(1) Explain your problem, don't simply post "This isn't working". What were you doing when you faced the problem? What have you tried to resolve - did you look for a solution using "Search" ? Has it happened just once or several times?
(2) It's also good to get feedback when a solution is found, return to the original post to explain how it was resolved so that more people can also use the results.
I'm stumped as to why P6 (version 8.2) is not automatically updating Budgeted Total Cost in response to changes in Budgeted Labour Units.
I noticed the problem upon examining the results of some interim programming changes in the schedule. Below is an excerpt.
| Activity Name | Budgeted Labor Units | Budgeted Total Cost | Start | Finish | Original Duration | Remaining Duration | Activity Type | Duration Type | ||||||
| Resources for Engineer 1 | 8 | $ 30,000 | 2017-Mar-15 | 2017-Mar-16 | 1d | 1d | Level of Effort | Fixed Duration and Units/Time | ||||||
| Resources for Engineer 2 | 300 | $ 30,000 | 2017-Mar-15 | 2017-Mar-16 | 1d | 1d | Level of Effort | Fixed Duration & Units | ||||||
| Resources for Engineer 3 | 300 | $ 30,000 | 2017-Mar-15 | 2017-Mar-16 | 1d | 1d | Level of Effort | Fixed Duration & Units |
Before the programming changes, all three activities were set to 300 hours over a time period of several months. The interim changes temporarily pushed all three out to 2017 March 15, and contracted them to a one-day duration. P6 automatically reduced Engineer 1 to 8 hours (corresponding to the one-day duration) as it should have, given that the Duration Type is Fixed Duration and Units/Time. I noted that Engineer 2 and Engineer 3 were not reduced by P6, staying at the original 300 hours, and this is consistent with the behaviour I expect from a Duration Type of Fixed Duration and Units. Incidentally, the settings for Engineer 2 and 3 were a mistake: I intended for them to be the same as Engineer 1; however, it was a fortunate mistake because I have the opportunity to see some other unexpected behaviour.
The unexpected behavior is that the Budgeted Total Cost for Engineer 1 stayed at $30,000 even though the units dropped from 300 hours down to 8 hours. It is my understanding that P6 ought to re-calculate the Budgeted Total Cost when the units change, so long as:
(1) "Calculate Costs from Units" is checked under the Resources tab for the activity, and indeed it is so checked, as shown here
and,
(2) "Calculate costs from units" is checked under the Details tab within the Resources screeen, and indeed it is so checked, as shown here
So now I am stumped. My reference manuals have failed me. Google searches have similarly proved fruitless. My only remaining hypothesis is that the issue is somehow related to the activities being Level of Effort. The reason they are Level of Effort is because I intend for their durations--and thus their costs--to be driven by the critical path of the work, and I am not intending to resource-load those activities, just to carry summary level resources as indicated above.
Can anyone explain how I can convince P6 to automatically update the Budgeted Total Cost automatically as the Budgeted Labour Units change?
Many thanks,
Bryon McConnell.
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That is why I am called the Dr. House of Scheduling I solve the hard problems others can't. I had the same problem as you had looked of he common denominator in each of them and saw it was LOE was not being spread so to force the spread I assigned a curve.
I use this same technique to solve any problem that I have with any activities look for the anomalies and then see whats different about it.
Ha ha ha ha ha! You're a genius! That so exactly solved the problem! A million thanks! I've never heard of that function: how did you learn about it?
Bryon McConnell.
if you look to see what the common denominator here is it is the activity TYPE they are ALL LOEs. Go to the activity then to the resource and select a curve you can select linear this will solve your problem.
Email: PPadmin@planningplanet.com
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