Integration between PCS and Microsoft Project

In LN, you can integrate Project Control (in Manufacturing) with an external project application such as Microsoft Project.

For several reasons, you can prefer working with Microsoft Project:

Graphical user interface
Advanced reporting capabilities
No permanent connection to LN required.
Extra features, such as multi-project scheduling and a link to the internet.

To integrate Project Control with an external project application, LN data related to projects and project activities is exported from the Activities (tipcs4101m000) session and the Activity Relationships (tipcs4110m000) session to the external project application. After planning or replanning, you can import the project data back into Project Control. An XML file is used to export and import the data.

Note: The integration between Project Control and the external project application does not require the installation of additional software.

Export

In the Export / Import PCS Activities via XML (tipcs4172m000) session, click Export. LN creates an XML file to transfer the data.

Refer to Data mapping: export data from PCS to Microsoft Project to see how data in LN matches the data in Microsoft Project.

Import

If planning of PCS projects in Microsoft Project is finished, you can transfer the PCS data back to LN using the Export / Import PCS Activities via XML (tipcs4172m000) session.

Refer to Data mapping: import data from Microsoft Project to PCS to see how data in Microsoft Project matches the data in Project Control in LN.