The Amazing History of Primavera Software (as told by a Complete Outsider) By Ron Winter, PSP Schedule Analyzer Software
History? There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know. Harry S. Truman A people without the knowledge of their A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Marcus Garvey, social activist
Schedulers Need to know of new features Why Study Primavera History? Why a feature was or was not used How processes accomplished in the past Forensic Analysts Validate Expertise Need to understand the basis of the features When a feature was introduced Need to know how to access old data Managers need to coordinate systems
1998: Eagle Ray presents at PMI Global July 1999: Primavera launches Primavera Enterprise 1.0 Unlimited Global & Project level activity codes Unlimited Global & Project resource calendars Unlimited Operational Breakdown System Uses Interbase, Oracle, or MS SQL databases
December 1999: Version 1.5 Progress Reporter for the web HTML editing Resource Roles Improved P3 data conversion utility
August 2000: Version 2.0 Enterprise Project Structure (EPS) Hourly scheduling and shifts Project summarizations & budgeting Project & resource codes Multiple relationships between activities Weighed Steps Global Change
December 2000: Version 2.0.1 Major password fix Additional timesheet security Report Writer fixes Import issues fixes
March 2001: Version 2.1 Fourth Duration Type (Fixed Duration & Units) Print reports in Progress Reporter Auto-schedule after importing Major importing performance enhancements Fixed import of inter-project relationships Fixed external relationships updating
2002: Now called P3e Version 3.0. Consists of: Project Management Module (PM) Methodology Manager Portfolio Analyst
2003: P3e renamed P3e/c Version 3.5 Notebooks Revised the Work Breakdown System (WBS) Revised Activity Steps On-screen logic trace Actual Dates CPM scheduling option
2004: Renamed P3 Engineering & Construction Version 4.0 MSDE becomes the stand-alone database server Claim Digger Version 1 added
2005: Renamed to Primavera Version 5.0 Early & late dates no longer blanked for actuals WBS summary activity type added Progress Spotlight updating added EPS-level activities codes added Unlimited Baselines Suspend & Resume added Saves past period actuals Undo feature added Excel Import/Export function added
One month later Version 5.0 Service Pack 1 Total Float is once again blanked-out for Total Float is once again blanked-out for completed activities.
2006: Renamed to P6 Version 6.0 MS SQL Express 2005 is the stand-alone database Import & Export via XML format (buggy) Finish dates change when durations are changed Time scale in Gantt Chart is now adjustable
March 2008: P6 Service Pack 1 (P6.1) Fixed data not committed & refreshed properly Fixed scheduling freezing at 95% Fixed XER causing duplicate resource assignments Fixed crashing when modifying sitelines/ timescale Fixed Excel import of constraints Fix Report Editor displaying wrong activity codes Fixed Report Editor not showing cell properties Fixed wrong dates on timesheets spanning years
Later 2008: P6 SP 2 (P6.2) Milestone one minute off problem fixed Secure resource, project, & activity codes Total Float can now be calculated for a Program of schedules as a group instead of singly
April 2009: P6 Version 6.5 Fix resource leveling with priorities Fixed actual units spreading incorrectly Fixed Project Integrity removing EPS codes Fixed Claim Digger displaying wrong Activity ID Fixed XLS import causing corrupted relationships Fixed Expected Finish causing 0 duration activities Fixed Finish Milestone constrained 1 minute late
Later 2009: P6 Version 6.7 Default Date issue Suspend/Resume & Constraints still wrong Improved summary activity duration calculations
2009 P6 Version 7 User designated hour/day conversion factors moved to individual calendars Default Date/Time issue partially fixed Improved summary duration calculations Late Dates were added to the S-Curve report New Activity ID renumbering options Excel security options separate from XER Oracle XE (g10) is new stand-alone database
September 2010: P6.7 SP 2 No support P3 export/import w/o P3 installed Update Baseline now sets Actual Start & RD Fixes XER Import Configuration Layout problems Fixes error when using two activity filters Fixed disappearing/non-editable Notebook topics Multiple Float Paths fixes
December 2010: P6 Version 7 SP3 Time-scaled logic diagrams added Expands Memo Fields beyond 400 characters Sight Line added, also fixes for: Scrambling WBS s after import Actuals not being spread correctly Update Baseline with Activity Codes & relationships missing from new activities Update Baseline not Updating Existing Oracle XE not starting for stand-alone users
May 2011: Renamed P6 Professional (P6 Pro) Version 8.1 No Version 8.0 Enhanced activity filtering & grouping Personalize Toolbars WBS/Activity tabs Will not interface with EPPM database
Eliminated from both types of P6: Summary-only projects Microsoft ProjectLink (MS-managed schedules) Project Architect Top Down Estimation Check Project Integrity
December 2011: P6 Pro Version 8.2 MS Project import enhancements Ms Project 2010 XML support Line numbering feature Timescaled Logic Diagram enhancements Enhanced filtering, sightlines, activity code color coding, templates, grouping, and performance Both Pro & EPPM use the same client software
December 2011: NOT in P6 Pro Version 8 Schedule Checker Resource Overload P6 Mobile Timecards
Current Client/Server Software P6 Pro Version 8.2 P6 Version 7, SP 4 P6 Version 6.2, SP 4 or 6.7
Baseline Checker Update Checker Dashboard Longest Path Software Logic League Schedule Logger Date Calculator Delete Steps Schedule Analyzer Software
Questions? History will be kind to me for I intend to write it. Winston Churchill