Release

Content Document
Oracle Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management








Release:
Creation Date:
Last Updated:
Version:
Status:
Prepared by:

8.1
3/23/11
5/10/11
5
FINAL
Primavera GBU Product Strategy


Table of Contents

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 4
1. Purpose of Document .............................................................................................. 4
2. Overview of Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Release 8.1 . 4
New Features of P6 R8.1 ................................................................................................................. 5
3. Alternatives for P6 Team Members to Update Status ............................................. 5
3.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 5
3.2. Capabilities .................................................................................................................................. 5
3.2.1. P6 Team Member for iPhone App ........................................................................................ 5
3.2.2. Statusing Tasks via E-mail .................................................................................................... 6
4. User Interface Improvements .................................................................................. 7
4.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 7
4.2. Capabilities .................................................................................................................................. 7
4.2.1. Tabbing of main navigation .................................................................................................. 7
4.2.2. Replacement of icons with text ............................................................................................ 7
4.2.3. Stationary control buttons ................................................................................................... 8
5. Project Scheduling ................................................................................................... 8
5.1. User Defined Fields (UDF) Bars in the Activities Gantt chart ....................................................... 8
6. Resource Management ........................................................................................... 9
6.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 9
6.2. Capabilities .................................................................................................................................. 9
6.2.1. Additional control of resource assignments in Project, Activities ........................................ 9
6.2.2. Ability to organize resources when staffing in Project, Activities ........................................ 9
6.2.3. Ability to organize resources when staffing in Resources, Assignments ........................... 10
6.2.4. Monitor projects for resource over allocation to avoid impacts ....................................... 11
7. Project Risk Management ..................................................................................... 12
7.1. Overview ................................................................................................................................... 12
7.2. Capabilities ................................................................................................................................ 12
7.2.1. Risk Exposure and Score Calculations ................................................................................ 12
7.2.2. Improved Risk Categories ................................................................................................... 13
7.2.3. Risk Threshold Enhancements ........................................................................................... 13
7.2.4. Risk Identification Fields .................................................................................................... 13
7.2.5. Enhancements to Risk Views .............................................................................................. 13
8. Portfolio Management .......................................................................................... 14
8.1. Ability to drill down to view and edit WBS User Defined Fields ................................................ 14
9. Web-based Reporting ............................................................................................ 14
9.1. Overview ................................................................................................................................... 14
9.2. Benefits ...................................................................................................................................... 15
9.2.1. P6 Reporting Database Now Truly Optional for BI Publisher Use ...................................... 15
9.2.2. Oracle Database Technology No Longer Required for Microsoft SQL Installations ........... 16
Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM R8.1 Release Content Document

9.2.3. Improved Performance of P6 Reporting Database ETL Process ......................................... 16

9.3. Capabilities ................................................................................................................................ 16
9.3.1. Near Real-Time Reporting .................................................................................................. 16
9.3.2. Limit which Projects are Available for Reporting ............................................................... 16
9.3.3. Utilize Web-based Report Layout Editor ............................................................................ 16
9.3.4. Create Reports that Combine P6 Data with Other Data Sources ....................................... 17
9.4. P6 Analytics ............................................................................................................................... 17
9.4.1. Unlimited Number of Dynamic Codes ................................................................................ 17

10. Administration ..................................................................................................... 17

10.1. Improvements to Scheduled Services ..................................................................................... 17
10.2. User Sessions ........................................................................................................................... 18
11. Technologies ........................................................................................................ 18
11.1. Overview ................................................................................................................................. 18
11.2. Updated Platform Support ...................................................................................................... 18
11.3. Offline Mode ........................................................................................................................... 19

Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM R8.1 Release Content Document

Introduction
1. Purpose of Document
This Release Content Document (RCD) describes product features that are new or
enhanced in release 8.1 of Oracle Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio
Management. This document describes new or changed functionality only. Existing
functionality from prior releases is not described. This document is intended solely to
help you assess the new or changed capabilities and business benefits of release 8.1.

