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How to Input Actuals Reporting Loading actuals into Dash360 is a straightforward three-step process conducted through Excel imports, similar to how budget is imported for Resource Assignments. How to Input Actuals:
  1. Establish resource codes for each actual account you plan to track in the same Project Resource File.
    1. Here is a sample of a common resource code:
Tip: We highly recommend aligning your actual codes with your chart of accounts categories for easier reconciliation and more detailed reporting options. The best approach is to first obtain a sample from your accounting team showing what they will be sending you by chart of accounts. Then tag each chart of accounts code with a category prefix, such as:
  • A.Labor.Chart of Account #
  • A.Nonlabor.Chart of Account #
  • A.Travel.Chart of Account #
This structure creates a clear hierarchy for reporting and provides better visibility when analyzing variances between budget and actuals.
  1. Set up Resource Calculations for Actuals to use direct entry as the only result. Use the Bulk Edit Feature to efficiently configure calculations for all Actual Resource Codes.
Common Issues: Budget Resource Codes and Actual Resource Codes must be separate. Budget Resource Codes contain calculations that are not applicable to actuals. Actual Resource Codes should be configured to use direct entry only as the calculation result.
  1. Import Actuals:
    1. Navigate to Admin Module.
    2. Import/Export tab.
    3. Use the “Actuals Resource Assignment” Import to load your actuals through Excel.
Below is a sample layout of the Actuals Resource Assignment Import: How it works:
  • Activity ID Column - If you are adding a new resource assignment, then leave this field blank. If you are trying to edit or delete a resource assignment, then first export Resource Assignments from Dash360 and this field will be supplied for you by the system. Do not change this field or enter your own value here or you will get an unexpected result.
  • This import also only allows the same Resource Code once per work package. It is not necessary to supply the Resource Assignment ID as Dash360 will assign it automatically if there is an existing record where the following fields already match for the record (WBS, WP, Cost Class, Resource Code, and Resource Assignment Description).
Reporting: Dash360 has several reports to compare Budget versus Actuals:
  1. Cost Class Curves – This report provides a graphical view of budget versus actuals over time, making it easy to visualize spending trends and variances. You can find this report in the Reporting Module.
  2. CPR – Although this report is designed for earned value management and shows variances based on earned value, the Dash360 CPR also includes a “Balance” column that displays the delta between budget and actuals (Budget - Actuals). This makes it a useful tool for both earned value analysis and straightforward budget variance tracking.
  3. Compare Cost Classes Report – This report allows you to compare actuals versus budget. Note that this report displays the full budget rather than just the budget allocated to date. You can find this report in the Reporting Module.
  4. There are many exports you can do to see Actuals and Budget. A good report that you can use is this one below.