by Eastwood Harris | Sep 14, 2020 | Oracle Primavera, Oracle Primavera P6, P6 Training Books, Primavera P6 PPM, Primavera Training Resources
The process outlined in this paper shows how you may simply edit an XER with Excel and import the Activity Codes, Click here for a link to this paper>>>
This new book is a casual users survival guide aimed at users who understand the software basics but require a short and snappy guide to demonstrate the less intuitive functions.
This book is available in pocket sized paperback and eBook formats from Kobo, Kindle and iTunes. Click here for more information>>>
Other books, training manuals and instructor PowerPoint slide shows by Paul Harris are available on:
- Microsoft Project,
- Oracle Primavera P6 and
- Elecosoft (Asta) Powerproject
More information and links to sellers at our website>>>
Paul E Harris
Director Eastwood Harris Pty Ltd
99 Tricks and Traps for Oracle Primavera P6 PPM Professional
by Eastwood Harris | Sep 14, 2020 | Oracle Primavera, Oracle Primavera P6, P6 Training Books
There are a number of issues when there are mixed calendars in a schedule, such as when some tasks have an 8 hour per day calendar and some with a 12 hour per day calendar. To read a short article which is an extract from this book on the issues and solutions to this issue, please click on this link>>>.
Accelerate your understanding of scheduling software to advance your scheduling career and be able to prepare better schedules with Eastwood Harris books, online videos and training material on:
- Microsoft Project,
- Oracle Primavera P6 and
- Elecosoft (Asta) Powerproject
Details at https://www.eh.com.au
Paul E Harris
Director Eastwood Harris Pty Ltd
by Eastwood Harris | Sep 11, 2020 | Oracle Primavera, Oracle Primavera P6, P6 Training Books, Primavera
When analysing project delays it is often useful to know where the Baseline Critical Path was. Click on this link>>> to read an article, which is an extract from the author’s book 99 Tricks and Traps for Oracle Primavera P6 PPM Professional, on how to display the baseline critical path on baseline bars.
99 Tricks and Traps for Oracle Primavera P6 PPM Professional
by Eastwood Harris | Aug 29, 2012 | Microsoft Project, P6 Training Books
There are several Primavera propriety file formats that you need to be aware of:
- XER – Used to exchange one or more projects between Primavera databases regardless of the database type in which it was created and exports all project data. Earlier versions of XER files may be imported into later version databases. A layout (formatting) is not part of an XER file.
- PLF – Used to exchange Layouts between Primavera databases regardless of the database type in which it was created.
- ANP – Used to save the position of activities in an Activity Network.
- ERP – Used to exchange Reports between Primavera databases regardless of the database type in which it was created.
- XML – A format introduced with Primavera Version 6.0 which is used to import data from the Project Manager module. This is the same software language but a different format to a Microsoft Project XML file.
- PCF – Used to exchange Global Changes between Primavera databases.
Non Primavera File Types
Select File, Import… to open a wizard that will guide you through the process of importing projects into your schedule.
Project (*.mpp).This is the default file format that Microsoft Project uses to create and save files. Microsoft Project 2010, Microsoft Project 2007 and Microsoft Project 2000 – 2003 are three different formats.
Primavera Version 8 will not import any mpp file when Microsoft Project 2007 or Microsoft Project 2010 is installed as these disable the mpp import function.
Primavera will import and export to the following non Primavera file types using the wizards found under the menu commands File, Import… and File, Export…:
- Project 2000 – 2003 (*.mpp).This is the default file format that Microsoft Project 2000, 2002 and 2003 use to create and save files. Importing these files requires Microsoft Project 2000, 2002 or 2003 to be installed on the PC.
- MPX (*.mpx). This is a text format created by Microsoft Project 98 and earlier versions. MPX is a format that may be imported and exported by many other project scheduling software packages.
- Microsoft Project XML format is supported in Version 6.2 and later. This allows import of a file created by Microsoft Project 2010, or 2007, or 2000 to 2003 XML without the installation of Microsoft Project.
- Primavera Project Planner P3 and SureTrak files saved in P3 format. A SureTrak project in SureTrak format should be saved in Concentric (P3) format before importing.
To import files saved in P3 format you need Btrieve loaded on your PC. Btrieve is loaded when P3 is installed. A demonstration version of P3 will load Btrieve onto your machine and enable P3 files to be imported.