This document in any form, software or printed matter, contains proprietary
information that is the exclusive property of Oracle. Your access to and use of this
proprietary material is subject to the terms and conditions of your Oracle Software
License and Service Agreement, which has been executed and with which you agree to
comply. This document and information contained herein may not be disclosed, copied,
reproduced or distributed to anyone outside Oracle without prior written consent of
Oracle. This document is not part of your license agreement nor can it be incorporated
into any contractual agreement with Oracle or its subsidiaries or affiliates. This
document is for informational purposes only and is intended solely to assist you in
planning for the implementation and upgrade of the product features described. It is
not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be
relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, and timing of
any features or functionality described in this document remains at the sole discretion
of Oracle.

2. Overview of Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management

Release 8.1
Release 8.1 is the latest release of the Oracle Primavera P6 solution. This release
includes numerous enhancements and a streamlined architecture that will help
companies effectively plan, build, and operate their business.

Oracle Primavera P6 R8.1 is focused on the following key areas:
1. Enabling the participation of individual contributors to ensure accurate project
schedules
2. Resource improvements to better support staffing, assigning and monitoring of
project resources
3. Reporting enhancements to ensure up to date reports with a simplified architecture
4. Risk improvements to better monitor and mitigate project risks

Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM R8.1 Release Content Document

New Features of P6 R8.1

3. Alternatives for P6 Team Members to Update Status

3.1. Overview
Accurate project status is critical to the success of any project. Capturing the
information directly from the people doing the work is the best way to ensure
your schedule reflects the true progress. Release 8.1 offers two new, easy and
convenient options for Team Members to update their work.

3.2. Capabilities

3.2.1. P6 Team Member for iPhone App
A new iPhone app called P6 Team Member for iPhone marks a significant
milestone in our commitment to deliver the benefits of P6 anywhere. Team
Members can now update the status of their tasks and communicate with
others wherever they are to ensure project success.
The Team Member app is optimized to work on an iPhone, but also runs on the
iPad. The app will be available for download from the Apple app store pending
approvals.
3.2.1.1 Status Work
All assignments the user is assigned automatically appear when a Team Member
logs into the application. The tasks are grouped by Project and each has a
graphical indicator to represent the percent complete and health of the task. To
update the status of the task, simply drill in and change the Time Spent, Time
Left and Start and/or Finish dates. The changes are then automatically saved to
update the P6 schedule.

Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM R8.1 Release Content Document

iPhone app automatically displays assigned tasks with the ability to update status.

3.2.1.2 Sending E-mail about Tasks
From the details of a task, a user can easily send an E-mail to facilitate the
communication with other project members or your manager.
3.2.1.3 Sending Photos about Tasks
From the details of a task, a user can easily attach a task related photograph from
the iPhone Camera Roll to an E-mail message. You can select an existing
photograph or take one real time to be sent.
3.2.1.4 Starring of Tasks
A user can mark a task with a star to designate it as an important or favorite
assignment and track it in a separate list with other starred tasks for quick and
easy access.
3.2.1.5 Working with multiple tasks
A quick multi-task edit mode is available to mark multiple tasks complete or star
them. Using Edit mode, you first select the tasks you want to mark and then
designate them as completed or starred all at once.

3.2.2.Statusing Tasks via E-mail
E-mail is a predominant form of communication in any enterprise. Release 8.1
leverages the fact that Team Members are in E-mail throughout the day and
allows them to status their P6 work without the need to launch the P6 Web or
iPhone apps. With E-mail you can:
Send an E-mail to request your list of tasks
Filter the list of tasks by using preset filters
Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM R8.1 Release Content Document

View your tasks via HTML or Plain Text grouped by Project

Update the Start and Finish dates, Time Spent and Time Left on each
task and send it back to update the P6 Project plan
Easily mark a task completed
Receive confirmation message for updates

Team member logs into E-mail and sees assigned tasks with the ability to update status

4. User Interface Improvements
4.1. Overview
The application interface has been enhanced to simplify navigation and provide an
expanded work area.

