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Setting Up JC Job Phases

JC Job Phases work together with three forms:

  • JC Phases: company master of phase codes and default cost types
  • JC Job Phases: assign phases and cost types to a specific job
  • JC Original Estimates: enter original Hours / Units / Unit Cost / Cost by phase and cost type

All estimated and actual job costs track by these phase codes. Posting in accounting modules is normally limited to cost types assigned on the master phase unless you add a non-standard type on the job.

:::note Partial Trimble coverage The 2026-09-09 Trimble pass read JC Phases / Job Phases / Original Estimates pages cleanly, then hit a mid-browse captcha when opening Cost Types About afterward. Depth below uses the successful pages plus card answers. :::

Before you start​

  • Phase validation uses JC Company Parameters Number of Valid Characters in Phase Code (Locked vs Not Locked counts). Fewer valid characters allow more dynamic phase entry. Phase-code length and format are set at install; changing format later requires data conversion.
  • JC Cost Types exist. Prefer a stable master phase list (for example CSI-style) before job assignment.
  • The job and contract (with contract items) exist when you will assign a contract item on each job phase.
  • You have permission to maintain phases and estimates.

Steps​

JC Phases (master)​

  1. Open JC Phases.
  2. Enter each phase code and description used across jobs.
  3. On the Cost Types tab, assign the cost types that normally post to the phase. Set quantity-related flags Trimble exposes for each cost type (Bill, Item Unit, Phase Unit) so billing and units-complete logic know which types drive billed / item / phase units.
  4. Save. Master cost types are what Job Phases auto-adds later.

JC Job Phases (assign to a job)​

  1. Open JC Job Phases for the job.
  2. Add a phase. Standard cost types from JC Phases auto-add. On the Cost Types tab, delete types that do not apply and add non-standard types as needed.
  3. Assign a contract item when you add the phase:
    • Normally pick an item that already exists on the contract.
    • If the job has Auto-Add Contract Item and Update Contract Item Amount checked in JC Jobs, you can enter a new item number on the fly; estimated costs for the phase's cost types add into that item's original amounts.
    • If that job flag is unchecked, the contract item must already exist.
  4. Optionally set phase status, descriptions, notes, and roles. Use File > Job Phase Roles Initialize from JC Jobs when initializing phase roles in bulk.
  5. Optionally enter estimates on the Job Phases Estimates tab (grid) or open JC Original Estimates from a cost-type row. The Estimates grid shows all cost types for the phase; add new cost types only from the Cost Types tab.

JC Original Estimates​

  1. Open JC Original Estimates (menu or from Job Phases Estimates). Enter Hours, Units, Unit Cost, and Cost by phase / cost type. Job Total and Phase Total update as you save. Total cost follows units x unit cost and recalculates when those change.
  2. If you add phases in Original Estimates, cost types do not auto-add. Run Initialize Cost Types (Initialize button or File > Initialize Cost Types) to copy cost types, UOM, and bill flag from JC Phases. Hours / Units / Unit Cost / Cost start at 0.00; then enter estimates. Manually adding a single cost type can block later initialization for that phase, so prefer Initialize when bringing a new phase in this form.

Notes​

  • For lump-sum (LS) UOM, enter 1 or 100 units when you will use JC Progress Entry; otherwise unit entry is generally restricted. Progress and many JC reports use those units for percent complete and projections.
  • You can enter original estimates without using JC Job Phases unless you need to change description, standard cost types, contract item, or notes.
  • Locked-phase jobs (JC Jobs phase lock) still allow adding and configuring phases here; lock only restricts which phases may receive posted transactions.
  • Import paths do not always add default cost types; verify after load.
  • Related setup: JC Company Parameters, JC Cost Types, JC Jobs, JC Contracts, Managing JC Original Estimates, JC Progress Entry.