Resource curves

You can assign resource curves - also known as 'work contours' - to resource or cost allocations in order to plan nonlinear assignment - assignments in which work or cost occurs sporadically, or at varying levels of effort, quantity or cost. A resource curve consists of a number of discrete rectangular segments - or 'points' - each of which defines a percentage of duration and a corresponding level of allocation. For example, if a resource curve has ten points, the first segment relates to the first 10% of an allocation's duration and defines the amount of allocation that relates to that segment. You can configure resource curves to accurately represent the varying levels of effort, quantity or cost across the duration of the allocations to which the resource curve is assigned.

For example, you may want to create a 'front-loaded' resource curve, in which effort, quantity or cost is greatest at the start of an allocation and tails off towards the end; you may want to create a 'back-loaded' resource curve, in which effort, quantity or cost is greatest at the end of an allocation; you may want to create a 'bell-shaped' resource curve, in which effort, quantity or cost is at its greatest around the middle of an allocation.

You can edit the properties of a resource curve by editing options on the Resource Curve Properties dialog. To access help for each tab of the Resource Curve Properties dialog, press F1 while viewing the tab.