4.2. Capabilities
4.2.1.Tabbing of main navigation
The main navigation of Dashboards, Portfolios, Resources and Projects is now a
tabbed interface. This simplifies the display and allows you to clearly know
which section of the application you are working.

4.2.2.Replacement of icons with text
The secondary navigation now displays text to identify the different pages. The
text allows for more screen real estate and is easier to see the items than in
prior releases where icons were used.

Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM R8.1 Release Content Document

New main and sub navigation to streamline usability

4.2.3.Stationary control buttons
A new control area has been added for scrolling pages so it is always easy to
select the Save or Cancel buttons. An example of this is in the My
Preferences page.

Control area to always display buttons

5. Project Scheduling
5.1. User Defined Fields (UDF) Bars in the Activities Gantt chart
A UDF Bar is now available on the Activities Gantt chart. Use this bar to view the
current schedule against selected Activity UDF start and finish dates.

Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM R8.1 Release Content Document

UDF bars can be used to show a risk adjusted schedule using dates imported from
Oracle Primavera Risk Analysis.

6. Resource Management
6.1. Overview
There have been several improvements to processes related to staffing project
resources, managing existing assignments and ensuring resource bottlenecks dont
impact projects.

6.2. Capabilities
6.2.1. Additional control of resource assignments in Project, Activities
Project managers and schedulers can view and edit assignment date and
durations within Project, Activities details tab. Whenever resources need to be
managed in detail (e.g. when using Timesheets), the PM now has full visibility
and control into all assignment fields. Some of these were previously only
accessible from the Resources section or Windows Optional Client.
Modify columns using quick select from dropdown or new Customize
Columns dialog on Assignments detail tab.
New fields include planned, actual and remaining start and finish dates.
Previously viewable, durations are now editable too.
For those using the Schedule Preview option, assignment changes will be
reflected in the project schedule.

6.2.2. Ability to organize resources when staffing in Project, Activities
Project managers and schedulers can quickly find the right resources to work on
activities. Previously, a user would be presented with the entire resource
hierarchy. The resource list can be narrowed down, by applying one of several
options to filter or group. For example, users can narrow the list of resources to
only those within a location by using Resource Codes. Also, a project manager
can now view only those resources already assigned to the project.
This change impacts several similar dialogs throughout the Project section
including Assignments detail tab, Primary Resource column, and Risk
Owner.
Within the Select Resources dialog, resources can be viewed by:
o Active Resources Displays resource pool and filters out Inactive
o All Resources Displays entire resource pool
o Assigned Role Filters to only those resources possessing the role
on the assignment
o Opened Projects Filters to only those resources already associated
to project via assignment or allocation.
o Primary Role Groups resources by their primary role
o Resource Code For each Code, resources are grouped based on
their associated resource code value
o Resource Teams Displays all resources belonging to each team
Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM R8.1 Release Content Document

The Select Roles dialog can be grouped by Role Hierarchy or Role Teams.
When using type-ahead, search will only include those resources/roles
within the View applied.

Project managers can narrow the resource list to only those associated to current project(s).

6.2.3. Ability to organize resources when staffing in Resources, Assignments
Resource managers can quickly find the right resources to replace or staff new
assignments. Previously, a user would be presented with the entire resource
hierarchy. In R8.1 the resource list can be narrowed down, by applying one of
several options to filter or group. For example, a user can narrow the list of
resources to only those who are able to play a particular role. Also, a user
might only search within a certain resource team.
This change impacts several similar dialogs throughout the Resources and
other sections, as noted above for Project, Activities.
Assign Resource enables users to select a resource for multiple rows
regardless of the existing role on those assignments. The Assign Resource
by Role also allows for multiple assignments; however this method assigns
resources only to the assignments having roles they already possess.
o Both allow the Select Resource dialog to remain displayed for fast
assignments of multiple rows at once.
o Both can be used to replace resources or fill unstaffed assignments.
The Select Roles dialog can be grouped by Role Hierarchy or Role Teams.
When using type-ahead, search will only include those resources/roles
within the View applied.

