Cost calculation variation with duration no mather the work

[Sylvain (CGI)]

Actual setup MS Project 2003 SP 3 connected to Project Server 2003.

The calculation of cost on a fixed work task is not consistant when the
duration of the task if modified manually or by changing the capacity of the
ressource assigned.
For exemple Originaly my task have a duration of 10 days and the calculation
of the cost is OK (ressource rate * work). But when I change the capacity of
the ressource, the duration is modified to a 2 digits décimal (ex: 9.92) and
the cost is loosing cents. For example if I originally have a cost of 5000$
the cost is now at 4998.54. Even if the work hasen't changes.

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Sylvain ,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

Duration = Work * Units of resource. So if you change the Units of a Fixed
Work task, the Duration has got to change.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for Project Tutorials

 

[Jean-Francois Berard]

Hi Sylvain,

Very good question - we had a similar issue and found the following:

MSP seems to recalculate in some unknown manner and create discrepancies - even if you have a fixed work task.

How to correct?
On the resource view - verify the work contour. It is probably a task with 'Contoured' (or equivalent of custom).

Change this task to 'Flat' and the cost calculation will be all right. With the use and settings we have, there is no change on the start date, end date, resource leveling, etc... But please check if it is the same for you and meets the quality of information you need.

Hope this helps!

PCO at VMD

 

[Steve House]

Project does not just do things at random. Its recalculation rules are very
predicatable although many users do not undertand what they are and when
they apply. "Fixed Work" does not mean that work is totally fixed,
never-changing and un-editable. It mean that when one is editing resource
assignments the equation W=D*U is in control with Work to be held constant
so that when changing units, duration is recalculated and when changing
duration, units will be recalculated. In that equation, you can select any
term to be the constant, change a second term, and the third will be
recalculated.