Software Tips
Maximizing the PRICE S Monthly Expenditure Report
Phasing labor effort is an important facet of developing a software cost estimate. As such, one of the more valuable and functional reports for PRICE Software model users is the Monthly Expenditure Report. Model users can utilize the information from this report to apply specific labor rates or unique escalation factors (e.g., an application of the Office of Secretary of Defense “weighted” inflation indices), enabling them to create an estimate that is phased according to their fiscal year.
Have you ever found yourself reviewing the Expenditure Report from PRICE S and wishing you could quickly and easily “export” the monthly data into a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet rather than re-enter the data manually? Although PRICE S doesn’t have an exportable Spread Report feature comparable to PRICE H, the monthly data can still be rapidly sent to Excel by following these simple steps:
- Generate the report by specifying Format, Report, and then selecting Monthly Expenditure.
- Save the report (File, Save Report) as a .txt file.
- Open Microsoft Excel.
- Open the Expenditure Report (a text file) within Excel (File, Open).
- A caution message indicating an unrecognizable format is displayed. Don’t despair!
- Click on OK and utilize Excel’s Text Import Wizard and follow the 3-step process:
- Choose most appropriate file type: “Fixed Width;” start import at Row 1; hit “Next” button.
- Set field widths: move Break line to precede dates and then hit “Next” again.
- Set data format: use default setting of “General” by hitting “Select” button.
- Text file has now been imported into Excel. There is still some “clean-up” work to do. To put the data in tabular format, highlight that section of column B that contains the data by month and by functional labor category.
- Select Data from Excel menu, then Text to Columns. Follow the 3-step wizard. In step #2, place a break line in the appropriate place. In step #3, select the appropriate cell destination (chose a blank area of the spreadsheet). Hit the Finish button.
This approach allows the PRICE S user to utilize the raw data to create estimates in a “customized” format, as well as generating additional reports and charts. Please contact your PRICE Systems representative for further guidance.
