Estimate Transaction Processing - Stages - Variations and Stages

Micronet creates a default stage for a service job when you first create the job. For simple jobs, this might be the only stage needed. However, bigger and more complex jobs will probably have several stages, e.g. a startup stage, several progress stages and a completion stage. For jobs such as these, you need to create the job stages when you first create the job. This is because Micronet asks you to allocate materials, labour and text to the appropriate stages when you add them to the job. (However, you can change the stage that materials or labour are assigned to if required.)

An example may be an electrical project that is made up of the following job stages:

When a new job is created, Micronet automatically creates an initial stage for the job based on the default setting entered in the Department master file (refer to "Adding a New Department"). For example, this initial stage may be numbered 1. Micronet automatically assigns any contract value entered when the job is created to this initial stage.

You can create additional normal and/or variation stages for a job at any time. You create variation stages when there is additional work to complete that was not included in the original contract amount. The stage type (normal or variation) denotes the way Micronet deals with the stage. For normal stages, costs posted against the stage impact on the original contract amount. For variations, costs accrue against variations to the main contract amount. When a variation stage is created and is flagged as being approved, the value of the variation stage is added to the job header information for total variations and subsequently added to the new job overall contract value. This value is then available to use when you create progress claim invoices.

Creating stages and variations allows you to sub-group job transactions into cost groups for reporting and budgeting purposes. That is, job transaction reports can be printed in stage order if required.

Because each estimate will have different requirements, you setup the stages and variations individually for each estimate. However, if you do have a common set of stages for some estimates, Micronet allows you to copy the stages and variations from one estimate to another (refer to "Estimate Transaction Processing - Stages - Load Stages").

To create a new stage or variation for a service estimate:

1. Display the Estimate Transaction Processing screen.

Refer to "Managing Service Estimates".

2. Select STAGES | VARIATIONS AND STAGES.

Micronet displays the Estimate Variations screen.

3. If you want to:

• add a stage or variation, select the Add button
• insert a stage or variation, select the line below where you want the stage or variation inserted then select the Insert button
• delete a stage or variation, select the stage or variation then select the Delete button
• edit a stage or variation, double click on a stage or variation or select a stage or variation then press Enter.

If you selected to add, insert or edit a stage or variation, Micronet displays the Enter Stages screen.

4. Complete the following fields:

Technical Tip If you enter budgets for the stage or variation (see next step), Micronet will total the actual charges for the stage or variation and copy it to the Amount field when you select Accept on the Actuals and Budgets screen.

5. If you want to enter budgets for the stage or variation, select the the Budgets button.

Micronet displays the Actuals and Budgets screen. The Cost fields are only displayed if your user security allows you to access cost prices (i.e. they are not displayed if the Show Cost on Inquiries field on your user ID is set to No - refer to "Maintenance - Edit UserIDs - 1. Main").

6. Complete the following fields:

7. When you have finished entering budgets for the stage or variation, select the Accept button.

Micronet redisplays the Enter Stages screen.

8. Select the Accept button.

If you selected to add a stage or variation, Micronet redisplays the Enter Stages screen so you can add further stages or variations.

9. If there are any user defined questions (UDQs) defined for job stages, select the User Question button and enter the answer to the question(s).

For more information about using the User Defined Questions screen, refer to "Edit - User Information".

10. When you have finished entering stages or variations, select the Cancel button.

Micronet redisplays the Estimate Variations screen showing all the stages and variations for the estimate.

11. When you have finished maintaining stages and variations for the estimate, select the Ok button.

Micronet redisplays the Estimate Transaction Processing screen.