Codes
By setting up a coding system and assigning codes to your project, you can display project data at a summary level, a detailed level, or any level within the project. A good coding system provides clear and concise information.
Code files can be a flat file representing a list of managers, for example, or they can have parent-child relationships or a hierarchical structure defining a work breakdown structure (WBS). After creating a code file, you can assign that code file to your project and the codes become a pick list of valid codes during data entry. Codes are used for roll-up reporting, filtering, and processing, among others.
The following table lists the areas in Cobra where you can assign codes:
| Area | Number of codes that you can assign | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Project | 9 | Product line, division, sector |
| Control Account | 3 | Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Organization Breakdown Structure (OBS) |
| Codes assigned to a control account | 9 | Charge number for loading actual costs, recurring versus non-recurring costs |
| Control Account Manager | 1 | Used in CAP and Pivot reports showing the responsibility matrix (RAM) and security for explanation of variance |
| Work Package field | 1 | Alternate rollup for reporting |
| Codes assigned to a Work Package | 9 | Change request number, location of the work, vendor, and codes from an activity in the schedule, and so on |
| Code to use against the baseline changes and/or audit log | 1 | Change numbers for audit log |
| Code on codes | 9 | Alternate codes for customer WBS, contract line item number (CLIN), Integrated Product Team (IPT) lead, and so on |
| Resource codes | 9 | Cost centers, cost element codes, and so on |
| Rates | 2 | Overhead codes and so on |
Parent-Child Relationships in Code Files
If your code file has parent-child relationships or hierarchy, you are often allowed to select a level of the code file for reporting summaries or filters. It is helpful to create related codes at the same level. For example, the codes of cost (such as labor, material, and ODC) should all be at the same level of your resource file. Defining related codes at the same level allows you to easily report or filter on labor, for example. When you run a report, you can choose Resources and then a level of the code file as a section criteria, or as a filter for reporting or processing your project.