Spread Forecast Amount

Explanation

Cost spreading is usually done on a budget/forecast line if the ETC cost needs to be distributed into specific time periods when they are most likely to occur. It will be possible to spread cost into accounting periods manually as well as to get assistance with distributing the budgeted/forecasted amount using pre-defined spreading profiles. The pre-defined spreading profiles include linear and s-curve spread.

Prerequisites

• A project budget/forecast line with an ETC amount.
• The Cut-Off Date specified on the project budget/forecast version should reside on an accounting period that exists for the company of the project.

System Effects

• The whole ETC amount is spread over the accounting periods between (and including) Start Date and End Date.
• The Spread Profile check box is selected to indicate that the cost has been spread into accounting periods.
• The Cost Spread Date Exception check box is checked if there exists amounts spread outside the Start Date and End Date.
• If the Start Date and End Date are not specified, the system will fetch them from the Project Work Breakdown Structure based on start and end dates of the Project, Sub Project and Activity of the budget/forecast line.

Window

Project Forecasts
Project Forecast Version Line
Project Forecast Info

Related Window Descriptions

Project Forecasts
Project Forecast Version Line
Project Forecast Info/Cost
Spread Forecast Amount

Procedure

Use the following procedure to spread the cost on a budget/forecast line:

1. Open the Project Forecast Info window and click on the Cost tab. You can also open up the Project Forecast Version Line window to perform this activity.
2. Query for an existing budget/forecast line for which you want to spread cost.
3. In the Start Date field, enter a date on which you want to start the cost spreading for the particular budget/forecast line.
4. In the End Date field, enter a date on which you want to end the cost spreading for the particular budget/forecast line.
5. In the Spread Type field, use the drop down list to select the type of budget/forecast spreading required for the particular budget/forecast line depending on the requirement:
   • Manual: Enables manual entry and distribution of costs for each of the spread periods.
   • Straight Line: Produces a linear distribution of cost among the periods.
   • S-Curve: Distributes cost among the periods such that a S-shaped graph of the cost is the end result. If this option is selected, it is mandatory that values are entered for the Gradient and Mid Point fields. In the Gradient field, enter the value to determine the steepness of the S-Curve. In the Mid-Point field, enter the point at which half of the cost should have been distributed.
6. Click Save.
7. Right click on the window and then click Spread Forecast Amount.
8. In the Spread Forecast Amount dialog box, select one of the following options:
   • Use Spread Type from Line: Spreads cost as defined on the budget/forecast line.
   • Override Spread Type on Line: Enables the selection and entry of spread types and associated values different from those defined on the budget/forecast line.
9. Click OK.

Use the following procedure to spread cost using the Project Forecasts window.

1. Open the Project Forecasts window, right click and then click Spread Forecast Amount.
2. Click OK to confirm the message that is displayed.

Use the following procedure to view or modify complete details on the cost spread:

1. Select single or multiple budget/forecast lines from the Cost tab on the Project Forecast Info window and right click and then click Forecast Spread Details. You can also do similar in the Project Forecasts window where single or multiple budget/forecast versions can be chosen and budget/forecast spread details can be viewed.
2. In the Forecast Spread Details dialog box, in No. of Periods field of the Display Properties set of fields use the arrows to modify the number of periods for which the cost spread graph should be displayed.
3. Modify the From and To Periods using the arrows if required.
4. Modify the cost in each accounting period if required.
5. Select the currency from the Display Currency list box in which the amounts should be displayed.
6. If a manual update of a period amount in the window results in recalculating the period amounts of the same period in other currencies, select the Update Other Currencies checkbox.
7. Click Save.