PMATechnologies Build realistic project schedules. No surprises. SMARTER PLANNING WITH
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USING EXCEL WITH NETPOINT
Using Excel with NetPoint to:
• provide a schedule that identifies hand‐offs and completion dates.
• make a NetPoint graphical layout that easily communicates the schedule with the team and with decision makers.
• calculate schedules that include logic relationships to ensure reliability and improve performance.
Improve your ability to coordinate project teams
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USING EXCEL WITH NETPOINT (CONT’D)
Excel and NetPoint provide a system that:
• is easy to learn• can handle every planning situation
• works well with other systems
Improve your ability to coordinate project teams
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PLANNING GOALS
• Coordinate various field crews responsible for managing the schedule and delivering the work
• Identify hand‐offs and completion dates• Communicate the schedule with the team and decision makers
• Impress leadership with a better planning approach and improve project performance.
• Relieve stress and eliminate wasted efforts of poorly planned projects
Using Excel
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PLANNING ISSUES
• High margin of error during manual schedule building
• Update process for an Excel schedule is time‐intensive
• Not a good team or communication tool• Not advanced enough to convey a complex schedule
• Does not include logic• Does not calculate a real duration (critical path), resources, and floats
• Performance is unrealistic without logic and calculations
Using Excel
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PROCESS BENEFITS
1. Graphical layout makes it easy to communicate and get participation of team and important decision markers
2. Identifies key hand‐offs between teams and schedule areas
3. Real‐time planning allows team and stakeholders to immediately see effect of input on the network
4. Clear process maximizes stakeholder and team buy in
5. End product of NetPoint interactive planning is a calculated schedule
Of using NetPoint to display you schedule
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PERKS OF NETPOINT
• Easy to create an interactive graphical schedule• No training needed to use basic features of NetPoint
• Productive right away• Intuitive interface and easy to learn additional features
• Graphical planning allows for more options to create solutions
• NetPoint can be used with Excel, MS Project, and Primavera P6
Excel with NetPoint
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WHAT IS NETPOINT?Dynamic project management software for fast‐moving teams
Critical Path shows in red
edit
Logic is clear and easy to edit
Plan directly on the timescale
Changes can be observed in network
and resources
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Imports listed fields from any Excel spreadsheet by mapping columns
MOVE EFFORTLESSLY FROM EXCEL TO NETPOINT
Activities Milestones Benchmarks
Descriptions Activity IDS Calendar Start Dates Finish Dates Predecessors Successors FS, SS & FF Logic Durations Colors
Activities Milestones Benchmarks
Descriptions Activity IDS Calendar Start Dates Finish Dates Predecessors Successors FS, SS & FF Logic Durations Colors
Activities Milestones Benchmarks
Descriptions Activity IDS Calendar Start Dates Finish Dates Predecessors Successors FS, SS & FF Logic Durations Colors
Fields / ColumnsFields / ColumnsImport data into existing NetPoint plans
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OV E R V I EW1. Set up your Excel spreadsheet for import2. Launch NetPoint3. From the file menu, select File > Import/Export > Import
from Excel4. Locate your file and select Open
I. Make sure the right Tab is selected.II. Select the row that fields are based on (usually row 1).III. Select all the fields you want to import (usually select all).
5. Select Finalize Report
For detailed, step‐by‐step instructions, click here.
HOW TO TAKE YOUR SCHEDULE FROM EXCELTO NETPOINT
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NETPOINT SCHEDULES ARE TIME‐SCALED AND LOGIC BASED
Activities show durations and, if linked, will calculate the critical path.
Use the graphical interface to produce a reliable schedule.
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AUTOMATED LAYOUT ORGANIZES THE PLAN
Select Run Automated Layout to organize your plan after importing from Excel.Layout is reorganized based on automated layout.
Modify your plan in NetPoint
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EXPORT CUSTOMIZABLE EXCEL REPORTSCreate a linked Excel report from your new NetPoint plan
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EXPORT CUSTOMIZABLE EXCEL REPORTSCustomize the Linked Excel Report for communication with your team.
Descriptions Abbreviated
Description Object IDS Code Definition Resource
Definition Code Assignment Resource
Assignment Estimated %
Complete
Fields / ColumnsFields / Columns
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SUPPORTED FIELDS & REQUIRED FORMAT
15
Object Type For activity, enter as "activity," "task," "task dependent,” "fixed units," "fixed duration," or "fixed work." For milestone, enter as "milestone," "start milestone," "sm," "finish milestone," or "fm." For benchmark, enter as "benchmark," "start benchmark," "sb," "finish benchmark," and "fb." For delay, enter as "delay.” If missing or invalid, it imports as an activity.
ID Any combination of letters and numbers (case sensitive). Characters such as "‐" are supported; others such as "#" are dropped.
Description Can be any combination of letters, numbers, and characters.
Calendar Must be defined in the file you are importing into (e.g., "United States" or "Calendar Days“). Case sensitive. If missing or invalid, it will be set to the default calendar for the schedule you're importing into.
Duration Must be greater than 0 for activities and equal to 0 for milestones and benchmarks. If missing or invalid, it will be set as 1 for activities and 0 for milestones, benchmarks, and delays.
Start Date Can be entered in any date format recognized by Excel, including, but not limited to, 3/14/2012; 3/14/12; 03/14/12; 14‐Mar‐12; 14‐Mar‐2012; March 14, 2012; Wednesday, March 14, 2012. If a date is entered that is not in that object's calendar work days, the object goes to the next work day for that calendar. If missing or invalid, it may be set to its early date.
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SUPPORTED FIELDS & REQUIRED FORMAT
16
Finish Date Can be entered in any date format that is recognized by Excel, including, but not limited to, 3/14/2012; 3/14/12; 03/14/12; 14‐Mar‐12; 14‐Mar‐2012; March 14, 2012; Wednesday, March 14, 2012. If a date is entered that is not in that object's calendar work days, the object goes to the next work day for that calendar. If missing or invalid, it may be set to its early date.
Predecessor Enter as EITHER [Row #][Relationship][Lag] OR if IDs are being defined, [ID][Relationship][Lag] (e.g. "12FS1" or "ABFS1“). In either case, "[Lag]" is optional (e.g. "12FS" or "ABFS“). If IDs are being defined, row numbers canNOT be used. Possible relationships include SS, FS, FF, or SF. If the relationship or row #/ID is not recognized, the link will not be imported.
Successor Enter as EITHER [Row #][Relationship][Lag] OR if IDs are being defined, [ID][Relationship][Lag] (e.g. "12FS1" or "ABFS1“). In either case, "[Lag]" is optional (e.g. "12FS" or "ABFS“). If IDs are being defined, row numbers canNOT be used. Possible relationships include SS, FS, FF, or SF. If the relationship or row #/ID is not recognized, the link will not be imported.
Color Enter as either R,G,B (for example, 255, 50, 50) OR by name. A list of supported colors is available at www.rapidtables.com/web/color/RGB_Color.htm. If invalid or not recognized, color is set as the default for that object.
Grid Number Enter the grid number for object placement and import from Excel. This can help control where object lands on the canvas at import vs. a random default placement to NetPoint.
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Download a free trail of NetPoint; pre‐set Excel spreadsheets, and field
descriptionspmatechnologies.com/excel
Learn more about NetPoint and GPM planninghttp://pmatechnologies.com/
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