Deltek Insight 2011: Cobra 5 The Experience

EPM 220: Cobra 5 The Experience

May 18, 2011

Presented byCraig Bowers

04/18/20232

Agenda

©2011 Deltek, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Background

Planning

Conversion Process

Testing

Issues

Go Live

Lessons Learned

Questions

04/18/20233 ©2011 Deltek, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Background

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Background


United Launch Alliance (ULA) 50-50 joint venture owned by

Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company Atlas V rockets Delta II and IV rockets

Different culture and applicationstructure between the two parentcompanies Bringing processes into a

ULA process


Background

Environment – Client/Server Mode Production

2 application servers 2 database schemas

Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) 2 application servers 2 database schemas

Development 2 application servers 2 database schemas

Training 1 application server 1 database schema

Same database

Same database

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Background


Applications Open Plan integrated with Cobra 4.7 (prior to upgrade)

Users 220 with a max of 50 concurrent users

Projects Atlas - 400 Delta – 75

Contract value Over 2 billion in annual budget Over 8,700 total control accounts Over 57,000 total work packages


Planning

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Planning


What business practices\processes can be changed? Cost classes

Length increased from 2 characters to 20 Structures

Everything is now a breakdown

Test plan Program Planning and Control Analysts (PP&C), Administrators,

Management…Everyone’s involved!

Rollout plan How When Impact


ConversionPre-conversion process

Conversion process

Post conversion process

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Conversion


Pre-conversion process completed in a development environment New database schemas for Cobra 5

Same database as Cobra 4.7, different schema Install Cobra 5 SP2 into new schema Cobra.ini from Cobra 4.7 must exist on the server you are running the

conversion wizard on (typically in C:\WINDOWS) Custom reports, sorts, filters, batch reports, spreads, menu items, EV

terminology and application options cannot be converted Save information to recreate

Copied Open Plan environment into new schema to run in parallel with Cobra 5.0

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Conversion


Each development server now contains 2 instances of Open Plan and 2 instances of Cobra Open Plan 3.3 used to integrate into Cobra 4.7

Open Plan 3.3 used to integrate into Cobra 5.0 Exact copy

Cobra 4.7 Cobra 5.0 SP2


Conversion

Conversion process Run the Data Conversion Wizard

Set your data conversion password Set Source (4.7) and Target (5.0) database link properties Choose what to convert

All Data One or more selected projects One or more selected ancillary files Users Groups

Conversion time Atlas – 25 hours Delta – 6 hours


Conversion

Post conversion process ‘Update Totals’ to update values in explorer view

Update codes that were not validated in Cobra 4.7 Validate = No

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Conversion


Post conversion process Set ‘Windows Authentication’ through Deltek EPM Security Administrator

ProductsCobraToolsAuthentication OptionsWindows Authentication

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Conversion


Post conversion process Setup roles in EPM Security Administrator

Cobra 4.7 set access via groups, Cobra 5.0 uses roles – can be time consuming without conversion

Terminology – customizable “Cost Account” now “Control Account” BCWS now Budget, BCWP now Earned, ACWP now Actuals

Update customizations/extensions touching the database New tables Column names Field lengths


Testing

Standard Recurring Processes

Non-standard Recurring Processes

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Testing


Standard Recurring Processes – All processes in the normal monthly cycle Budget changes Baseline date changes Status changes

Advance Calendar Calculate EV

Actuals Backups/Restores Reporting

Non-standard Recurring Processes – Processes run on a recurring basis, not monthly Recalcs – Rate updates Replans – Budget=Earned=Actuals, Budget=Earned

Integration from Open Plan


IssuesIntegrations

Time-phased Report

Backup ancillary data

Batch processing

Performance


Issues

Integrations Baseline integrations from Open Plan creating Work Package names with unprintable characters

Create cobra.process.cfg in the same folder as cobra.process.dll<Startup> SYS(987,.T.) </Startup>

Status integration redesigned Integrate by individual cost class one at a time, for each project

Enhancement request

Time-phased report issues Fails to complete with a data aggregation error

Database user needs to have create any procedure Fixed for some reports, not larger reports

Fixed in 5.1

Subtotals still showing when “Show Totals” is not checked Defect #156071

Backup only includes ancillary files attached to a project Defect #154811 – not fixed yet ULA work around – create “dummy” project(s) that have all ancillary files attached

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Issues


Batch processing Validity Check – Cannot normalized forecast dates

You can only control options on the first screen

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Issues


Batch processing Recalc by date range ignores dates

Defect #166818 Project Audit

Allow batching for mass log entries Enhancement for future release

Performance All standard processes in Cobra Indexes.sql rebuilt indexes incorrectly

Use of cost classes – Project Information (Defect #166865) Length Volume Fixed in 5.1


Go Live

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Go Live


Dual environments Open Plan 3.3 integrated with Cobra 4.7 and Open Plan 3.3 integrated

with Cobra 5.0 Dual inputs Complete monthly cycle in both environments Both environments must match at the end of each major process


Lessons LearnedComprehensive testing

Thorough User Acceptance Testing

Go live

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Lessons Learned


Comprehensive testing of all processes including customizations/extensions Regular monthly processes Non-monthly processes

Thorough User Acceptance Testing (UAT) What are the concerns and/or show stoppers

Go live with dual environments…not a good idea! Takes user discipline A lot of extra time and effort


Questions?


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Technology

Deltek Insight 2011: Cobra 5 The Experience