primavera release notes 8.1

Release Content Document Oracle Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management

Release: 8.1 Creation Date: 3/23/11 Last Updated: 5/10/11 Version: 5 Status: FINAL Prepared by: Primavera GBU Product Strategy

Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM R8.1 Release Content Document 2

Table of Contents

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 4

1. Purpose of Document .............................................................................................. 4

2. Overview of Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Release 8.1 . 4

New Features of P6 R8.1 ................................................................................................................. 5

3. Alternatives for P6 Team Members to Update Status ............................................. 5 3.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 5 3.2. Capabilities .................................................................................................................................. 5

3.2.1. P6 Team Member for iPhone App ........................................................................................ 5 3.2.2. Statusing Tasks via E-‐mail .................................................................................................... 6

4. User Interface Improvements .................................................................................. 7 4.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 7 4.2. Capabilities .................................................................................................................................. 7

4.2.1. Tabbing of main navigation .................................................................................................. 7 4.2.2. Replacement of icons with text ............................................................................................ 7 4.2.3. Stationary control buttons ................................................................................................... 8

5. Project Scheduling ................................................................................................... 8 5.1. User Defined Fields (UDF) Bars in the Activities Gantt chart ....................................................... 8

6. Resource Management ........................................................................................... 9 6.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 9 6.2. Capabilities .................................................................................................................................. 9

6.2.1. Additional control of resource assignments in Project, Activities ........................................ 9 6.2.2. Ability to organize resources when staffing in Project, Activities ........................................ 9 6.2.3. Ability to organize resources when staffing in Resources, Assignments ........................... 10 6.2.4. Monitor projects for resource over allocation to avoid impacts ....................................... 11

7. Project Risk Management ..................................................................................... 12 7.1. Overview ................................................................................................................................... 12 7.2. Capabilities ................................................................................................................................ 12

7.2.1. Risk Exposure and Score Calculations ................................................................................ 12 7.2.2. Improved Risk Categories ................................................................................................... 13 7.2.3. Risk Threshold Enhancements ........................................................................................... 13 7.2.4. Risk Identification Fields .................................................................................................... 13 7.2.5. Enhancements to Risk Views .............................................................................................. 13

8. Portfolio Management .......................................................................................... 14 8.1. Ability to drill down to view and edit WBS User Defined Fields ................................................ 14

9. Web-‐based Reporting ............................................................................................ 14 9.1. Overview ................................................................................................................................... 14 9.2. Benefits ...................................................................................................................................... 15

9.2.1. P6 Reporting Database Now Truly Optional for BI Publisher Use ...................................... 15 9.2.2. Oracle Database Technology No Longer Required for Microsoft SQL Installations ........... 16


9.2.3. Improved Performance of P6 Reporting Database ETL Process ......................................... 16 9.3. Capabilities ................................................................................................................................ 16

9.3.1. Near Real-‐Time Reporting .................................................................................................. 16 9.3.2. Limit which Projects are Available for Reporting ............................................................... 16 9.3.3. Utilize Web-‐based Report Layout Editor ............................................................................ 16 9.3.4. Create Reports that Combine P6 Data with Other Data Sources ....................................... 17

9.4. P6 Analytics ............................................................................................................................... 17 9.4.1. Unlimited Number of Dynamic Codes ................................................................................ 17

10. Administration ..................................................................................................... 17 10.1. Improvements to Scheduled Services ..................................................................................... 17 10.2. User Sessions ........................................................................................................................... 18

11. Technologies ........................................................................................................ 18 11.1. Overview ................................................................................................................................. 18 11.2. Updated Platform Support ...................................................................................................... 18 11.3. Offline Mode ........................................................................................................................... 19


Introduction 1. Purpose of Document

This Release Content Document (RCD) describes product features that are new or enhanced in release 8.1 of Oracle Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management. This document describes new or changed functionality only. Existing functionality from prior releases is not described. This document is intended solely to help you assess the new or changed capabilities and business benefits of release 8.1. This document in any form, software or printed matter, contains proprietary information that is the exclusive property of Oracle. Your access to and use of this proprietary material is subject to the terms and conditions of your Oracle Software License and Service Agreement, which has been executed and with which you agree to comply. This document and information contained herein may not be disclosed, copied, reproduced or distributed to anyone outside Oracle without prior written consent of Oracle. This document is not part of your license agreement nor can it be incorporated into any contractual agreement with Oracle or its subsidiaries or affiliates. This document is for informational purposes only and is intended solely to assist you in planning for the implementation and upgrade of the product features described. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described in this document remains at the sole discretion of Oracle.

