OPC-Integrator – What Advantage Does Version 1 Provide?
The OPC-Integrator is a new tool developed by Emerald’s team of Primavera specialists. A secure solution, the OPC-Integrator provides data extraction, loading, updating, and integrating in a quick and easy to use tool - one that both project users and administrators will find efficient and easy.
In this blog, we will walk through importing codes into Oracle Primavera Cloud (OPC).
Understandably, you may be thinking: isn’t there a feature for the export/import of data right from OPC (OOTB)? Yes, there are some export/import templates available in OPC, however there are some issues. One of the drawbacks that I have seen is a lack of flexibility in the templates themselves, with another being the limited number of export/import templates available.
As an example of the lack of export/import templates, consider a simple item like activity codes. You need a path to easily and quickly go from no codes in OPC to having your codes loaded. Note that this OPC Codes dictionary does not provide an export/import template as you can find, for example, in the Schedule app in the OPC Activities tab.
To enter the codes using OPC-Integrator, load the sheets, create the Excel sheet, and load the data. OPC-Integrator has a download function to pull OPC data to Excel, and easily create a sheet to upload information. This is the first of two load sheets.
The sheet below has the code information to load, however some corrections and additions are required.
The second load sheet (below) contains the information for the required corrections and additions.
Run the required load sheet, or sheets if you need to change or add to the original list of codes loaded (as we do).
Refresh the screen in OPC, and the codes are loaded and ready to use.
The codes can be assigned manually or loaded using an OPC-Integrator load sheet. All the code assignments for all of the activities in the project can be loaded from one Excel sheet. In the screenshot below, the code columns have been added to the Activities tab, and assignments can be completed there.
When exporting data elements using the OPC-Integrator, you can pull from multiple project files at the same time. Currently in OPC, the export in the Activities tab only allows export from the open file. Programs allow you to open more than one project at a time, but there is no export template available from that screen.
In the OPC-Integrator screenshot below, activity information is being extracted to Excel for all of the selected files.
In the Download Excel section of the screenshot, the column on the left lists the modules to use to choose the elements you want to export, while the projects column (right) gives access to pick the project(s) you want to download the information from.
There are a number of data elements available in, for example, the Activity module, however you do not have to include them all in the download. You can select the elements to include in the export. The OOTB export templates in OPC do not provide this customization.
Once the columns (data elements) required have been selected, the definition for the export does not have to be saved for reuse, but as the screenshot below indicates, it is available as an option, and can be a definite time-saver.
This is only one example of how the OPC-Integrator can assist you to make the import/export of data in OPC into a streamlined and simple process.
Ensure that your scheduling team has the best tools available. Set them up for success with the OPC-Integrator.
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Understandably, you may be thinking: isn’t there a feature for the export/import of data right from OPC (OOTB)? Yes, there are some export/import templates available in OPC, however there are some issues. One of the drawbacks that I have seen is a lack of flexibility in the templates themselves, with another being the limited number of export/import templates available.
As an example of the lack of export/import templates, consider a simple item like activity codes. You need a path to easily and quickly go from no codes in OPC to having your codes loaded. Note that this OPC Codes dictionary does not provide an export/import template as you can find, for example, in the Schedule app in the OPC Activities tab.
To enter the codes using OPC-Integrator, load the sheets, create the Excel sheet, and load the data. OPC-Integrator has a download function to pull OPC data to Excel, and easily create a sheet to upload information. This is the first of two load sheets.
The sheet below has the code information to load, however some corrections and additions are required.
The second load sheet (below) contains the information for the required corrections and additions.
Run the required load sheet, or sheets if you need to change or add to the original list of codes loaded (as we do).
Refresh the screen in OPC, and the codes are loaded and ready to use.
The codes can be assigned manually or loaded using an OPC-Integrator load sheet. All the code assignments for all of the activities in the project can be loaded from one Excel sheet. In the screenshot below, the code columns have been added to the Activities tab, and assignments can be completed there.
When exporting data elements using the OPC-Integrator, you can pull from multiple project files at the same time. Currently in OPC, the export in the Activities tab only allows export from the open file. Programs allow you to open more than one project at a time, but there is no export template available from that screen.
In the OPC-Integrator screenshot below, activity information is being extracted to Excel for all of the selected files.
In the Download Excel section of the screenshot, the column on the left lists the modules to use to choose the elements you want to export, while the projects column (right) gives access to pick the project(s) you want to download the information from.
There are a number of data elements available in, for example, the Activity module, however you do not have to include them all in the download. You can select the elements to include in the export. The OOTB export templates in OPC do not provide this customization.
Once the columns (data elements) required have been selected, the definition for the export does not have to be saved for reuse, but as the screenshot below indicates, it is available as an option, and can be a definite time-saver.
This is only one example of how the OPC-Integrator can assist you to make the import/export of data in OPC into a streamlined and simple process.
Ensure that your scheduling team has the best tools available. Set them up for success with the OPC-Integrator.
About the Author
Mary Lynn Backstrom, PMP, PMI-SP, PMI-BA – Implementation Specialist
Mary Lynn spent many years filling a variety of project controls duties such as planning, scheduling, analyzing, training and continuous improvement in the Aerospace Industry. Since joining Emerald in 2008, she has been a tremendous asset to the Emerald team. She has worked as a lead scheduler for turnarounds, led sessions for review and troubleshooting of scheduling and reporting, created and given custom training courses for clients, and is a sought after Primavera P6 trainer.
Mary Lynn enjoys some very diverse spare time activities. Along with a variety of outdoor activities such as gardening, she also enjoys making life size lawn ornaments for special holidays like Christmas. Mary Lynn is known for her participation in the community as well. You may have seen her walking in fundraisers in Edmonton and Calgary for the Cancer Society.
