Work breakdown structure template (form)

Article
05/05/2014

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

Click Project management and accounting > Setup > Projects > Work breakdown structure templates. On the work breakdown structure templates list page, on the Action Pane, click New work breakdown structure template. In the New WBS Template form, enter a unique name and an optional description for the template, and then click OK.

Use this form to create a reusable list of tasks for a project. In Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, this list of tasks is known as a work breakdown structure (WBS). You can create a WBS template for projects that are frequently completed by your organization, and for projects that use most of the same tasks.

When you use a WBS template to create a WBS for a project, you can modify the task details in the project WBS to meet the requirements of the project. For example, you can add tasks and modify the sequence of tasks in the WBS for a specific project.

Tasks that use this form

Create a work breakdown structure of tasks for a project

Create a work breakdown structure template for projects

Navigating the form

The first row in the WBS template contains the name of the WBS template, the sum of effort in hours for all tasks in the WBS template, and the total duration of all tasks. These fields cannot be modified directly. Instead, the information in the first row is updated when you modify the details in the tasks.

The following tables provide descriptions for the controls in this form.

Tabs

Tab	Description
Task (On the Action Pane)	Add and organize tasks. Define the schedule, dependencies, order, and project category for each task.
WBS ID (On the Action Pane)	Create and maintain a WBS template by using Microsoft Project, and also export a WBS template.
Line details for %1	View a summary of the estimated hours, sales price, and cost amount for a selected task.

Buttons

Button	Description
Task	Add a task. To enter a task as a child of an existing task, select the existing task, and then click this button.
Delete	Delete the selected task. Warning Before you delete the selected task, delete any precedent tasks that were entered for it.
Outdent	Move the selected task to a higher level in the hierarchy. For example, when you outdent task 2.2, it becomes task 3, and the existing task 3 becomes task 4. Note If the outdented task has precedents, and the task is moved before the precedents, the precedents are automatically deleted after the move.
Indent	Move the task so that it becomes a child of the task just before it. For example, when you indent task 2, it becomes a child of task 1 and is assigned the number 1.1.
Move task up	Move the task earlier in the hierarchy by one position. If you move a parent task, all its child tasks are moved together with it. If you move a child task, it moves before the child task that it previously followed.
Move task down	Move the task later in the hierarchy by one position. If you move a parent task, all its child tasks are moved together with it. If you move a child task, it moves after the child task that previously followed it.
Expand to level	View all tasks and subtasks for the level that you select.
Fix all scheduling discrepancies	Enable the system to automatically correct any conflicts in the schedule. For example, the system corrects the duration of a task, based on the hours and the number of resources.
Scheduling errors are shown	When you enable this button, and then enter the effort, dates, and duration for tasks, any issues in the schedule are automatically detected. A warning icon in the first column of the grid indicates a scheduling issue for a task. Double-click a warning icon to see more information about how to fix an issue. Note When this button is not enabled, the name of the button is Scheduling errors are hidden.
Automatic scheduling assistance is on	If you enable automatic scheduling assistance, dates and duration are automatically adjusted for the amount of effort in hours divided by the number of resources for a task. Note If you turn off automatic scheduling assistance, the name of this button changes to Automatic scheduling assistance is off.
Open in Microsoft Project	Open and modify a WBS for a project that is integrated with Microsoft Project.
Unlink from Microsoft Project	Remove the integration of the WBS with Microsoft Project. After you click this button, you can modify the WBS in AX 2012 R2. Note This button is enabled only if the WBS is for a project that is managed in Microsoft Project.
Export WBS as a template	Export the current WBS template, and create a new WBS template from it.
Sync hour estimates	Update the estimated number of hours for a group of tasks by a prorated amount. For example, there are two tasks in the WBS. Task A has 1 hour of effort, and Task B has 4 hours of effort, for a total of 5 hours. In the WBS, the total estimated hours are changed to 10. After you click this button, Task A has 2 hours of effort (1/510), and Task B has 8 hours of effort (4/510).

Fields

Field	Description
WBS ID	The identification number of the task. This number is assigned automatically, based on the sequence of tasks in the WBS and whether tasks are subtasks.
Task name	Enter a descriptive name for the task. The first row is automatically assigned to the WBS name.
Predecessors	Enter the number of a task that must be completed before the current task can be started. A task can have multiple precedent tasks.
Category	Select a project category for the task.
Effort (hours)	Enter the estimated total number of hours that are required to complete the task. The number of hours might represent multiple workers for the task.
Number of resources	Enter the number of workers that are required to complete the task. These workers include vendor workers.
Duration (days)	Enter the estimated number of work days that are required to complete the task. If you enter a start date and end date, the number of days is automatically calculated.