A phase is one set of values inside a budget. Every phase uses the same account structure, so you can compare different versions or stages of the budget without changing screens.

Saturation supports four phase types:

Each phase has a Total column. Estimate phases can also show detail columns such as Quantity, Rate, Multiplier, Unit, Fringes, and Overtime.

The available settings depend on the phase type:

Select the Columns button to open the phase and column panel.

From this panel, you can:

You can also select a phase name in the budget header to open its menu. Use Edit phase to change the phase’s settings. The same menu includes Duplicate, Move left, Move right, Lock phase, Hide phase, and Delete phase when those actions are available.

Note: Some system phases cannot be deleted. For example, the default Actual phase has Delete phase disabled. To change a calculated total, update its filters or the source transactions or purchase orders instead of typing into the total.

Committed and Actual phases are calculated from source records rather than typed directly into the budget.

Note: Changing a filter recalculates the phase. To change an amount, update the source purchase order or transaction.

Estimate, Actual, and Rollup phases have a Base currency setting. Select the phase name in the budget header, select Edit phase, and choose the currency. Actual and Rollup phases also show this setting when you create them.

Add the currencies and conversion rates the project needs under Library > Currencies.

A project global can use a different override in each Estimate phase:

The base Value continues to apply where you do not enter an override.

A saved view can remember the filters, visible phases, and visible columns for a specific review:

Sharing a view controls what the viewer sees. It does not delete or change the phases that are hidden from that view.

A Rollup calculates across other phases and updates when its referenced phases change.

You can reference more than two phases in one formula. Selecting a phase from the @ menu handles phase names that contain spaces.

Templates can include Variance and % Change. Total Cost and % Paid also appear when the required source phases are available.

To change a Rollup later, select its name in the budget header, select Edit phase, update the settings or formula, and select Save.

In Edit phase, use Display as to show a compatible Rollup as a value, percentage, progress bar, or margin. For a margin percentage, use a variance formula such as @Estimate - @Actual, then choose Margin. Display options that do not work with the current formula are disabled.

A Rollup can appear before or after the phases it references. Its calculation and display settings are saved when the budget reloads.

Yes. Create a Rollup phase and reference the original phase in its formula. For example, @Estimate * 1.10 creates a calculated phase that is 10% higher than Estimate. The Rollup updates whenever the referenced phase changes.

Yes. Create or edit a Rollup with a variance formula such as @Estimate - @Actual, then set Display as to Margin. Saturation displays the result as a percentage. Rows with no source value display a dash.

Only Estimate phases have editable detail columns such as Quantity, Rate, Multiplier, Unit, Fringes, and Overtime. Actual, Committed, and Rollup phases are calculated phases, so they display calculated totals instead.

The filter may have no matching rows; your budget data has not been deleted. Open the affected phase, select Edit phase, and remove or change the active filter. The rows should immediately return.

Show, hide, expand, or collapse the phases and columns you need, then save the arrangement as a view. Use the saved view when you want to return to that review layout or share it with someone else.

No. The duplicated phase continues to reference the same shared Global and Fringe library definitions; it does not create independent copies. Editing a shared Global or Fringe can therefore affect both phases. If the phases need different settings, create and use a separate library definition. After duplicating, verify the copied totals and any fringe, markup, overtime, unit, and date settings before sharing the budget.

Use Tags to organize Actuals and/or Committed (POs) by Estimate phase. First, add the appropriate tag to each transaction and.or PO. Then create an additional Actual and/or Committed phase and select the corresponding tag. This is especially useful for episodic work and multi-phase projects.

Create a Phase Rollup and enter a formula based on the source phase. For example, use @Estimate * 1.1 to include a 10% markup.

Note: Because this is a rollup, the budget will show the calculated total rather than separate Qty, Unit, and Rate fields.

Select Add phase or column > Add column, choose the phase, name the column (for example, Notes), and choose Long text. The new column stays grouped under that phase, so each phase can have its own notes.

Yes. Hide the other phases and columns, save the arrangement as a view, then open that view’s actions menu and select Share.

Select the phase name in the budget header, select Edit phase, and change Base currency. This setting is available for Estimate, Actual, and Rollup phases.

Yes. Add each phase from the @ menu and connect the references with supported operators and parentheses.

Yes. Select the Rollup name, select Edit phase, and update its name, color, base currency, display settings, or formula.