Afternoon all :)
I have a P6 v8.4 programme in which a material resource has been used to generate cost. as we are working ot an activity schedule, all costs have to be allocated at the finish of the task.
My problem is that any time th eduration varies, the cost varies accordingly due to the duration changing. I nd this cost to remain constant regardless o fchanges to duration. The client will not permit expenses (which would be simple to use) which does complicate it a bit for me. I can create a non material resource that remains constant, but this would invlove changing all resources in the programme (about 8 or 900 of them) which is not feasible on an individual level.
The project is set to not update units when costs change, not recalculate actual units and cost when duration changes, an in resources I have tried with "calculate costs from units) checked and unchecked. None of these help.
Is it possible to set a material cost so that it will not vary in cost regardless of duration change, and what settings would I need to use? Failing that. is it possible to swap a material resource with a non material one, bearing in mind that I have some actual values?
thans in advance, if you need more info I will get back as soon as I can.
of course it will thats why I suggested
The suggestion to use the Resource curve will solve the issue.
Create a Resource Curve that will allocate all Cost at the end of the Duration.
Assign this curve to all the resources.
Set the Interval for time distibution in the User preferences under Resource Analysis to be similar to your Time Scale.
Regards,
Thanks for the reply, this pretty much confirms my thoughts. I did not create the original programme, so its an inherited problem that did not come to light until I started updating with progress.
Unfortunately we have a client that insists on resources being "at finish" (which is normalas this is the way that an Activity Schedule works), and also insists on all costs being resource based. the initial programme used expenses not resources as this allowed for duration changes, and this was rejected.
I had hoped there was a replacement for resources (swapping over) but hadnt been able to find one, it was a fairly long shot but if I didnt ask, I wouldnt find out:)
Front loading would solve the duration problem, but money is not due until the task is complete, so this wont maintain the correct allocation for payments, but thanks for the assistance :)
I think this leaves 3 options
1) Add a new non-labour fixed cost resource (I have created one and am hoping the client will accept this modification).
2) add additional taks of 1 day (or even 0) that are cost loaded and linked to the original task as FF, although this is a very cumbersome method.
3) Continue manually adjusting the numbers at evey update.
Outside of this, I dont think there is any easy solution, unless someone can come up with somethng better :)
what you are trying to do is defeteating the whole intennt of the program. The program is meant to do exactly as it is doing and show the cost being spread over a longer period of itme due to the activity not finishing.
There is a work around as always that you migth want to try
Go to Enterprise then resource curves
select add now create a new curve in the First block under the 0% put in 100
now the resource tab right click and select customize resource column and then expand the General options on the left and select curve.
Now for the curve select new curve that you just created this will show al lof the costs being expended up front no matter what you duraition is.
NO you can not swap the resources however there is a work around
create your other resource that you want then run a global change to make the values of the old resource equal the vaules of the new resource then delete the old resource.
When you run the global change under the Select Subject Area make sure to select Actviity Resource Assigmments
waht you are trying to do is defeteating the whole intennt of the program. The program is meant to do exactly as it is doing and show the cost being spread over a longer period of itme due to the activity not finishing.
NO you can not swap the resources
There is a work around as always that you migth want to try
Go to Enterprise then resource curves
select add now create a new curve in the First block under the 0% put in 100
now the resource tab right click and select customize resource column and then expand the General options on the left and select curve.
Now for the curve select new curve that you just created this will show al lof the costs being expended up front no matter what you duraition is.