Resource curves

Resource/cost distribution curves enable you to specify how you want resource units or costs spread over the duration of an activity. Resource units and costs are distributed evenly from the assignment start to the assignment finish unless you specify a nonlinear distribution by assigning a curve.

You can assign a resource distribution curve to any resource or role assignment on activities with a duration type of Fixed Duration and Units/Time or Fixed Duration & Units. Assign the appropriate curve to a resource or role assignment by selecting a curve in the Curve column in the Resource Assignments window. You can also assign a resource curve in the Resources tab in the Activity Details.

If timesheet data exists for the actuals, curves are ignored for the actuals and are spread using the timesheet data. Activities with timesheet data continue to spread the remaining units using the curve.

In order to use curves to calculate the Actual Units/Cost and EV Units/Costs, the new project setting that uses duration percent complete to calculate actuals should be marked.

Tip

• Using pre-defined or custom resource curves, you can define 21 points on the curve to spread units or costs over the duration of an activity. While this is suitable for most activities, some of your activities may require a more granular resource distribution. For example, for long duration activities with varying levels of effort, a resource curve may not fully reflect when work is planned to be performed on the activity. To accurately capture future period resource distribution for these activities, you can manually enter future period budgeted or planned and remaining unit assignment values in the Resource Usage Spreadsheet of the Activities and Resource Assignments windows.

Notes

• Resource curves do not support expenses. The Accrual Type will continue to spread the expenses.
• Resource lag is taken into consideration. The curve should begin on the "lagged start date."
• Resource curves are reflected in the Resource Usage Profile and Resource Usage Spreadsheet.

Related Topics

Future period bucket planning