Tracking cost

[bh]

Hi,

I have a project for which each task is given a fixed cost over a given
duration (resource based costs were not the most practical option in this
case). To do this I used the fixed task column since, though it is not the
intended usage, it seems the way to do this.
For example:
Project over 8 weeks
Task 1: Fixed cost = $1000 - Duration = 4 weeks [week 1 to week 4]
Task 2: Fixed cost = $1250 - Duration = 6 weeks [week 2 to week 8]

The fixed costs are accrued via pro-rating.

Now, after x amount of time, I want to enter how much has been already spent
for each task, how much work has been completed, and compare this to how much
should have been spent for that amount of work.
For example:
Task 1: Actual cost on week 2 = $600; Work completed: 50%; Scheduled cost
for that amount of work based on pro-rating: $500

I am having difficulty doing this: if I override the automated computation
of actual cost and entre the values I have for actual spending, the total
cost increases (I am not clear why).

Hopefully, my description is clear enough.

Thanks for any help or light that can be shed on this.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

In Tools, Options, Calculation, UNCHECK Actual Costs are always calculated
by Project

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

 

[bh]

Hi,

Thanks for responding.
So, I did that already, but when I enter the actual costs, the total costs
is incremented by the same amount. The remaining balance thus remain
unchanged. And the variance is not as expected.

For example:
Time 0:
Task (fixed) cost = $5000
Total cost = $5000
Actual cost = $0
Baseline cost = $5000
Variance = $0
Remaining = $5000

Time t:
Task (fixed) cost = $5000
Total cost = $6000
Actual cost = $1000
Baseline cost = $5000
Variance = $1000
Remaining = $5000

I would have expected:
Time t:
Task (fixed) cost = $5000
Total cost = $5000
Actual cost = $1000
Baseline cost = $5000
Variance = $4000
Remaining = $4000

Thanks for any clarification!

Hi,

In Tools, Options, Calculation, UNCHECK Actual Costs are always calculated
by Project

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf

Hi,

I have a project for which each task is given a fixed cost over a given
duration (resource based costs were not the most practical option in this
case). To do this I used the fixed task column since, though it is not the
intended usage, it seems the way to do this.
For example:
Project over 8 weeks
Task 1: Fixed cost = $1000 - Duration = 4 weeks [week 1 to week 4]
Task 2: Fixed cost = $1250 - Duration = 6 weeks [week 2 to week 8]

The fixed costs are accrued via pro-rating.

Now, after x amount of time, I want to enter how much has been already
spent
for each task, how much work has been completed, and compare this to how
much
should have been spent for that amount of work.
For example:
Task 1: Actual cost on week 2 = $600; Work completed: 50%; Scheduled cost
for that amount of work based on pro-rating: $500

I am having difficulty doing this: if I override the automated computation
of actual cost and entre the values I have for actual spending, the total
cost increases (I am not clear why).

Hopefully, my description is clear enough.

Thanks for any help or light that can be shed on this.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Sorry, tried it, you're right.
Since I can't change Project's behaviour, I can only advise you to after
each introduction of Actual Cost, to manually copy remaining cost into cost.

Hope this helps,

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620
For availability check:
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/Calendar.pdf