Conversion of metric.value?

Hi

I have metric data being collected in my own plugin written in groovy, I know that hyperic have a method which converts the metric value for output to the front end.

I am presuming its something to do with metric.units

for example when i find the enabled metric Availability and read its value its equal to one or zero but i want zero or 100 percent. I have noticed that metrics have a .units key which returns a string value in the case of Availability its Percentage

I am wondering is there a method in HQU Api that i can pass the value plus the unit to that results in the needed output? if anyone could point me in the right direction that would be great

thanks

Ed