Master Purchasing Activity Cost Hierarchy

Costs are assigned an ID upon replication. When an estimate is imported from Sage Timberline Estimating, WMS creates a unique identifier (an ID called TLPE_ITEMS_ID), which is used to look up costs. This ID is generated based off of the phase, item number, and PE category when the estimate is imported. The cost lookup in the master activity uses the item number to find a matching item number in the master activity, and then uses the TLPE_ITEMS_ID of that item to look up the cost. The process to look up costs will follow a specific hierarchy for any items assigned to the purchasing activity, as follows:

First Step

The Purchasing module will look for an existing cost for the selected supplier for that purchasing activity to which the item is assigned, and for the selected area of the job. If a cost is found, this cost is used and the lookup is complete.

Second Step

If a cost is not found in the first lookup, the Purchasing module will look for an existing cost for the default supplier for Area 0 (Master Area). If a cost is found, this cost is used and the lookup is complete.

Third Step

If a cost is not found in the second lookup, the Purchasing module will look for an existing cost for the default supplier for that area for that item in the master purchasing activity. If a cost is found, this cost is used and the lookup is complete.

Fourth Step

If a cost is not found in the third lookup, the Purchasing module will look for an existing cost for the default supplier in Area 0 (Master Area) for that item in the master purchasing activity.

Fifth Step

If a cost is not found in the fourth lookup, the Purchasing module will use the cost for the item that is in the estimate.

Sixth Step

If a cost is not found in the fifth lookup, the Purchasing module will use the existing cost for the previous default supplier for that area, for that item. If multiple items exist, the last item in the list is used.

Note

For a Master Purchasing Activity to work, the absolute rule is the Item Number and the Unit of Measure (UOM) are the same in all phases as they are in the Master Purchasing Activity. However, for consistency, the item should be the same description in all phases and in the Master Purchasing Activity as well. The only difference between the items should be the phase number.