Template for Easy Cost Planning 

Definition

The template is a dynamic calculation tool that uses functions and formulas to calculate numerical values and determine the results of Boolean expressions (true or false). Templates for Easy Cost Planning are created in environments 200, 205-208, and 214-215. The environment is defined automatically by the system depending on the object to be planned (internal order, WBS element, and so on). With the exception of environment 214, you cannot create environments through Customizing. Instead, you can only do so by defining a costing model.

Structure

The template contains a table in which you can make the following line entries :

Column

Possible Entry/Process

Item category in template

The key of this item category is not always the same as that of the costing item.

Comment line, process, calculation row (process), cost center/activity type, calculation row (cost center/activity type), costing model, external activities, subcontracting, material, service, base planning object, text item, variable item

For the item category calculation row, you cannot call the editor or define methods in the object column.

You can only select costing models that are valid either for all planning objects or for the same planning object as the costing model in which you want to insert this model as a submodel.

Description

The description is displayed in the cost estimate as the description for the costing items. The system determines the description for most of the item categories automatically once you have confirmed your entries. (The description is used in the case of the base planning object.) Consequently you only need to make an entry here if the description cannot be determined by the system or if you need to overwrite it.

Object

Enter the object (such as a material), depending on the item category specified. You can either enter the object directly, or define methods.

For item categories of the template J to R, you can use the input help to make the required entries. Always enter a cost element if the system is unable to determine one. This applies to those item categories for which the cost element was requested in the possible entries help; with base planning objects the cost element can be determined via the master data providing you have entered one there. If the item does not have a cost element, it is not possible to assign the costs to a cost component. This means that the costs cannot be rolled up if they are incurred in a cost estimate which is part of a costing structure with superior cost estimates.

For the categories Process and Cost center/Activity type, you can either predefine an object or determine dynamically one or more processes or cost centers/activity types. For more information, see Object Determination.

Quantity

Enter a quantity or characteristic directly. You can enter the appropriate characteristic by defining a formula.

For more information, see Activity Quantity Determination.

Activation

Specify the condition under which an item is active. For the activation of an item, you can predefine values as active or inactive or define a method that returns active or inactive at the point of evaluation. If you do not enter anything in the column, the item is active.

The item (MATERIAL; Gravel; 0001 / GRAVEL01; M3; QUANTITY_ FILLER; METHOD) with method: FILLER = "Gravel" is only active if gravel was selected as the FILLER. For all other characteristic values, the item is not included in the costing.

For more information, see Activation.

Price

Price for a variable item This column is not utilized for any other item category.

 

Depending on the item category in the template, there are various functions available to define methods and formulas.

For more information on the costing item categories, refer to Master Data for Unit Costing.