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Microsoft Dynamics AX (Archived)

Project WBS - Actual costs calculation - why is it like this?

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Posted on by 506

The Project WBS form is driven by the ProjWBSUpdateController class and the method updateTrackingSummaries() does a calculation for Actual costs.

I am interested in Actual costs for a report so wanted to ensure I did the correct calculation although I may write it differently to this controller class.

The code listing below shows the postedActualCost Map being populated by Activity number and a cost value over 2 queries.

Functionally, is it possible for the activity have costs from both queries? If not, then why not?

If the activity did have costs in both queries then the cost from the 2nd query overwrites the 1st query's value.

For reporting purposes, I am interested to know what is the intended logic and why?

        postedActualCost = new Map(Types::String, Types::Real);

while select ActivityNumber, TotalCost from taskCostView where taskCostView.ProjId == projTable.ProjId { if (taskCostView.ActivityNumber && taskCostView.ActivityNumber != rootActivityNumber) { postedActualCost.insert(taskCostView.ActivityNumber, taskCostView.TotalCost); } .... } while select ActivityNumber, TotalCostAmountCur from projCostTrans where projCostTrans.ProjId == projTable.ProjId && projCostTrans.TransactionOrigin == ProjOrigin::BeginningBalance join RecId from projBegBalJournalTrans_CostSales where projBegBalJournalTrans_CostSales.TransId == projCostTrans.TransId && projBegBalJournalTrans_CostSales.ProjLedgerCostStatus != ProjLedgerStatus::BalanceSheet { if (projCostTrans.ActivityNumber && projCostTrans.ActivityNumber != rootActivityNumber) { postedActualCost.insert(projCostTrans.ActivityNumber, projCostTrans.TotalCostAmountCur); } .... }


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  • Suggested answer
    Ludwig Reinhard Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    Hi _MGP,

    What I can see from your screenprint is that a differentiation is made between 'ordinary' costs and those that are imported/transferred from beginning balance journals. Beginning balance journals can be used for transferring balances from prior systems to AX. The costs that are transferred throught them can then be catched up in the estimate calculation process to calculate the POC (percentage of completion) based on the transferred beginning balance Journals and those additionally added in AX.

    Does this help clarifying / answering your question?

    Best regards,

    Ludwig

  • _MGP Profile Picture
    506 on at

    Hi Ludwig,

    Thanks for your reply.

    I understand that BB journals are imported to reflect a prior position - I did try to create a BB journal and confirmed that it can be assigned to an Activity. I couldn't post due to Project status as below screenshot.

    BB_2D00_posting_2D00_error.PNG

    Both sets of costs can be 'per activity' but the logic, in AX's WBS form, says they can never add together, and if both costs were available against the activity then it would be the journal posting that 'wins' (i.e. takes precedence over 'ordinary costs').

    To reiterate, it is still not clear to me what the intent is to calculate costs - in my mind, it is either:

    1. both cost types be posted against the same activity but the journal posting overrides 'ordinary' costs, or

    2. there can only be either a BB journal posting or an AX processed cost against it.

    All I want to do is report against the cost data in a way that reflects the rules in AX without having to implement exactly the same code as in the WBS form, as per my first post.

  • _MGP Profile Picture
    506 on at

    Or,

    3. both cost types can be posted against the same activity, they should be added together when applicable, but the standard code is actually a bug.

  • Suggested answer
    Ludwig Reinhard Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    Hi _MGP,

    The reason for the error that you receive might be based on the project stage rules defined in the project parameters. Probably check this before trying to do your test posting again.

    In regards to the report that you want to create:

    - Can't you get the cost data from the cost tracking view that is available at the project level?

    - An alternative might be the standard project cube that allows you extracting the cost data through excel where you can - for example - create a template for users for cost Analysis purposes.

    Have you taken a look at those options for creating your report?

    Best regards,

    Ludwig

  • _MGP Profile Picture
    506 on at

    Thanks for the reply.

    Do you mean the 'Cost tracking view' that is on the WBS form?

    The code previously included in this post is essentially the collection of (Actual) cost data per activity.

    The reality of our situation is that the WBS form is central to all cost control using this Cost tracking view and I need to replicate the logic here.

    thanks for your help.

  • Suggested answer
    Ludwig Reinhard Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    Hi _MGP,

    Yes, I mean the cost tracking view that builds upon the WBS and the planned data that have been recorded there. I could imagine that this standard form is sufficient for controlling purposes as it does also allow switching to an effort tracking view where you can check the actual and consumed hours.

    Best regards,

    Ludwig

  • _MGP Profile Picture
    506 on at

    Yes I'm quite familiar on the WBS form, the different views available, as well as the controller class that drives it. Reporting requirements exceed what is standard hence my need to understand the costing queries that drive this form and re-write them to suit a report extract in the customer's format.

    Nevertheless, thanks for your help Ludwig.

  • Suggested answer
    Ludwig Reinhard Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    Hi _MGP,

    Before trying to rebuild and extend the standard, take a look at the project cube. Maybe you can get all information that you need out of the box through the cubes.

    All the best,

    Ludwig

  • _MGP Profile Picture
    506 on at

    Yes that's good advice. In my case the end users demand live reports. They make changes and then they go to planning meetings expecting reports to be current. 

    Part of my report spec says make "Actual cost as in the WBS".

    However, when this code exists in the standard product that is without clear intent (to my eyes) and the developer wants to replicate the logic with a clear intent - then please everyone expect a question on this forum!

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