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Managing PM Project Phases

PM Project Phases assigns phases and cost types to a project and enters or updates original estimates. It writes Job Phases (JCJP) and Job Cost Header (JCCH) — the same tables as JC Job Phases and JC Original Estimates — but entries stay pending for Job Cost until you run PM Interface. At interface, Job Cost by Period (JCCP) and Job Cost Detail (JCCD) get original estimates using the contract start month.

Before you start​

  • Phases exist in JC Phases for normal use. Import can add phases missing from JC Phases (with a warning); you cannot add sub-phases until the phase exists in JC Phases. Interface still posts all project phases to the JC job-phase file.
  • Cost-type defaults (UM, Bill / Item Unit / Phase Unit flags) come from JC Phases; otherwise UM = LS and Bill Flag = C.
  • Hours fields only if Track Hours is on for the JC Cost Type.
  • Roles must already be on the project (PM Projects) or job (JC Jobs) before assigning them on a phase.
  • Each phase must link to a contract item. Soft/hard-closed jobs (status in red): you can still add a phase even if JC Company Parameters disallow posting to closed jobs, but cost types cannot be added/changed unless posting to closed jobs is allowed.

Steps — add phases​

Three methods:

  1. Manual — Grid tab or Info tab (Info needs Phase above the tabs). Cost types and estimates on the Cost Types tab. Initialize loads every cost type from JC Phases with UM/flags; units/hours/costs/amount = 0.00; Update = Y. Delete or edit as needed.
  2. Initialize / copy — large sets via PM Copy Project Phases (help also says “PM Project Phase Copy”). Copied phases default to contract item 1 (change as needed). Cost-type init uses Initialize Cost Types (same zero estimates / Update Y). Set Update to N if not ready to interface.
  3. Import — PM Import Estimates (estimating packages or CSV). Missing JC Phases warn but still add.

Also see Managing PM Template Phases + PM Copy Template to roll a template into the project first.

Maintain estimates and flags​

  • Update (maps to JC Original Estimates Source): Y Ready (default); N Not ready (blocks interface); I Interfaced (locked here); J Job Cost (entered in JC; editing units/hours/cost/amount flips to Y).
  • After interface, do not change Update or estimate detail on this form — use JC Original Estimates (changes sync back). New phases/cost types entered in either form after interface update the other.
  • Contract Item — F4 or F5 opens PM Contract Items. Auto-add of missing items is controlled by Auto-Add Contract Item and Update Contract Item Amount (help cites both PM Projects and PM Company Parameters — check both).
  • Subcontract Detail / Material Detail buttons: SL cost types from PM Company Parameters (SL Params) auto-create PM Subcontract Detail; material cost types auto-create PM Material Detail (type P-Purchase Order). Exception: subcontract CT does not create a subcontract if UM is not LS, Units and Unit Cost are 0.00, and Amount is not 0.00.
  • Roles tab: HQ Roles already on the project; one row per process (C Cost Projections or P Progress Entry). Same role for both needs two rows. Can also init via JC Job Phase Roles Initialize.

Key fields​

Project; Phase; Description (60, defaults from JC Phases); Contract (display); Contract Item; Projection Minimum %; Insurance Code; Cost Type; Units; UM (LS still allows units for progress — often 1 or 100; labor usually not HRS); Hrs/Unit; Hours; Cost/Hour; Unit Cost; Amount; Bill Flag (Y / C dollars only / N); Item Unit Flag; Phase Unit Flag; Update; Role; Process.

Shared fields that update both PM Project Phases and JC Job Phases when changed: Contract Item, Projection Minimum %, Insurance Code, Item Unit Flag, Phase Unit Flag.

Projection min when blank: field defs use JC Phases then job then company parameters; procedure text also mentions zero defaulting to job/company — treat phase/job/company hierarchy as the practical rule.

Estimate totals by the up to 10 cost types on PM Company Parameters (CT Display) appear at the bottom of Info / end of Grid; Phase Total includes all cost types.

Notes​