Note: This subtask is only available for the top level of the project.
Use this subtask to enter the number of levels, level segment lengths, and level descriptions of each project. You cannot enter levels other than the top level in the Basic Project Info screen until you have defined the project's structure in this screen. If you have set up a default project structure in the Project Settings screen (Administration\Configure\Projects), that structure will automatically display in this subtask. You should edit it as necessary before proceeding with entry of additional tasks.
|
|
Note: This subtask is only available for the top level of the project. |
Use this subtask when you are entering the top level of your project. You should review the project structure that is displayed in the screen. This structure is the default structure that was set up in the Project Settings screen (Administration\Configure\Projects). If you are satisfied with the default structure, no further action is required in this screen. If changes to the default structure are required, make the desired changes before you enter additional levels.
How do I determine the length of the level?
You should consider the number of tasks needed for the level of the project, the ease of data entry, and standard lengths when determining the length of a level.
If a large number of tasks will be needed at a given level of the project, consider entering a length greater than one character. If you make a level only one character, there will only be thirty-six possible tasks at that level. If you think that you may need more than that, make the level longer than one character.
Consider ease of data entry when evaluating the structure. A combination of alphabetic and numeric characters are sometimes more difficult to enter in a transactions screen than all numerics. Do not use a length that is so long that it is difficult to enter in the data entry screens, particularly if the length is not necessary to accommodate the needs of the project.
If your company has a standard project structure, you should consider using that structure for all projects even if all projects do not require the default structure. Using the same structure for all projects will make it easier to print standard reports in Costpoint.
Can I change the length of the levels?
Once you have established the length of the levels in this screen, they cannot be changed. You can attempt to delete the levels that have been established if no other dependent data has been entered. The system will check all areas of the database for references to this project level before allowing you to delete the task. You will not be able to delete the task if any dependent data is found. If the length of one of the levels must be increased, it would be easiest to start a new project.
You can use the Compute Project Transfer screen (Projects\Process\Allocations) to move the activity in the current project to the new project structure.
Can I add levels after the project has been charged?
You can add levels to a project structure beneath the charging level after the project structure has been established.
If the project charging has already occurred, you must carefully evaluate the new project level in relationship to the level where transactions have been posted. Since you can only add project levels beneath the lowest level of the project, the previously-charged levels will be above the newly- added level. This can cause a problem when printing reports by project level. If charging has occurred at multiple levels of the project, it may be difficult to analyze reports that are printed by level. You can solve this problem by reclassifying transactions to the lowest level of the project.
You can also add a new project and use the Compute Project Transfer screen (Projects\Process\Allocations) to reclassify the transactions of the project.
Where will the level description be shown?
Each level will have a level description associated with it that will describe all the tasks at that level. This description will display along with the project description on the project status reports.
Use this table window to identify the structure of the project. The setup in the Project Segment Lengths table window in the Project Settings screen (Administration\Configure\Projects) is the default for this screen. You can edit this table only when the project entered is at the top-level.
|
|
Note: This table window will automatically display the default project structure from the Project Settings screen (Administration\Configure\Projects) if you have selected the Load Defaults pushbutton. |
Level *
This field automatically displays the level number of each segment as you add information to the table. Since the overall length of the project is 30 characters, a maximum of 15 segments, or levels, is possible, including delimiters. For top-level projects, this information is required to establish the project structure.
Once the structure of the project has been established in the top level segment, the level number will display in the Basic Info tab.
Length *
Enter the length for this segment or project level. Note that the length of the first segment, or top level, must correspond to the length for the level 1 segment in the Project Segment Lengths table window in the Project Settings screen (Administration\Configure\Projects). In other words, the length of the top level must be the same for all projects; only the lower levels can have varying segment lengths.
Enter, up to 25 alphanumeric characters, the description for this level of the project or segment, the description will be used during report generation to display the name of the level selected for reporting.
Use this pushbutton to load the default project structure from the Project Settings screen (Administration\Configure\Projects).
* A red asterisk denotes a required field.
Changes to this screen update the PROJ_LVL (Project Levels) table.
