Consultants Tab of the Plan Form

The Consultants tab on the Plan form in the Projects hub provides both summary consultant planning data for work breakdown structure (WBS) elements and the ability to drill down to the detail at the consultant type level. In the grid, you can add or update consultant type assignments and the related plan amounts.

This tab displays only if you have enabled planning for consultants and if the project is a regular project (it is assigned the Regular charge type).

Note that changes you make to a plan are saved automatically. However, until you publish the plan, you can click Other Actions > Revert on the Actions bar to discard all unpublished changes and restore the plan to its most recent published version.

Use the options on the Consultants tab on the Plan Settings dialog box to specify consultant rates and multipliers for the plan. To display that dialog box, click Other Actions > Plan Settings on the Actions bar.

The amounts on this tab display at billing or cost as shown on the upper-right corner of the form. If, on the General tab of the Plan Settings dialog box, you selected Budget Type > Cost and Billing, then both Billing and Cost options are available. You can switch between them and the tab's information will update accordingly.

If your firm uses multiple currencies, the currency in use is indicated next to the Billing or Cost option. The project cost currency is always used when viewing projects and plans at cost. A configuration setting that your system administrator selects determines whether project cost currency or billing currency is used when you view projects and plans at billing.

About job-to-date (JTD) date: If you have activated either the Accounting or PSA module, the JTD date is defined by the Job-to-Date (JTD) Through setting in Settings > Resource Planning > Plan Settings. This selection determines the date for calculating the JTD (posted and unposted) and then uses the next day and beyond to calculate the estimate-to-complete (ETC) date.

Contents: Left Grid Section

This section of the grid displays the WBS elements at each level of the WBS for the selected project, down to the planning level for consultants. For the lowest-level WBS elements, it also displays the consultant types assigned to that element.

To change the width of the left grid section, position the mouse pointer over the dividing line between the two grid sections, and drag the line.

Field

Description

Level/Consultant Type

This column displays the WBS elements for the selected project and, for WBS elements at the lowest consultants planning level, the currently assigned consultant types. In addition to consultant type assignments that you add yourself, the planning grid may also include assignments for consultant types with no planned amounts but with JTD amounts charged to a lowest-level plan element. In most cases, Vantagepoint creates those assignments automatically when you display the plan. However, if the Add JTD Assignments option displays on the Actions bar, that indicates that some JTD assignments were not added because another user had the plan checked out. In that case, you can click Add JTD Assignments to update the plan with the missing assignments.(If unit planning is not enabled for the project's company, these JTD assignments may include assignments for unit transactions, based on the applicable account in the unit table. If unit planning is enabled, JTD assignments for unit transactions are instead added on the Units tab of the Plan form.) Only WBS elements that are at or above the planning level selected for consultants on the Plan Settings dialog box display in the grid. By default, only names display for WBS elements, but you have the option to display WBS numbers along with the names. Click next to the upper-right corner of the grid and select the Show Project Numbers checkbox on the Column Settings & Selections dialog box. Click and to expand or collapse the work breakdown structure levels. You can assign consultant types only to WBS elements at the lowest level of the WBS. To add a consultant type assignment for a WBS element, hover over the WBS row and click in the Level/Consultant Type field in the row to display the Consultant Type Lookup dialog box. Select one or more the consultant type(s), then click Select. The Add Consultant Type and Consultant Name dialog box opens. On that dialog box, select the consultant type and, optionally, a consultant name. If displays in this field where normally does, the WBS element is dormant. The Status column in the grid shows the status for the currently selected WBS row (project, phase, or task): (Active), (Inactive), or (Dormant). You cannot add new assignments for a dormant element or any elements under it in the WBS, but you can edit, copy, delete, or reschedule existing assignments. If necessary, you can later select a different consultant type if there is no assigned JTD amount or baseline amount for the consultant type row. If there is assigned JTD or baseline for the consultant type row, you can select a different consultant type only if there is also a planned amount. In that case, a new assignment row is created, and you can choose to move the planned amount to that row. The JTD amount or baseline amount remains with the original assignment row.

