Viewing cost history analysis

About viewing cost history analysis

You can view cost history analysis from the BOM record Costing tab, provided there are at least two costing records available. A cost session is created each time the BOM record is costed. Cost analysis is evaluated by comparing the cost sessions for the BOM over time.

Two charts are presented:

Values over time	This chart shows the change in values (e.g. unit cost, profit, mark-up values) over time.
Distribution	This chart shows detailed costs at Cost Heading (or Cost Heading Type) level. These costs provide the breakdown, explaining how the unit cost values were arrived at.

The two charts are linked. When you select a point in one chart, the same point is selected in the other chart.

You can filter the information shown, using the Chart Data, Values over time and Distribution options at the top of the window.

To view cost history analysis

Open: Bill of Materials > Records > Amend Bill of Materials | Costing.

Open: Bill of Materials > Enquiries > View Bill of Materials | Costing.

Click Analysis.

The Cost History Analysis window appears.

Default values entered in the Cost History Analysis Settings window are shown for Chart Data, Values over time and Distribution settings. You can change the values selected here, and if you selected Quantity as a default for chart data, you must enter the actual quantity required here.

Select Chart Data options.

From/To	This controls which costs are shown. By default, the From date is the earliest cost session date in the Date Range selection in the Cost History Analysis Settings window. The To date defaults to today's date. Note: If you are using version control, the from date is the earliest cost session for the BOM version. Select the From and To dates for the date range you want to see costs.
Quantity	This controls whether you can filter the results by quantity or not. Select Quantity to be able to define which cost sessions to display. Note: This is useful if you cost new BOM versions using a baseline quantity, but you do not want to show these cost sessions; or, if you just want to see the baseline quantity for these cost sessions. Select the operator (=, !=, <, <=, >, >=). Enter the actual quantity. By default, this is the Default cost quantity on the BOM record Details tab. For example, to display cost sessions where cost quantities are greater or equal to 350, select Quantity, select >= and enter 350.
Show Sub-Assembly Costings	Select this to show any costings that resulted from the costing of a higher level BOM.
Show All Versions	Select this to show cost sessions for all versions of the BOM.

Select Values over time options.

These options define the information shown in the Values over time chart.

Note: If you select none of the options, then the Values over time chart is not displayed.

Show Unit Cost Inc. Overheads	Select this if you want to display unit costs, including overheads.
Show Unit Cost	Select this if you want to display unit costs without overheads.
Show Sugg. Selling Price	Select this if you want to display the Suggested Selling Price.
Show Profit	Select this if you want to display the profit.
Show Point Labels	Select this if you want to put labels next to the points plotted on the chart.

Select Distribution options.

These options define the information shown in the Distribution chart.

Include Overheads

Select this if you want to include overheads in the display.

Show values as

Choose whether to show the unit cost values as percentage or amount values.

Choose Percentage to show unit cost values as percentage values.

Choose Amount if you want to show actual calculated amounts.

Group by Type

Select this if you want to group by cost heading type instead of by cost heading.

This is useful if you have several cost headings that belong to one cost heading type. For example, cutting and welding machines both belong to type, Machine.

To refresh the chart views, click Refresh Chart.
To copy the graphical image, click Copy image to Clipboard.

You can then paste the image into a document or an email.
To look at more detail on the charts:
- Double-click on a point in either chart to view the BOM Cost Breakdown window.
- Zoom into a section of either chart, by holding the left mouse button and selecting an area on the chart.
  
  Magnifying an area on one chart automatically magnifies the same area on the other chart at the same time.
- Use the scroll arrows to move around the charts.
  
  Scrolling on one chart automatically scrolls the other chart at the same time.
- Zoom out, by clicking the icon at the top of the vertical axis and or the left of the horizontal axis.
  
  Zooming out on one chart automatically zooms out on the other chart at the same time.
  
  Note: Clicking Refresh resets the zoom to the original view.
When you have finished viewing the analysis, click Close.