Exchange Rates Subtask

Use this subtask of the Approve Checks screen to add, edit, and/or view exchange rate information.

Exchange rates designate the price at which the currency of one country is traded for the currency of another country.

  • You can use this subtask to establish exchange rates in order to pay vouchers. Vouchers represent bills submitted to your company for payment.
  • You can use this subtask to determine exchange rates for non-Euro and Euro currencies. The Euro is the currency used in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Non-Euro currencies represent the legal tender used in the remaining countries.

Since it is possible that your existing Costpoint databases contain records that reference the pre-Euro currencies used by these countries, Costpoint uses "triangulation," a three-part conversion method, to determine exchange rates in this circumstance. For example, Germany now uses the Euro; however, you probably have existing records that reference the German Mark, the pre-Euro currency used in this country. If you attempt to convert the German Mark into U.S. Dollars (USD), Costpoint performs this conversion internally using triangulation. This process examines the first currency, the German Mark, and converts the German Mark into Euros. Next, the triangulation process continues by converting Euros into U.S. dollars, thus determining the exchange rate.

As you enter and/or edit information in this subtask, you will discover that there are definitive relationships among the data in the Transaction, Pay, Rate Group, Rate Date, and Rate fields. You established these relationships in your setup of the Multicurrency screens. Costpoint calculates the exchange rate based on the validity of the data in these fields.

After you enter data on the Exchange Rates subtask, click the Find Rates button to refresh the fields and populate them with the new, recalculated data.

You must click the Apply button to update applicable fields in the header record and other subtasks displayed on the primary screen.

Before you enter data on this subtask, you must initialize the Configure Multicurrency Settings, Manage Exchange Rate Sources, Manage Exchange Rates by Date or Manage Exchange Rates by Period, Manage Exchange Rate Groups, and Manage Currency Status screens.

Currencies

Field Description
Transaction

This field displays the transaction code. The transaction code represents the currency specified on the voucher. You can enter, or click to select, a different transaction code. The transaction description displays in the adjacent, non-editable field.

The Japanese Yen (JPY), for example, might represent the transaction code on a voucher sent by a company in Japan to a company in the United States.

The data available in the Lookup originates from the Manage Currencies screen.

Costpoint populates this field by first retrieving data from the Manage Vendor screen. If no relevant information exists on this screen, Costpoint retrieves data from the Configure Multicurrency Settings screen.

Pay

This field displays the pay code. The pay code represents the monetary unit you use to pay a voucher. You can enter, or click to select, a different pay code. The pay code description displays in the adjacent, non-editable field.

If you have not established a default pay code for this vendor, the value displayed in this field defaults from the Default Transaction field of the Configure Multicurrency Settings screen.

The data available in the Lookup originates from the Manage Currencies screen.

If you pay a voucher partially, you can use a different currency for each payment; therefore, you can use various pay codes until the voucher is paid in full.

Note: This field may be labeled Pay or Pay Currency.
Rate Group

This field displays the rate group code. The rate group allows you to compare one currency to another. You can enter, or click to select, a different rate group code. The rate group description displays in the adjacent field.

Costpoint populates this field by first retrieving data from the Rate Group field of the Currencies block of the Manage Vendor screen. If this field does not display data, Costpoint retrieves data from the Default Rate Group field of the Configure Multicurrency Settings screen.

The data available in the Lookup originates from the Manage Exchange Rate Groups screen.

The "Daily" rate group, for example, might display 10 records. One record might compare the U.S. Dollar (USD) to the Japanese Yen (JPY), another record might compare the Dutch Gilder (NLG) to the British Pound (GBP), and the eight remaining records might include various other currency comparisons.

The rate groups you create establish a relationship between currencies. This association must exist in order for you to determine exchange rates in this subtask.

Transaction Currency to Functional Currency Exchange Rate Info

Use the fields in this group box to convert the transaction currency into your company's functional currency. The transaction currency represents the currency specified on the voucher; the functional currency represents your company's primary or base currency. You can modify the data in this group box, or you can view existing exchange rate information.

