Phases
A phase is a set of values within a budget. Each phase has its own columns and total, so the budget structure stays the same while the numbers change.
Saturation supports four phase types:
Phase type | Use it for |
Estimate | Planned costs that you enter and edit. An estimate can start blank or as a copy of another estimate phase. |
Committed | Eligible purchase orders that have been promised but not fully paid. The values are calculated from purchase orders and their linked actuals. |
Actual | Posted or pending transactions assigned to budget lines. The values are calculated from transaction data. |
Rollup | A formula that combines other phases, such as Estimate minus Actual or Actual plus Committed. |
Each phase has a Total column. Estimate detail columns can be collapsed so only the total remains visible. The totals footer shows the result for each visible phase, while the budget footer shows the grand total across the budget.
How to use phases in Saturation
To add a phase:
Open the project's Budget.
Select the Columns & Phases icon.
Select Add phase.
Choose the phase type.
Enter a phase name and choose a color.
Complete the settings for that phase type.
Select Add phase.
The available settings depend on the type:
For an Estimate, choose Blank or copy an existing estimate phase.
For a Committed phase, choose the purchase order date and vendor filters that determine which commitments appear.
For an Actual phase, choose its base currency and the transaction filters that determine which actuals appear.
For a Rollup, choose its base currency and enter a formula that references existing phases.
Setting up and managing phases
Open the Columns & phases icon in the budget toolbar to manage the sheet. This panel is also where you add phases and control which phase columns are visible.
From this panel, you can:
Drag phases into a different order.
Rename a phase or change its color.
Hide a phase without deleting it.
Lock an estimate phase to prevent changes.
Duplicate an estimate phase.
Delete a phase that is no longer needed.
Default Actual and Committed phases may be reserved by Saturation and cannot always be deleted. Their totals come from linked transactions or purchase orders, so you change the source records or phase filters rather than typing into the phase total.
You can also open a phase header menu and select Edit phase to change its available settings. The options vary by phase type. For example, an Actual phase has transaction filters, while a Rollup phase has a formula.
To reduce the width of a detailed estimate, collapse it from the phase header menu or Columns & phases. The line-level columns are hidden and the phase's Total remains visible.
Enhanced features within phases
Compare phase and grand totals
Each phase calculates its own totals. The total row at the bottom lets you compare the phases without changing screens. Rollups can calculate differences or combined costs across those phases.
Filter calculated phases
Committed and Actual phases are calculated from source records rather than typed directly into the budget.
Use Committed filters to include purchase orders by date or vendor.
Use Actual filters to include transactions by date, status, source, currency, contact, or tag.
Changing a filter recalculates the phase. To change an amount in these phases, update the source purchase order or transaction.
Use a different base currency
Estimate, Actual, and Rollup phases can have their own base currency. Saturation converts values when the project Currency Library contains the rates needed for the calculation. A missing conversion is flagged instead of being silently included at the wrong value.
Use phase-specific globals
A project global can have an override for each estimate phase. Open Library > Globals, select Vary by phase, and enter the phase value. Other phases continue to use their own override or the global's base value.
Save phase combinations as views
Hide or show the phases needed for a specific review, then save that setup as a budget view. Shared views let teammates open the same phase and column arrangement.
Using phase rollup
A Rollup phase performs a calculation across other phases. It is useful when the result should stay current as the referenced phases change.
Common rollups include:
Variance between an estimate and actual spending.
Total exposure from Actual plus Committed.
Percentage change between two estimates.
The Rollup phase shows its result in the budget alongside the source phases. Its formula can reference more than two phases.
How to use phase rollup
Open the project's Budget.
Select Add phase or column > Add phase.
Enter a name and choose a color.
Select Rollup as the phase type.
Choose the Rollup phase's base currency.
In Formula, type @ and select a phase.
Add other phase references using +, -, *, /, or parentheses.
Save the new phase.
For example, a formula can subtract @Actual from @Estimate, or add @Actual and @Committed.
Saturation may offer templates such as Variance, % Change, Total Cost, or % Paid when the required source phases are available. You can use a template as a starting point and edit its formula.
To change a Rollup later, open its header menu, select Edit phase, update the formula, and save it.
Key benefits of phase rollup
The result updates when a referenced phase changes.
The source phases stay intact and remain available for review.
One formula can compare or combine several stages of the budget.
The Rollup phase can convert referenced phases into one base currency when the required rates exist.
Utilizing phases for comprehensive analysis
A common production workflow might use:
An original Estimate as the approved baseline.
A current Estimate for the latest forecast.
A Committed phase for open purchase order exposure.
An Actual phase for recorded spending.
A Rollup that adds Actual and Committed to show current exposure.
A second Rollup that compares current exposure with the approved estimate.
Hide phases that are not relevant to the current review. Save the arrangement as a view when teammates or external stakeholders should open the same comparison.
Benefits of using phases
Keep the budget structure consistent while comparing different sets of numbers.
Preserve an approved estimate while forecasting in a separate editable phase.
See planned, committed, and actual costs in the same sheet.
Use filters to control which source records feed calculated phases.
Use totals and rollups to review the budget without exporting calculations to another file.
FAQs
Can I share just one phase with external stakeholders?
Yes. Hide the other phases and columns, then open Views and save a view for the arrangement. Use Share from that view to create the access you want. The shared view controls what is shown; it does not delete or change the hidden phases.
How do I change currency for a specific phase?
Open the phase header menu and select Edit phase, then change Base currency where that setting is available. Estimate, Actual, and Rollup phases can use their own base currency. Make sure the needed currencies and rates are in the project's Currency Library.
Can I combine more than two phases in a rollup?
Yes. Add each phase to the formula with @, then connect the references with supported operators and parentheses.
How many rollup phases can I create?
Rollups use your plan's phase allowance and require access to advanced budgeting features. If the budget has reached its allowance, Saturation explains the limit when you try to add another phase.
Can I edit a rollup phase after creating it?
Yes. Open the Rollup phase's header menu, select Edit phase, and update its name, color, base currency, or formula.