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Resource managers can staff multiple assignments at once while filtering candidate resources by role.

6.2.4. Monitor projects for resource over allocation to avoid impacts
While resource managers (RMs) may be concerned with balancing each
resources workload and smoothing their utilization, the PMs first responsibility
is typically the successful outcome of the project. An under allocated resource
can represent wasted time and someone should manage that. However, the
focus here is for over allocation since an overloaded resource can lead to
delays, cost overruns and quality compromises. Late assignments cause
activities to slip, which can have a cascading effect on the entire project
schedule. Its critical that PMs identify such situations early so that they can
take corrective action.

The new Check Resource Over-allocation feature easily identifies troubled
resources and highlights their conflicting assignments. At any stage in the
project lifecycle, a PM can assess the resource situation without having to page
through a series of reports or analysis views. A new Notifications engine will
alert the PM if any over allocated resources exist and present only the pertinent
information about the problem. With the overages pinpointed, the PM can take
action by shuffling resources and their assignments to alleviate the bottlenecks.

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Project managers see the notification for overallocated resources and drill in to view and fix the problem.

7. Project Risk Management

7.1. Overview

There have been several improvements to the risk management functionality in P6
EPPM R8.1. These include the addition of risk exposure values, risk identification fields
and improved thresholds. Additionally, risk categories may be arranged hierarchically.

7.2. Capabilities
7.2.1. Risk Exposure and Score Calculations
When managing project risks, users can now see the monetary impact each risk
has on your project. In addition, one can track a time dimension for risks using
the start and finish risk exposure dates.

Risk exposure fields are available for individual risks, risk response plans, and for
the risk exposure of the entire project. Risk exposure is calculated from the
values selected for the probability and cost impact of each risk. Users can view
the Project Risk Exposure value, the total exposure for all risks identified in the
project, in the EPS view.

Additionally, the Project Risk Exposure and Project Risk Score values are
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available for analyzing data in the Portfolios section or on related dashboards.

These fields are also available for viewing on the EPS page.

7.2.2. Improved Risk Categories
You can now organize risk categories in a hierarchy, creating a risk breakdown
structure to identify and organize project risks consistently throughout your
organization.

7.2.3. Risk Threshold Enhancements
Two new risk thresholds are now available: Cost impact by percentage and
Schedule impact by percentage. The cost and schedule impact thresholds
available in R8 are renamed Cost impact by value and Schedule impact by value.

Using the by percentage impact thresholds enables you to create one matrix
that can be used across multiple projects where the absolute cost and schedule
impacts vary. The cost impact threshold is defined as a percentage of the
project's planned cost. The schedule impact threshold is defined as a percentage
of time in the planned project.
7.2.4.Risk Identification Fields
Identified By and Identified Date fields have been added to risks to help track
when a risk was identified and by whom. Knowing who identified a risk enables
you to consult with the source, if need be. The identified date is helpful in a
variety of ways, including tracking the time between when the risk was
identified and when it started being tracked.
7.2.5.Enhancements to Risk Views
The risk register on the Risk page has been enhanced to allow users to:

Group by all available fields, except Exposure.

Cut a risk and paste it to another project in the risk register.
Easily identify which risks have active response plans.
View additional activity-related fields on the Activities detail tab.

The Risks detail window on the Activities Page is enhanced to allow users to:

View the new fields for Risk Exposure: Exposure, Exposure Start, and
Exposure Finish.
Edit the new identify fields: Identified By and Identified Date.
Easily identify which risks have active response plans.

