How To Analyze Contracts
The contract analysis features supports several use cases, such as:
- Budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow
- Reporting and trouble shooting
- Controls
Budgeting
The following is focused on future estimated values:
Select the Contract Analysis action on the Contracts page or choose the search icon (ALT+Q) and enter Contract Analysis and select the related link.
The Contract Analysis page displays the following information relevant for budget, forecast, and cash flow:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Calculated Amount per Month (LCY) | Shows the estimated monthly sales value of the contract in the local currency. Regardless of the specified Invoicing interval |
| Calculated Amount per Year (LCY) | Shows the estimated annual sales value of the contract in the local currency. Regardless of the specified Invoicing interval |
Note
The columns that show what has been invoiced and credited can of course also be relevant for budgeting and forecasting, but they are not covered here, but in Reporting instead.
Filter Contract Lines
You can filter totals for the calculated amounts by the following date filters:
- Starting Date Filter
- Ending Date Filter
Filter totals by Starting Date Filter and Ending Date Filter allows you to filter the Contract Lines on the Contract Analysis page. This enables the calculated amounts on the Contract to be filtered even if Advanced Mode is enabled.
By applying a Starting Date Filter you can ensure that you do not include contract lines with a starting date before the period to be forecasted. By applying an Ending Date Filter you can ensure that you do not include contract lines with an ending date after the period to be forecasted.
Apply Contract Lines Filters
Follow these steps to apply filters to the Contract Analysis page, to limit the Contract Lines and Contracts to be included::
- Select the Show filter pane (Shift+F3) action on the Contract Analysis page.
- Limit the Contract Lines to be included in the calculated amounts by
specifying the Starting Date Filter and Ending Date Filter.
- Add the date filter in Filter totals by:.
- Limit the Contract to be included in the list by adding filters in Filter List by:.
- Enter analysis mode: This feature provides an
- interactive and versatile way to calculate and summarize the data to help you create the Budget, Forecast, and Cash Flow.
Note
Read more on Microsoft Learn about sorting, searching, and filtering.
Reporting
The following is focused on historical data:
Select the Contract Analysis action on the Contracts page or choose the search icon (ALT+Q) and enter Contract Analysis and select the related link.
The Contract Analysis page displays the following information relevant for reporting, and trouble shooting:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Balance (LCY) | Shows the total invoiced amount of the contract in local currency. Regardless of any date filer |
| Net Change (LCY) | Shows the invoiced amount during the period set in the Contract Period Starting Date Filter. The amount is in local currency. |
| Balance (Reversed LCY) | Shows the total credited amount of the contract in local currency. Regardless of any date filer |
| Net Change (Reversed LCY) | Shows the credited amount during the period set in the Contract Period Starting Date Filter. The amount is in local currency. |
| Balance (Total) | Shows the sum of: Balance (LCY) and Balance (Reversed LCY). |
| Net Change (Total) | Shows the sum of: Net Change (LCY) and Net Change (Reversed LCY). |
| Not Posted Amount | Shows the amount of not posted contract entries. The amount is in the currency specified on the contract entries. |
Note
The columns that show estimated sales values can of course also be relevant for reporting, but they are not covered here, but in Budgeting instead.
Filter Contract Entries
You can filter totals for the invoiced and reversed amounts by the following date filter:
- Contract Period Starting Date Filter
Filter totals by Contract Period Starting Date Filter allows you to filter the Contract Entries on the Contract Analysis page.
Note
The filter is applied on the Contract Period Starting Date field on the Contract Entries.
Apply Contract Entries Filters
Follow these steps to apply filters to the Contract Analysis page, to limit the Contract Entries and Contracts to be included::
- Select the Show filter pane (Shift+F3) action on the Contract Analysis page.
- Limit the Contract Entries to be included in the amounts by
specifying the Contract Period Starting Date Filter.
- Add the date filter in Filter totals by:.
- Limit the Contract to be included in the list by adding filters in Filter List by:.
- Enter analysis mode: This feature provides an interactive and versatile way to calculate and summarize the data to help you to create the report or to trouble shoot. trouble shoot.
Controls
The following is focused on the current status:
Choose the search icon (ALT+Q) and enter Contracts and select the related link.
The Contract page displays the following information relevant for controls:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Calculated Total Amount (LCY) | Shows the total amount in local currency for the next invoice |
Calculated Total Amount (LCY) can be used to control the (total) next invoice amount. You can also apply a filter on it on the Create Documents/Planning Lines from Contracts request page to control which contracts to handle in the batch.
- Select the Show filter pane (Shift+F3) action on the Contracts page.
- Limit the Contracts to be included in the list by adding filters in Filter List by:.
- Enter analysis mode: This feature provides an interactive and versatile way to calculate and summarize the data to help you to do controls.
Enter Analysis Mode
In the action bar at the top of the Contracts or Contract Analysis page, select the Enter analysis mode action.
The analysis mode opens the data in an experience that's optimized for data analysis. While in analysis mode, the normal action bar is replaced with a special analysis mode bar.
Learn how to work with analysis mode on Microsoft Learn.
Tip
You can use pivot mode to analyze the data, subtotaling data by categories and subcategories. The pivot mode is like pivot tables in Microsoft Excel.