EN
During the last five years we developed method to calculate crystal field and magnetism of rare-earth ions in solids. The method is fully ab initio with the exception of a single parameter which adjust the position of f states relative to other valence states and it was successfully applied in insulating systems. In this contribution the method is used to explain multiplet splitting and magnetism in PrCuAl₃ and NdCuAl₃ intermetallics. For the Nd compound the agreement between theory and experiment is good, while for the PrCuAl₃ the agreement is less satisfactory which can be due to the more delocalized 4f electrons of Pr³⁺ comparing to Nd³⁺ ion.