Resource curves

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Resource curves
Resource/cost distribution curves enable you to specify how you want resource units or costs spread over the duration of an activity. Resource units and costs are distributed evenly during an activity unless you specify nonlinear distribution using curves. You can assign a resource distribution curve to any resource or role assignment on activities with a duration type of Fixed Duration and Units/Time or Fixed Duration & Units. Assign the appropriate curve to a resource or role assignment by selecting a curve in the Curve column in the Resource Assignments window. You can also assign a resource curve in the Resources tab in the Activity Details. If timesheet data exists for the actuals, curves are ignored for the actuals and are spread using the timesheet data. Activities with timesheet data continue to spread the remaining units using the curve. In order to use curves to calculate the Actual Units/Cost and EV Units/Costs, the new project setting that uses duration percent complete to calculate actuals should be marked.

Tip

Using pre-defined or custom resource curves, you can define 21 points on the curve to spread units or costs over the duration of an activity. While this is suitable for most activities, some of your activities may require a more granular resource distribution. For example, for long duration activities with varying levels of effort, a resource curve may not fully reflect when work is planned to be performed on the activity. To accurately capture future period resource distribution for these activities, you can manually enter future period budgeted and remaining unit assignment values in the Resource Usage Spreadsheet of the Activities and Resource Assignments windows. For more information, refer to Future Period Bucket Planning.

Notes

Resource curves do not support expenses. The Accrual Type will continue to spread the expenses. Resource lag is taken into consideration. The curve should begin on the "lagged start date." Resource curves are reflected in the Resource Usage Profile and Resource Usage Spreadsheet.

Add a resource curve

1. Choose Enterprise, Resource Curves. 2. Click Add. 3. Select an existing curve from which to copy the curve value percentages, then click Select. 4. Type a name for the new resource curve. You can type up to 60 alphanumeric characters. You

Resource curves

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must enter a resource curve name. 5. Click Modify to define the curve's distribution. Edit the curve value percentages to create a curve that indicates how your costs/units should distribute over time. Curves are defined by 21 points (5% intervals from 0 to 100). 6. Click Prorate to make the total of the distribution values equal to 100% while maintaining the shape you specified. 7. Click OK, then click Close. Note

You can define an unlimited number of global resource curves.

Delete a resource curve

1. Choose Enterprise, Resource Curves. 2. Select the global curve you want to delete. You cannot delete the default curves. 3. Click Delete. 4. Click Yes. Note

If you delete a resource curve assigned to a resource or role assignment, the curve is removed from the assignment and the actual values and earned value for those assignments are recalculated.