2. Overview of Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Release 8.1

Release 8.1 is the latest release of the Oracle Primavera P6 solution. This release includes numerous enhancements and a streamlined architecture that will help companies effectively plan, build, and operate their business. Oracle Primavera P6 R8.1 is focused on the following key areas: 1. Enabling the participation of individual contributors to ensure accurate project

schedules 2. Resource improvements to better support staffing, assigning and monitoring of

project resources 3. Reporting enhancements to ensure up to date reports with a simplified architecture 4. Risk improvements to better monitor and mitigate project risks


New Features of P6 R8.1

3. Alternatives for P6 Team Members to Update Status

3.1. Overview Accurate project status is critical to the success of any project. Capturing the information directly from the people doing the work is the best way to ensure your schedule reflects the true progress. Release 8.1 offers two new, easy and convenient options for Team Members to update their work.

3.2. Capabilities

3.2.1. P6 Team Member for iPhone App

A new iPhone app called P6 Team Member for iPhone marks a significant milestone in our commitment to deliver the benefits of P6 anywhere. Team Members can now update the status of their tasks and communicate with others wherever they are to ensure project success.

The Team Member app is optimized to work on an iPhone, but also runs on the iPad. The app will be available for download from the Apple app store pending approvals.

3.2.1.1 Status Work

All assignments the user is assigned automatically appear when a Team Member logs into the application. The tasks are grouped by Project and each has a graphical indicator to represent the percent complete and health of the task. To update the status of the task, simply drill in and change the Time Spent, Time Left and Start and/or Finish dates. The changes are then automatically saved to update the P6 schedule.


iPhone app automatically displays assigned tasks with the ability to update status.

3.2.1.2 Sending E-‐mail about Tasks

From the details of a task, a user can easily send an E-‐mail to facilitate the communication with other project members or your manager.

3.2.1.3 Sending Photos about Tasks

From the details of a task, a user can easily attach a task related photograph from the iPhone Camera Roll to an E-‐mail message. You can select an existing photograph or take one real time to be sent.

3.2.1.4 Starring of Tasks

A user can mark a task with a star to designate it as an important or favorite assignment and track it in a separate list with other starred tasks for quick and easy access.

3.2.1.5 Working with multiple tasks

A quick multi-‐task edit mode is available to mark multiple tasks complete or star them. Using Edit mode, you first select the tasks you want to mark and then designate them as completed or starred all at once.

3.2.2. Statusing Tasks via E-‐mail

E-‐mail is a predominant form of communication in any enterprise. Release 8.1 leverages the fact that Team Members are in E-‐mail throughout the day and allows them to status their P6 work without the need to launch the P6 Web or iPhone apps. With E-‐mail you can:

• Send an E-‐mail to request your list of tasks • Filter the list of tasks by using preset filters


• View your tasks via HTML or Plain Text grouped by Project • Update the Start and Finish dates, Time Spent and Time Left on each

task and send it back to update the P6 Project plan • Easily mark a task completed • Receive confirmation message for updates

Team member logs into E-‐mail and sees assigned tasks with the ability to update status

4. User Interface Improvements

4.1. Overview The application interface has been enhanced to simplify navigation and provide an expanded work area.

4.2. Capabilities 4.2.1. Tabbing of main navigation

The main navigation of Dashboards, Portfolios, Resources and Projects is now a tabbed interface. This simplifies the display and allows you to clearly know which section of the application you are working.

4.2.2. Replacement of icons with text

The secondary navigation now displays text to identify the different pages. The text allows for more screen real estate and is easier to see the items than in prior releases where icons were used.


New main and sub navigation to streamline usability

4.2.3. Stationary control buttons

A new control area has been added for scrolling pages so it is always easy to select the Save or Cancel buttons. An example of this is in the My Preferences page.

Control area to always display buttons

5. Project Scheduling

5.1. User Defined Fields (UDF) Bars in the Activities Gantt chart A UDF Bar is now available on the Activities Gantt chart. Use this bar to view the current schedule against selected Activity UDF start and finish dates.


UDF bars can be used to show a risk adjusted schedule using dates imported from Oracle Primavera Risk Analysis.

6. Resource Management 6.1. Overview

There have been several improvements to processes related to staffing project resources, managing existing assignments and ensuring resource bottlenecks don’t impact projects.

