Create a Manual Number Metric

A manual number metric is a metric that you update yourself. The data for the metric may come from outside the project.

Example: Budget. Budget is generally a fixed number. This metric is included in the Project Structured template.

See Supplied Metrics for more metric examples.

To create a manual number metric:

1. Navigate to the Metrics list and click new item, then click Manual Number Metric.
2. Give the metric a Title and a Description.
3. If necessary, specify a new Metric ID.

   The system will automatically generate a Metric ID for the metric using the title, but you may update to one that makes more sense to you.

   If the Metric ID already exists in the list, you will see a message saying that 'the Metric ID is not available' when you attempt to save it or click the Check button. This means you will have to edit so that it is unique.

   

4. If necessary, unselect the Activate Metric check box to make the Metric inactive.

   Making the Metric inactive does the following:

   • Prevents data from this Metric appearing in reports where the Metric was added to join with the Project Statement
   • Excludes the Metric from the Metric Recalculation Timer Job
5. Select a Category for the metric.

   The available options include:

   • Cost
   • Date
   • Duration
   • Project
   • Quality
   • Resource
   • Scope
   • Variance
   • Work
6. Enter the current Metric Value.
7. Optional: If you want the Metric to be applied to a past date, enter a date in the Apply Metric Value section. If you leave this value blank, then today's date will be used. Example: you need to enter total sales for October but it is now November. You can use the Apply Metric Value option to apply the metric to a date in October.
8. Select the Metric Value Format.
   • Number
     Also, specify the Number of Decimals
     or
   • Percentage
     Also, specify the Number of Decimals
     or
   • Currency
     Also, specify the Number of Decimals and select the Currency
     or
   • Custom
     Enter the Custom Number String

   • Note: The following characters are supported for number columns - "."; ","; "#","%","0".

     The "#" character is used to describe integers. The "." and "," characters are used to describe the location and type of punctuation. The "0" character is used enforce digits before and after the "." character.

     An example of their use:

     The number 5351 would be displayed in reporter using the following display format - "#,###"- as "5,351".

     See Custom Number String Examples for more examples.

9. Select the Metric Indicator Settings.

   Select:

   1. Whether or not to show an indicator for the metric.
   2. Specify whether lower values or higher values are better.

      Note: When Lower values are better is selected, a value above the specified thresholds will trigger an indicator.

      When Higher values are better is selected, a value below the specified thresholds will trigger an indicator.

   3. Specify the value to compare the metric to:
      • Enter a fixed value
        or
      • Select a numeric metric value in another metric item.
   4. Specify the Threshold settings:
      • Select Compare range is fixed to use numbers, and enter a Warning Level and a Danger Level
        or
      • Select Compare range is tolerance to use percentages, and enter a Warning Level and a Danger Level

      • Note: When Lower values are better is selected, the Warning Level must be less than the Danger Level.

        When Higher values are better is selected, the Warning Level must be greater than the Danger Level.

   5. If desired, specify custom icon paths.
10. Click Update.