A new feature was added with the current version of Deltek Cobra that allows you to pull in a single Excel file with activity, code and resource information instead of continuing to have to use two.
In previous versions of Cobra, you needed one file for the activity information (Control Account, Work Package, Dates, etc.) and one file for the Resource information (Budget Element code, hours, etc.). The two files needed to link together by a Unique ID so Cobra could tell which resource assignments went with which Work Packages. This added a little complexity to creating the files. Also requiring the two to be linked made it possible for the data to get disconnected.
With this new functionality, you cut out the second file and eliminate the linking, making pulling in data from Excel or Comma Separated Value (CSV) files that much easier! Deltek Cobra now reads the one file and knows that the unique combination of Control Account and Work Package coding represents one Work Package, even if there are multiple lines of Resources. The unique information from the resource fields is understood to be separate resource assignments on that Work Package.
This new feature is available in the Integration Wizard on the Project Selection tab. When you get to this screen, you select the “Use one file…” check box, which greys out the original file selection fields and enables the field below the check box. Navigate to where your file is saved, select the Cobra file and you are good to go. You will be able to map the columns in the file just as you would if you were using two files.
Summary
This new capability makes importing much simpler and easier by cutting out the need to have two linked files. Deltek continues to improve Cobra and is clearly listening to user feedback by adding this feature. Happy importing!