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8. Portfolio Management
8.1. Ability to drill down to view and edit WBS User Defined Fields
When reviewing portfolios, users want to be able to drill into the details of project.
Scorecards enable the project to be expanded to reveal the WBS hierarchy and
associated data for each WBS. R8.1 introduces the ability to display columns for WBS
User Defined Fields (UDFs) on Scorecards, which are available in both Dashboards and
the Portfolio Analysis page. Scorecards allow users to view UDFs for multiple WBS levels
at a single glance. Those users with security privileges can edit WBS UDFs in the
columns. This data is also included when exporting to an Excel spreadsheet.

Many customers store information from other systems in Primaveras WBS UDFs.
Common examples are budgets and actual costs that originate in a financial system such
as one of Oracles ERP applications or SAP. Another example includes the identification
of cost account managers to the WBS and other earned value data from external
systems.

Drill down to view and edit project WBS UDFs from dashboards or Portfolio Analysis.

9. Web-based Reporting
9.1. Overview
In P6 EPPM R8.0, the Oracle Business Intelligence (BI) Publisher web-based
reporting solution was dependent on the Operational Data Store (ODS) and its
associated Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) process for access to P6 project
management data.

In P6 EPPM R8.1, the P6 Database (PMDB) is now the default data source for BI
Publisher reports, removing the need for a separate ODS database and ETL
process:
The P6 Database schema has been expanded to include new tables and
views to replicate the same de-normalized and persistent data model as

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is currently available in the ODS. Hence, any reports created against the
ODS can now be executed directly against the R8.1 PMDB.
Population of these new PMDB tables and views is now done in-place,
via a trickle or demand ETL process. New project and enterprise data-
publishing services are introduced which run in the background to
ensure that as changes are committed to the core P6 data tables, the
impact of these changes are reflected in the extended P6 tables and
views.
A number of administrative settings are introduced to control the
frequency and throughput of the new project and enterprise data-
publishing services, allowing the system to be fine tuned to meet the
needs of the particular installation.

Powerful reporting with new extended tables and views

P6 EPPM R8.1 also introduces support for BI Publisher release 11g, which
includes a number of enhancements to improve report creation, content and
delivery.

9.2. Benefits
9.2.1.P6 Reporting Database Now Truly Optional for BI Publisher Use
Customers no longer have to install and configure the ODS and associated ETL
process of the P6 Reporting Database for default web-based, BI Publisher
reporting from P6. The P6 Reporting Database now becomes a truly optional,
ad-on component to P6, supporting P6 Analytics, third party reporting tools, off-
line analysis, and consolidation of P6 data into larger, corporate data
warehouses.
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9.2.2.Oracle Database Technology No Longer Required for Microsoft SQL Installations
In P6 EPPM R8.0, customers were required to run BI Publisher reports against
the ODS, which was supported on Oracle database technology only. MS SQL
Server customers needed to license an Oracle database and implement a
gateway to transfer data from the P6 PMDB on MS SQL Server to the ODS
stored on an Oracle database.

With P6 EPPM R8.1, customers now leverage the P6 PDMB directly for all their
BI Publisher enterprise reporting. This allows MS SQL Server customers to run
reports directly against the PMDB. An Oracle database is no longer required.

9.2.3.Improved Performance of P6 Reporting Database ETL Process
In previous releases of the P6 Reporting Database, the bulk of the time spent
during the ETL process was doing the data transformation. Now that this data
transformation is done in-place, via a trickle or demand ETL process within P6,
the ETL to the P6 Reporting Database ODS is now simply just an export of the
current contents of the extended tables and views in PMDB to the ODS. The
time required to complete this process is expected to be significantly less than
in previous releases.