6.2. Capabilities 6.2.1. Additional control of resource assignments in Project, Activities

Project managers and schedulers can view and edit assignment date and durations within Project, Activities details tab. Whenever resources need to be managed in detail (e.g. when using Timesheets), the PM now has full visibility and control into all assignment fields. Some of these were previously only accessible from the Resources section or Windows Optional Client. • Modify columns using quick select from dropdown or new Customize

Columns dialog on Assignments detail tab. • New fields include planned, actual and remaining start and finish dates. • Previously viewable, durations are now editable too. • For those using the Schedule Preview option, assignment changes will be

reflected in the project schedule.

6.2.2. Ability to organize resources when staffing in Project, Activities

Project managers and schedulers can quickly find the right resources to work on activities. Previously, a user would be presented with the entire resource hierarchy. The resource list can be narrowed down, by applying one of several options to filter or group. For example, users can narrow the list of resources to only those within a location by using Resource Codes. Also, a project manager can now view only those resources already assigned to the project. • This change impacts several similar dialogs throughout the Project section

including Assignments detail tab, Primary Resource column, and Risk Owner.

• Within the Select Resources dialog, resources can be viewed by: o Active Resources – Displays resource pool and filters out Inactive o All Resources – Displays entire resource pool o Assigned Role – Filters to only those resources possessing the role

on the assignment o Opened Projects – Filters to only those resources already associated

to project via assignment or allocation. o Primary Role – Groups resources by their primary role o Resource Code – For each Code, resources are grouped based on

their associated resource code value o Resource Teams – Displays all resources belonging to each team


• The ‘Select Roles’ dialog can be grouped by Role Hierarchy or Role Teams. • When using type-‐ahead, search will only include those resources/roles

within the View applied.

Project managers can narrow the resource list to only those associated to current project(s).

6.2.3. Ability to organize resources when staffing in Resources, Assignments

Resource managers can quickly find the right resources to replace or staff new assignments. Previously, a user would be presented with the entire resource hierarchy. In R8.1 the resource list can be narrowed down, by applying one of several options to filter or group. For example, a user can narrow the list of resources to only those who are able to play a particular role. Also, a user might only search within a certain resource team. • This change impacts several similar dialogs throughout the Resources and

other sections, as noted above for Project, Activities. • Assign Resource enables users to select a resource for multiple rows

regardless of the existing role on those assignments. The Assign Resource by Role also allows for multiple assignments; however this method assigns resources only to the assignments having roles they already possess.

o Both allow the Select Resource dialog to remain displayed for fast assignments of multiple rows at once.

o Both can be used to replace resources or fill unstaffed assignments. • The Select Roles dialog can be grouped by Role Hierarchy or Role Teams. • When using type-‐ahead, search will only include those resources/roles

within the View applied.


Resource managers can staff multiple assignments at once while filtering candidate resources by role.

6.2.4. Monitor projects for resource over allocation to avoid impacts

While resource managers (RMs) may be concerned with balancing each resource’s workload and smoothing their utilization, the PM’s first responsibility is typically the successful outcome of the project. An ‘under allocated’ resource can represent wasted time and someone should manage that. However, the focus here is for ‘over allocation’ since an overloaded resource can lead to delays, cost overruns and quality compromises. Late assignments cause activities to slip, which can have a cascading effect on the entire project schedule. It‘s critical that PM’s identify such situations early so that they can take corrective action. The new Check Resource Over-‐allocation feature easily identifies troubled resources and highlights their conflicting assignments. At any stage in the project lifecycle, a PM can assess the resource situation without having to page through a series of reports or analysis views. A new Notifications engine will alert the PM if any over allocated resources exist and present only the pertinent information about the problem. With the overages pinpointed, the PM can take action by shuffling resources and their assignments to alleviate the bottlenecks.


Project managers see the notification for overallocated resources and drill in to view and fix the problem.

7. Project Risk Management

7.1. Overview

There have been several improvements to the risk management functionality in P6 EPPM R8.1. These include the addition of risk exposure values, risk identification fields and improved thresholds. Additionally, risk categories may be arranged hierarchically.

7.2. Capabilities 7.2.1. Risk Exposure and Score Calculations

When managing project risks, users can now see the monetary impact each risk has on your project. In addition, one can track a time dimension for risks using the start and finish risk exposure dates. Risk exposure fields are available for individual risks, risk response plans, and for the risk exposure of the entire project. Risk exposure is calculated from the values selected for the probability and cost impact of each risk. Users can view the Project Risk Exposure value, the total exposure for all risks identified in the project, in the EPS view. Additionally, the Project Risk Exposure and Project Risk Score values are


available for analyzing data in the Portfolios section or on related dashboards. These fields are also available for viewing on the EPS page.

