Navigation:  Work Breakdown Structure > COLUMNS > Scenarios on WBS Quantities or Other Fields

Use Case

Pricing a project may imply to make various assumptions on the WBS quantities. Besides managing options, QDV7 offers a way to defining scenarios and switching from one another.

 

Defining Scenarios

Select the Expanded WBS tab and click Automation>Scenarios>Edit scenarios; this opens a window featuring the WBS in Edit mode where 256 columns are visible, each being susceptible to define a scenario.

In the row #1, select in dropdown of each column

▪Values, to enter constants

▪Formula, to enter a formula, which must refer only to values in the very row; enter it in any row in relative coordinates; it propagates throughout the column (except for option row generally; to set to 0 only the quantity of options, test the chapter descriptions against "OPTION" for example). To get more operands, insert other WBS columns in the left-hand part using the context menu.

▪Anything, to allow other references; QDV7 will adapt all formulas one by one if you rearrange the tasks in the WBS; this can take time and lead to unexpected results (for example if a formula of a task refers to a value in another branch which is moved).

To impose quantities of 1 in the branches, check the relating box in File>Options>Editing.

Through the context menu, copy/paste data, cancel operations, copy and paste to entire columns.

In the rows #2 and 3, enter a column group name for quick collapsing (–)/expansion (+) (optionally), and a name (mandatory). Cells In the row #2 can be merged through the context menu.

 

Save your changes; this stores the worksheet to the estimate current version. When you push a version, this worksheet is not pushed.

 

NOTE The scenario feature is superseded if a free field has a 'Copy value to Quantity column (Estimates)' attribute set to Yes. Refer to Free Fields.

 

When you apply a scenario based on the quantity, the original quantities are overwritten. Save the original estimate unless you have defined a side-by-side layout, as described below.

 

Selecting the scenario right after the definition: in the context menu, select Apply Scenario from current column. The receiving column is always the Quantity column.

To print or export the reports, refer to Report of Simulation.

 

Selecting a Scenario Among the List

General procedure : click Automation>Scenarios>Apply scenario; this opens a window for selection. The message "Your estimate has no defined scenario!" shows up if no scenario name has been entered in the editor.

By default the quantity column is cleared out, and the values entered in the definition stage are displayed.

The name of the scenario in force can be read in:

▪the comment in the heading of the Quantity column in WBS (only if the receiving column is the Quantity, erased at each new scenario)

▪the SYS_Active_Scenario_Name text variable

▪the Scenario_Name text variable in the formula editor (refer to Other Special Columns For Quantity)

▪the header or footer of a pdf handout of a report if previously set up (in Edit mode).

To prevent users for modifying the quantities directly, lock the column.

 

Special Receiving Column

We want to base the pricing on ANOTHER field than the native Quantity and duplicate total columns for comparison.

Create various fields:

▪the receiving field, an alternative to the Quantity (a free or breakdown, numerical, formula-less and editable field)

▪the derived total fields, usually Simulated Total Cost and Simulated Total Price.

 

Insert them into the WBS:

 

DEFINITION

1.Insert the receiving column into the editor

2.Enter values or formulas into the right-hand columns.

 

APPLICATION

3.Check the 'Apply to the special column' box

4.Select the receiving field among the drop-down.

The name of the scenario is NOT displayed anywhere. The receiving column name is mirrored in the SYS_Active_Scenario_Applied_To_Column variable and, in the formula editor, Scenario_Column. (Refer to Other Special Columns For Quantity.)

To print or export the reports, refer to Report of Simulation.

 

ACCEPTATION

5.Check the 'Apply to the special column' box

6.Select the WBS_Quantity field among the drop-down.

 

Maintenance

Whenever you edit the scenario in force, you have to apply it again.

To delete a scenario, open the editor, erase the values and, in the context menu, select Erase the comment from the Quantity column.