Field Description
Rate Date

This field displays the exchange rate date. The displayed date might represent the date you submitted voucher payment or the current date. In addition, it might represent a more arbitrary date such as any one for which you calculate an exchange rate.

Enter, or click the calendar icon to select, a different date. Enter the date in MM/DD/YYYY format.

To determine the exchange rates on this subtask, the date you enter in the Rate Date field must be valid based on the data in the Transaction and Rate Group fields. This date must also be valid based on the parameters you established for records on the Multicurrency screens.

After you enter or change an existing date, you must click the Find Rates button to refresh the data in this group box and calculate the exchange rate using the new date.

Note: If you modify the text in the Rate Date field of this group box, Costpoint displays the following message:

"The transactional to functional rate date has been changed. Do you want the functional to pay rate date to match the newly entered date?"

Click OK to accept or click Cancel to disregard this change. If you click OK, the same date displays in the Rate Date field of the Functional Currency to Pay Currency Exchange Rate Info group box.

Rate

This non-editable field displays the rate amount.

If the transaction and functional currencies are the same, no rate determination is necessary. In this case, this field displays "1.0000000."

If the transaction and functional currencies are different, Costpoint calculates the rate using the parameters you established for records on the Multicurrency screens.

Example:

The value in the Rate field is determined based on the method you use to track exchange rates.

If you track exchange rates by date, the rate defaults from the Rate Amount field in the Exchange Rates by Date screen.  

For example, the "Daily" rate group record in the Exchange Rates by Date screen might display exchange rate comparisons between the British Pound (GBP) and the U.S. Dollar (USD). The Starting Date field in this screen might display "01/01/2006," the Ending Date field, "12/31/2006," and the Rate Amount field, ".6000000."

The Exchange Rates subtask might display "GBP" in the Transaction field, "Daily" in the Rate Group field, and "01/15/06" in the Rate Date field. In addition, the U.S. Dollar (USD) might represent the functional currency.

In this circumstance, the Rate field in the Exchange Rates subtask displays ".6000000" because this is the Rate Amount associated with the Transaction, Rate Group, and Rate Date combination.

Trans to Func (Trans to Euro)

This field displays the transaction to functional exchange rate if you calculate the exchange rate for a non-Euro currency.

In this circumstance, this field is labeled Trans to Func.

You can edit this field only if you selected the Allow users to override exchange rates check box on the Configure Multicurrency Settings screen.

Costpoint determines this rate using the parameters you established for records on the Multicurrency screens.

If you calculate the exchange rate associated with a Euro currency, Costpoint calculates the value in this field by dividing 1 by the value in the Euro-to-Currency Exchange Rate field of the Manage Currency Status screen. This field is labeled Trans to Euro. In this case, the currency displayed on the Manage Currency Status record must be consistent with the Euro currency on this screen.

Example:

If you track non-Euro exchange rates by date, this field displays a value that defaults from the Rate Amount field on the Manage Exchange Rates by Date screen.

If you track non-Euro exchange rates by period, this field displays a value that defaults from the Period-Average Rate field of the Manage Exchange Rates by Period screen.

Whether you track non-Euro currency exchange rates by date or period, the rate amount is retrieved based on the validity of the data in the Transaction, Rate Group, and Rate Date fields.

The value displayed in the Trans to Func field is always the same as the value displayed in the Rate field.

Since the value in the Rate field is non-editable, you can use the Trans to Func field to indirectly change the value in the Rate field.

For example, the Rate and Trans to Func fields might display ".6000000", based on the U.S. Dollar (USD) to Japanese Yen (JPY) exchange rates. If the exchange rate changed to ".8500000", you could manually modify the data in the Trans to Func field to reflect this new rate.

Updating the value in the Trans to Func field updates the value in the Rate field with the equivalent amount.

N/A (Euro to Func )

This field displays "1.0000000" and is non-editable if you convert a non-Euro currency.

If you convert a non-Euro currency, this field is labeled N/A.

