Project Cost Management - FAQ & Troubleshooting
Common questions and solutions for the SDLC Project Costing module.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Odoo versions does this module support?
The module supports Odoo 17.0, 18.0, and 19.0 (Community edition). Each version has a matching module version.
What is the difference between Fixed Cost and Variable Cost projects?
| Aspect | Fixed Cost | Variable Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue source | Project Budget field | Sum of Client Payments |
| Budget field | Active and required | Not used |
| Client Payments tab | Hidden | Visible |
| Dashboard view | Budget vs Actual chart | Client Payments vs Costs chart |
Can I use both project types in the same Odoo instance?
Yes. Each project is configured independently. You can have a mix of Fixed Cost and Variable Cost projects, and the dashboard will display appropriate charts and metrics for each type.
Does the module require the Accounting module?
No. The module depends on Project (project), Employees (hr), Timesheets (hr_timesheet), and Web (web). It does not require the Accounting module. Cost tracking is handled through the module's own models and computed fields.
How is profit calculated?
Profit = Total Revenue - Total Cost
Where:
- Total Revenue = Project Budget (Fixed Cost) or Sum of Client Payments (Variable Cost)
- Total Cost = Labor Cost (from timesheets) + Extra Costs (from the Extra Costs tab)
- Margin % = Profit / Total Revenue x 100
Can I export dashboard data?
The dashboard is a real-time interactive view. For data export, you can use Odoo's built-in list view export functionality on the underlying models (Projects, Timesheets, Extra Costs, Client Payments).
Troubleshooting
Module does not appear in the Apps list
- Ensure Developer Mode is enabled: go to Settings > General Settings > Developer Tools
- Verify the
project_costingfolder is placed in a directory listed in your Odoo addons path - Go to Settings > Technical > Update Apps List and click Update
- Search again for "SDLC Project Cost" in the Apps menu
Timesheet cost shows zero
- Verify the employee has an Hourly Cost set in Employees > Employee Record > HR Settings
- The cost is computed as
Hours x Hourly Cost. If the hourly cost is zero or not set, the result will be zero - After updating the hourly cost, new timesheet entries will use the updated rate. Existing entries may need to be re-saved
Dashboard is blank or shows no data
- Ensure at least one project has a Project Type set (Fixed Cost or Variable Cost)
- Check that the date filters on the dashboard are not excluding all your data -- try clearing the Start Date and End Date fields
- Verify the user has the Project Finance Management security group assigned
Extra Costs tab is missing
- The Extra Costs tab should appear on all project forms after module installation
- Ensure the module is properly installed (check Apps > Installed for "SDLC Project Cost")
- Try refreshing the browser or clearing the browser cache
Client Payments tab is not visible
- The Client Payments tab is only visible when the Project Type is set to Variable Cost
- Open the project form and set the Project Type field to Variable Cost
- Save the project -- the Client Payments tab will appear
Over Budget alert not showing
- Over Budget alerts only apply to Fixed Cost projects with a Project Budget set
- The alert triggers when Total Cost (Labor + Extra Costs) exceeds the Project Budget value
- Ensure your project has actual costs recorded via timesheets or extra cost entries
User cannot access the dashboard
- The user must be assigned to the Project Finance Management security group
- Go to Settings > Users & Companies > Users, select the user, and enable the group under the Project section
Data Models Reference
The module creates or extends the following Odoo models:
project.project (Extended)
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
project_type | Selection | Project type: "Fixed Cost" or "Variable Cost" |
project_budget | Monetary | Approved budget amount for the project |
extra_cost_ids | One2many | Related extra cost records |
client_payment_ids | One2many | Related client payment records |
total_extra_cost | Monetary (Computed) | Sum of all extra costs for the project |
total_client_payment | Monetary (Computed) | Sum of all client payments for the project |
total_revenue | Monetary (Computed) | Total revenue based on project type |
currency_id | Many2one | Currency used for monetary fields |
project.extra.cost
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
name | Char | Description of the expense |
amount | Monetary | Expense amount |
project_id | Many2one | Related project |
currency_id | Many2one | Currency (related from project) |
date | Date | Date the expense was incurred |
notes | Text | Optional notes |
project.client.payment
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
name | Char | Description of the payment |
amount | Monetary | Payment amount |
project_id | Many2one | Related project |
currency_id | Many2one | Currency (related from project) |
payment_date | Date | Date payment was received |
notes | Text | Optional notes |
account.analytic.line (Extended)
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
cost | Monetary (Computed) | Calculated as unit_amount x employee_id.hourly_cost |
project.dashboard
| Method | Returns |
|---|---|
get_dashboard_data() | Dictionary containing: statistics, project_budget_details, over_budget_projects, cost_breakdown, revenue_breakdown, cost_analysis, budget_vs_actual, client_payment_analysis |
Support
- Website: sdlccorp.com
- Odoo App Store: Search for "SDLC Project Cost"
- Module Technical Name:
project_costing
Need Help?
Contact SDLC Corp at sdlccorp.com/contact-us or email sales@sdlccorp.com