Project Setup Tips
Although setting up a project can be tedious and time-consuming, knowing which pieces of information have to be entered immediately in order to make Costpoint function properly, and which ones are optional, can lighten the load tremendously.
This discussion is intended to provide the correct sequence for setting up information in Costpoint Project Setup, and also to show which information is required and which information is optional.
Before entering any data in Costpoint Project Setup, enter your complete Chart of Accounts, including all organizations and reference numbers, in Costpoint General Ledger. You do NOT need to set up indirect cost pools before entering data in Costpoint Project Setup.
You can set up a project on the Manage Project User Flow screen. Click a link for more information about each setup.
- Set Up the Project Setup Control screens
- Set Up All Applicable Project Master screens
- Setup Account/Org Links subtask
- Set Up the Manage Modifications screen
- Set Up the Government Contract subtask on the Manage Project User Flow
- Set up other applicable screens
- Set up labor categories for Time and Materials projects and Level of Effort projects
- Set up revenue information
- Set up discounts
- Set up Cost of Goods Sold (if applicable)
- Set up cost and hours ceilings
- Set up prior fiscal year history
- Set up billings. (This process is described in detail in the topics for Costpoint Billing. At the very least, it involves setting up the Manage Project Billing Information screen.)
All of these screens are used to control processing within Costpoint Cost and Revenue Processing, Inquiry and Reporting, and Billing. You can enter optional data at any time, and you can even enter required data in a leisurely fashion, depending upon which processes you want to use. For example, if you do not need to calculate billings right away, you can delay setup of the Manage Project Billing Information screen, or if you do not have hours ceilings and do not require contract-to-date totals on your Project Status Reports, you can delay entering Labor History. However, in the long run, the more complete your setup is, the more accurate all of the processes and reports are.
- Related Topics:
- Setting Up the Project Setup Control Menu Screens
Pay special attention to the Configure Project Settings screen, the Manage Project Account Groups screen, and the Manage Project Types screen. - Setting Up All Applicable Project Master Screens
At a minimum, enter data on the Basic Info tab of the Manage Project User Flow, including any needed charging criteria screens, the Mods screen, and the Government Contract Info subtask. - Setting Up Account/Organization Links Subtask
Use the Set Up Account/Organization Links subtask of the Manage Project User Flow to control the creation of valid project/account/organization combinations for charging purposes. - Setting Up the Manage Modifications Screen
Use the Manage Modifications screen to enter the signed Value of the contract (Value Modifications group box), the amount of funding for the contract (Funding Modifications group box), and the Period of Performance. Enter the initial signed value, funded value, and period of performance as Modification 0000. - Setting Up the Government Contract Subtask
Nothing on the Government Contract subtask of the Enter/Manage Project User Flow is required unless you selected the Require Incurred Cost Submission Code for all Projects check box on the Configure Project Settings screen (Step 1). - Setting Up Other Applicable Screens
Aside from the Project Setup Control Menu, Project Master, and Manage Modifications screens, you must also set up the following screens to ensure that Costpoint works properly. - Setting Up Labor Categories and Time and Materials Projects and Level of Effort Projects
This step is not required unless the categories that you use for tracking and billing costs on a project are different than the general labor categories you assigned each employee in the Employee Master file. - Setting Up Revenue Information
You must select a Revenue Formula on the Manage Revenue Information screen (or the Revenue Details subtask of the Manage Project User Flow) if you want Costpoint to calculate revenue for the project. - Setting Up Discounts
You can set up seven discount methods on the Manage Revenue Information screen. - Setting Up Cost of Goods Sold (If_Applicable)
If the Project Classification that you selected in Step 2 was WIP or INVENTORY, select a method of COGS calculation on the Manage Cost of Goods Sold screen and provide any additional information required by the formula that you selected. - Setting Up Cost and Hours Ceilings
If the project has ceilings on hours, cost, or indirect rates, for either billing or revenue calculation purposes, you must next set up those ceilings. - Setting Up Prior Fiscal Year History
Several screens contain prior fiscal year history.