If you convert a Euro currency, you must have completed setup of the Manage Currency Status screen. In this case, this field will be labeled Euro to Func.

If, for example, you track exchange rates by date and convert a Euro currency, the data in this field defaults from the value in the Rate Amount field of the Manage Exchange Rates by Date screen. In this circumstance, the Exchange Rates by Date record should be associated with the actual "EUR" currency. This currency should be linked to the functional currency in this record.

The value defaults based on the validity of the data in the Transaction, Rate Group, and Rate Date fields.

Updating the value in the Euro to Func field updates the value in the Rate field with the equivalent amount.

You can edit the Euro to Func field only if you selected the Allow users to override exchange rates check box on the Configure Multicurrency Settings screen.

Find Rates

Click this button to refresh the fields in this group box and retrieve updated exchange rate information using data in the Transaction, Rate Group, and Rate Date fields.

If you add or modify data in this subtask, you must click this button to display new, recalculated exchange rate information.

Freeze Rate

Select this check box to suspend or halt any activity associated with the exchange rate information referenced in this subtask. This suspension will occur after the transaction has posted.

After the transaction has posted, Costpoint ignores any subsequent updates to the exchange rate throughout the life of this record. In this case, all evaluations of this record are based on the exchange rate at the time the transaction posted.

For example, if the Rate field displays ".2000000," as it relates to the Dutch Gilder (NLG) and U.S. Dollar (USD) transaction to functional exchange rate, this value will not change as long as the Freeze Rate check box is selected. Although the actual, real-time rate may fluctuate, the data on this subtask remains constant.

If you select the Freeze Rate check box, this transaction is excluded when you execute the Update Open Accounts Payable Exchange Rates process.

The Update Open Accounts Payable Exchange Rates process inserts the most current exchange rate into the history tables to allow the calculation of unrealized gains and losses.

Functional Currency to Pay Currency Exchange Rate Info

Use the fields in this group box to convert the functional currency into the pay currency. The fields in this group box are disabled for those vouchers that have the same transaction and pay currency.

Field Description
Rate Date

This field displays the exchange rate date.

The displayed date might represent the date you entered the voucher or the current date. In addition, it might represent a more arbitrary date such as any one for which you calculate an exchange rate.

Enter, or click Calendar Lookup to select, a different date. Enter the date in MM/DD/YYYY format.

To determine the exchange rates on this subtask, the date you enter in the Rate Date field must be valid based on the data in the Pay and Rate Group fields along with your company's functional currency. This date also must be valid based the parameters you established for records in the Multicurrency screens.

After you enter or change an existing date, you must click the Find Rates button to refresh the data in this group box and calculate the exchange rate using the new date.

Note: If you modify the text in the Rate Date field, Costpoint displays the following message:

"The functional to pay rate date has been changed. Do you want the transactional to functional rate date to match the newly entered date?"

You must click OK to accept or click Cancel to disregard this change.

Clicking OK allows the same date to be displayed in the Rate Date field of the Functional Currency to Pay Currency Exchange Rate Info group box.

Rate

This non-editable field displays the rate amount.

If the functional and pay currencies are the same, no rate determination is necessary. In this case, this field displays "1.0000000."

If the functional and pay currencies are different, Costpoint determines the rate using the parameters you established for records in the Multicurrency screens.

Example:

The value in the Rate field is determined based on the method you use to track exchange rates.

If you track exchange rates by date, the rate defaults from the Rate Amount field on the Manage Exchange Rates by Date screen.  

For example, the "Daily" rate group record on the Manage Exchange Rates by Date screen might display exchange rate comparisons between the U.S. Dollar (USD) and the British Pound (GBP). The Starting Date field in this screen might display "01/01/2006," the Ending Date field, "12/31/2006," and the Rate Amount field, ".6000000."

The Exchange Rates subtask might display "GBP" in the Pay field, "Daily" in the Rate Group field, and "01/15/06" in the Rate Date field. In addition, the U.S. Dollar (USD) might represent the functional currency.

