Spread Curves Tab of the Application Preferences Dialog Box

Use this tab to customize the predefined spread curves or to create your own spread curves.

Note: When you make changes on this tab of the Application Preferences dialog box, you must exit Cobra for changes to take effect. You must also stop and restart all Cobra Web Service instances, including those that are deployed in PM Compass.

Spread curves you create on this dialog box become a selection when entering and spreading time-phased data.

Contents

Field	Description
Name	Cobra provides the following predefined spread curves. Select one of the following options: Back Load: Select this option to allocate most of the cost toward the end of the control account or work package. Bell: Select this option to allocate minimal cost at the beginning of the control account or work package, gradually increasing in the middle and tapering off at the end. Double Peak: Select this option to allocate most of the cost in two peaks, one near the beginning of the control account or work package and one near the end. Early Peak: Select this option to allocate most of the cost at the beginning of the control account or work package. First Period: Select this option to allocate all the cost to the first calendar period of the control account or work package. Front Load: Select this option to allocate all of the cost at the beginning of the control account or work package. Last Period: Select this option to allocate all of the cost to the last calendar period of the control account or work package. Late Peak: Select this option to allocate most of the cost at the end of the control account or work package. Linear: Select this option to interpret the cost as a total quantity and allocate the cost as evenly as possible throughout the control account or work package. Note: Click the header column to sort the spread curves in ascending or descending order.
Spread Curve graph	The graph displays the percent distribution for each spread curve over 10 periods. You can modify the values in each period by changing the number below the graph either by entering new values or clicking the up and down arrows. Changing the value in one period has no effect on the remaining periods. The graph above the 10 periods graphically shows the distribution. The curves are mapped to the actual number of fiscal reporting periods (baseline start and end date) being spread for the control account or work package. Cobra uses the percentage entered for the 10 periods and applies that to the fiscal range of the control account or work package. Click OK on the error message to redistribute the values for all periods so that the new curve conforms to the adjusted value and the overall curve shape.
Number of Spread Points	Select or enter the number of spread points to use for a spread curve. You can select or enter a minimum value of 10 and maximum value of 52. When you select or enter a value that is less than 10 or greater than 52, Cobra changes the current value back to the original value. The number of points in the spread curve graph corresponds to the value specified on this field. Use the Time-phase pane or Time-phase Detail pane of the Project view to spread the time-phased values using a specific curve. The resulting time-phased spread will have the same shape as the periods defined in the spread curve.
New	Click this button to create a new custom spread curve. Attention: For more information, see the Add Spread Curve Dialog Box help topic.
Delete	Use this button to delete a spread curve. Select the spread curve you want to delete and click this button. A message confirming the deletion displays. Click OK to proceed with the deletion. Any budget that was spread using the deleted spread curve remains spread as it was when the curve existed.