Contents: Right Grid Section - Billing View Columns

Click next to the upper-right corner of the grid to select the columns you want to display in this section of the grid in Billing view. You may be able to select any of the columns described below, or you may have only a subset of them available to you, depending on the settings selected on the Grids form (Settings > Resource Planning > Grids).

Field	Description
Status	For a WBS row, this column displays the status of the WBS or consultant element: (Active), (Inactive), or (Dormant).
Account	This column displays the account number that is associated with the consultant type.
Baseline Billing	This column displays the planned billing amount that was saved as the baseline for the consultant type and WBS element. You can have only one baseline version for any plan. Any changes you make to the existing baseline will overwrite the previous baseline data. After a baseline exists, you can change the baseline only if your role has appropriate access rights.
Calculated % Complete Billing	This column displays the percent complete for the WBS element or consultant type, at billing, as of the JTD date: (JTD consultants billing amount / EAC consultants billing amount) x 100.
Consultant Name	Use this column to select or display a consultant for the consultant type assignment. If necessary, you can later select a different consultant if there is no assigned JTD amount or baseline amount for the consultant row. If there is assigned JTD or baseline for the consultant row, you can select a different consultant only if there is also a planned amount. In that case, a new assignment row is created, and you can choose to move the planned amount to that row. The JTD amount or baseline amount remains with the original assignment row.
Contract	For a project with the Regular charge type, this column displays the sum of the reimbursable and direct consultants contract amounts, at billing, for the WBS element.
Contract Less EAC Billing	This column displays the variance between the contract amount and the estimate-at-completion (EAC) consultants amount for the WBS element, at billing, as of the JTD date. Negative amounts display in red. Calculation: Consultants contract amount - EAC consultants amount.
Contract Less JTD Billing	This column displays the variance between the contract amount and the JTD consultants amount, at billing, for the WBS element as of the JTD date. Negative amounts display in red. Calculation: Consultants contract amount - JTD consultants amount.
EAC Billing	This column displays the sum of the JTD consultants amount and the estimate-to-complete (ETC) consultants amount for the WBS element, at billing. Calculation: JTD consultants amount as of the JTD date + ETC consultants amount from the day after the JTD date forward.
ETC Billing	This column displays the ETC consultants amount, at billing, for the WBS element. This is the planned billing amount required from the day after the JTD date through the end of the plan to complete the project, phase, or task. Calculation: Planned Billing - JTD Billing if result > 0; otherwise, 0 at the resource level and summed up at WBS levels.
Has Predecessor	This column displays a checkmark if the plan level has at least one predecessor.
Has Successor	This column displays a checkmark if the plan level has at least one successor.
JTD <JTD date> Billing	This column displays the JTD consultants amount, at billing, for the WBS element as of the JTD date. Calculation: Sum of consultant charges for all posted transactions and committed purchase orders. A red arrow displays in the column to notify you when the WBS row's JTD billing amount exceeds the planned billing amount for the WBS element. Each WBS amount is checked, and an arrow can display for any row.
Notes	If the icon displays in this column for a WBS element, click that icon to review or edit the existing notes for that element. If the icon does not display for a WBS element, hover over the row and click to add a note for that element. A note entered on this tab is also available in the Notes column on all of the other planning tabs on the Plan form. The plan notes for a WBS element are also displayed in an info bubble, along with other information for that element, when you click on the WBS element in any of the planning grids in the Projects hub or in Resource Management. This option is not available for consultant type rows.
Organization	If Vantagepoint is set up to use organizations, this column displays the organization with which each WBS element is associated. For a consultant type row, this column is blank.
Plan Start	For a WBS row, this column displays the plan start date for the WBS element. Vantagepoint provides default plan dates when it creates the plan initially (see Default Plan Dates for New Projects for details). Review those default dates and change any that are not correct. When you enter a plan date on this tab, the corresponding plan dates on the other planning tabs are updated also. If you change this date, the Reschedule Plan Dates dialog box displays so you can specify how you want the labor hours distributed when the plan is rescheduled. If you select a date that is earlier than the plan start date for any higher-level WBS elements in the same branch, those plan start dates are adjusted accordingly. If you select a date that is later than either the plan start dates for any lower-level WBS elements or any labor resource assignment start dates in the same branch, those start dates are adjusted accordingly.
