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Western Winter Workshop. February 9, 2002. Implementing Project Management Tools. Managing Cost Data Using Expedition and P3. Mark Greenhalgh. Simple Goal. Put accounting data, actual $, into two software packages: Expedition Primavera Project Planner. Phases of Operation.
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Western Winter Workshop February 9, 2002 Implementing Project Management Tools
Managing Cost Data Using Expedition and P3 Mark Greenhalgh
Simple Goal • Put accounting data, actual $, into two software packages: • Expedition • Primavera Project Planner
Phases of Operation • 1 Researching the Available Systems • 2 Collecting Accounting Data • 3 Preparing the Data • 4 Setting up the Trends in Expedition • 5 Moving a block of data into Expedition • 6 Importing data into Primavera Schedule • 7 Reporting and Analysis
Software • Accounting Program, IFAS • MS Access, ver. 97, SR-2 • Launchboard for Windows, ver. 2.0 • Expedition, ver. 6.3 • Primavera P3, ver 3.0
The Challenge • Expedition is “Contract Control Software” • ...and does not contain an accounting interface if you haven’t bought it, • …nor does it allow import to all contracts at the same time • …the task of entering actual costs to Trends is tediously slow
Phase 1 - Researching the Available Systems • Accounting program can export to a text file • Expedition and Primavera specifications • Data Import • ODBC Links • LaunchBoard can automate keystrokes between different Windows programs
No Cost Data in the Actuals Expended Column • Importing Data into an Expedition Project • No Accounting Interface
Importing Data into an Expedition Project • Your goal is to import data from accounting into your Expedition Projects database • No Accounting Interface is available
Importing Data - Help • From Expedition, choose Tools, Import (if you created a command for the Import application in the User Preferences dialog box). Otherwise, click Start, Programs, Primavera, Expedition Utilities, Import. • Expedition On-Line Help, Primavera Systems, Inc.
Updates Cost Worksheet • Cost is now linked from the Trends Module to the Cost Worksheet • The Cost Worksheet is recalculated and available for review or printed reports • This process needs to be repeated possibly thousands of times depending upon categories charged
Phase 2 - Collecting Accounting Data • Obtaining a month end closing data file from the accounting program
Phase 3 - Preparing the Data • Importing the text file into an MS Access table - dealing with abnormalities • Re-computing correct Contract Numbers • Some are missing or blank • All are different from Contract Numbers (or “Projects”) in Expedition • Adding other costs, credits not in text file • Setting Up the ODBC Links to Expedition
Phase 4 - Setting up the Trends in Expedition • Create Query in MS Access as the source of the Trends to be created • Every Trend must be unique • A new Trend is created for every occurrence of the three account identifiers: Contract, Project, or General Ledger Object Code
LaunchBoard • Automating the process to add exactly 1,445 trends to Expedition • Create a Macro for the F3 key to perform the repetitive tasks • Put Trends in MS Access Query into Cost Code 80003-C0064 and others
Phase 5 - Moving a block of data into Expedition • Run two MS Access Queries • 1 Display source of costs sorted by Trend • 2 Display Expedition target: “exp_ADJT” table, “value” field, sorted by Trend • Requires Matching the Trend # to the three account identifiers: Contract, Project, or General Ledger Object Code
Phase 6 - Importing data into Primavera Schedule • Two alternatives • ODBC Link using Pervasive Drivers can modify the P3 file directly without opening Primavera • MS Access Query to prepare DBF file for import into P3
Phase 7 - Reporting and Analysis • Expedition Reports • Online Cost Worksheet • Printed Reports • Primavera Reports • ETC Costs spread over future life of each activity
Managing Cost Data Using Expedition and P3 Mark_Greenhalgh@RocketMail.com