7.2.2. Improved Risk Categories

You can now organize risk categories in a hierarchy, creating a risk breakdown structure to identify and organize project risks consistently throughout your organization.

7.2.3. Risk Threshold Enhancements

Two new risk thresholds are now available: Cost impact by percentage and Schedule impact by percentage. The cost and schedule impact thresholds available in R8 are renamed Cost impact by value and Schedule impact by value. Using the by percentage impact thresholds enables you to create one matrix that can be used across multiple projects where the absolute cost and schedule impacts vary. The cost impact threshold is defined as a percentage of the project's planned cost. The schedule impact threshold is defined as a percentage of time in the planned project.

7.2.4. Risk Identification Fields

Identified By and Identified Date fields have been added to risks to help track when a risk was identified and by whom. Knowing who identified a risk enables you to consult with the source, if need be. The identified date is helpful in a variety of ways, including tracking the time between when the risk was identified and when it started being tracked.

7.2.5. Enhancements to Risk Views

The risk register on the Risk page has been enhanced to allow users to:

• Group by all available fields, except Exposure. • Cut a risk and paste it to another project in the risk register. • Easily identify which risks have active response plans. • View additional activity-‐related fields on the Activities detail tab.

The Risks detail window on the Activities Page is enhanced to allow users to:

• View the new fields for Risk Exposure: Exposure, Exposure Start, and Exposure Finish.

• Edit the new identify fields: Identified By and Identified Date. • Easily identify which risks have active response plans.


8. Portfolio Management 8.1. Ability to drill down to view and edit WBS User Defined Fields

When reviewing portfolios, users want to be able to drill into the details of project. Scorecards enable the project to be expanded to reveal the WBS hierarchy and associated data for each WBS. R8.1 introduces the ability to display columns for WBS User Defined Fields (UDFs) on Scorecards, which are available in both Dashboards and the Portfolio Analysis page. Scorecards allow users to view UDFs for multiple WBS levels at a single glance. Those users with security privileges can edit WBS UDFs in the columns. This data is also included when exporting to an Excel spreadsheet. Many customers store information from other systems in Primavera’s WBS UDFs. Common examples are budgets and actual costs that originate in a financial system such as one of Oracle’s ERP applications or SAP. Another example includes the identification of cost account managers to the WBS and other earned value data from external systems.

Drill down to view and edit project WBS UDFs from dashboards or Portfolio Analysis.

9. Web-‐based Reporting 9.1. Overview

In P6 EPPM R8.0, the Oracle Business Intelligence (BI) Publisher web-‐based reporting solution was dependent on the Operational Data Store (ODS) and its associated Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) process for access to P6 project management data. In P6 EPPM R8.1, the P6 Database (PMDB) is now the default data source for BI Publisher reports, removing the need for a separate ODS database and ETL process:

• The P6 Database schema has been expanded to include new tables and views to replicate the same de-‐normalized and persistent data model as


is currently available in the ODS. Hence, any reports created against the ODS can now be executed directly against the R8.1 PMDB.

• Population of these new PMDB tables and views is now done in-‐place, via a trickle or demand ETL process. New project and enterprise data-‐publishing services are introduced which run in the background to ensure that as changes are committed to the core P6 data tables, the impact of these changes are reflected in the extended P6 tables and views.

• A number of administrative settings are introduced to control the frequency and throughput of the new project and enterprise data-‐publishing services, allowing the system to be fine tuned to meet the needs of the particular installation.

Powerful reporting with new extended tables and views P6 EPPM R8.1 also introduces support for BI Publisher release 11g, which includes a number of enhancements to improve report creation, content and delivery.

9.2. Benefits 9.2.1. P6 Reporting Database Now Truly Optional for BI Publisher Use

Customers no longer have to install and configure the ODS and associated ETL process of the P6 Reporting Database for default web-‐based, BI Publisher reporting from P6. The P6 Reporting Database now becomes a truly optional, ad-‐on component to P6, supporting P6 Analytics, third party reporting tools, off-‐line analysis, and consolidation of P6 data into larger, corporate data warehouses.


9.2.2. Oracle Database Technology No Longer Required for Microsoft SQL Installations

In P6 EPPM R8.0, customers were required to run BI Publisher reports against the ODS, which was supported on Oracle database technology only. MS SQL Server customers needed to license an Oracle database and implement a gateway to transfer data from the P6 PMDB on MS SQL Server to the ODS stored on an Oracle database. With P6 EPPM R8.1, customers now leverage the P6 PDMB directly for all their BI Publisher enterprise reporting. This allows MS SQL Server customers to run reports directly against the PMDB. An Oracle database is no longer required.