Plan End	For a WBS row, this column displays the plan end date for the WBS element. Vantagepoint provides default plan dates when it creates the plan initially (see Default Plan Dates for New Projects for details). Review those default dates and change any that are not correct. When you enter a plan date on this tab, the corresponding plan dates on the other planning tabs are updated also. If you change this date, the Reschedule Plan Dates dialog box displays so you can specify how you want the labor hours distributed when the plan is rescheduled. If you select a date that is later than the plan end date for any higher-level WBS elements in the same branch, those plan end dates are adjusted accordingly. If you select a date that is earlier than either the plan end dates for any lower-level WBS elements or any labor resource assignment end dates in the same branch, those end dates are adjusted accordingly.
Planned Billing	For a WBS row, this column displays the sum of all planned consultants amounts, at billing, for the consultant types assigned to that WBS element. For a consultant type row, this column displays the planned consultant amount, at billing, for that consultant type assignment for the WBS element. In most cases, you cannot enter an amount in this field. Instead, you can enter or change a planned cost amount in Planned Cost, and the amount in this field changes accordingly. For direct consultants, the cost and billing amounts will be the same. For reimbursable consultants, the planned billing amount is calculated based on the cost amount and the reimbursable consultant markup settings in the Plan Settings dialog box. The one case in which you can enter an amount in this column is when no rate method is selected for reimbursable consultants in the Plan Settings dialog box. In that case, the Planned Cost column does not display, and you enter the planned amount in Planned Billing. A blue arrow displays in the column to notify you when the WBS row's planned billing amount does not match the contract amount for the WBS element. Each WBS amount is checked, and an arrow can display for any row.
Planned Cost	The Planned Cost column is not available for selection in the Column Settings & Selections dialog box for the billing view. However, if you select the Planned Billing column for display and the plan settings include markup settings for consultants, the Planned Cost column is automatically displayed also. For a WBS row, this column displays the sum of all planned consultants amounts, at cost, for the consultant types assigned to that WBS element. For a consultant type row, this column displays the planned consultant amount, at cost, for that consultant type assignment for the WBS element. You can enter or change the planned cost amount on WBS rows or on consultant type rows. You can enter amounts in this column for any WBS element at any level of the structure at or below the planning level for consultants, if that element has at least one consultant type assigned. When you do, Vantagepoint allocates the amount to lower-level WBS elements and to the assigned consultant types. How the amount entered for a WBS element is allocated to consultant types depends on whether or not amounts have already been entered for the affected assignments: If none of the affected consultant type assignments currently has an amount, the amount is allocated equally to each consultant type. If one or more of the affected consultant type assignments currently has a planned cost amount, the amount you enter at a WBS level is allocated to each consultant type assignment in proportion to its current planned cost amount. Consultant type assignments that currently have no planned cost amount receive no allocation. The planned amount for a consultant type is stored as a lump sum for the plan date range of the parent WBS element. Unlike labor, planned consultant type amounts are not allocated to individual days in the date range.
Planned Less EAC Billing	For a WBS row, this column displays the difference between the total planned consultants amount, at billing, for that WBS element and the EAC consultants amount, at billing, for the WBS element as of the JTD date. For a consultant type row, this column displays the difference between the planned consultants amount, at billing, for that consultant type assignment for the WBS element and the EAC amount, at billing, for that consultant type assignment for the WBS element as of the JTD date.
Planned Less JTD Billing	For a WBS row, this column displays the difference between the total planned consultants amount, at billing, for that WBS element and the JTD consultants amount, at billing, charged to the WBS element as of the JTD date. For a resource row, this column displays the difference between the planned consultants amount, at billing, for that consultant type assignment for the WBS element and the JTD consultants amount, at billing, charged to the WBS element for that consultant type assignment as of the JTD date.
Project Manager	For a WBS row, this column displays the project manager for the WBS element. For a consultant type row, this column is blank.
Type	This column displays the account type that is associated with the consultant type: direct or reimbursable.

