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Preparing Cobra for Schedule Integration

You can load information such as rates from your schedule using the Integration Wizard.

If the information in the schedule is not accurate, you can create these files manually before using the Integration Wizard and refer to them during the integration process. You may need to create the following files before the integration process:

  • Code Files
  • Resource Files
  • Rates
  • Template Resource Files
  • Calendar

Cobra Project

You can create an empty project in Cobra into which to load the schedule data. For example, if your schedule contains cost classes other than current budget (CB), you should create a blank project with all valid cost classes defined before loading the budget.

If the work package record does not exist, Cobra creates the appropriate progress technique and sets the work package start and finish dates exactly equal to the activity dates. If the work package record exists at the time you load the schedule, Cobra adjusts only the required data. For example, if the activity has slipped and the finish date is greater than the work package finish date, Cobra adjusts the work package finish date, not the work package start date.

Code Files

There are three ways to create code files and breakdown structures:

  • You can have the Integration Wizard automatically create these files, in which case Cobra determines the structure type from the data in the schedule.
  • You can create the empty code files manually before running the Integration Wizard. This enables you to specify the structure of your choice. The Integration Wizard then populates the code file with the values found in the schedule.
  • You can create and populate the code file before loading the schedule. This enables you to validate the entries in the schedule against the code file.
Note: If you want to use a non-significant breakdown structure in Cobra that is punctuated in the schedule, you must create the non-significant breakdown structure before the integration process. You can then load the codes from the schedule into the code file.

Resource Files

You can roll up resource information by defining the budget element calculations for a higher-level resource. It is possible to roll up resource information by defining the budget calculations for a higher-level resource but not for a lower-level resource. The lower-level resource requirements can be combined and rolled up to a higher level for costing purposes.

Note: Do not use the roll-up feature if you intend to update Open Plan resources from Cobra. You can use a template for resource calculations when importing from the schedule or when creating a new resource file.

Cobra loads the unit rate from the resource file only if the value for the rate is any value other than 0 or 1. If the rate for the resource is not equal to 0 or 1 and a calculation template is not used, Cobra creates resource assignments with the result of HOURS and DIRECT, where the direct rate comes from the rate defined in the schedule. If the rate for the resource is equal to 0 or 1, Cobra creates the resource assignment with a single result of DIRECT.

Rates

You can load direct rates from the schedule using the Integration Wizard. If you have results other than direct, enter these rates into the rate file before loading budgets or forecasts. For example, if you plan to use a template resource file, you will need to create OVERHEAD and G&A rates.

Template Resource Files

You can define complex burden structures to be used during the load resource definition process in the Integration Wizard by creating a template resource file.

Calendar

You can create a calendar in two ways:

  • You can have the Integration Wizard automatically create the calendar file.
  • You can create the calendar file manually before running the Integration Wizard. This enables you to adjust period cut-off dates and working hours before the baseline is loaded.
Note: Cobra determines baseline spread by fiscal cut-off dates and working hours.