Target Visualization

The target symbol on each Budget row is a compact legend for progress. It is there to help you read the category quickly without opening the target form every time. Common Cents uses the circular Target visualization.

What the colors mean #

The color meaning stays consistent:

• green means assigned funding
• yellow means planned funding
• red means spending activity

When those same colors appear with slashes, they mean the category has gone past the normal target basis instead of just filling toward it.

The target symbol #

The Budget row shows two rings plus a few guide lines.

What the circles mean #

The target symbol uses two rings:

• the outer ring is activity, which means spending progress against the target basis
• the inner ring is funding, which means assigned and planned money against the same target basis

Inside the funding ring:

• the green arc is assigned money
• the yellow arc is planned money layered after assigned money

On the activity ring:

• the red arc is spending activity

What the lines mean #

The target symbol uses three different line styles.

• the solid hand from the center is the current month-progress marker
• the dashed hand from the center is the due-day marker when the target type uses a due day
• the short ticks around the outside mark segment boundaries

Those outside ticks change meaning based on target type:

• for weekly targets, they mark weekly segment boundaries
• for yearly and custom range targets, they divide the target into month segments across the range

The small dot in the center is just the visual anchor for those hands.

What the slashed colors mean #

Slashed arcs mean overflow.

• slashed green means assigned money is over the target basis
• slashed yellow means planned money pushed funding past the target basis
• slashed red means activity overspent past the target basis

The slash pattern is not a second category of money. It is the app’s way of saying, “this part is beyond the normal target range.”

Start and end messages #

Range-style targets can also show a short text message instead of normal progress when the current month is outside the active window.

You may see messages like:

• Starts … when the target has not started yet
• Ended … when the target range has already passed

That is Common Cents telling you the target exists, but the current month is outside its active progress window.

How to use the visualization in practice #

Use the row visualization as a quick read, not as the only explanation.

• If the row looks underfunded, use Plan up to target or Assign up to target from Related Actions.
• If the row shows slashed overflow colors, check whether the category is overfunded or overspent on purpose.
• If the symbol looks confusing, click it to open Edit Category Target and review the target type, amount, and behavior directly.

The visualization is best for spotting patterns quickly. The target form is still where you confirm what the row is trying to do.