Creating and managing sub-projects

*Click here to view the previous post on where your Billcost Projects get stored.

The concept of Sub-Projects in Billcost is to assist the Billcost user in keeping their estimates and managing cost control within a single main project, which includes other projects created.

*IMPORTANT!

Some users mistake the sub-project for an archiving feature.

Billcost does not cater for such a feature within the Project Manager screen.

Thinking this could affect your estimates by including other projects created in your costings.

Using screenshots and basic steps this will give you a fundemental idea of the Sub-Projects concept in Billcost.
If you wish to enlarge an image, simply single click it to open it in the Blogger image viewer!

STEP 1-
In this example you will see in the Billcost Project Manager screen two particular  projects; "B Small Holding" and "Brick Shed".

STEP 2 -

At the bottom left corner of Billcost I have the "Normal" tab selected.

STEP 3-

Given I have already created these projects and done my estimates, to manually make the sub-project exist:

>Hold down the left mouse button on the project you wish to make a sub-project e.g. "Brick Shed".

>Carefully drag the project "Brick Shed" over the project name of "B Small Holding". It display as below.

>Drop the project over "B Small Holding" which is to be the main project.

STEP 4 - 

You will now see a + SIGN by the main project.
>Click the + sign to see the sub-project.

STEP 5-

You may want Reports to include the rates for the sub-project "Brick Shed" within the main project.

>Simply single-click the main project name "B Small Holding".

>Click on "Cost".
> You will be asked to Confirm "Do you want to include subprojects".
>Click "Yes".

 

STEP 6 -
Billcost will cost the main project to include the value of the sub-project.
Depending on the size of the project and amount of data costing time may vary. Please be patient.















STEP 7 - 
Once costed you will see "B Small Holding" (main project) has a different value, which is now higher.
You can now generate reports via the "Report Options" to include the sub-project rates.











STEP 8 -
To return the costing to just the original rate as it's own individual project (excluding sub-project):
>Single-click the main project "B Small Holding".
>Click on "Cost".
>You will be asked to Confirm "Do you want to include subprojects'.
>Click "No".
>The value will now be re-costed excluding the sub-project value.



















STEP 9 - 
To remove the sub-project:
>Right-click on the sub-project you wish to display as it's own project e.g. "Brick Shed".
>Click on "Move project to..."
>A "Restore Project to" screen will appear.
>You will notice the main project name in the directory field.
>Delete the name and click on "OK".



















STEP 10 -
You will notice the + sign has gone and "Brick Shed" is no longer a sub-project of "B Small Holding".












STEP 11 - 
It is always best to just re-cost the projects once this has been done.

STEP 12 -
REMEMBER! If you have created the main project and wish to create a new sub-project from scratch:
>Click "New Project"
>Enter a legal project file name.
>On the screen displayed (see screenshot below) by default the "Make this a new main project" will be ticked.
>Deselect this box.
>You will now be able to click on one of your main projects displayed in the main window.
>Select the main project which you wish to make your new project a sub-project of.
>Click on "Next" to continue.















If any assistance is needed regarding the subprojects, please contact us.

To comment on this article, please click on the "comment" text link below. We appreciate your opinion on this blog post.