Frequently asked questions

A: A Default Structure is the equivalent of a standard Finance Setup in prior versions of Argus Developer, and there is one per file which cannot be removed or added to. Such a Default Structure Finance Setup can be applied to any Project Phase or Project Group of Phases in a project file. A Finance Structure is very similar to the Default Structure, in that the same Finance calculation rules are applied. However, you can have any number of Finance Structures in an Argus Developer file, and they are combined together automatically at the level of uniquely defined Debt and Equity Sources. This allows you to have multiple Projects in a Developer file, each with their own Finance Setup which is discretely calculated, but ultimately combined. This mutiple-project capability is excellent for doing scenario modeling as well, whereby you can run variations of the same project to see which provides the best outcome.

A: Yes that is ok - just do NOT have the Excel workbook you are going to download into open. You can have other Excel workbooks open, however.

A: You probably did not have Finance Structures in focus in Developer (in which case Developer will export data from a Default Structure view). Close the Excel Finance Structures workbook, then select a Finance Structure in Developer - either the Merged Phases view for 'All Structures' as shown here:

or; if you select an individual Finance Phase Group, again with the 'Merged Phases' view highlighted, if there is more than one Phase in the selected Finance Structure, as shown below: Also, you must leave the workbook tab 'FS_Data_Source' visible - i.e.; not Hidden.

A.You probably did not have a Default Structure in focus in Developer (in which case Developer exported data related to a Finance Structure. Close the Excel Finance Structures workbook, then select a Default Structure in Developer - either the Merged Phases view for 'All Structures' as shown here:

or; if you select an individual Project Phase Group, again with the 'Merged Phases' view highlighted, if there is more than one Phase in the selected Default Structure, as shown below: Also, you must have the workbook tab 'Data_Source' visible - i.e.; not Hidden.

A: This is a 'quirk' of Excel itself, and we do not have a workaround for it. When you save the file after downloading into it, you can remove the '1' that has been appended.

A: It is meant to display at a glance the key setup elements and Performance Measures for each Finance Structure in your downloaded Argus Developer file. The screenshot below is an example of a typical Dashboard view. Other tabs in the Finance Structures Workbook provide much more detailed infomation about Project and Finance assumptions and results.

A: We are available to analyze and potentially fix such problems, for a fee that we can quote on before doing the work. DFA-Consulting Inc. will fix at our cost, any errors found in unaltered Excel workbooks supplied by the company.

A: A maximum of 50 Phases and 50 Structures. 10 Phases per Structure, and a total of 5 Equity and 5 Debt Sources per Argus Developer file. Maximum 240 months Project length. These limits can be modified on a custom basis.

A: 50 Phases, 5 Equity and 5 Debt Sources. Project Length maximum is 240 months.

A: No. We have deliberately avoided the use of any Excel add-ins or macros to reduce complexity and increase reliability. We use only standard Excel formulas, all of which are user-accessible (and editable). Some background calculations are located in "Hidden" worksheets, which can be viewed by right-clicking any Worksheet tab then selecting "Unhide". These are hidden to reduce the posssibility of unintended changes to formulas.

A: The only difference between the two is that Argus Developer v5 now exports a new cash flow line type called "Infrastructure", which appears under Construction Costs. Within Developer, it is Category 55.