9.2.3. Improved Performance of P6 Reporting Database ETL Process

In previous releases of the P6 Reporting Database, the bulk of the time spent during the ETL process was doing the data transformation. Now that this data transformation is done in-‐place, via a trickle or demand “ETL” process within P6, the ETL to the P6 Reporting Database ODS is now simply just an export of the current contents of the extended tables and views in PMDB to the ODS. The time required to complete this process is expected to be significantly less than in previous releases.

9.3. Capabilities 9.3.1. Near Real-‐Time Reporting

You no longer have to wait until the ETL process has run to incorporate recent P6 data changes into the ODS such that they will be reflected in BI Publisher reports. BI Publisher reports now by default utilize an extended PMDB as the data source. As changes are made, the corresponding reporting data source tables and views within PMDB will be automatically updated to reflect the changes, allowing for near real-‐time access to changed data in reports.

9.3.2. Limit which Projects are Available for Reporting

It is often the case that certain projects should not be included in reports. For example, they could be ‘what-‐if’ type projects not ready to be published or long since completed projects which you don’t want showing up in your list of current projects. Individual projects can now be excluded from the data-‐publication services such that they are not visible to P6 EPPM BI Publisher reporting and are not included in the ETL to the P6 Reporting Database.

9.3.3. Utilize Web-‐based Report Layout Editor

BI Publisher 11g includes a web-‐based, WYSIWYG report authoring tool that can be used to easily create high fidelity, pixel perfect reports right from within BI Publisher. Customers can continue to us the MS Word or Adobe Acrobat report editor plug-‐ins.


9.3.4. Create Reports that Combine P6 Data with Other Data Sources

BI Publisher 11g allows for reports to be created which combine data from more than one data source. Create a single report or form to combine data from P6 with a number of additional data source providers including SQL, MDX, XML, Web Services, and even MS Excel.

9.4. P6 Analytics P6 Analytics is an add-‐on, packaged application for gathering, storing, analyzing, sharing and providing access to project data to help enterprises make better business decisions. It is a combination of the P6 Reporting Database and Oracle Business Intelligence.

9.4.1. Unlimited Number of Dynamic Codes

The P6 EPPM R8.1 compatible release of P6 Analytics (R1.2) now allows for an unlimited number of Activity, Resource and Project Codes to be configured for inclusion in the Oracle Business Intelligence (OBI) Answers and Dashboards applications.

* For additional details please refer the white paper on P6 Publication Services.

10. Administration 10.1. Improvements to Scheduled Services

Scheduled Services are important for administrators who want to manage background jobs for various functions of the application. R8.1 improves the administrator’s ability to track and control scheduled services.

• Schedules Services dialog renamed to Project Scheduled Services • Rolling Data Date – When scheduling services, administrators can

choose to have the Data Date (DD) advance automatically based on current DD plus n days or based on the scheduled services run time. This applies to Apply Actuals, Scheduling, and Leveling services.


Data Date can automatically advance for scheduled jobs.

• Global Scheduled Services dialog available under Administer menu

View and schedule global jobs including Enterprise Data, Enterprise Summary Data, Resource Management Data, and Security Data.

• Standardized log files for all services including language translation capability.

• New log file for Recalculate Assignment Costs service • New log file for Store Period Performance service • Added project fields for Last Scheduled and Last Leveled. These are

available within EPS view and Scorecards.

10.2. User Sessions

A User Sessions page has been added under the Administration Menu. This page allows you to reset sessions for users who have been locked out. A user may be locked out and unable to login to P6 if they have attempted to login to a session that is already running or if they have repeatedly entered login information incorrectly.

11. Technologies 11.1. Overview

With every release of P6, new technologies are adopted to provide new capabilities, reduce implementation effort, and lower cost of ownership.

11.2. Updated Platform Support

In R8.1, the following new platforms are now supported: • Google Chrome Browser • Java JRE 1.6.0_24


• BI Publisher 11g • Universal Content Management (UCM) 11g • Oracle Enterprise Manager 11g • HP-‐UX Itanium • Brazilian Portuguese language support

* For additional details please refer the 8.1 version of Tested Configurations document.

11.3. Offline Mode

P6 Professional R8.1 is now available for users who need to work on their projects in an offline mode. P6 Professional can be installed as a stand-‐alone product on an individual’s machine side-‐by-‐side with the P6 Optional Client. Projects may be imported into the local version of P6 Professional and worked on in a non-‐connected environment. When changes are complete and connectivity is available, the project can then be imported back into the EPPM database.


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