5 Primavera Functions That Project Managers Must Know

Oracle Primavera helps to make your project management responsibilities easier and more efficient. However, understanding all of the tips and tricks in Primavera functions does not necessarily mean that you will be productive.

Instead, you need to know how to perform certain, specific actions and functions, and this list will help you get on your way towards a more successful, productive schedule.

Primavera Function 1: How to Remove Resources From a Project Copy For Clients

Sometimes, you need to produce a copy of your project schedule for your client. However, some resources should not always be included in this coffee. To remove resources from a copy the project, open the Project Window. Copy the appropriate projects, and select which bass lines to include in the “Copy Baselines” dialogue box by checking the appropriate boxes. When the “Copy Activity Options” dialog box appears, uncheck “Resource & Role Assignments.”

Primavera Function 2: How to Quickly Rescale Timescale in Primavera

Depending on the current view of your project, you may need to expand or restrict the showing times go. Although this can be achieved through the menu options, the easiest way to reschedule the time scale is to right-click on the magnifying glass icon when appearing on the lower half of the timescale.

You can then drag the bars to become longer, which includes a more comprehensive comment in depth view, or shorten the bars by moving left, which moves the timescale further out.  

Primavera Function 3: How to Define a New Resource

All of the most common resources in the project schedule may be used for your project, you may want to name specific resources by skill, time, or cost. You may create a user defined resource by entering the enterprise tab, and select resources from the drop-down menu. Click on the “+Add” button, which is also accessible from the Edit menu.

Primavera Function 4: How to Assign a Resource Curve

Especially at the beginning of a project, you may not necessarily know how much of each resource will be required for specific activities and tasks. When you need to distribute a total resource across all the projects activities equally, a current may be assigned to the resource or role assignment. To assign a curve, select your project, and open the “Resource Assignments” menu.

Double click on the column, and select the appropriate curve for the given resource.  If the curved column is missing, you may set it to display by accessing curve from the columns menu.

Primavera Function 5: How the Report Wizard and Report Editing Features Relate

The Report Wizard and Report Editor functions in Primavera are essential in understanding how to create report for upper level management, members of your project management team, and the client. While you can practically create any type of report through the report wizard, you must be cautious of making manual changes to these reports in the Report Editor.

Essentially, the Report Wizard creates general reports, and the Report Editor allows you to make changes. However, changes made to report through the report editor cannot be accessed again through the Report Wizard.

As a project manager, you need to know how to properly navigate Primavera. Since the program’s tools and features easily number into the hundreds, knowing these five functions will help you effectively manage your project.

Key Takeaway

• Remove resources when copying projects for clients through the “Copy Activity Options” dialogue box.
• Use the magnifying glass icon to rescale a project without accessing menu options.
• Add new, general resources by clicking on the “+Add” button in the “Resource” window.
• Use a resource curve when unsure about the finite costs and durations of future activities or tasks.
• Changes made to a report in Report Editor are not reflected when accessing the same report through the Report Wizard.