---
title: "Update Material Quantities Block: Add, Subtract, or Transfer Inventory from Forms"
url: "https://help.ontraccr.com/en/article/update-material-quantities-block-add-subtract-or-transfer-inventory-from-forms"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-05-26T22:01:00.836Z"
---

# Update Material Quantities Block: Add, Subtract, or Transfer Inventory from Forms

## 📄 Update Material Quantities Block: Add, Subtract, or Transfer Inventory from Form Submissions  
 

The **Update Material Quantities Block** allows you to manipulate your company’s **material inventory** through submitted forms. Whether you're logging usage, receiving deliveries, or transferring stock between locations, this block keeps your materials accurate—automatically.

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## 🧰 What Is the Update Material Quantities Block?

This workflow block:

-   Adds to, subtracts from, or transfers materials in the **Materials database**
-   Links to **Material Table Field(s)**
-   Keeps your material quantities synced across forms, warehouses, and sites

> ✅ Ideal for purchase orders, delivery receipts, consumption logs, or internal transfers

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## 🛠 How to Use It

1.  In **Step 3: Workflow**, drag the **Update Materials Block** into your workflow
2.  Connect it to the relevant prior step (Submit, Approve, etc.)
3.  Click the block to configure update rules

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## ⚙️ Configuration Options

### 1\. **Operation Type**

Select one of the following actions:

| Option | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Add** | Increase inventory (e.g., materials received) |
| **Subtract** | Decrease inventory (e.g., materials used) |
| **Transfer** | Move quantity between locations |

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### 2\. **Source of Material**

-   Choose a **Materials Table** from the form (e.g., “Material Usage Log”)

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### 3\. **Location Field (for Transfer)**

-   If doing a transfer, select:
    -   **Source Location**
    -   **Destination Location**

> These are pulled from your warehouse/location list inside the Materials database

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### 4\. **Error Handling**

You can configure logic for what happens if:

-   Inventory goes negative
-   Materials or locations are invalid
-   Quantities exceed defined thresholds

(Advanced error options are being expanded in future releases.)

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## 📊 Example Workflow Paths

| Scenario | Operation | Setup |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PO Received | Add | Materials Table → Add to inventory |
| Daily Report – materials used | Subtract | Field logs use → subtract by row |
| Transfer 100 rebar | Transfer | Set From and To locations in form |
| Return unused items | Add | Subtract on issue → Add on return form |

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## 🔁 Tips & Best Practices

-   🔐 Use this block **after approval** to ensure valid inventory updates
-   📦 Always validate location fields if using transfers—mismatched locations may cause errors
-   📋 Use table presets to ensure data consistency in material entries

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## 🔍 Reporting & Audit

-   All updates are logged in the **Materials Audit Trail**
-   You can view form-linked inventory changes by material or date
-   Export history for reconciliation or restocking planning