ScheduleCleaner is very simple to use, utility tool that helps schedulers and project planners modify the project data in .xer and .xml schedules when working with the Oracle Primavera P6 software.
Essentially, this Windows desktop application is designed to be used as a filter, which removes, converts or masks different data values in the exported project files, in the cases when project schedules are shared with other parties involved in the project and while a project file is prepared for an import into P6 database.
Let’s take a closer look at how ScheduleCleaner helps project teams share schedule data without any fear of revealing confidential information to internal and external parties involved in the project.
Secure Sharing of Project Data
While adopting the many benefits of dynamically viewing a P6 schedule with tools such as ScheduleReader, companies are increasingly communicating project data in the form of .xer or .xml file exports. During this shift they slowly leaving behind the old way of communicating project data through static PDF schedule prints that can be 50 pages long or more.
Hence, this shift has imposed new challenges for companies to deal with.
Now more than ever, planning personnel and project managers have been faced with the need to limit the view access and impose certain restriction and viewing permissions to sensitive sets of data for the different stakeholders involved in the project.
This is precisely where the ScheduleCleaner tool comes handy
ScheduleCleaner is a useful complementary addition to a Primavera P6 environment that allows the user to “clean” up to more than 80 categories of project data both in XER and XML project files including Units, Rates, Costs, Pricing, Project Progress Parameters, Risks, POBS data and more.
The main features supporting the modification of the project file are classified into three categories:
- Data Removal
- Data Conversion
- Data Anonymization (mask or conceal data values)
By using the data removal and anonymization features of the application, a user can remove unnecessary data, or mask the intended meaning of confidential data, in each project file to the specific needs and viewing permissions of the different end party who is to receive the project schedule. This in title ensures all project data is shared on a need to know basis with the right stakeholders of choosing.
Example: Removing All Pricing for Resources
Original XER File
After Cleaning the File with ScheduleCleaner
The same outcome and principle of work apply to the different categories of data processed for removals such as project costs, units, project progress, P6 activity names, resource names, risks data, baselines from .xml files and others.
Clean POBS data
Another import feature and one of the main applications for the software is the ability to erase POBS tables. POBS data is unwanted clutter data in the background of the schedule that at most times is not used for anything. It severely increases a project file size and causes slower load times during database imports. ScheduleCleaner can delete the POBS data from the schedule in a fast, simple and efficient way.
During the cleaning process, the application produces a filtered copy of the original XER or XML file, and saves it on separate locations which guarantee the original schedule integrity, logic and data remain unchanged.
Through the re-usable templates that can contain different modifying settings and be applied to an even a larger number of project files using the Batch clean functionality, ScheduleCleaner saves precious amounts of schedulers time, spent on manually removing unwanted data.
Apart from the data removal, the application is also used to anonymize certain values of project data, which helps keep sensitive data confidential and allows companies to not only stay GDPR compliant, but to also improve the overall privacy of the data in the project plans.
Example: Shield Resource Names
Project plan before "Cleaning"
Project plan after "Cleaning"
Keeping a Clean P6 Database
Through the removal and data conversion features, ScheduleCleaner also plays a key role in preventing any potential database pollution, corruption or integrity disruptions.
ScheduleCleaner can remove all data categories that can potentially negatively affect the order of a well organized P6 database or decrease the performance of the file import process.
By cleaning POBS tables, Risk type data and converting Global type data values such Activity Codes and Calendars to Project level, the application optimizes each file for database import and acts as a key filter that prevents any potential database pollution from outside files.
Example: Convert Global to Project Calendars
Global Project Calendars: Project Plan before Cleaning
Global Project Calendars: Project Plan after Cleaning
Summary
ScheduleCleaner has multiple applications that help schedulers, planners and project managers as the center of the project data flow, to securely connect and share any sensitive schedule data with all stakeholders involved in the projects.
The software ensures that project data is shared in a secure way without exposing any sensitive data to outside parties, saves valuable time spent on manually cleaning project files and helps to avoid potential database pollution.
ScheduleCleaner is available as a 15-day free trial from the official website.