Importing projects from Primavera software

You can import projects that have been saved in XML or XER format in Primavera® software, or in STX or DIR format in Primavera SureTrak®

When importing an XML or XER file, you use the Primavera XML & XER Import Options dialog to specify which calendar has been applied to link lags in the project you are importing into Asta Powerproject: the predecessor task's calendar, the successor task's calendar, or a standard 24 hour calendar. This is defined in Primavera software as a global setting in the Advanced Scheduling Options dialog. You must specify the correct calendar when importing a project, as if you specify a different calendar the project will not be imported correctly. If you are not sure which calendar to choose, cancel the import, open the project in Primavera software to check the setting, then import the project once you are sure.

When importing a Primavera SureTrak file, you use this dialog to specify which units of measurement in the project you are importing relate to permanent resources and which relate to costs. Resources in Primavera SureTrak are not categorised as 'permanent', 'consumable' or 'cost', so you need to specify which units of measurement are used for permanent resources and costs to enable Asta Powerproject to divide the resources appropriately during the import process (any resources that use a unit of measurement that you do not specify in this dialog are imported as consumable resources). You must enter all of the units of measurement that are in use by permanent resources and costs in the Primavera SureTrak project - including any variations such as ‘foot’, ‘feet’, ‘ft’ and ‘ft.’ - to ensure that Asta Powerproject is able to categorise all resources correctly.

You also use this dialog to specify which template - if any - to apply to the project you are importing into Asta Powerproject. You may wish to apply a template to the project in order to ensure that when the project opens in Asta Powerproject, it is presented in a familiar way to you - for example, with a particular set of fields displayed in the spreadsheet columns. A small number of templates are provided with Asta Powerproject, but you can create additional templates of your own as required.

Note that due to differences between file formats, some of the information in a Primavera project may be modified or lost when you import it into Asta Powerproject.

  1. Click the File tab, click Import/Export, then click Import from Primavera. The Primavera XML & XER Import Options dialog appears.
  2. Specify the project you want to import either by typing a file location, name and extension directly into the File field, or by clicking Browse to select a file.
  3. If you want to apply a template to the project that you are importing into Asta Powerproject, select the template in the Use template field and specify the user name and password that are required to open the template (if a user name and password have been set in the template). If you do not apply a template, the project opens with a default bar chart view that contains a standard set of spreadsheet columns.
  4. If you are applying a template to the project you are importing, select the Match existing code libraries check box to combine any code libraries with the same name in the template and project into a single code library in the resulting project. Clear this check box to import the project without combining identically-named code libraries in the project and template, meaning that the resulting project will contain two code libraries with the same name.

    For example, if both the template and the project contained a code library called 'Location', selecting this check box would result in a project containing a single 'Location' code library, containing both the codes from the template and the codes from the project. Clearing this check box would result in a project containing two 'Location' code libraries - one containing the codes from the template and the other containing the codes from the project you were importing.
  5. Click the appropriate Calendar for link lag radio button to specify which calendar has been applied to link lags in the project you want to import.
  6. Click OK.
  1. Click the File tab, click Import/Export, then click Import from Primavera. The Primavera XML & XER Import Options dialog appears.
  2. Specify the project you want to import either by typing a file location, name and extension directly into the File field, or by clicking Browse to select a file.
  3. If you want to apply a template to the project that you are importing into Asta Powerproject, select the template in the Use template field and specify the user name and password that are required to open the template (if a user name and password have been set in the template). If you do not apply a template, the project opens with a default bar chart view that contains a standard set of spreadsheet columns.
  4. If you are applying a template to the project you are importing, select the Match existing code libraries check box to combine any code libraries with the same name in the template and project into a single code library in the resulting project. Clear this check box to import the project without combining identically-named code libraries in the project and template, meaning that the resulting project will contain two code libraries with the same name.

    For example, if both the template and the project contained a code library called 'Location', selecting this check box would result in a project containing a single 'Location' code library, containing both the codes from the template and the codes from the project. Clearing this check box would result in a project containing two 'Location' code libraries - one containing the codes from the template and the other containing the codes from the project you were importing.
  5. Enter the units of measurement in the Primavera SureTrak project that are used for permanent resources in the Permanent field. Enter the units of measurement in a comma-separated list, for example:

    h,hr,hour,d,day,w,week,m,month
  6. Enter the units of measurement in the Primavera SureTrak project that are used for costs in the Lump sum cost field. Enter the units of measurement in a comma-separated list, for example:

    $,£,€
  7. Click OK.

Once you have imported a Primavera file into Asta Powerproject, you are advised to save the project subsequently in Asta Powerproject's file format - as a PP file - to avoid losing information that is not supported by Primavera's file formats.

Related Topics:

Transferring data between Asta Powerproject and Primavera software

Applying a template when importing from Microsoft Project or Primavera software

Exporting projects to Primavera software