Creating Projects

Overview

Two types of projects can be created:

*Supported schedule files include P6 XER files (.xer) and NetPoint files (.np4/.npz).

On import, NetRisk sets durations and uncertainty ranges (durations, risk impacts, etc.) to days ONLY. For example, a NetPoint file with 744 hour-long activity (31 days) will import as 744 days. A NetPoint file with a 1 month activity will import as 1 day. Similarly, a duration range in P6 from 8-16 hours will import as 8-16 days.

Nevertheless, shift/hour-based calendars or exceptions from P6 are supported and calculated during simulation.

Risk Register Only

1. In NetRisk, click the Main Menu 

   

    icon in the upper left corner.
   Choose New Risk Register Project.

A schedule can be subsequently added at any time to the risk register by updating it with a schedule file. For more info, see updating below.

Complete Project

1. In NetRisk, click the Main Menu 

   

    icon in the upper left corner.
2. Choose New Project from File.
3. In the lower right-hand corner, choose either P6 XER File (*.xer) or NetPoint File (*.np4/*.npz).
4. Navigate to the desired file and click Open.
5. See Mapping User Defined Fields below.

When importing XER files, please ensure that the project was scheduled and summarized after the latest changes were made in P6 and BEFORE exporting it as an XER file.

The following features of P6 will NOT be maintained after importing into NetRisk: resource calendars, lag calendars set to use the calendar of the successor activity.

Exporting P6 XER Files

1. Open the desired project(s) in Primavera.
   
   
2. Click Tools > Schedule.
   
   
3. Click the Options button.
   
   
4. Click the Schedule button.
   
   
5. Click Tools > Summarize > Open Projects.
   
   
6. Click OK.
   
   
7. Click File > Export.
   
   
8. Choose Primavera PM/ MM - (XER) and click Next.
   
   
9.  Choose Project and click Next.
   
   
10. Check the box next to the desired project(s) and click Next.
    
    
11. Name the file and click Finish.

Mapping User Defined Fields

User defined fields (UDFs) created in Primavera P6 can be mapped to NetRisk fields. To map a UDF, check the box to the left of the field name and choose an option from the dropdown to the right.

Non-supported fields will not show up in the interface.

Correlations must be defined using the activity ID. For multiple correlations, separate them using a comma. By default, the coefficient will be set to 1; however, it can be specified in parenthesis immediately following the ID of the activity. For example: "A1000 (.7), A1010 (.5), etc.".

If after mapping, the fields comprise a valid duration distribution, the Distribution Type will automatically be set and the box checked for including in the simulation, as follows:

When updating a project, the following behavior is observed:

Saving Projects

1. Click the Main Menu 

   

    icon in the upper left corner.
2. Choose Save or Save As....
3. Enter a filename and click Save.

Updating Projects

If a schedule has changed since the original import, the new schedule file can be used to update the existing NetRisk project, all the while maintaining any prior simulation results, inputs, and risk register information.

1. To update an existing project, click the Main Menu 

   

    icon in the upper left corner.
2. Choose Update Project from **** File.
3. If the project has never been saved, you will be prompted to save first.
4. In the lower right-hand corner, choose either P6 XER File (*.xer) or NetPoint File
5. (*.np4/*.npz).
6. Navigate to the desired file and click Open.
7. See Mapping User Defined Fields above.
8. In the confirmation window, click Dismiss.

Tip

Updating is done by matching activities to one another through their IDs. This means the user can always update any activity by simply ensuring it has the same ID, regardless of whether or not it actually represents the same activity.

Updating only works for schedules where every activity contains an ID. If one or more activities lack ID's, the updating feature will be disabled.

Importing Ranges from Excel

Any data which can be edited in NetRisk can be imported from Excel via copy/paste. This can be particularly helpful, for example, to bring in duration ranges, cost ranges, or risk impacts. Data can be imported cell by cell, row by row, column by column, or as an entire table.

In Excel, the data must be formatted as General, Number, or Text. Any incompatible data that is copied will end up as a blank cell in NetRisk. Any empty cells that are copied will end up as 0's in NetRisk. Data will always be pasted from left to right, top to bottom.

1. If copying more than 1 row, make sure all the rows in NetRisk are in the same order as Excel. This can be done by sorting and filtering in both applications. For more info, see Sorting Table Columns, Organizing by WBS, and Filtering Table Text. 
2. If copying more than 1 column, make sure all the columns in NetRisk are in the same order as Excel. For more info, see Customizing Table Columns.
3. Copy the desired cells or range of cells in Excel.
4. In NetRisk, right-click on the cell which corresponds to the upper-left cell of the copied data.
5. Choose Paste Data.

Importing a Risk Register

When importing a risk register, the Strategy, Probability (Qualitative), Schedule Impact, or Cost Impact cannot be imported until the Category has been set. Typically, this means using a fill-down in NetRisk to set this column before importing. Owner cannot be imported. Schedule Rating, Cost Rating, and Combined Rating are not imported from Excel but calculated automatically once the probability and impacts are set.  

In Excel, the data must be formatted as General, Number, Percentage, or Text. Any incompatible data that is copied will end up as a blank cell in NetRisk. Any empty cells that are copied will end up as 0's in NetRisk. Data will always be pasted from left to right, top to bottom.

1. Review the list of supported fields below and make sure the Excel data matches
2. Make sure all the columns in NetRisk and Excel are in the same order. For more info, see Customizing Table Columns.
3. In NeRisk, configure the probability/impact matrix. For more info, see Probability/Impact Thresholds.
4. In NetRisk, create the same number of risks as in the Excel file
5. Click the dropdown in the Category column and choose Threat
6. Press the SHIFT key on the keyboard and select the last risk
7. Right-click in the Category column for the last risk and choose Fill Down "Category" from Top Row
8. In Excel, copy all the cells for risk rows (i.e. excluding the column headers)
9. In NetRisk, right-click on the cell which corresponds to the upper-left cell of the copied data
10. Choose Paste Data

Importing Errors