePay 'USD'}}` |
| `toNumber` | Converts text to a number | `{{toNumber columns.salaryFromUpload}}` |
| `toString` | Converts a number to text | `{{toString columns.level}}` |
| `toUpper` | Uppercases text | `{{toUpper columns.country}}` |
| `toLower` | Lowercases text | `{{toLower columns.email}}` |
| `titleCase` | Capitalizes each word | `{{titleCase columns.name}}` |

## Handling empty values

| Helper | What it does | Example |
|----|----|----|
| `coalesce` | Returns the first non-empty value | `{{coalesce columns.override columns.default}}` |
| `isNullOrUndefined` | True if a field is empty (use inside `#if`) | `{{#if (not (isNullOrUndefined columns.bonus))}}...{{/if}}` |

## Saving intermediate values with setVar

For long calculations, save partial results into a named variable to keep things readable.

```
{{setVar 'dailyPay' (divide columns.basePay 365)}}
{{setVar 'daysWorked' (dayDiff columns.startDate '2025-12-31')}}
{{multiply dailyPay daysWorked}}
```

## Working with lookup tables (setMapVar / getMapVal)

Some fields contain structured data (like band values with min/target/max). Use `getMapVal` to pull one value out.

```
{{getMapVal columns.equityBandRawValues 'target'}}
```

You can also create your own lookup tables inline. This is commonly used for FX rates or level-to-tier mappings:

```
{{setMapVar 'fxRates' '{"USD":1,"EUR":1.08,"GBP":1.27}'}}
{{multiply columns.basePay (getMapVal fxRates columns.currency)}}
```

## Controlling whitespace

Formulas that span multiple lines can produce unexpected whitespace in the output. Add `~` inside the braces to strip whitespace from that side:

```
{{#if columns.isPromotion}}
  {{~columns.newBase~}}
{{else}}
  {{~columns.basePay~}}
{{/if}}
```

The `~` strips whitespace from whichever side it's on. `{{~value~}}` strips both sides. `{{value~}}` strips only the right side.

## Common recipes

These are the most-used patterns across Pave customers.

**On-target earnings:**

```
{{add columns.basePay columns.variablePay}}
```

**Percent change between current and new total cash:**

```
{{divide (subtract columns.newTotalAnnualCash columns.currentTotalAnnualCash) columns.currentTotalAnnualCash}}
```

**Pro-rated bonus by start date:**

```
{{multiply columns.annualBonusCash (divide (dayDiff columns.startDate '2025-12-31') 365)}}
```

**Cap a raise at zero (no negative raises):**

```
{{max (subtract columns.newBase columns.basePay) 0}}
```

**Compa-ratio:**

```
{{divide columns.basePay (getMapVal columns.salaryImpact 'bandMid')}}
```

**Monthly salary from annual:**

```
{{divide columns.basePay 12}}
```

**Hourly rate (2,080 working hours/year):**

```
{{divide columns.basePay 2080}}
```

**First name (for reward letters):**

```
{{split columns.fullName ' ' 0}}
```

**Multi-step calculation:**

```
{{setVar 'increase' (multiply columns.basePay 0.025)}}
{{setVar 'days' (dayDiff columns.startDate columns.effectiveDate)}}
{{divide (multiply increase days) 365}}
```

## Tips

* Use the **live preview** in the column editor to test your formula against real employee data before saving.
* Strings need quotes (`"Sales"` or `'Sales'`). Numbers don't.
* Whitespace and line breaks inside `{{ }}` don't affect the result. Use them to keep complex formulas readable.
* Combine operations by nesting with parentheses: `{{multiply (add a b) c}}`.

Writing formulas with Handlebars

Getting Started - Compensation Planner

Cycle access permissions

Step 1: Initial Cycle Setup

Columns

First-Class Columns

Step 2: Column Configuration

OTE Planning Configuration Guide

What is OTE Planning?

Step 3: OTE Planning

Am I able to update or change approval chains during a cycle?

Updating Approval Chains

Compensation Cycle Data Upload

Step 4: Data Management

What are recommendations?

Setting up recommendation logic

How can I configure market adjustment recommendations for employees?

How can I configure variable raise recommendations for employees?

Step 5: Recommendation Logic

Budgets

Budget Dashboard

Top Down Budgets: In-app Configurations

Step 6: Budget Confirmation

Planning Windows Setup Guide

Planning Windows Overview

Monthly & Hourly Pay

Employee Compensation History Popout

UI Toggles

Filtering & Sorting

Approval Statuses

Priority Sort

Step 7: Planner Experience

Smart Flags

Compensation Outliers

Manager Compression Flag

Vesting Drop Flag

Step 8: Controls & Governance

Peers Overview

Cycle Outcomes

In App Reward Letter Editor

Reward Letters

Peers Configuration Guide

Cycle Progress Dashboard Overview

Other Cycle Actions

Compensation Planning

Market Data Connections Overview

Market Data Connections Set up

Integrations 101

Integrations

Adding Columns

Team View Overview

Team View Column Configuration

Team View Customizations

Re-ordering Columns

Deleting Columns

Team View Settings

Team View

Logging In

Custom Role Creation Guide

Creating an Account

How to add a colleague to Pave’s Market Data Platform

Market Data Role Management

Why does it matter to get levels and role families right?

SSO Configuration Guide

Account Setup

Contact Us

How much does Pave Market Data access cost?

How does Pave Work?

Intro to Pave

Pave 101

Total Compensation

Compensation 101

The Stock Option Lifecycle

ISO Tax Implications

The Basics of Stock Options

The Confusing AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax)

ISO Strategies

An Overview of How Stock Options Work

Equity 101

How to Benchmark Executive Compensation

Account Creation Troubleshooting and FAQs

Login Troubleshooting and FAQ

How does company size affect which department, job family and job level I should choose?

How does Pave determine a role level and role family?

Troubleshooting Rippling Zero Records Error

What Market Data Connections does Pave currently support?

FAQs

Getting Started

Manually Create New Band Sets

Pay Types: Calculated TDC, Annual Equity, and Refresh Equity

Band Sets

Employee Distribution in Bands

Editing Bands

View changes

Upload/Download Bands

Unmatched Employees

Calculated Columns

Managing & Reordering Calculated Columns

Bands Set Audit Log

How to duplicate band sets

Survey aging

Edit and apply benchmarks

Set weights and logic

Map data sources to jobs

Supported survey providers

Manage Pave data sources

Manage survey data sources

Benchmarks overview

Step 2: Benchmarking

Job Architecture 101

Pay Zone Manager

Grades

Setting up Company Job Architecture

Company Job Architecture

Step 1: Build Foundation

Generate Bands from Market Data

Bulk & Manually Associate Market Data to Bands

Step 3: Update Ranges

Relative Permissions

Compare Bands

Generate Bands for New Jobs in Your Job Architecture

Advanced Filters

Ongoing Management & Analysis

Market Pricing

Impersonation as a Pave Admin

Admin Notification Dashboard

Auto-manager Assignment

Role Management

Notifications

Multirole Permissions

Standard Pave Permissions

General

Can I impersonate another user in one page while having other Pave tabs open?

Can a user have more than one role at a time?

Am I able to change another user’s permissions or login credentials while impersonating?

Writing formulas with Handlebars

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Writing formulas with Handlebars

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