Contents: Right Grid Section - Cost View Columns

Click next to the upper-right corner of the grid to select the columns you want to display in this section of the grid in Cost view. You may be able to select any of the columns described below, or you may have only a subset of them available to you, depending on the settings selected on the Grids form (Settings > Resource Planning > Grids).

Field	Description
Status	For a WBS row, this column displays the status of the WBS or consultant element: (Active), (Inactive), or (Dormant).
Account	This column displays the account number that is associated with the consultant type.
Baseline Cost	This column displays the planned cost amount that was saved as the baseline for the consultant type for the WBS element. You can have only one baseline version for any plan. Any changes you make to the existing baseline will overwrite the previous baseline data. After a baseline exists, you can change the baseline only if your role has appropriate access rights.
Calculated % Complete Cost	This column displays the percent complete for the WBS element or consultant type, at cost, as of the JTD date: (JTD cost amount / EAC cost amount) x 100.
Consultant Name	Use this column to select or display a consultant for the consultant type assignment. If necessary, you can later select a different consultant if there is no assigned JTD amount or baseline amount for the consultant row. If there is assigned JTD or baseline for the consultant row, you can select a different consultant only if there is also a planned amount. In that case, a new assignment row is created, and you can choose to move the planned amount to that row. The JTD amount or baseline amount remains with the original assignment row.
Contract	This column displays the sum of the reimbursable consultants and direct consultants contract amounts, at cost, for the WBS element.
Contract Less EAC Cost	This column displays the variance between the contract amount and the EAC consultants amount for the WBS element, at cost, as of the JTD date. Negative amounts display in red. Calculation: Consultants contract amount - EAC consultants amount.
Contract Less JTD Cost	This column displays the variance between the contract amount and the JTD consultants amount, at cost, for the WBS element as of the JTD date. Negative amounts display in red. Calculation: Consultants contract amount - JTD consultants amount.
EAC Cost	This column displays the sum of the JTD consultants amount and the ETC consultants amount for the WBS element, at cost. Calculation: JTD consultants amount through JTD date + ETC consultants amount from day after JTD date forward.
ETC Cost	This column displays the ETC consultants amount, at cost, for the WBS element. This is the planned consultants amount required from the date after the JTD date through the end of the plan to complete the project, phase, or task. Calculation: Planned Cost - JTD Cost if result > 0; otherwise, 0 at the resource level and summed up at WBS levels.
JTD <JTD date> Cost	This column displays the JTD consultants amount, at cost, for the WBS element as of the JTD date. Calculation: Sum of consultant charges for all posted transactions and committed purchase orders. A red arrow displays in the column to notify you when the WBS row's JTD cost amount exceeds the planned cost amount for the WBS element. Each WBS amount is checked, and an arrow can display for any row.
Markup Cost	This column displays the markup amount: Consultants contract amount at cost - Planned consultants cost amount.
Notes	If the icon displays in this column for a WBS element, click that icon to review or edit the existing notes for that element. If the icon does not display for a WBS element, hover over the row and click to add a note for that element. A note entered on this tab is also available in the Notes column on all of the other planning tabs on the Plan form. The plan notes for a WBS element are also displayed in an info bubble, along with other information for that element, when you click on the WBS element in any of the planning grids in the Projects hub or in Resource Management. This option is not available for consultant type rows.
Organization	If Vantagepoint is set up to use organizations, this column displays the organization with which each WBS element is associated. For a consultant type row, this column is blank.
Plan Start	For a WBS row, this column displays the plan start date for the WBS element. You can enter or select the date. When you enter this plan date, the corresponding plan dates on the other planning tabs are updated also. If you change this date, the Reschedule Plan Dates dialog box displays so you can specify how you want labor hours distributed when the plan is rescheduled. If you select a date that is earlier than the plan start date for any higher-level WBS elements in the same branch, those plan start dates are adjusted accordingly. If you select a date that is later than either the plan start dates for any lower-level WBS elements or any labor resource assignment start dates in the same branch, those start dates are adjusted accordingly.