9.3. Capabilities
9.3.1.Near Real-Time Reporting
You no longer have to wait until the ETL process has run to incorporate recent
P6 data changes into the ODS such that they will be reflected in BI Publisher
reports. BI Publisher reports now by default utilize an extended PMDB as the
data source. As changes are made, the corresponding reporting data source
tables and views within PMDB will be automatically updated to reflect the
changes, allowing for near real-time access to changed data in reports.

9.3.2.Limit which Projects are Available for Reporting
It is often the case that certain projects should not be included in reports. For
example, they could be what-if type projects not ready to be published or long
since completed projects which you dont want showing up in your list of
current projects. Individual projects can now be excluded from the data-
publication services such that they are not visible to P6 EPPM BI Publisher
reporting and are not included in the ETL to the P6 Reporting Database.

9.3.3.Utilize Web-based Report Layout Editor
BI Publisher 11g includes a web-based, WYSIWYG report authoring tool that can
be used to easily create high fidelity, pixel perfect reports right from within BI
Publisher. Customers can continue to us the MS Word or Adobe Acrobat report
editor plug-ins.

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9.3.4.Create Reports that Combine P6 Data with Other Data Sources

BI Publisher 11g allows for reports to be created which combine data from more
than one data source. Create a single report or form to combine data from P6
with a number of additional data source providers including SQL, MDX, XML,
Web Services, and even MS Excel.

9.4. P6 Analytics
P6 Analytics is an add-on, packaged application for gathering, storing, analyzing,
sharing and providing access to project data to help enterprises make better
business decisions. It is a combination of the P6 Reporting Database and Oracle
Business Intelligence.

9.4.1.Unlimited Number of Dynamic Codes
The P6 EPPM R8.1 compatible release of P6 Analytics (R1.2) now allows for an
unlimited number of Activity, Resource and Project Codes to be configured for
inclusion in the Oracle Business Intelligence (OBI) Answers and Dashboards
applications.

* For additional details please refer the white paper on P6 Publication Services.

10.Administration
10.1.

Improvements to Scheduled Services

Scheduled Services are important for administrators who want to manage
background jobs for various functions of the application. R8.1 improves the
administrators ability to track and control scheduled services.

Schedules Services dialog renamed to Project Scheduled Services

Rolling Data Date When scheduling services, administrators can
choose to have the Data Date (DD) advance automatically based on
current DD plus n days or based on the scheduled services run time.
This applies to Apply Actuals, Scheduling, and Leveling services.

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Data Date can automatically advance for scheduled jobs.

Global Scheduled Services dialog available under Administer menu

View and schedule global jobs including Enterprise Data, Enterprise Summary Data, Resource
Management Data, and Security Data.

10.2.

Standardized log files for all services including language translation

capability.
New log file for Recalculate Assignment Costs service
New log file for Store Period Performance service
Added project fields for Last Scheduled and Last Leveled. These are
available within EPS view and Scorecards.

User Sessions
A User Sessions page has been added under the Administration Menu. This
page allows you to reset sessions for users who have been locked out. A user
may be locked out and unable to login to P6 if they have attempted to login to a
session that is already running or if they have repeatedly entered login
information incorrectly.

11.Technologies
11.1.

Overview
With every release of P6, new technologies are adopted to provide new
capabilities, reduce implementation effort, and lower cost of ownership.

11.2.

Updated Platform Support

In R8.1, the following new platforms are now supported:
Google Chrome Browser
Java JRE 1.6.0_24

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BI Publisher 11g
Universal Content Management (UCM) 11g
Oracle Enterprise Manager 11g
HP-UX Itanium
Brazilian Portuguese language support

* For additional details please refer the 8.1 version of Tested Configurations document.

11.3.

Offline Mode
P6 Professional R8.1 is now available for users who need to work on their
projects in an offline mode. P6 Professional can be installed as a stand-alone
product on an individuals machine side-by-side with the P6 Optional
Client. Projects may be imported into the local version of P6 Professional and
worked on in a non-connected environment. When changes are complete and
connectivity is available, the project can then be imported back into the EPPM
database.

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