ppm-55 · » project codes can be defined to enable grouping of projects » codes can allow for...

PPM-55:Cobra Tips & Tricks

Mary M Major, Deltek

Topics Assignment Export/Import

Apply New Rates to Forecast Class

Summary Calendar Set

Project Preferences

Application Preferences

Zero-Out Data

Views

Calculated Results

User Fields

Quick Access Toolbar

Report Categories

Questions

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Assignment Export/Import



» Cobra Budget / Forecast can be

exported into a MS Excel file

» Any or all control accounts ca be

exported

» Resource assignments can

modified within the MS Excel file

» The updated MS Excel file can be

imported back into Cobra

Assignment Export

Integration / Assignment Export





exported





Assignment Export

Integration / Assignment Export


Assignment Export

Can select export file result

• First Result – as defined in the

resource calculation

• Total Currency

• Another defined result


Assignment Export

Status DateClass can be changed to import

the file into a different cost class





exported





Assignment Import

Integration / Assignment Import


Assignment Import


Assignment Import

New Budget resource



Default Rate FileThe Default Rate File is

used … unless there is

a Rate File specified for

a Cost Class



Cost Class settings (including

Rate File) can be copied to one

or more projects. This is a great

way to ensure that new rates are

applied to ALL projects

When copying settings on an

existing Cost Class, make sure

to check the “Allow existing … to

be replaced” option


» Time-phased details will display

periods with “fixed” flags only


Calendar / Calendar Sets


» Time-phased details will display

periods with “fixed” flags only

» A non-default Calendar Set (not

Calendar Set 00) can be

associated with a Cost Class

» Useful for long duration records

where monthly time-phasing for

out-periods is not required


Project Properties / Classes



Time-phased details display

periods based on the Cost Class’

assigned Calendar Set

Project Preferences



» The values in the “Selected”

column will display as the “default”

when running the associated

process

» If the “Secure” option is selected,

the “Selected” settings can not be

changed within the associated

process – changes must be made

in Project Preferences

» User access to “Secured” items can

be limited in EPMSA – this can be

used to “force” a process to run a

specific way every time

Project Preferences – Actual Costs

Project Properties / Preferences / Actual Costs

To identify actual costs associated with

planned and/or completed Control

Accounts/Work Packages, unselect the

“Allow … planned …” and “Allow …

completed …” options to generate the error

list; then reselect the options to post all

actual costs


» If there are LOE work packages in

Cobra that are not updated from a

schedule, this option will ensure

that LOE work packages are

opened on time

Project Preferences – Advance Calendar

Project Properties / Preferences / Advance Calendar

Project Preferences can be copied

from a project to one or many

other projects. This is useful if a

preference change needs to be

updated on all projects


» Select the projects to copy the

current Project Properties to

Project Preferences – Copy Preferences

Project Properties / Preferences / Copy Preferences


» The Project / Project Preferences

section does not have a “Secure”

column since there are no

associated processes

Project Preferences – Project

Project Properties / Preferences / Project

Application Preferences



» Project Terminology can be

modified to provide consistency

and standardization within your

organization

Application Preferences -General

Application Preferences / General


» Project Codes can be defined to

enable grouping of projects

» Codes can allow for free-form text

entry or selection from a code file

» Code files can be flat or can include

hierarchal structure

» If a code file is used, it can be

Optional or Required

Application Preferences –Project Codes

Application Preferences / Project Codes


Application Preferences – Project Codes


» Additional Note Categories can be

added to Cobra

Application Preferences –Notes

Application Preferences / Notes


» Spread Curves can be added /

modified to align resource

assignment spreads with your

organization’s standards

Application Preferences –Spread Curves

Application Preferences / Spread Curves

Zero-Out Data



» All types of time-phased data can be Zero-Out to easily fix data issues / errors

» Budget

» Forecast

» Actual

» Performance

» Zero-Out Data can be applied at various levels

» WP or CA

» Structure (WBS, OBS, etc.)

» Resource Assignment

» Entire project or a time range

Zero-Out Data

Tools / Zero-Out Data


Zero-Out Data


Zero-Out Data

Actuals for the selected

period(s) are now zero

Views



ViewsBudget View

• Filtered for Budget

Cost Classes only

• Status and Cost

Class columns

moved to the left for

easier visibility

Cost Class filter includes “Cost Set” option


ViewsStatus View

• Does not include Resource

Assignments

• Includes Percent Complete

(WP) and Calculated

Percent Complete (CA)

• Filtered for In-Process and

Planned WP only

• Includes Actual and

Forecast Dates

• Includes WP / CA values

for easy reference


Save View


Manage Views

Calculated Results



» “On The Fly” basic calculations with

defined results

» The data is presented on Cobra

reports

» The data is not stored in the

database

Calculated Results

Reporting / Tools / Calculated Results


Calculated Results

Use care with “Currency” flag – if new Calculated Result is a sub-

total, then including the base results and the new Calculated

Result will double the base results in any report totals

Simple mathematical

calculations


Calculated Results

Include “Results” on Sub-Totals

screen of Report Wizard

Include Calculated Result on

Results screen of Report Wizard


Calculated Results

User Fields



» Cobra ships with 5 of each User Fields

» Character

» Date

» Numeric

» Data can be displayed in the Spreadsheet view

» Data can be imported from a schedule or MS Excel files

» Data can be added to report tags

» Another 5 of each type of User Fields can be added to Cobra

User Fields

User Fields


User Fields

User Fields are free form –

no code file validation


User Fields

Property Tag references

User Character Field #1


User Fields


» Common Cobra functions can be

displayed on the Quick Access

Toolbar

» Option to display the Quick Access

Toolbar above or below the Ribbon

» Option to minimize the Ribbon




Quick Access Toolbar – Backup & Restore


Quick Access Toolbar – Above / Below the Ribbon


Quick Access Toolbar – Minimize the Ribbon

Click on a Ribbon title to

expand the Ribbon

Report Categories



Report Categories

When saving a report with

project specific criteria, the

“Category” field can be

modified to allow for easier

report sorting


Report Categories – All Reports

In “All Reports” - reports can

be sorted by Category.

Project specific reports will be

grouped together


Report Categories – Report Wizard

In “Report Wizard” - reports can be filtered by

Category. Only reports with the specified

Category will be displayed

Questions?


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