Budgeting
You know every field that accepts a variable, which variables each field takes and when a variable saves you work.
In some budget fields, you can enter a variable instead of a fixed number. When the value of the variable changes, KOSMA recalculates every field that uses it. If you have not defined a variable yet, see [what variables are](/kb/article/what-variables-are).
Every field in this table accepts your own variables and the variables of the work phases. The Subtotals `NPC`, `DFFF` and `GT` and the [budget functions](/kb/article/budget-functions-reference) work only where the table names them.
| Where | Field | Subtotals | Functions | | ------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | Account or subaccount | **Quantity**, **Price/Unit**, **X** | none | `ACCOUNT`, `SUM_COMPANY`, `SUM_TAG`, `COUNT_COMPANY`, `COUNT_TAG` | | Markup in **Overview/Markups** | **Base** | `NPC`, `DFFF` | the same five | | **Fringes & Supplements** in the account details | the **Factor** of a supplement | `NPC`, `DFFF` | none | | **Extra Costs** in the account details | **Factor** | `NPC`, `DFFF` | none | | The **Extra Costs** settings | **Quantity** | none | none | | The **Extra Costs** settings | **Price** | `NPC`, `DFFF` | none | | **Variables** | the **Calculation Formula** of another variable | `NPC`, `DFFF`, `GT` | the same five |
Every other field takes a fixed value only. **Timebase (days) for fringe limits** in **Fringes & Supplements** takes no variable either. It takes numbers and the functions `ACCOUNT_QTY` and `SUBACCOUNT_QTY` (see [use quantities in formulas](/kb/article/use-quantities-in-formulas)). If you enter a variable there, KOSMA does not save the change. For the variable `Shooting_workdays`, KOSMA shows:
Only ACCOUNT\_QTY and SUBACCOUNT\_QTY are allowed — 'Shooting\_workdays' is not.
A variable uses account totals when its **Calculation Formula** contains `ACCOUNT`, `SUM_COMPANY`, `SUM_TAG`, `NPC` or `GT`. You cannot use such a variable in an account or subaccount, in the **Quantity** of the **Extra Costs** settings or in the **Factor** of a supplement. The total of the account would then depend on itself. KOSMA does not save the change.
In the **Base** of a markup, such a variable works if its formula contains `NPC` and not `GT`.
A fee you negotiate once needs no variable. Use a variable for a number that depends on something else or that can still change:
- a quantity that comes from the schedule - a rate that appears in several places in the budget, such as a per diem or a standard fee - a figure based on an assumption, such as the size of the crew or a contingency
Set the **Quantity** of an account to a [work-phase variable](/kb/article/use-phase-durations-in-formulas), for example `Shooting_workdays`. KOSMA keeps the number of work days of each phase as a variable. When a phase gets longer or shorter, KOSMA recalculates every formula that uses its variable. Every new budget has the work phase Shooting with 20 work days, so `Shooting_workdays` gives 20 until you change the phase.
In Budgeting, each cell shows its result. To see the formulas instead, click  in the toolbar, as described in [switch between values and formulas](/kb/article/switch-between-values-and-formulas).
Before you change a variable, you can see how many formulas use it. Click  **Variables** in the toolbar. **In Use** shows the number in the row of the variable. For work-phase variables, **In Use** always shows 0, even if a formula uses them.
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