Oracle has just released the latest version of Primavera P6 8.1. This is quite a major release and addresses a common complaint from the previous release (version 8.0) and that is, the return of Administrator functions back into a stand alone client version. In addition to the Administrator functions, Security, Enterprise Project Structure, Organizational Breakdown Structure and other settings that were only available in the web version are now back.
This client version, named P6 Professional, can be used in a stand alone mode now that the administrator and other functions mentioned above, have been restored. It allows users to work offline and can then re-import their projects back into the EPPM database. It’s important to note that this can work along side the P6 Optional Client on the same machine.
Some of the major changes include:
Resource Management
Under Resource Management, there are improvements to the Resource Assignments detail window with additional assignment date-related fields that were previously only available from the Resources section. As you now have additional fields, you can now customize columns one at a time or multiple columns by opening the Customize Columns dialog window.
The new Resource Over-Allocation service allows you to run reports that easily show where your resources are over allocated. By selecting the time period for you resource data, the Publish Projects services produces the report in your view at the next scheduled time.
A detailed list of all over-allocated resources and the tasks, grouped by project, is produced by this report. You can make updates directly to this report, including reassigning resources, changing assignment dates, updating units, or updating the remaining time/units.
Web Administration and Configuration
Improved activity code enhancements allowing easier access to activity codes. The Global, EPS and Project codes each have their own page which is accessible from the Enterprise Data pane. Security improvements enable only Admin Superusers can add, edit, or delete other users with an Admin Superuser profile.
New iPhone App (currently pending Apple’s approval for the app store)
This app will be called P6 Team Member and can be used for updating task status and communicating with other project members. You can view a list of your tasks, update these tasks with the actual hours spent, and estimate your remaining hours. You can also send photos about a task.
Use Email For Project Status Updates
This feature now enables the updating of task status via email using the P6 Team Member E-mail Statusing Service. It offers the same capabilities as the iPhone app mentioned above. To use this service, you must follow the guidelines for formatting the email to avoid any issues.
Risk Management
The Risk Categories page has been improved to allow you to organize risk categories in a hierarchy. You can now create subcategories which allows you to group categories into a more meaningful structure. Thresholds now has two new risk thresholds and new project risk exposure fields; Exposure Start, Exposure Finish, and Exposure (Dollars).
With these new fields, you have the ability to sort and group by these fields in the Risk Views page and Risk details window in the Activities detail window.
Reporting and Publication services
There are new real time reporting and improved data storage capabilities and now you can directly access EPPM data using Oracle BI Publisher.
In Primavera 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 Primavera P6 project management data.
Now in Primavera 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. Version 8.1 now also supports BI reporting from MS SQL database and has improved reporting security.
There is also improved selection of Resources and Projects making it easier to search and select from groups of projects and resources. In the Select Project dialog box under the report parameters table of the Reports section, Primavera P6 now allows you to group, search and select projects by EPS, portfolio, or project code. In the Select Resource dialog box, you can now select resources by primary role, resource code, or resource team.
Hosted application Help
Primavera’s P6 Help content is now hosted on an Oracle server so that you always have access to up-to-date content.
We hope this helps give a better understanding of some the the new capabilities in Primavera P6 8.1. If you would like to learn more or need help with an upgrade or training, then call Ten Six today.
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