---
title: "Create a price element"
slug: "create-a-price-element"
description: "Create price elements—non-calculated elements of the pricing waterfall, which are crucial components in Pricing Engine."
updated: 2023-10-02T09:10:59Z
published: 2023-10-02T09:10:59Z
canonical: "docs.zilliant.com/create-a-price-element"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.zilliant.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a price element

Price elements are non-calculated elements of the pricing waterfall and a crucial component in **Pricing Engine**. Examples of price elements include cost, markup, and discount. You can use one price element across multiple price builds.

Follow the steps in the following sections to configure a price element:

- [Create a price element](/v1/docs/create-a-price-element#create-a-price-element)
- [Add element lookups](/v1/docs/create-a-price-element#add-element-lookups)
- [Add lookup keys](/v1/docs/create-a-price-element#add-lookup-keys)
- [Add element values](/v1/docs/create-a-price-element#add-element-values)
- [Generate a price element](/v1/docs/create-a-price-element#activate-a-price-element)

## Create a price element

1. From the Manager Dashboard, select **Price Builds and Engine** > **Configuration**, then select **Elements**.
2. On the **Elements** worksheet, select Insert Row.
3. On the **Insert row** dialog, enter the following information:
  - **Element name**—Enter a unique name for the element. Element names are limited to 100 characters. Special characters and spaces are allowed.
  - Do not select **Process** and **Delete** checkboxes for now.
4. Select **Save**.

## Add element lookups

An element lookup shows the depth of a price element on the price waterfall.

You must create at least one element lookup for each price element, but you can also add multiple lookups for the same price element if necessary.

To create an element lookup:

1. From the Manager Dashboard, select **Price Builds and Engine** > **Configuration**, then select **Elements**.
2. On the **Element Lookup** worksheet, select Insert Row.
3. On the **Insert row** dialog, enter the desired information or make selections:

          Example

          

A national markup might be organized by product and product group. If you select **1**, then the price builder first searches for markups by product. If you select **2** (or if you select **1** and no markups exist for the product), then Pricing Engine first searches for markups by product group.
  - **Element Name**—Select a price element to associate with this element lookup.
  - **Lookup Code**—Enter the type of lookup to configure. Examples include: Product, Region, Country, Customer, Customer Tier.
  - **Lookup Order**—Select the order of the lookup related to the waterfall depth.
4. Select **Save**.

## Add lookup keys

Lookup keys are individual values that you configure for each element lookup. These unique fields break each element lookup into a set of fields.

You can create multiple lookup keys for each element lookup.

To create a lookup key:

1. From the Manager Dashboard, select **Price Builds and Engine** > **Configuration**, then select **Elements**.
2. On the **Lookup Keys** worksheet, select Insert Row.
3. On the **Insert row** dialog, enter the desired information or make selections:

          Tip

          

Set an effective date range for most element lookups. This serves to track historical changes in pricing throughout the waterfall, and reduces duplication and errors in data as prices are updated.
  - **Element Name**—Select a price element to associate with this lookup key.
  - **Lookup Code**—Select a lookup code to associate with this lookup key.
  - **Key Field**—Enter the lookup key to configure. Examples include: Product ID, Effective (Date), and CustomerTier.
  - **Data Type**—(Optional.) Select a data type.
  - **Map Field**—Leave this field blank. You will use it later when setting up a simulation.
  - **Is Range**—Select the checkbox if the lookup key has an associated start and end date.
4. Select **Save**.

## Add element values

Each price build can have multiple element values, which represent the individual price waterfall variables with their corresponding type.

1. From the Manager Dashboard, select **Price Builds and Engine** > **Configuration**, then select **Elements**.
2. On the **Element Values** worksheet, select Insert Row.
3. On the **Insert row** dialog, enter the desired information or make selections:
  - **Element Name**—Select a price element to associate with this value.
  - **Lookup Value**—Enter the value type the element is based on. For example, the value type of the **Gross Price** element is **Price**, and the value type of the **Currency Exchange** element is **Rate**.
  - **Data Type**—(Optional.) Select a data type.
  - **Aggregate**—Select the checkbox.
  - **Summary Group**—Leave it blank or enter the price element name.
4. Select **Save**.

## Generate a price element

After you create a price element and define lookups, lookup keys, and values for it, you must generate the element.

1. From the Manager Dashboard, select **Price Builds and Engine** > **Configuration**, then select **Elements**.
2. On the **Elements** worksheet, find a row with the name of the price element.
3. In that row, select the **Process** checkbox.
4. Select the **Process Element** worksheet action.

When Pricing Engine processes the element, you'll see a status message in the **Status** column.

Upon successful processing, Pricing Engine automatically creates a new workbook bearing the name and details of your price element. To locate the workbook, go to the Manager Dashboard, select **Price Builds and Engine** > **Elements**, then select the workbook with the name of your price element.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/24f960e8-3c1c-4c18-a2c6-83b6ae4aab84/Images/Glossary/add_60.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-05T19%3A35%3A57Z&se=2026-11-05T20%3A35%3A57Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=DUmASrzmP56ACxvdfeoKBQCdmJnxl8ZbQvHLnSYShig%3D)

Insert Row

Non-calculated element of a pricing waterfall. Examples include cost, markup, and discount.

Shows the depth of a price element on the price waterfall.

Buttons that are unique to a worksheet are in the top-right corner of your screen. These buttons are called **worksheet actions**.