--- title: "Create a formula metric" slug: "create-a-formula-metric" updated: 2026-10-12T14:34:33Z published: 2026-10-12T14:34:33Z canonical: "help.gong.io/create-a-formula-metric" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.gong.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Create a formula metric > **Who can use this**: Business admin > > **Available on**: Gong Forecast > > **Ideal for**: RevOps > > **Required permissions:** Manage metrics A formula metric combines two or more existing metrics, targets, or forecast submissions using a mathematical expression. Use this type when you need a measurement that cannot be calculated from a single field, for example win rate (closed-won divided by total closed), pipeline coverage (open pipeline divided by target), or booking attainment (bookings divided by booking target). For aggregating a single field directly, see [Create a basic metric](https://portal.us.document360.io/2837c190-3ec8-4120-9116-6d427e774667/document/v1/view/375f0165-1364-4925-b998-ad8084e36312). ## Step 1: Create the entities that assemble the formula A formula metric calculates a result from existing entities. Before creating the formula metric, confirm that its underlying entities already exist. To enable history tracking for the formula metric, first enable history tracking for each basic metric it uses. Formula metrics that include targets or forecast submissions aren’t supported for historical analysis. - To create a basic metric (for example, Closed Won $ or Open Pipeline $), see [Create a basic metric](https://portal.us.document360.io/2837c190-3ec8-4120-9116-6d427e774667/document/v1/view/375f0165-1364-4925-b998-ad8084e36312). - To create a target (for attainment or gap formulas), see [Create a target](https://portal.us.document360.io/2837c190-3ec8-4120-9116-6d427e774667/document/v1/view/f78a9136-6122-40b5-9e7b-d0443487f1cd). - Forecast submissions are configured through the Forecast board. They appear as selectable entities in the formula builder once a Forecast board exists. If all your entities exist, continue to Step 2. ## Step 2: Open the metric builder Navigate to Data Studio and open the formula metric builder. **To open the metric builder:** 1. From the left sidebar, click **Admin center**. 2. In the **Settings** tab, click **Metrics** on the **Data Studio** card. 3. Click **New metric** and select **Formula metric**. ## Step 3: Build the formula Enter a name and construct the formula expression. **To configure the formula:** 1. Enter a name for the metric. 2. (Optional) Add a description to explain what the metric measures. 3. In the **Formula** field, build your expression: - Click **Add entity** to insert a metric, target, or forecast submission. - For forecast submissions, also select the Forecast board (line of business), the submission category, and whether to use individual submissions or team rollups. Individual submissions use the latest submission by that specific person; team rollups sum the latest submissions of the selected manager’s direct reports. - Use the operator buttons ( ) + − * / to compose the expression. For example: `{Bookings $} / ( {Bookings $} + {Total Lost $} )` 4. (Optional) Turn on **Enable history tracking** to make this formula metric available in the Custom trend mode of a Trends widget. > [!NOTE] > Note: > > Formula metrics with history tracking are supported in Custom trend, but not Custom changes. 5. (Optional) Turn on **Always treat null operands as 0s** to prevent null values in any entity from producing a null result for the whole formula. This setting does not apply to target values: if a target is empty, the formula nulls out regardless of this toggle. > [!TIP] > Tip: > > Enable **Always treat null operands as 0s** when any metric may return no data for some team members, for example, a new hire who has not yet closed any deals. Without this setting, a null value in one entity produces a null result for the whole formula, which appears as blank rather than zero on dashboards. > [!NOTE] > Note: > > Formula metrics cannot reference each other in a circular chain. Gong blocks the configuration if a circular dependency exists. > [!NOTE] > Note: > > Formula metrics that use targets as entities cannot be used in custom chart widgets. ## Step 4: Set the number format Choose how the formula result is displayed on dashboards. Select the format that matches what your formula calculates. **To set the number format:** In the **Formatting** section, select the **Number type**: - **Number:** A plain numeric value. - **Percent:** The result is displayed as a percentage. Use this for ratios like win rate. - **Currency:** The result is displayed as a currency amount. - **Custom:** Define a custom display format. ## Step 5: Save the metric Review the formula result in the Preview panel to confirm the calculation looks correct, then save. **To save the metric:** 1. Check the Preview panel to confirm the result for the selected team and period. 2. Click **Save**. The metric appears in your metric list and is available to select when configuring dashboard widgets and Forecast boards. > [!NOTE] > Note: > > Any edits to this metric take effect immediately in all dashboards and Forecast boards that use it. Learn more about [managing your metrics](https://portal.us.document360.io/2837c190-3ec8-4120-9116-6d427e774667/document/v1/view/ebc9fa1a-a505-45eb-a6ad-f8b50d48dff0). ## Frequently asked questions ****Can I reference a target in a formula metric?**** Yes. When you click Add entity in the Formula field, you can reference existing metrics, targets, and forecast submissions. This lets you build attainment calculations, for example dividing a bookings metric by a bookings target to get a percentage of quota achieved. Note that formula metrics using targets as entities cannot be used in custom chart widgets. ****Can I delete a metric that is used as an entity in a formula metric?**** No. Gong blocks deletion if any formula metric references the metric. Delete or update the formula metric first, then delete the underlying metric. ****What happens if an entity metric is edited after I create a formula metric?**** The formula metric automatically recalculates using the updated entity metric. Changes to any entity metric take effect immediately in all formula metrics and dashboard widgets that reference them. ****Why can’t I turn on history tracking for my formula metric?**** Each basic metric in the formula must already have history tracking enabled. Formula metrics that include targets or forecast submissions aren’t supported for historical analysis. ****Why can’t I turn off history tracking for a metric?**** If another formula metric uses this metric, remove it from that formula first. Then turn off history tracking. A team member who manages the business entities in Gong, such as deal and forecast boards. [Find my Business admin](/v1/docs/find-your-technical-or-business-admin). Gong’s full Forecast package for next-level forecasting and revenue optimization. Access to features depends on your [company’s plan and your assigned seat](/v1/docs/plans-and-seats). A team member who manages and optimizes revenue-related workflows by managing business entities such as metrics, targets, and dashboards.