Primavera XML & XER Import Options dialog

You use the Primavera XML & XER Import Options dialog to specify the way in which you want to import a project that has been saved in XML or XER format in Primavera® software (or in STX or DIR format in Primavera SureTrak®).

There are advantages and disadvantages of using XML and XER format to transfer data between Asta Powerproject and Primavera software. A key advantage of using XML format is that any baselines are included in the import or export; they are not included if you use XER format to transfer data. Another advantage of using XML format is that Unicode character information can be included, which is useful if you use text in a variety of languages in your projects. A key advantage of using XER format is that XER files define the project's currency unit in their header; there is no way of specifying this in XML format, so you have to assume that the base currency in the Primavera database is the same as the default currency unit in the project you are importing or exporting.

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.

To access the Primavera XML & XER Import Options dialog, click the File tab, click Import/Export, then click Import from Primavera.

Field/Button Description
File The path and file name of the project you are importing. You can either type a file location, name and extension directly into this field, or click Browse to select a file.
Browse Click this button to select the project that you want to import. Alternatively, you can type a file location, name and extension directly into the File field.
Use template

If you want to apply a template to the project that you are importing into Asta Powerproject, select the template in this field. If you do not apply a template, the project opens with a default bar chart view that contains a standard set of spreadsheet columns.

 

Applying a template when importing from Microsoft Project or Primavera software

Username If you are applying a template to the project that you are importing, enter the user name that is required to open the template, if a user name has been specified in the template.
Password If you are applying a template to the project that you are importing, enter the password that is required to open the template, if a password has been specified in the template.
Match existing code libraries

If you are applying a template to the project you are importing, select this 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.
Predecessor

Click this radio button if the calendar that is applied to the task at the start of a link is applied to link lags.

 

This field does not apply when you are importing a project from Primavera SureTrak.

 

How lead/lag is handled when you export to another project management application

Successor

Click this radio button if the calendar that is applied to the task at the finish of a link is applied to the link lags.

 

This field does not apply when you are importing a project from Primavera SureTrak.

 

How lead/lag is handled when you export to another project management application

24 hour

Click this radio button if a 24 hour, 7 day calendar is applied to the link lags.

 

This field does not apply when you are importing a project from Primavera SureTrak.

 

How lead/lag is handled when you export to another project management application

Permanent

Enter the units of measurement in the Primavera SureTrak project that are used for permanent resources in a comma-separated list, for example h,hr,hour,d,day,w,week,m,month.

 

This field does not apply when you are importing a project in XML or XER format.
Lump sum cost

Enter the units of measurement in the Primavera SureTrak project that are used for costs in a comma-separated list, for example $,£,€.

 

This field does not apply when you are importing a project in XML or XER format.

How do I...

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Click OK.
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. 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:

    $,£,€
  6. Click OK.

Related Topics:

Working with dialogs

Importing projects from Primavera software

Applying a template when importing from Microsoft Project or Primavera software