Website Upgrade Incoming - we're working on a new look (and speed!) standby while we finalise the project

Tips on using this forum..

(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.

Variance in Calendar Days

14 replies [Last post]
Sat, 2004-11-20 08:33
Razi Khan
User offline. Last seen 8 years 9 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 74
Groups: None
Hi Planners

Is it possible to have Variance Target1 Early finish in calendar days instead of working days ?

For example one project was suppose to complete on 18 Dec 2004 but now it is completing 1 Jan 2005 the total float column is showing -12 days and Variance target 1 early finish column is also showing -12 days. I just want to show the number of days delayed not "working days" delay.

Thanks.


Top

Replies

Sun, 2004-11-28 06:53
#1
Paul Harris
User offline. Last seen 1 year 35 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 11 Apr 2001
Posts: 618
Groups: Content Moderators, GPCCAR Editors
I have had a closer look and I agree with you, it still calculates over the activity calendar. My apologies for giving you wrong advice.

What needs to be done is to convert a dates into workperiod numbers as integers and subtract them.

I have had a look at a few manuals and I cannot see a way unless the activity is on a 7 day per week calendar.

So what you may try is running a Global Change to change the activity calendars to a 7 day per week, saving the original calendar say in a CDI and then calculate the variance, then change the calendar back before recalculating the schedule. In my test environment I had to run one change to change the calendar and a second to calculate the variance and change the calendar back. It did not recognize the calendar change when I tried it all in one global change and I was using CDIs as dates not a Target Project.

This is a bit of messing around to set up but it may work.

Paul E Harris
Eastwood Harris Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
Planning and Scheduling Book Publishers, Training & Consulting
www.eh.com.au
Top
Sun, 2004-11-28 00:38
#2
Razi Khan
User offline. Last seen 8 years 9 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 74
Groups: None
Hi Paul

Thanks a lot for your suggestions but my problem remains as it is.

I did it again using temp. variables as suggested by you but still the answer was not like Excel.

Custom Data Item
DIF N 3

Global Run

If PCT NE 100

Then

&DFA = EF
&DFB = T1EF
&DIB = &DFA - &DFB
DIF = &DIB + 1

Answer
&DFA = 1-01-05
&DFB = 18-12-04
&DIB = 12 ( In Excel (1-01-05) - (18-12-04) = 14 )
DIF = 13



Top
Sat, 2004-11-27 08:39
#3
Paul Harris
User offline. Last seen 1 year 35 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 11 Apr 2001
Posts: 618
Groups: Content Moderators, GPCCAR Editors
I think you are subtracting one Custom Data Item Date from another Custom Data Item Date which will calculate over the calendar of the task.

The global change is must use temporary values say &D1and &D1 which are not writen to the database and therefore are not associated with a calendar:

Eg the Global change should be:

&D1 = EF
&D2 = T1EF
DIF = D1 - D2

Don’t forget that P3 uses day numbers not the current time so you will have to add another line to add one day to the result with an extra line in the global change to get the same answer as Excel:

DIF = D1F + 1

Paul E Harris
Eastwood Harris Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
Planning and Scheduling Book Publishers, Training & Consulting
www.eh.com.au
Top
Sat, 2004-11-27 02:27
#4
Razi Khan
User offline. Last seen 8 years 9 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 74
Groups: None
Hi Paul

Here what I did after your suggestion but answer was still the same previous 12 days.

Custom Data Item

D1 F 7 Early Finish
D2 F 7 Target Early Finish
DIF N 3 Var In Days

Global Run

If
PCT NE 100

Then
D1 = EF
D2 = T1EF
DIF = D1 - D2

After Run

D1 = 1JAN05
D2 = 18DEC04
DIF = 12

Deduction is not like in Excel where (1-1-05)-(18-12-05) = 14.
Are you sure P3 treats dates deductions as Excel treats ?
Top
Thu, 2004-11-25 07:05
#5
Paul Harris
User offline. Last seen 1 year 35 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 11 Apr 2001
Posts: 618
Groups: Content Moderators, GPCCAR Editors
If you use Global change and copy the two dates you wish to compare into two temporary fields, say &T1 and &T2, then subtract then on the third line of the global change and put the result into a CDI (Custom Data Item), the resulting calculation will be in elapsed days.

Paul E Harris
Eastwood Harris Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
Planning and Scheduling Book Publishers, Training & Consulting
www.eh.com.au
Top
Tue, 2004-11-23 00:27
#6
Razi Khan
User offline. Last seen 8 years 9 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 74
Groups: None
Thanks Andrew.

I was just interested to get the answer without using other software.
Top
Mon, 2004-11-22 09:33
#7
Andrew Podolny
User offline. Last seen 1 year 19 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 16 Nov 2004
Posts: 130
Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas
It’s easy to do if you’re familiar with MSAccess or Excel (MSAccess is better IMHO). Just make one Custom Data Item (Numeric, say DIFF for instance) Export from P3 ActivityID, early and late dates for current & target projects and Activity Custom data items to DBF format then open this file either by Excel or Access.
Put a formula for DIFF as ES-T1ES (in Excel) or make an update query for DIFF in Access. Due to MSOffice’s logic the difference will be calculated without any day-offs.
And the last step: import file back to P3.
Note: You may delete all columns except Activity ID and DIFF.
A little bit complicated but it works.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Best regards,
Andrew
Top
Mon, 2004-11-22 06:01
#8
Shahzad Munawar
User offline. Last seen 9 years 29 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 2 Jul 2003
Posts: 551
Groups: None
Razi
Sure and no doubt that LDs are always applied on calender days not working days.
Top
Mon, 2004-11-22 05:09
#9
Razi Khan
User offline. Last seen 8 years 9 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 74
Groups: None
Thanks guys.

Leave it and forget it. I think there is no simple solution. Its high time for Primavera to develop the option of getting specially the Variances in working days or calendar days. For simple reason when we talk about delays it always means calendar days not working days and LD are applied on calendar days delays not working days delays.
Top
Mon, 2004-11-22 03:01
#10
Maria Ahlberg
User offline. Last seen 13 years 18 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 24
Groups: Women in Planning & Scheduling (WiPS)
You can assign a calender with only workingdays to the activity you have trouble with, but to make the figures correct you have to show the same calender for that activity in the main project as in the target project.
If you often want to show the total amount of days, why not allways use a calender with 7 workdays?
Top
Sun, 2004-11-21 11:54
#11
Dayanidhi Dhandapany
User offline. Last seen 3 years 34 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 18 Mar 2003
Posts: 470
Groups: None
yes it is possible, you can change your calendar working days accordingly to suit your requirements.
Top
Sun, 2004-11-21 04:01
#12
Raj Maurya
User offline. Last seen 3 years 21 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Jul 2004
Posts: 132
Groups: Petro-Chem / Oil & Gas
If it for your one last activty to get the result as you want can just define Thursday/Friday as working day(Exception).I think this will help in your case.
Top
Sun, 2004-11-21 03:34
#13
Razi Khan
User offline. Last seen 8 years 9 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 74
Groups: None
Let me make it more clear. If you deduct 18-Dec-2004 from 1-Jan-2005 the answer is 14 days but in Variance Target 1 early finish column shows -12 days since 2 Fridays are non working days. How to get -14 days as answer in P3 ? Anyway thanks for response Shazad.
Top
Sat, 2004-11-20 13:20
#14
Shahzad Munawar
User offline. Last seen 9 years 29 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 2 Jul 2003
Posts: 551
Groups: None
You may add new item as " delayed days " in Custom data items and can show "number of days delayed" in this item as per variance
Top