In this circumstance, the Rate field on the Exchange Rates subtask displays ".6000000" because this is the value in the Rate Amount field of the Manage Exchange Rates by Date screen that is associated with the Pay, Rate Group, and Rate Date combination.

Func to Pay (Func to Euro)

This field displays the functional currency to pay currency exchange rate if you calculate the exchange rate for a non-Euro currency. In this case, this field is labeled Func to Pay.

If the functional and pay currencies are the same, this field displays "1.0000000".

If the functional and pay currencies are different, Costpoint determines this value using the parameters you established for records in the Multicurrency screens.

If you calculate the exchange rate associated with a Euro currency, this field displays a functional currency to Euro currency calculation; in addition, this field will be labeled Func to Euro.

You can modify this field only if you selected the Allow users to override exchange rates check box on the Configure Multicurrency Settings screen.

Example:

If you track non-Euro exchange rates by date, this field displays a value that defaults from the Rate Amount field on the Manage Exchange Rates by Date screen.

If you track non-Euro exchange rates by period, this field displays a value that defaults from the Period-Average Rate field of the Manage Exchange Rates by Period screen.

Whether you track non-Euro currency exchange rates by date or period, the value defaults based on the validity of the data in the Pay, Rate Group, and Rate Date fields of the Exchange Rates subtask.

The value displayed in the Func to Pay field is equivalent to the value displayed in the Rate field.

Since the value in the Rate field is non-editable, the Func to Pay field allows you an opportunity to indirectly change the value in the Rate field.

For example, the Rate and Func to Pay fields might display ".6000000", based on the U.S. Dollar (USD) to Japanese Yen (JPY) exchange rates. If the current exchange rate changed to ".8500000", you could manually modify the data in the Func to Pay field to reflect the new rate.

Updating the value in the Func to Pay field updates the value in the Rate field with the equivalent amount.

N/A (Euro to Pay)

This field displays "1.0000000" and is non-editable if you convert a non-Euro currency.

In addition, if you convert a non-Euro currency, this field is labeled N/A.

If you convert a Euro currency, you must have completed setup of the Manage Currency Status screen. In this case, this field is  labeled Euro to Pay.

If, for example, you track exchange rates by date and convert a Euro currency, the data in this field defaults from the value in the Euro-to-Currency Exchange Rate field of the Currency Status screen.

The value defaults based on the validity of the data in the Pay, Rate Group, and Rate Date fields.

Find Rates

Click this button to refresh the fields in this group box and retrieve updated exchange rate information using data in the Pay, Rate Group, and Rate Date fields.

If you add or modify data in this subtask, you must click this button to display new, recalculated exchange rate information.

Freeze Rate

Select this check box to suspend or halt any activity associated with the exchange rate information referenced in this subtask. This suspension occurs after the transaction has posted.

After the transaction has posted, Costpoint ignores any subsequent updates to the exchange rate throughout the life of this record. In this case, all evaluations of this record are based on the exchange rate at the time the transaction posted.

For example, if the Rate field displays ".2000000," as it relates to the Dutch Gilder (NLG) and U.S. Dollar (USD) transaction to functional exchange rate, this value does not change as long as the Freeze Rate check box is selected. Although the actual, real-time rate may fluctuate, the data in this subtask remains constant.

In addition, if you select the Freeze Rate check box, this transaction is excluded when you execute the Update Open Accounts Payable Exchange Rates process. The Update Open Accounts Payable Exchange Rates process inserts the most current exchange rate into the history tables to allow the calculation of unrealized gains and losses.

Apply

Click this button to update information in the header record and any applicable subtasks in the primary screen with the new exchange rate information.  

This button applies the new exchange rate data to other applicable fields in this screen. For example, if you change the data in the Pay, Rate Group, and/or Rate Date fields, you must click the Find Rates button to display the updated exchange rate information.

When you click the Apply button, you synchronize the header information and all applicable subtasks for the primary screen that makes them consistent with the information in this subtask.