So What’s New in EPPM R8.3?
Written on . By CPM Solutions
Oracle has done it again – they’ve released another updated version of Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (EPPM) in Release 8.3. Much of the enhancements are in the Team Member application that you can read about here. This time, Oracle listened to you and really tried to focus their efforts on planning and scheduling in Web Access which is why there is a long list of enhancements in the EPS, Project, and Resource pages. Another key improvement is the addition of Primavera Visualizer to the Power Client that you can read about here.
Important enhancements for Planning and Scheduling in P6:
- Renaming columns
- Sorting on multiple columns
- Viewing the hierarchy for Activity, Project, and Resource codes
- New relationship detail window on Activities page
- Additional baseline fields
- Selecting multiple items in assign dialog boxes
- Find and replace option
- Copy activity options
- Improved XML import
- Improved printing from the EPS and Activities pages
- Improved filtering
- Discussion feature (read about this here)
- Enabling team members to update codes and user-defined fields (UDFs) (read about this here)
Renaming Columns
To keep your resources, from project managers to high level executives, using the same terminology, rename columns in the Activities page to your specifications. Simply right-click on the column’s default name to open the New name box to edit the default name.
Sorting on Multiple Columns
In previous versions of EPPM, users could only sort a single column. Now, in R8.3, users can sort multiple columns in the Activities, EPS, and Resource Assignments pages. Simply click on the Columns icon in either the View menu or the toolbar to open the Customizing Columns dialog box. You will be able to sort multiple columns much like sorting a single column (which you can still do, by the way!). The only difference when sorting multiple columns is that you must identify the Column Sorting Priority.
Viewing the Hierarchy for Activity, Project, and Resource Codes
Keeping track of codes can be difficult, especially in a large organization that spans across multiple projects and departments. To keep these codes organized, P6 R8.3 allows users to view the entire hierarchical tree of project, activity, and resource codes in the Codes detail window. This tree spans from the lowest to the highest level, unlike in previous versions that only showed the lowest levels. There is also a new column available in the Activities page that shows whether a code is an EPS, Global, or Project-Level code.
New Relationships Detail Window on Activities Page
Just as in P6 Professional, Web Access in R8.3 allows you to organize your successors and predecessors side-by-side in the same detail window, named Relationships.
Additional Baseline Fields
Need to compare your current project against your baseline project? EPPM R8.3 comes with more Baseline Fields columns for you to analyze your project in your Activity Table.
Selecting Multiple Items in Assign Dialog Boxes
Rather than having to select items individually in the Assign Dialog boxes (resource, role, predecessor, and successor) in the Activities page, select multiple items at once for efficiency and ease of use. This new feature applies only to the Activities page.
**Copy Activity Options**
A new feature that project managers will find very useful is being able to select what data is moved when copying and pasting activities within the same project or into new projects. So rather than having to manually add or remove data, you can simply edit the data while you’re building that new project schedule. You can apply this feature to single or multiple activities. For example, copy a similar set of activities into a different project but don’t take the resource data along with it!
**XML Enhancements**
Tired of not being able to use your old XML files in P6? Well now R8.3 allows you to use XML files from previous versions from R6.2 onward in Primavera again.
Not only that, but R8.3 allows users to import/export multiple projects simultaneously by combining the projects into one single XML file. When importing into P6, a new import process allows users to view data coming in and adjust it as necessary.
Improved Printing from the EPS and Activities pages
In R8.2, EPPM only allowed you to print the EPS and Activities pages with the Gantt Chart attached. Now in P6 R8.3, you can choose whether to have the Gantt Chart attached to the print out or not. This is great for when you only want a tabular printout of your project to take on site.
Enhancements in Administration and Support:
- Copying user-related views for new users
- Job completion notification
- Setting a default Start Page
- Improved selection for job services
- Bounce e-mail address
- Module access changes
- Workflow enhancements
- Progress Reporter support for UPK
Copying User-Related Views for New Users
If you are copying existing users to create new users, the views already configured to the existing user will be saved for the new user. These views will be available in the User Section of the View List in the EPS, Activities, and Resource Assignment pages.
Setting a Default Start Page
Specify what your users see when they log in to Primavera, making it simpler for them to find the information they need depending on their role in the enterprise. For example, set your project manager’s default start page as the Projects page. Or, set your high level executive’s start page as the Portfolios Dashboard.
Password Security
In R8.3, password security policy is enabled by default keeping your enterprise information secure.
Project ID as Filter Option for Creating Portfolio
Added to the list of possible filtering options for creating portfolios is Project ID. Select the fitler parameter as: equals, is not equal to, contains, does not contain, starts with, and ends with.
Enhancements for the Techies:
- Improved integration with Primavera Unifier
- CMIS connector for Content Repository
- Document support in Progress Reporter
- Progress Reporter support for User Productivity Kit (UPK)
- API and Web Services enhancements
- Unversal Content Management 11g
- Migration Utility for Content Repository
- Support for multiple databases.