Batch Processing

Hi Mohamed,

To quote the P3 manual (P330batch.pdf), "Batch processing is a fast and powerful way to create and update Primavera projects. By eliminating the interface user, batch processing can complete many of your regular updating processes in less time than when using the interactive mode."

Basically you can access the P3 data that is contained in the Btrieve data directly, instead of using the P3 screens, which will make the job of updating a lot quicker and hopefully "easier"

I have never used it, mind I have never had a 15K plan to play with either, but it could greatly assist your problem. Perhaps you should rember that you will be using "raw" data that will not be "verified" etc which is what happens when you use the P3 interface screens.

You should try looking at the manual called "Batch and File Structures", this is on the P3 CD’s under the folder called Manuals, the file is named P330batch.pdf.

Then try working it out how to get it to work, I would also be very interested if many other have used Batch Processing.

Best of luck

John

Well John,

I tried to check the manual, i guess it will take me more time to understand the manual & explain it to my team than updating my schedule itself in my very old fashion way.

It sounds so complicated and when i tried to follow the steps by making a sample using the prmbatch.exe i always get this message "Unable to locate file PRMZFIL.P3 though its there in /PROJECTS & /P3OUT.

If Someone got the time, please check the manual for the first few steps to export the schedule data to a batch file & tell me if you got the same error message about the PRMZFIL.P3.

regards,

Moe

Hi Moe,

Well done you have got further than me!

I suppose what you really need is a software type of person to get the thing set up for you, then you could just do the input work. Perhaps your company may have such a person you could use.

Regards

John

Thanks for encouraging me John,

i will give it another try & will keep you updated if i really did it.

IT guys in my company suck, they can only set up Primavera & format hard disks.

Regards,

Moe

Hi Mohammed Thabet
Batch Processing Is Useful Only If Your Activity count is say 10000 or more , and require code writing skills
everything is in pdf manual , if you want to learn
thanks

your fellow planner
H E M A N T

Hemant,

Is that you ?

Man, i know everything is in the manual, comn i needed someone who actually made it, i need someone with the experience more than the theroy

Anyways, you know we getting the P5 within the next few days ? exited ? :P

Regards,

Mohamed Thabet

Gents

I normally use Batch file to recreate an corrupted P3 files.

What Batch Processing in IT Terms meaning Gather information in one location and upload the data in batch into the database.

P3 is a database, information (Progress %, Dates) are data
and Batch processing is usually run when nobody is using the system.

HTH

Gillian

Moe

If you’re still looking for the PRMZFIL.P3, go to the P3.ini file in C:\windows.

The line:
PRMZLOC=J:\P3WORK\PRMZFIL.P3
gives the location of the PRMZFIL file.

This must be the correct location for your installation as your P3 is working (I’m making assumptions here!) Therefore you will have to tell the batch processing file where PRMZFIL is. ie whatever follows PRMZLOC=

Hope this helps
John

Well John,

I guess the problem ive got is cos am trying to batch process a project which is not in the original /projects folder.

I have tried to batch the sample APEX project & it dint give me that Error msg about the PRMZFIL.P3 file.

Now what am i supposed to set in the INI file to be able to batch process a file which is stored in a different folder than the original PROJECTS folder (i.e.: C:/MYWORK/P3)

Hope you can help me with that John, & thanks for your previous advice.

Regards,

Moe

& i have another problem as well, whenever i try to run a batch stream as follows:
"Proj apx2 add MOHAMED
proj apx2 calendard mon y
pcal 25jul06 19jul06 13feb07
mcal 1 mon fri calendar 1 daily mon tue wed thu fri
mhol 1 h 21feb06
mhol 1 h 30may06
mhol 1 h 5sep07

return
proj apx2 end"

I get that message : "usename not in userfile"

anyone got any idea ?

Sorry for being annoying bout that topic guys, but i guess its really helpfull to use the batch to create & update projects with large number of activities.

Regards,

Moe

The PROJ card requires that you add your user name starting in column 51 on both of the PROJ cards. Good luck!

yea, ive noticed that, my username wasnt in the right location 51 column.

One last question, do u guys know any program to make good editing for batch ?

I got tht software from the net, but not sure if its the best for that as whenever u delete sumthing from a line you have to adjust the whole line information again to match the columns numbering location.

Try pressing the "Insert" key and then type. In some editors (but not Notepad,) this toggles between the insert mode and the overwrite mode. The Overwrite Mode will allow you to type without moving the rest of the line if you overwrite using the spacebar instead of using the delete key.

Hi Mohammed Thabet, Yes This Is Me
How’re U

I never Bothered to took seriously batch processing in P3.
yes i did some runs long before , making a code in note pad
and renaiming as p3 file, i stopped it as i found cumbersome to keep my login name starting from 51 th position etc.. etc.. etc..

and i dont thing it is a wonderful tool for planning .
as i found everything can be done with global change, filters & export import utility. even for a 10k+ activity -project
i hope your intial interests will fade once you run two three batch files succesfully
as who will go for writing a cumbersome code for creating a new project ,if you can do it easily the otherway.

regarding P5 (P3ec upgrade) there already lot of bad publicicity about it in this forum
anyway lets see

bye

Well well well,

I guess "its better to have a gun and dont use it than need a gun and dont have it"

Its better to know all the tools hament & then decide to use it or not, the human brain is always interested to know whts behind the locked door, right ?

however, let me see, am working on some samples, i guess first step is to get a good editor, that will ease your location problems in the batch file, Notpad is not the good tool to do it cos its impossible to keep the data in place.

However, Think about it that way "u can update your program without even usin primavera itself" that might be helpfull in heavy files +10k i mean, where your pc aint good enough to perform filters quickly & global change as well.

About P5 still i dint install it, am still checking the manual before i migrate from P3, but it sounds interesting, more like P3e thn P3.

Let me try it first & see where its gona take us, but am really exited to use the new features with the new interface, from wht i saw so far, its more easier & flexible than P3, always remember that every new software people dont like it first then they get used to it, or lets sy they have to get used to it, so i blv they will give up "Ïn p3 we trust" so soon.

have a good day & enjoy your stay hament

Regards,

Moe

Dear Mohammed

Happy Eid

Have Machine Gun
Learn VBA

Will Be Very Useful, When P3 eventualy become MSP..........(p3 p3ec p5 PSP)

Bye

Hemant


And NASA Ranks MSP Above P3
(No Iam A P3 Fan)