Creating Custom EV Curves

You can create custom curves to generate other earned value calculations such as forecast or EAC. You must create a BCWS (Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled) entry before you can create a custom curve. This is applicable when the source is either Cost Sheet or Schedule Manager.

This following sections describe:

Follow the procedure Defining EV Settings as the Type.

Custom Curves (Source = Cost Sheet or Schedule Manager)

Use the information in the following table to complete the fields for Custom Curves:

In this field

Do this

Name

Name must be unique

Description

Enter an optional description

Type

Type is Custom

Curve Properties

This determines the shape of the curve that will be generated. Choose one of following options:

  • S-Curve: The system will generate the curve based on Curve Shape (sigma) and Center Location (mu). The system will generate data points (intermediate points) for the curve.
  • Linear: This generates a straight line curve. The system generates data points for the curve.
  • Manual entry intermediate points: This generates a curve based on data you enter, distributed over the time period range of the curve.

Start Point

This determines the start point of the curve. You define the starting value (Data), and when the curve should start (Schedule).

Data: Choose an option:

  • Zero: curve starts at zero.
  • Begin calculations at end of actual cost of work performed

Schedule: Choose an option:

  • Manual Start Date: You can choose a start date for the curve in the Source Details window
  • Schedule Manager Start Date: Click the pull-down. This lists the date-type data elements that are on the Activity Attribute form. Choose which to use as the curve start date.

End Point

This determines of the end point of the curve. You define the end value (Data) and when the curve should end (Schedule).

Data: Choose an option:

  • Manual: Allows you to enter cost data in the Source Details window.
  • Cost Sheet Column: Click the drop-down list. This lists all columns defined on the cost sheet. The values that are in that cost sheet column will display in Cost column on the Source Details window.

Schedule: Choose an option:

  • Manual Finish Date: You can choose a finish date for the curve in the Source Details window.
  • Schedule Manager Finish Date: Click the pull-down. This lists the date-type data elements that are on the Activity Attribute form. Choose which to use as the curve end date.

Source Details

This allows you to enter any manual information required to generate the curve.

Click Details. The Source Details window opens. The Source Details window is based on the other options selected in the Properties window.

See the following section for more information about the Source Details.

Custom Curves: Source Details

Data displayed on the window is based on several options chosen during setup of the sheet:

Fields on this sheet may be editable depending on the options you chose in the Properties window.

Note: When you click Details, on the Properties window, the system saves the curve even if you click Cancel to exit the Properties window.

Column

Description

CBS Code

All CBS codes on the project/shell cost sheet are displayed, with one exception:

If the schedule sheet(s) in the BCWS entry are associated with work packages, rather than the cost sheet, then only those CBS codes within those work packages will be displayed here.

If at least one schedule sheet in the BCWS entry is associated with the cost sheet, then this window displays all cost sheet CBS codes.

CBS Item

The item, as defined on the cost sheet, displays for each code.

Cost

The details presented in this column depends on what you select in the Properties window for End Point, on the Custom Curves Details window:

Data

  • If you chose Manual, then you can enter cost data manually here. You can also import this cost data (see the following procedure). You can later distribute this amount across the Custom Curve worksheet.
  • If you chose a Cost Sheet Column, then the data that is in the column for each CBS code will display here.

Cost Sheet

The data that is in the column for each CBS code displays here.

Schedule

Each activity on the schedule sheet can be associated with one or more CBS codes, and distributed based on % entered there.

Start

The details presented in this column depends on what you select in the Properties window for Start Point, on the Custom Curves Details window:

  • If you chose Zero (Data), and Manual Start Date (Schedule), then you can enter date manually.
  • If you chose Zero (Data), and selected a Schedule Manager start date (Schedule), then the column displays the earliest date across all activities for that CBS code.
  • If you chose begin calculation at end of ACWP, then the date is automatically calculated based on ACWP end period.

Finish

The details presented in this column depends on what you select in the Properties window for the End Point Schedule, on the Custom Curves Details window:

  • If you chose Manual finish date, then you can manually enter a finish date for the custom curve.
  • If you chose Schedule Manager finish date, this date is taken from the schedule sheet finish date you chose in the Properties window.

To enter data in the Source Details window:

  1. Open the custom curve Source Details window:

    For the earned value sheet, open the EV Properties window, Settings tab. Select a custom curve and click Modify, or create a new custom curve. In the custom curve Properties window, click the Details button.

  2. Depending on the options defined in the custom curve Properties window, the Cost, Start and/or Finish Date fields may be editable across the CBS codes. Add this information as needed.
    • Start is the starting date of the curve.
    • End is the end date of the curve.
    • If you enter a value in the Cost column, the value automatically appears in the last column of the incremental view of the worksheet for the custom curve. You can then open the worksheet and distribute this cost amount across the other columns (and the other time periods) in the worksheet. (See View and work with worksheets.)

To import cost data into the Source Details window:

  1. Open the custom curve Source Details window:

    For the earned value sheet, open the Properties window, Settings tab. Select a custom curve and click Modify, or create a new custom curve. In the custom curve Properties window, click the Details button.

  2. Click the Export button and download the CSV file. Save the file to your local drive or open the file directly.
  3. Enter the cost or date information in editable Start, End and/or Cost fields as applicable, depending on the entry settings you specified in the custom curve Properties window.
  4. Save the CSV file.
  5. In the Source Details window, click Import, and import the CSV file.


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Last Published Monday, April 11, 2022