Adding a Template for Forecast Curve for Cash Flow by Project or Shell

To set up an Actuals (or "spends") curve for cash flow by project/shell:

  1. Go to your shell template in the Admin mode.
  2. In the left Navigator, expand the Cost Manager node, and select the Cash Flow sub-node, the start point for all cash flow operations.
  3. In the right pane, click + Create in the tool bar.
  4. In the General pane of the Cash Flow Properties window or New Cash Flow worksheet, select Project/Shell from the Detail Level drop-down list.
  5. In the Curves pane of the Cash Flow Properties window , select Forecast from the Curves drop-down list.
  6. In the Forecast window, complete the fields using the information in the table below.
  7. When finished click Save & Close to save the forecast curve template.

Set up the following parameters:

Property

Description

Cost

Note: The distribution method that you select determines the Cost options that are available.

Select one of the following options:

  • Manual: Select this option to setup manual entry of amounts for each period. This option is available if you have chosen Manual in the Distribution drop-down list. Users can then enter cost information in the Total field on the worksheet.
  • Distribute amount from Cost Sheet Column: Select this option to setup a default distribution profile. This option is available if you have chosen Auto in the Distribution drop-down list. Examples of column: Approved Budget Revisions, Approved Commitment Changes, Approved Contracts, and so forth.

Schedule

This parameter lets you plot the cash flow data. You can select one of the following options:

  • Manual
  • Use dates from Activity Sheet

    Lets you select an activity sheet (from the Select Activity Sheet window).

    After you select Use dates from Activity Sheet, you must determine the values for the Project Type, From Date, and To Date fields.

 

 

Project Type

If you chose the Schedule as Use Dates from Activity Sheet, then select the project as either Baseline or Current.

From Date

If you chose the Schedule as Use Dates from Activity Sheet, then select the start date to use for plotting the cash flow curve.

To Date

If you chose the Schedule as Use Dates from Activity Sheet, then select the end date to use for plotting the cash flow curve.

Distribution

Distribution profiles are used to distribute data automatically in the cash flow worksheet. This option lets you select a distribution profile to use as the default distribution profile for the curve.

Select one of the following options for how to distribute the data automatically between cash flow time periods:

  • Manual: Select this option to set up manual field entries.
  • Company Level: Select this option to set up a pre-determined method for distribution. Your options are: Linear, S curve, Front Loaded, Back Loaded.
  • Project Level: Select this option to set up a list of available project levels.

The distribution profiles are defined in the:

  • Company Workspace > Admin mode > Standards & Libraries > Cash Flow > Distribution Profiles, or
  • <Project or Shell> > User mode > Financial Analysis > Cash Flow > Cash Flow log > Actions > Manage Distribution Profiles.

 

The default profile is used for the initial display and calculations in the cash flow worksheet. You can change the distribution profile from the worksheet. If you do this, the default profile will automatically update to reflect the current selection.

When you build a Baseline curve for individual line items, the Schedule of Value (SOV) type influences the distribution options.

  • If the SOV lists individual line items by CBS, you can distribute cost for each line item individually.
  • If the SOV groups line items, you cannot distribute cost for each line item individually.

Variance

Your choices are:

  • Inflow
  • Outflow

For CBS, typically, the Variance is set to Outflow for an Actuals (Spends) type curve.

The value will be used to calculate variances against the Inflow type curves.

Begin calculations at the end of curve

Select this option if you want to automatically start the Forecast at the end of a selected Actual (or "spends") curve for each time period.

Select Begin calculations at end of curve, click the drop-down list below, and select your desired option (for example, you can select Actuals (or "spends") curve, if this curve exists in the list).

Replace current period forecast with Actuals on cut off date

If you select this option and the period close settings have not been specified, the system replaces the Forecast curve with the Actuals (or "spends") curve at the end of the month.

Note: The cumulative graph will not show the Forecast connected to Actuals (or "spends") until the system overwrites the Forecast with the Actuals.

Allow edit of current period forecast until replacement actuals

This option lets you reconfigure the Forecast until the date set to replace the Foretasted values with Actuals (or "spends").

Note: If the cutoff date is not specified, but the Replace current period forecast with Actuals on cut off date and Allow edit of current period forecast until replacement by Actuals options are selected, the system does not allow edits to the Forecast curve after the end of the month.

Distribute unassigned amounts from Spends

Your options for unassigned amounts are:

  • Using weighted average over all remaining periods
  • Using weighted average over ___ next periods

You can enter the number of time periods (1 or more) not exceeding the number of periods remaining.

The options above are available only if you have chosen to:

  • Select a distribution profile to use as the default distribution profile for the curve.
  • Select Begin calculations at the end of curve option to automatically start the Forecast at the end of a selected Actual (or "spends") curve for each time period.

Select Baseline curve for comparison

Click the drop-down list and select a Baseline curve to compare with the Forecast curve.

Related Topics

Forecast Curve

Adding a Template for Forecast Curve or Cash Flow by CBS Summary or CBS



Last Published Wednesday, June 26, 2024