Forum Discussion
Is it possible to customize the Task cost calculation?
Christophe,
First, I suggest you read this Wiki article on data types in Project:
https://web.archive.org/web/20200720083203/https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/31991.ms-project-data-types-task-resource-assignment.aspx
Then you might also want to read the article referenced in the above concerning extra fields:
https://web.archive.org/web/20200722225529/https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/32051.ms-project-extra-fields-in-views.aspx
Those articles will explain why your formulas don't seem to do what you want. However, based on your description, I don't see a need for custom cost fields at all. Instead of creating separate custom fields for funding types and resource types, why not combine the two. For example, you could have an EC work resource, an EC material resource, an EC cost resource, a Regional work resource, Regional material resource, a Regional cost resource, and so forth for each funding entity. Set up each resource type with the appropriate rate based on how they fund. You can even set up a time based cost escalation and/or up to 5 separate cost rates for each resource via resource cost rate tables A through E. This is accessible through the Cost tab on the Resource Information window. Varying cost rate tables for each resource are applied via the Cost Rate Table field at assignment level on either the Task Usage view or the Resource Usage view.
Hope this helps.
John
Hi John-project , Ignacio_Martin ,
Following your suggestions, here is what it should look like in the Task Usage view:
What Text field identifies the type of resource and how is it different from the resource Type field?
And what Text field identifies the project type?
Perhaps you could show those Text fields as columns on your previous screen shot.
John
Hi John-project ,
I have a Custom Field "VKI Cost Cat.", consistent in our ERP system:
and one Custom Field "Funding Scheme", associated to the Project:
So, fundamentally, what I need is a Custom Field "Cost1" that would calculate our internal costs with a formula doing (not using the proper syntax, I know), for a given Task:
IF (Assigned resource VKI Cost Cat.) == "T1 Manpower": # the category to which we add indirect costs Assigned resource Cost1 = (Assigned resource Cost using Cost Rate Table B) ELSE: # all other cost categories are not affected by our internal indirect cost rate Assigned resource Cost1 = (Assigned resource Cost found in default Table A)The second custom field Cost2 calculates the costs that will be eligible for reimbursement by the funding agency:
IF (Project Funding Scheme) == "EC Horizon Europe": IF (Assigned resource VKI Cost Cat.) == "Subcontracting": # the only category not affected by EC indirect costs Assigned resource Cost2 = (Assigned resource cost found in default Cost Rate Table A) ELSE: # all other cost categories are subject to indirect costs Assigned resource Cost2 = (Assigned resource cost found in Cost Rate Table C) ELSE IF (Project Scheme) == "Regional": (etc.)Is that more clear?
- Christophe,
Yes, the only issue I have is the custom field "funding scheme" at Project level. You are working in an enterprise environment whereas I only have the desktop version of Project so writing macro code to create the two custom Cost fields may be a bit of a challenge.
I see Ignacio presented an approach that captures the essence of what you are after but unfortunately it will only apply at resource level so it will not provide the cost data you want in the Task Usage view. You would be able to see the custom cost values at resource level on the Resource Usage view. If that meets your needs than Ignacio has a good solution, not requiring any programming.
If you think Ignacio's approach might work, then you're all set. If not, we can continue on with some VBA code.
John
