Understanding Cost Distribution

How Costs Are Distributed to Tasks

Tactplan automatically distributes costs across your schedule based on how you link quantities and cost items to tasks. The system follows specific distribution rules depending on your setup.

Distribution Scenarios

Multiple distribution scenarios are explained below. The scenarios have different applications for the cost distribution needed on a project. 

A: Cost with Linked Quantity

1. Link a quantity (e.g., "Qty 1") to a cost item (e.g., "Cost item 1").
2. Link that cost item to your task.
3. View the distribution in your schedule - the cost distributes based on the linked quantity.

B: Costs Distributed by Work

1. Link multiple cost items directly to a task without quantities.
2. View the distribution - costs spread evenly across the task duration based on work.

C: Multiple Quantities with One Cost Link

1. Link a quantity to a cost item.
2. Link that cost item to your task.
3. Link another cost item directly to the same task.
4. View the distribution - only the cost with a linked quantity appears in cost distribution.

D: Combined Quantity and Cost Links

1. Link a quantity to a cost item and link that cost item to your task.
2. Link the same quantity directly to the task.
3. Link additional quantities to the task.
4. Link another cost item to the task.
5. View the distribution - costs distribute across all linked quantities.

E: Quantity-Linked and Work-Based Costs

1. Link a quantity to a cost item and link that cost item to your task.
2. Link another cost item directly to the task (without a quantity).
3. View the distribution - the first cost distributes by quantity, the second by work.

F: Multiple Quantities with Multiple Cost Links

1. Link multiple quantities to different cost items.
2. Link all cost items to your task.
3. Link some quantities directly to the task as well.
4. View the distribution—each cost distributes according to its linked quantity.

G: Mixed Distribution with Work-Based Costs

1. Link multiple quantities to different cost items.
2. Link all cost items to your task.
3. Add one cost item without a quantity link.
4. View the distribution - quantity-linked costs distribute by quantity, the unlinked cost distributes by work.

H: Complex Mixed Distribution

1. Link quantities to cost items and link cost items to your task.
2. Link some of the same quantities directly to the task.
3. Add a cost item without a quantity link.
4. View the distribution - the unlinked cost distributes across all task quantities.

Cost Distribution on Zero-Duration Tasks

1. Link a cost item to a task.
2. Set the task duration to 0.
3. View the distribution - the cost distributes evenly despite the zero duration.