Create a New Plan from a Project

You can create a new plan from one or more existing projects. When you create a new plan from a project, you use options on the Create Plan from Project dialog box to specify the amount of detail that Vision copies.

Prerequisite: If the project's WBS includes wildcards, you must select the When Retrieving a Plan Use Wildcards to Match Project option on the General Tab of Planning Configuration to include the wildcards.

To use a project as the basis for a new plan, complete the following steps:

  1. From the Vision Navigation menu, click Planning > Project Planning.
  2. On the Project Planning toolbar, click New > New Plan from Existing Project.
  3. On the Create Plan from Project dialog box, click to Select Specific Project and use the Project Lookup dialog box to select the project to serve as the basis of the new plan.

    You cannot select a project that is associated with an iAccess for Vision plan.

  4. In the Plan Name field, enter a name for the new plan.
  5. In the Plan Number field, enter a number for the new plan.
  6. From the Plan Start Date field drop-down list, select one of the following options:
    Option Description
    Retain Original Start Date The start date of the project that you are copying becomes this plan's start date.
    Specify Start Date

    Enter a date in the corresponding field or click and select a date.

    The Planning Calendar is created based on the Start Date specified in either the Project Info Center or the Plan Start Date - Specify Start Date dialog box. If the project started prior to today, the yearly calendar columns are created for every year prior to today.

  7. From the drop-down list for the Plan Calendar Scale field, select the major/minor time scale for the accordion calendar of the new plan.

    The time scale applies for one year, starting from the current date.

  8. From the drop-down list for the Copy down to field, select the option that determines how much of the project's work breakdown structure (WBS) and corresponding detail will be copied to the new plan. Select one of the following options:
    Option Description
    Copy project only Select this option to copy the project structure only.
    Copy down to phase Select this option to copy project structure, including phases.
    Copy down to task Select this option to copy project structure, including phases and tasks.
    Copy down to labor code Select this option to copy project structure, including phases, tasks, and labor codes.
  9. From the drop-down list for the Copy down to field, select the option that determines how much of the project's WBS and corresponding detail will be copied to the new plan:
    Option Description
    Map existing project numbers into the structure of the plan

    Select this option to map plan elements to Info Center project, phase, and task records.

    Copy Employees into the Plan

    Select this option to insert employees who have charged time to the project into the plan. Vision automatically sends a resource assignment alert to the employee supervisor when employees are copied into a new plan.

    Copy Generic Resources into the Plan

    Select this option to insert employees as generic resource categories into the plan. When you select this option, you must also select a category table on the Rates tab of Project Planning to set up the mapping for the generic resource. The generic resources available in Planning are taken from the labor category billing rate tables or the labor code billing rate tables specified in the Billing application. This option is available only if at least one billing rate table record is marked Available for Planning. Vision automatically disables Copy Generic Resources into the Plan if the Generic Method option in Configuration > Planning > Rates is set to Labor Code.

    Copy Actual Hours into Planned Hours

    Select this option to have Vision copy the start and end dates for each WBS element into the new plan. You might want to use this option to have actuals serve as the basis for realistic estimates in your new plan. If you use this option and also specify a new start date for the plan in the Plan Start Date field, Vision changes all start and end dates for all WBS elements throughout the plan accordingly.

    Copy Accounts into Plan

    Select this option to maintain mapping between the plan elements as specified on the Teams tab, and account records for all expenses and consultant assignments. When you select this option, the Copy Vendors into Plan option is enabled.

    Copy Vendors into Plan

    This option is available when Copy Accounts into Plan is selected. Select this option to copy vendors from the project into the plan.

    Copy Other Team Members into the Plan

    Select this option to copy employees listed on the Team tab into the plan. Vision automatically sends a resource assignment alert to the employee supervisor when team members are copied into a new plan.

  10. Select options to merge an existing plan with the selected project.
    This can be useful when you have projects that are in progress and you need to incorporate year-to-date information with an existing plan structure. The information from the existing plan appends to the bottom of the new plan being created.
    • Plan Name — Click Search and use the Plan Lookup dialog box to select the plan to merge with the project.
    • Copy Plan Budget — Select this option to copy the existing plan's budget into the new plan. This is helpful when you wish want to view multiple projects together in a single Plan.
  11. Click OK on the Create Plan from Project dialog box.

    Vision creates the new plan based on your settings.

  12. Complete the tabs of the Project Planning form.
  13. Click Save.
Parent Topic: Procedures for Plans