To use an external scheduling packageProject uses external scheduling packages (for example, Microsoft Project) to determine scheduling information of the activity structure. You can use this scheduling information for an activity budget and a time-phased budget. The main function of an external scheduling package (ESP) is to determine scheduling information for both work packages and budget lines. To do this, an ESP must share information with the Requirements Planning module. To use an ESP to determine scheduling information for an activity structure, take the following steps:
Create the activity structure Use the Requirements Planning module to create a hierarchical activity structure. The building blocks of this structure are activities that you can define as WBS elements (the highest in the hierarchy). Beneath this level are the following hierarchical levels in the structure: If the Activity Type check box in the General Parameters (tppdm0100s000) session is selected, you can use these different types of activities. If the check box is cleared, the activity type is a work package. Distribute the budget The Planning module contains a range of sessions that enable you to distribute the budget across the activities defined for the activity structure. See To create a time phased budget analysis code. Work in ESP You can now import the activity structure, employee data, trade groups, the calendar, cost objects, existing budget lines, and milestones in the ESP. Note that the import is initiated from within the ESP and requires no intervention from LN. The start/finish dates are preloaded in the external scheduling package when the structure is transferred. The preload of scheduled dates from LN is only performed at the first connection. If no dates exist, the duration can be derived from information on the activities. Within the ESP, each Project activity is converted into a code file. You can use this code file to create activities in ESP. Both the resource assignments and the scheduled dates of subactivities are rolled up into activities, and you can then use this date information in Project. Assign the resources in ESP Within the ESP, you can now build the schedule for each activity, and assign resources to activities. Assigning resources to activities involves linking them to a standard cost object or a project-specific cost object as defined in the Project Definition module. View the activity budgets At this stage the activity structure contains budgeting information and scheduling information. You can transfer this situation back to Project. LN converts the ESP resource-assignments to Project budget lines, and the resources are mapped to Project cost objects, employees, and trade groups.
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