Original & Variance Columns

The Original and Variance columns are available in the Topsheet and Category views so you can track changes in accounts against specific benchmarks as you work.

NOTE: The behavior of Original and Variance differs slightly when doing a Budget Comparison.

Displaying Original and Variance

• In the Topsheet or Category level
• Click the menu button (three vertical dots) at the far right of the column headers
• Click the checkboxes to show or hide the Fringe, Original, Total and/or Variance columns

Setting the Original value

For any new budget, the Original value for any given account or category will be 0.

Once you have entered some values in your budget you can set the original value to the current totals. Click the 'refresh' icon to the left of the Original column header and all Original values across your budget will be updated to the current total for their row.

Calculating Variance

The Variance column displays the difference between the set Original value for each row, and the current Total value for that row.

If the current total is greater than the original, the variance will be positive.

If the current total is less than the original, the variance will be negative.

Lock Original Totals for Comparison

In Budget Preferences you can Lock Original Totals for Comparison to disable the refresh button so that it is not pressed accidentally.