Overview
Compare Cost Classes lets you select a specific cost class from each of two projects and compare them resource assignment by resource assignment. The grid shows the same hierarchical WBS and work package structure as Compare Projects, but the comparison is driven by cost class rather than project totals. The most common use case is comparing a project’s Budget against its Actual cost. But you can compare any two cost classes from any two projects — including cross-project benchmarks.Prerequisites
- Select two projects and a cost class from each. The grid does not load until all four selections are made.
Reading the Grid
The grid is organized hierarchically by WBS > Work Package > Resource Assignment:| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Cost Class 1 | Cost from the first project / cost class |
| Cost Class 2 | Cost from the second project / cost class |
| Difference | Cost Class 2 minus Cost Class 1. Negative = Cost Class 2 is lower. |
Time-Phased Drill-Down
Click the View button on any row to open a pivot grid that shows the cost comparison by fiscal year, quarter, and month side by side. Use this to identify when in the project timeline a budget-versus-actual divergence occurred.Available Filters
| Filter | What It Controls |
|---|---|
| Project 1 | The first project |
| Cost Class 1 | Which cost class to use from Project 1 (e.g., Budget) |
| Project 2 | The second project (can be the same project as Project 1) |
| Cost Class 2 | Which cost class to compare from Project 2 (e.g., Actual) |
| Currency Divisor | Display values in base dollars, thousands (K), or millions (M) |
Exporting
Click Export to download the comparison grid to Excel.Saved Views
Compare Cost Classes supports named saved views that preserve your column layout, grouping, and filter settings. Use the view selector in the toolbar to save and reload your own named views.