Overview
Resource files define the catalog of resources available for cost estimating. When a CAM adds a resource assignment on the Budget Form, the resource codes they can select come from the resource file assigned to the project. Each resource file also defines Resource Results (the cost and hour metrics produced by each resource) and Resource Calculations (the formulas that derive those results from rate tables).
Each project is assigned one resource file in Project Settings. That file’s resource codes are what users see when adding or editing resource assignments.
Permissions
Administrator role required.
Resource File List
The Resources page displays all resource files in two collapsible sections: Active Resource Files (assigned to at least one active project) and Inactive Resource Files (not assigned to any active project).
Each row shows the file name, an optional description, assigned projects, and action buttons. Status indicators on the row include:
| Indicator | Meaning |
|---|
| Locked icon | The file is used by a project with locked cost classes. Editing is disabled. |
| Shared icon | The file is assigned to multiple projects. Changes affect all projects sharing it. |
- Resource Codes (Table): opens the table view of resource codes
- Resource Codes (Tree): opens the hierarchical tree view (only for hierarchical files)
- Resource Results: opens the resource results panel for this file
Resource File Fields
| Field | Description | Required |
|---|
| Name | Unique name for the resource file (system-wide) | Yes |
| Description | Optional description | No |
| Type | Flat: resource codes have no hierarchy. Hierarchical: codes can have parent-child relationships. | Yes |
| Separator | Character used to build hierarchical code paths (e.g., . produces codes like 01.01.02). Only shown for hierarchical files. | If hierarchical |
| Rate File | The rate file that provides cost rates for this resource file’s calculations | No |
| Format 1030 File | A code file used for Form 1030 cost classification mappings. Only visible when the Format1030 registry setting is enabled. | No |
| Linked Code Files (Codes) | Up to 10 code files whose codes can be associated with individual resource codes in this file. Creates custom cross-reference fields on each resource code. | No |
| Linked Code Files (Results) | Up to 10 code files whose codes can be associated with resource results. Separate from the Codes set above. | No |
Creating a Resource File
- Click Add Resource File.
- Enter a Name and optional Description.
- Set Type to Flat or Hierarchical. If hierarchical, enter the Separator character.
- Optionally select a Rate File.
- Use the dual-list selectors to add Linked Code Files for codes and/or results.
- Click Save and Close. The file is created empty; add resource codes next.
Editing a Resource File
Click the Edit (pencil) icon on any resource file row.
If a resource file is shared across multiple projects, you cannot change individual resource code IDs or descriptions through the file editor. Changes to shared files affect all projects using them.
Copying a Resource File
Click the Copy icon on any row. Enter a name for the new file and optionally a name for a new rate file to create alongside it. The copy includes all resource codes, resource results, and resource calculations.
Deleting a Resource File
Deleting a resource file removes all of its resource codes, resource results, and calculations. The file cannot be deleted if it is assigned to any project; remove it from all project assignments first.
Resource Codes
Each resource code within a file represents a billable resource category. Within a resource file, click Resource Codes (Table) to open the table view, or Resource Codes (Tree) for a visual hierarchy view (hierarchical files only).
Resource Code Fields
| Field | Description | Required |
|---|
| Resource ID | The code identifier (e.g., ENG-SR, 01.01, TRAVEL). Must be unique within the file. | Yes |
| Description | Human-readable label for this resource | No |
| Resource Type | Labor, Equipment (Non-Labor), or Material (Travel/Other). Controls which grid the resource appears in on the Budget Form. | Yes |
| Element of Cost | Optional cost classification grouping for this resource | No |
| Hired Date | The date this labor resource was hired. Only shown when Resource Type is Labor. | If labor |
| Parent | For hierarchical files: the parent resource code. The Resource ID is constructed as the parent’s path + separator + child number (e.g., parent 01 with separator . creates child 01.01). | If hierarchical |
| [Linked Code File] Entry | For each code file linked to this resource file, a dropdown to associate a code from that file with this resource code. Creates custom cross-reference fields. One dropdown per linked code file. | No |
Resource Code Table Grid
The table grid shows all codes in the file with these columns:
| Column | Description |
|---|
| Resource ID | The code identifier |
| Description | The resource description |
| Type | Labor, Equipment, or Material |
| # of RAs | Number of resource assignments using this code. Click to open a detail modal showing every project, WBS, work package, cost class, dates, units, and cost for each assignment. |
| Has Calculations | Yes/No: whether resource calculations are defined for this code |
| Code File Entries | Values from linked code files associated with this code |
| Calculations | Link to open the Resource Calculations modal for this code |
Adding a Resource Code
- Click Add Resource Code.
- Enter the Resource ID and Description.
- Select the Resource Type.
- For hierarchical files, optionally select a Parent code.
- Fill in any linked code file entry dropdowns.
- Click Save and Close or Save and Add Another.
Editing a Resource Code
Click the Edit icon on any code row. The same modal opens pre-filled.
Deleting a Resource Code
Click the Delete icon on a code row. If the code is used by any resource assignments, a confirmation modal lists all affected projects, WBS elements, work packages, and cost classes. The deletion can proceed even if the code is in use; affected resource assignments are removed along with the code.
