XER Import Issues No More

How to turn the P6 XER Import “Blues” to Pure “Rock n Roll”
If you are like most P6 users, you have tried to import subcontractor or owner P6 XER files into your database and corrupted your Global data. As we all have learned, global data assigned to an XER schedule will populate your database global data upon import. For users who import XER’s on a regular basis a standard practice has been to first import the XER into a sandbox database. There in the sandbox database the Global data can be modified as required prior to importing the XER into your production database. For those who have tried this I am sure you would agree that it is a slow and tedious process. UG! But there is a better way!!!!
A new software application called Xena is now available to easily manage the global data of the incoming XER schedule prior to importing into your production database. With the Xena tool you have the options to:
Assign a prefix to Global Codes, Activity Code Values, Calendars, Resources, UDF’s, and Notebooks so that they are segregated in your global structure upon import
Rename Global Codes, Activity Code Values, Calendars, UDF’s, Notebooks, Unit of Measure.
Reduce status of Activity Codes from Global to Project level
Delete Global Codes, Activity Code Values, Calendars, Resources, UDF’s, Notebooks, Unit of Measure.
So….how is Xena used. Take the XER you want to import into the production database and import it into the Xena tool. Modify all global data with the options listed above. Save all modification procedures as a Xena template so the next time you import an updated XER the template will remember the set up for handling global data. Export the Xena revised XER file and import it into your production database. Xena also includes a tool that allows you to quickly de-status projects or to remove data such as financials prior to exporting to a sub or owner.
Feel free to contact CBA if you have any questions about the Xena tool.