Plan End	For a WBS row, this column displays the plan end date for the WBS element. You can enter or select the date. When you enter this plan date, the corresponding plan dates on the other planning tabs are updated also. If you change this date, the Reschedule Plan Dates dialog box displays so you can specify how you want the hours distributed when the plan is rescheduled. If you select a date that is later than the plan end date for any higher-level WBS elements in the same branch, those plan end dates are adjusted accordingly. If you select a date that is earlier than either the plan end dates for any lower-level WBS elements or any labor resource assignment end dates in the same branch, those end dates are adjusted accordingly.
Planned Cost	For a WBS row, this column displays the sum of all planned consultants amounts, at cost, for the consultant types assigned to that WBS element. For a consultant type row, this column displays the planned consultant amount, at cost, for that consultant type assignment for the WBS element. You can enter or change the planned cost amount on a WBS row or on a consultant type row. You can enter amounts in this column for any WBS element at any level of the structure at or above the planning level for consultants, if that element has at least one consultant type assigned. When you do, Vantagepoint allocates the amount to lower-level WBS elements and to the assigned consultant types. How the amount entered for a WBS element is allocated to consultant types depends on whether or not amounts have already been entered for the affected assignments: If none of the affected consultant type assignments currently has an amount, the amount is allocated equally to each consultant type. If one or more of the affected consultant type assignments currently has a planned cost amount, the amount you enter at a WBS level is allocated to each consultant type assignment in proportion to its current planned cost amount. Consultant type assignments that currently have no planned cost amount receive no allocation. The planned amount for an consultant type is stored as a lump sum for the plan date range of the parent WBS element. Unlike labor, planned expense type amounts are not allocated to individual days in the date range.
Planned Less EAC Cost	For a WBS row, this column displays the difference between the total planned consultants amount, at cost, for that WBS element and the EAC consultants amount, at cost, for the WBS element as of the JTD date. For a consultant type row, this column displays the difference between the planned consultants amount, at cost, for that consultant type assignment for the WBS element and the EAC amount, at cost, for that consultant type assignment for the WBS element as of the JTD date.
Planned Less JTD Cost	For a WBS row, this column displays the difference between the total planned consultants amount, at cost, for that WBS element and the JTD consultants amount, at cost, charged to the WBS element as of the JTD date. For a consultant row, this column displays the difference between the planned consultants amount, at cost, for that consultant type assignment for the WBS element and the JTD consultants amount, at cost, charged to the WBS element for that consultant type assignment as of the JTD date.
Project Manager	For a WBS row, this column displays the project manager for the WBS element. For a consultant type row, this column is blank.
Type	This column displays the account type that is associated with the consultant type: direct or reimbursable.
	To display the Consultant Plan Summary chart and the Consultant Progress chart for a WBS element, hover over or click the WBS row and click this icon at the end of the row. The charts display in the Consultants Charts dialog box. If you leave the dialog box open, you can select other rows in the grid, and the charts update automatically to reflect the currently selected row. The charts also update automatically if you change data in the grid that affects the currently selected row.
	This icon displays at the end of the row when you click or hover over a grid row. Click the icon to select one of these actions for that row: Reschedule (WBS rows only): Use the Reschedule Plan Dates dialog box to change one or both plan dates for a WBS row. You also indicate how to distribute the planned labor hours within the new schedule. Reassign (consultant type rows only): Use the Add Consultant Type and Consultant Name dialog box to reassign the planned amount for a consultant type assignment to a different consultant type or consultant name. Delete (consultant type rows only): Delete a single consultant type assignment. If the assignment has a JTD amount or has been saved as part of the baseline plan, you cannot delete the assignment. In those cases, however, you can still use this option to delete the current planned amount for the assignment.
	Click this icon above the upper-right corner of the grid to display the Column Settings & Selections dialog box and do any of the following: Move a column in the Selected Columns section to rearrange a column in the grid. Click on each column and drag it to a different place in the list. Display WBS numbers along with names in the grid Select the summary columns that display in the right section of the grid