When setting a baseline the fixed cost gets prorated

[Neil]

To all,
I need some help with a baseline cost problem
I'm using MS PRO 2002
In the taskusage view when setting the baseline for a fixed cost item the
baseline cost will prorate the cost (time phase it over the duration) but yet
the the cost detail veiw shows it at the end of the duration where it should
be. I have set the fixed cost accurual to "end" I have changed the the
default to end on the tools options calculation tab to end. So when I pull
over the baseline cost for Earned value I show a false schedule variance. The
only way I found to correct this is to manually fix the baseline which is not
a good answer some of my projects are quite large and have many items to fix.
Has anybody seen this or know how to fix it

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

Hi Neil,
Sorry, I don't have Project Pro 2002 any more.
But I tested on Project Pro 2003 : everything are working fine.

Gérard Ducouret

 

[JulieS]

Hi Neil,

Based upon my understanding of your situation, I cannot replicate the
error in Project 2002 Professional SP-1. Is it possible that in looking
at Baseline Cost in the Task Usage view (Baseline cost added to
timescale portion) that you are seeing baseline costs that come from
the resource assigned?

Baseline cost = Labor cost (regular and overtime) + resource per use
cost + Task fixed cost.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

 

[Neil]

Hi Julies,
Thanks for your reply
No, when using a resource that baseline cost is ok. Its when you have a task
with just a cost and it is time phased out. If you would like to see it make
a 20 line schedule, give some lines with a resource and some without & with a
duration and links, set the fixed cost accural to end on the ones without a
resource, baseline it then look a the task usage view. I could send the test
one I built if needed
--
Thanks,
Neil

Hi Neil,

Based upon my understanding of your situation, I cannot replicate the
error in Project 2002 Professional SP-1. Is it possible that in looking
at Baseline Cost in the Task Usage view (Baseline cost added to
timescale portion) that you are seeing baseline costs that come from
the resource assigned?

Baseline cost = Labor cost (regular and overtime) + resource per use
cost + Task fixed cost.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie

 

[JulieS]

Hi Neil,

I have tried to recreate the problem again. Still no luck in
replicating the problem you note. Just to make sure we are both doing
the same thing:

1) I am using Project 2002 Professional with SP-1. I am not connected
to Project Server.
2) Calculation (Tool > Options > Calculation tab) is set to Automatic.
3) I created a number of tasks with varying durations and linked them.
4) I added the Fixed Cost field and Fixed Cost Accrual field to the Task
Usage View.
5) I created a few resources with Standard Rates.
6) I assigned resources to some tasks but not all.
7) I added Fixed Costs to tasks without resource assigned and set the
Fixed Cost Accrual on those tasks to End.
8) I added the Cost field to the time-phased (right side) of the Task
Usage View.
9) The Costs appearing in the time-phased portion of the Task Usage View
shows the cost accrual at End for tasks with Fixed Cost accrual set to
end.
10) I saved a baseline.
11) I added the Baseline Cost field to the time-phased portion of the
Task Usage view.
12) The Baseline Cost for the tasks appears correctly in the time-phased
view.

Is there anything different between what I have listed and what you have
done? If you would like to send me the file, I'll take a look.

My email address is:

passport 6847 at maine dot r r dot com

Remove the spaces, replace the at with @ and the dots with a .

I hope this helps.

Julie

Hi Julies,
Thanks for your reply
No, when using a resource that baseline cost is ok. Its when you have
a task
with just a cost and it is time phased out. If you would like to see
it make
a 20 line schedule, give some lines with a resource and some without &
with a
duration and links, set the fixed cost accural to end on the ones
without a
resource, baseline it then look a the task usage view. I could send
the test
one I built if needed

 

[Neil]

Julie,
It sounds like you did the same thing
I'll send it out

Neil

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

In support of Neil: I just today (demnstrating with a customer!) had the
same experience - only on one task, the others went OK!!

--
Jan De Messemaeker, Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/
For FAQs: http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm

Hi Julies,
Thanks for your reply
No, when using a resource that baseline cost is ok. Its when you have a task
with just a cost and it is time phased out. If you would like to see it make
a 20 line schedule, give some lines with a resource and some without & with a
duration and links, set the fixed cost accural to end on the ones without a
resource, baseline it then look a the task usage view. I could send the test
one I built if needed

 

[JulieS]

Hi Neil and Jan,

Well, I'm going to join the Jan and Neil bandwagon :-0

The file that Neil sent along shows the baseline costs spread evenly
across the duration of *Summary* tasks even though the subtasks and
summary task fixed cost accrual have been set to End. The costs are
spread correctly, but the baseline cost definitely isn't. After looking
at Neil's file, I created a new project file with a summary task and
several subtasks -- I could reproduce the even baseline cost spread on
summary tasks repeatedly. The subtask baseline cost is correct.

So Neil, I apologize. I had not tested it with summary tasks -- only
non-summary tasks.

Anyone else want to see if they are also able to reproduce? I am using
MS Project 2003 Professional (no server connection) with SP-2.

Julie

 

[Neil]

Juile,
I have just updated to PJ 2003 as with you I get the same results. Has there
been a work around solution found?
Thanks,
Neil

 

[JulieS]

Hi Neil,

No, I am sorry. I tested your original file in Project 2003 with
Service Pack 2 installed and both Jan and I were able to reproduce the
error. In off-line conversation, Jan confirmed the error as well.

I have not seen any post service pack 2 fixes posted so, I'm afraid we
are still stuck.


Julie

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