Cost Rate tables are used to manage cost and rate values in PPM Express.
Instead of keeping one fixed value for all time, you can define values for specific periods. This helps when resource costs or rates change over time and you want PPM Express to use the right value automatically.
Understanding Cost Rate tables
PPM Express includes shared tables for the cost-related and rate-related fields. These fields are available on the Resource dashboard -> Details section.
- Standard Cost
- Overtime Cost
- Cost per Use
- Standard Rate
- Overtime Rate
- Charge per Use
This means that when you open one of these fields for editing, you are working with the full table for that group, not only one single field.
A default Cost Rate table is available for these fields. If you do not create additional tables, this default table is used automatically. It can hold multiple effective periods.
In many cases, one default table is enough.
Additional tables are useful when you need different cost/rate structures for different scenarios. For example, you may want separate tables for employees, contractors, or special billing setups.
If you do not need that level of flexibility, you can simply continue using the default table.
Creating a new Cost Rate table
To create a new table, perform the following:
1. Open the Resource dashboard -> Details section and click on the pencil-like button next to one of the fields for which you need to create an additional table.
2. Click Manage Cost Rate Tables.
3. It is possible to open the default table and edit its name or color.
To create a new table, click New Cost Rate Table.
4. Enter a name. Optionally add a description and color.
If needed, set the table as the default. Only one Cost Rate table can be marked as default.
Save the table.
Once created, the new table becomes available in both the cost and rate table groups.
After creating a table, you can add rows with effective dates and values.
For each row you can:
- Set the Effective From date
- Enter the values for that period
- The system automatically calculates the Effective Until date based on the next row
This makes the timeline continuous and easy to maintain. For more details about creating periods, please refer to this article: How to configure effective costs and rates.
Using a table in Resource Plans
Each resource in a Resource Plan can use a selected Cost Rate table. The Cost Rate Table field can be added to the Resource Plan and Resource Utilization, if needed.
When a resource is added, the default table is used automatically. The values for the cost and rate fields will be shown according to the default table. Related values such as Estimated Charge, Estimated Cost, and Actual Cost are automatically recalculated based on the values configured in the selected table for the selected period.
If needed, you can switch the table for selected resources to another available table. For this, select the resources you need to switch the table for, and use the Set Cost Rate Table option (also available from the ellipsis button next to each resource).
A table can be selected for a Resource Plan resource only if it includes both:
- cost values
- rate values
If one part is missing, the table cannot be used for that resource in the plan. This prevents incomplete setups that could cause invalid calculations.
The system warns that changing a table affects the Estimated Cost, Actual Cost, and Estimated Charge calculations for this resource in the current resource plan.
Once a different table is selected, Resource Plan calculations use values from that table for the corresponding periods.
Deleting a table
A table cannot be deleted if it is currently used by a resource in a Resource Plan.
If you try to delete it, the system will show a warning and ask you to first replace that table where it is in use.
This protects existing calculations and prevents broken references.