(1) Explain your problem, don't simply post "This isn't working". What were you doing when you faced the problem? What have you tried to resolve - did you look for a solution using "Search" ? Has it happened just once or several times?
(2) It's also good to get feedback when a solution is found, return to the original post to explain how it was resolved so that more people can also use the results.
It got me thinking about my workflow. I thought about the tools I've come to use regularly for the past 10 years, and to be frank there's a lot of room for improvement. My current tool-set consists of the following programs:
I find that contract specs typically require PDFs for reports, but for more involved project managers / execs / team members are looking for something along the lines of an MS Project file so they can look at logic. As I was thinking about it I found I had a lot of questions I'd like to ask other planners about, but the following 4 questions probably sum them up best:
Your input is appreciated, and thanks!
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
Hi Jonathan,
Since your workflows revolve around P6, you should try ScheduleReader. This software will help you better view and produce reports from your P6 exported schedules.
In short, ScheduleReader is a viewing/reporting tool that works with XER, XML and XLS schedules exported from the Primavera P6 app.
It is a standalone software to use as a P6 companion tool, offering a better way, (alternative to using PDFs) to view project information and create reports. You can share your schedules as .xer or .xml files and they will be able to view all the data in the P6 schedule with ScheduleReader.
Few benefits of using ScheduleReader over PDFs:
A free 15-day trial is avalable from the website. If you need a simmilar solution working with .mpp files, for your project managers to see the schedule logic, i strongly recommend Seavus Project Viewer.
Another tool that can complement your P6 environment and you could find potentially useful, is ScheduleCleaner.
This software helps you avoid database contamination with unwanted data in XER files, by allowing you to quickly convert Global to Project Data (Calendars, Activity Codes), EPS to Global Activity Codes and similar, before uploading to a P6 database.
With ScheduleCleaner you can also remove or anonymize other project categories of P6 data such as costs, resource names, project progress, erase POBS data and more.
You can learn more about it and download a 15-day free trial here: https://schedulecleaner.com/get-a-trial
Oh, and how could I forget....
Legare is a complete bidirectional interface for P6. SAP, Maximo, MSP etc. Typing is for losers. Load the data with any transformation from any datasource with Legare.
.... and of course, a dishonourable mention of my favourite software product, Microsoft Project. If it worked, I would be out of a job…..
Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
Johnathon,
Current toolset:
P6 18.8. The Windows version, which Oracle call “Professional”, although they do not (they should) call the web version “amateur”. The arithmetic is 20 years old, and it shows. BUT it is what clients want.
Deltek Fuse. Great schedule check analysis, but comparing all the monthly XER files to track differences is the real forensic biggie in here. The risk analysis too lightweight.
Project Tracker. I have been complaining about Primavera graphics since 1990. Tracker does what my clients want, without all the madness of pivoting data into Excel, and running chart wizard stuff. Also, it connects directly to the database, so no cheating!
Primavera Risk Analysis is end of life. I already have a client who cannot get a bug fixed because of its obsolete status. I use Full Monte because it connects directly to the P6 database and the arithmetic is correct, definitely the “contractor” choice. The “owner “choice is Safran Risk, over the top for my one-project-at-a-time risk analysis.
I can hardly get people to read a barchart, let alone a network diagram showing logic. I am trying to evaluate Netpoint, but am struggling because of the large size of projects I work with.
The “best” software is Spider – but it is Russian. Try selling it to an American client!
Hi Jonathan,
we use Spider Project for scheduling, budgeting, risk simulation, schedule analysis, etc.,
we use Spider Project Viewer that is free for sharing project schedule with the clients/teams or give them an access to project site where current project schedule is uploaded.
Access rights permit to restrict the information that may be seen by each project stakeholder.
PDFs of large projects are not readable and usually are collected for project archives.
Email: PPadmin@planningplanet.com
Replies