- XLS. Primavera Version 5.0 has a new function allowing the import and export of data in Excel format.
Read the Administrators Guide carefully before importing a project as this is a very complex operation and may import unwanted data into your database. It is recommended that you establish a sacrificial database into which you import projects so that corporate databases are not filled up with unwanted data.
Eastwood Harris Supplies Project Management Training Manuals, Project Management Training Presentations and Consulting on Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project 2010 across Australia.
by Eastwood Harris | Aug 22, 2012 | P6 Training Books
First, one would usually establish a resource pool by entering all the required project resources into a hierarchical table in the software. The required quantity of each resource is assigned to the activities. In an Enterprise environment in Brisbane, these resources may already be defined for you.
Entering a cost rate for each resource enables you to conduct a resource cost analysis, such as comparing the cost of supplementing overloaded resources against the cost of extending the project deadline.
Estimates and time-phased cash flows may be produced from this resource/cost data.
Creating and Using Roles
Primavera has an additional function titled Roles, which is used for planning and managing resources in Brisbane-based projects.
- A Role is a skill or trade or job description and may be used as an alternative to resources during the planning period of a project.
- Roles are defined in a hierarchical structure and hold a Proficiency Level.
- Roles may be assigned to activities in a way similar to how resources are assigned. Roles can be replaced later by resources after it has been decided who is going to be assigned the work.
- Primavera Version 5.0 introduced a function allowing a Role to be assigned a rate.
The Relationship Between Resources and Roles
Primavera has the ability to define roles and associate them with resources.
A role is a job title, trade or skill and may have many resources. A multi-skilled resource may have multiple roles. For example, a role may be a Clerical Assistant and there may be five clerical assistants in a company who would be assigned the Clerical Assistant Role. If one clerical assistant were also a data entry person, then this resource would be assigned two roles: Clerical Assistant and Data Entry.
Activity Type and Duration Type
Activities may be assigned an Activity Type and Duration Type, which affect how resources are calculated. Additional software features enable the user to more accurately model real-life situations. These features are covered in the Assigning Roles, Resources and Expenses chapter.
Budgets
The Budget function enables Top-Down Budgeting at a summary level against each EPS Node in an accounting style. Budgets may be compared to the detailed estimates calculated after resources have been assigned to Activities
Eastwood Harris Supplies Project Management Training Manuals, Project Management Training Presentations and Consulting on Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project 2010 across Australia.
by Eastwood Harris | Aug 2, 2012 | P6 Training Books
Primavera P6 Project Constraints Types in Sydney
There are two types of constraints:
- Project Constraints which includes the Project Start Date and Project Finish Date, and
- Activity Constraints; the two most common are Start On or After (Early Start) and Finish On or Before (Late Finish).
External dependencies are applied to a schedule using Constraints and these may model the impact of events outside the logical sequence of activities. A constraint would be imposed to specific dates such as the availability of a facility to start work or the required completion date of a project.
Constraints on projects in Sydney should be cross-referenced to the supporting documentation, such as Milestone Dates from contract documentation, using the Notebook Topics function.
A Project Start Date called Project Planned Start in P6 is the earliest date that any activity may be scheduled to start. An activity will start on the Project Start Date unless one of the following stop the activity starting on the Project Start Date::
- There is a Calendar Non Work time, or
- A constraint, or
- A relationship.
A Project Finish Date is optional, but once set this controls Total Float (often referred to as Float in P6).
When a Project Finish Date constraint is assigned in Sydney then Total Float is calculated to this date.
- The picture shows a project with a Project Finish date on Friday 26 September developing 5 days Total Float.
- The picture shows a schedule with a Project Finish date of Friday 12,
- This is earlier than the calculated finish date, thus calculating 5 days Negative Float:
Activity Constraints
Typical examples of activity constraints would be:
- Start on or After for the availability of a site to commence work, and
- Finish on or Before for the date that a total project must be completed or handed over.
Activity Early Start Constraint
- An activity will no longer start on the Data Date when a Start On or After constraint is assigned
- This is more commonly known as an Early Start constraint.
NOTES: In P6 the time must always be displayed as P6 will often set constraints at 00:00hrs which is midnight and is not very often an appropriate time to set constraints.
Eastwood Harris Supplies Project Management Training Manuals, Project Management Training Presentations and Consulting on Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project 2010 across Australia.