Bulk Operations
Select multiple codes using the checkboxes, then:
| Operation | What It Does |
|---|
| Bulk Edit | Change the Resource Type for all selected codes at once. Optionally copy resource calculations from a source code to all selected codes. |
| Bulk Delete | Delete all selected codes. Shows cascade impact before confirming. |
Resource Code Tree View (Hierarchical Files)
For hierarchical resource files, click Resource Codes (Tree) to open a D3.js interactive tree diagram.
Tree Interactions
| Action | How |
|---|
| Expand / collapse a node | Click the circle indicator on any parent node |
| Add a child code | Select a node (click it), then click the + icon that appears |
| Edit a code | Double-click the code text, or right-click → Edit |
| Delete a code | Right-click → Delete. Shows cascade impact before confirming. |
| Reparent a code | Drag a node over another node to make it a child of that node. All descendant Resource IDs are recalculated. |
If the resource file is assigned to multiple projects (shared), reparenting and ID changes are restricted. You can view and expand/collapse the tree but structural changes are blocked.
Resource Results
Resource Results define the named output metrics for a resource; for example, “Labor Hours,” “Direct Cost,” or “Overhead.” They appear as columns in the Budget Form’s resource assignment grids and in cost reports.
Click Resource Results on any resource file row to open the results panel.
Resource Result Fields
| Field | Description | Required |
|---|
| Name | The result name (e.g., “Labor Hours”, “Direct Cost”). Must be unique within the resource file. | Yes |
| Unit | The unit of measure (e.g., “hours”, ”$”, “sq ft”) | Yes |
| Is Currency | When checked, the result is displayed as a monetary value with currency formatting | No |
| Format 1030 Code | The Form 1030 classification code for this result. Only visible when the Format1030 registry setting is enabled. | No |
| [Linked Code File] Entries | For each result code file linked to the resource file, a dropdown to associate this result with a code from that file | No |
Adding and Editing Resource Results
Click Add Resource Result in the results panel. The modal opens with the fields above. Click the Edit icon on any result row to modify it.
Deleting a Resource Result
A result cannot be deleted if it is referenced by any resource calculation. Remove all calculations using the result first, then delete it.
Resource Calculations
Resource calculations define the formulas that produce each Resource Result for a given resource code. They determine how Dash360 calculates cost and hour values in resource assignments.
Click Calculations on any resource code row to open the Resource Calculations modal for that code.
How Calculations Work
Each row in the calculations table defines one output result and how it is derived:
| Calculation Type | Formula | Example |
|---|
| Direct Entry | No formula: user enters the value manually in the Budget Form | Labor Hours (user types hours) |
| Source-based | Sum of selected source results | Total Cost = (Labor Hours + Materials) |
| Rate-based | Sum of sources × a rate from the rate file | Fringe Cost = (Labor Hours) × (Fringe Rate) |
Resource Calculation Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|
| Result | The resource result this row produces |
| Rate Set | The rate set from the resource file’s rate file to apply as a multiplier. Only shown when at least one source result is selected. |
| Source Results | Checkboxes selecting which prior results feed into this row’s formula |
| Calculation Formula | Read-only display of the assembled formula |
Copying Calculations
Use the Copy Resource Calculations button in the modal to copy all calculations from another resource code in the same file to the current code. Existing calculations are replaced.
You can also copy calculations in bulk using Bulk Edit on the resource code table; select multiple target codes and specify the source code to copy from.
If you select “Rateset Same Name as Resource Code ID” as the rate set, Dash360 looks for a rate set in the rate file whose name exactly matches the resource code’s ID. If no matching rate set exists, an error is shown.
When the Show-Format1030 registry setting is enabled, a Form 1030 code classification section appears for the resource file. This maps each resource code + resource result combination to a Form 1030 cost element.
Mappings are managed through the 1030 Mappings panel on the resource file. Add a mapping by selecting a resource code, its result, and the Form 1030 code that applies. When a resource result has a Format 1030 code assigned, all resource codes that calculate that result automatically receive the mapping.
History Tracking
When history tracking is enabled (controlled by the EnableHistoryTracking registry setting), a History icon appears on each resource file row. Click it to see a full audit trail covering all changes to the resource file and all of its codes, results, and calculations; with timestamps and the user who made each change.
Shared Resource Files
A resource file can be assigned to multiple projects. When shared:
- The Shared icon appears on the file row
- Resource code IDs and descriptions cannot be changed
- Hierarchical structure (reparenting) is locked
- Resource results and calculations can still be edited
If you need to modify resource codes for one project without affecting others, copy the resource file first to create a project-specific version, then reassign the project to use the copy in Project Settings.
Impact on the Rest of the System
| Change | Downstream Effect |
|---|
| Add a resource code | New code becomes selectable in resource assignments on the Budget Form |
| Edit a resource code’s description | Description updates wherever the code is displayed |
| Delete a resource code | All resource assignments using that code are removed |
| Change resource type | All resource assignments for the code are moved to the corresponding grid on the Budget Form |
| Add / modify a resource calculation | Project snapshots are flagged for recalculation; EV metrics update on next recalculate |
| Delete a resource result | All resource assignment columns showing that result are cleared |
