Calculating Actual Cost

[Cole]

I'm using a computer with MS Project Professional 2003 - Service Pack
3.

I have a master file that is incorporating 30 project files. The
master file has enabled the feature "Actual Costs are alway calculated
by Microsoft Office Project". All sub files have enabled this feature
as well except for one file. The 29 files who have enabled "Actual
Costs are alway calculated by Microsoft Office Project" share one
resource pool in the master file.

The one lone file that hasn't enabled "Actual Costs are alway
calculated by Microsoft Office Project" is not resource loaded and is
using Fixed Costs to calculate Actual Cost.

When I break the link from the fixed cost project file within the
master file, it automatically defaults to "Actual Costs are alway
calculated by Microsoft Office Project", which should be expected.

I have an activity that completed on 9/30 and the status date of the
file is 10/31. When I break the link within the master file the fixed
cost project file defaults to "Actual Costs are alway calculated by
Microsoft Office Project" and the fixed cost increases the amount
entered. Keep in mind this file has no resources.

What could be causing this?

Cole

 

[JulieS]

Hello Cole,

I'm not sure I follow your scenario exactly, but let me see if I can
possibly shed some light. When using fixed costs in project in
conjunction with the option "Actual costs are always calculated by
Microsoft Office project" disabled, when you enter an Actual cost,
the remaining cost is not decreased by the actual cost you enter.
So, if you had a task with an initial fixed cost of $500 and entered
an actual cost of $100, the remaining cost remains at $500
increasing the Cost to $600.00. I don't believe this has anything
to do at all with the master/subproject arrangement you are working
with -- it's just how Project functions in this circumstance.

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

Julie
Project MVP

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