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Link Elements Tab

For some components, Primavera uDesigner displays a Link Elements tab. Linking creates a dynamic connection between a field on a source form, such as a shell or schedule attribute form, and a field or fields on a destination form, such as a child shell, or a business process. This feature does not work like auto-population. Auto-population is static; it happens only once at the creation step of a business process. Element-linking is dynamic; the elements always reflect a current value as the value in the source element changes.

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You cannot use this feature for an anchor shell or at the company level.

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You cannot use this feature for RFB and Resource Booking business processes.

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You cannot link elements that are from a template that is linked to the form.

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You cannot link elements that are part of a dynamic data set.

On the destination form, the linked field:

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Will be read-only

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Cannot be auto-populated, nor can it auto-populate other fields

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Cannot update (using reverse auto-population) any other fields, nor can it be updated

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Cannot be used in formulas

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Cannot be used in form rule validation

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Is only available for integration output via Web Services

Linked elements are suitable for business cases such as the following:

For shell re-organizing

Some companies, such as banks, that often move sites from one division, region, or market to another, need to be able to restructure the shell hierarchies in Primavera Unifier without having to re-enter a lot of information on the forms in the child shell(s). Linking data elements (fields) among the forms used in shells makes it easier for the user to rearrange shell hierarchies in Primavera Unifier by automatically reflecting new field values on the child shell’s forms as the shell is moved. In addition, anytime the value in a linked field changes on the parent shell’s attribute form, it is immediately reflected on the child shell’s forms. This feature ensures that data referenced from parent to child shells is correctly reflected in the new hierarchy so that reporting is accurate and Primavera Unifier’s operation is not interrupted.

Specifically, you can link fields on a parent shell’s attribute form or single-record BP to:

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A child shell’s attribute form or single-record BP

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The upper form fields of any multiple-record business process in a child shell

Linking elements in this manner is for shell movements. Using this feature, you will be creating a dynamic connection from a field on a child shell’s attribute form, single-record BP, or business process form to a field on the attribute form or single-record BP of any parent shell in the hierarchy. The field on the form you are designing will automatically display the current value of the field you link it to on the parent shell’s attribute form/single-record BP, regardless of where the shell is moved.

For quick access to schedule information

Users on schedule-driven projects need to access schedule data without having to open the Schedule Manager. Using tags, you can link a “tagged” activity from a schedule sheet to one or more linked elements on forms and show current schedule data, such as start dates or milestones.

You can link tagged fields from a schedule attribute form to:

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A shell attribute form

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An attribute form for a configurable manager

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Any business process at project/shell level

For including dynamically updated data on planning items

While working with planning items, users often need access to the latest information from other Primavera Unifier components. For example, users might need information about the shell under which the planning item resides, or information about a schedule activity that is involved in this planning item. You can link elements from other forms to a planning item form so that the planning item form will always show the current value for these elements from other forms.

You can link fields from the following forms to a planning item:

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A shell attribute form

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A single-record form

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An attribute form for a configurable manager

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A schedule activity form

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Any business process at the project/shell level

To link elements

Linking elements is a two-part process. First, you must specify the elements on the shell or schedule attribute form/single-record BP or business process that can be linked. The steps here show you how to specify those elements. Later, when you design the form for a child shell, business process, or shell, you will place these elements on the form.

On the Link Elements tab, click the Add button. The Linked Data Element Picker opens.

From the View drop-down list, choose the attribute form or tag you want to link to.

Primavera uDesigner displays the fields from the chosen attribute form or tag that can be linked to the form you are designing.

Select the field(s) you want to link to the destination form.

Click OK.

An extra step for tagged fields:

In order for a linked element to display schedule data at run time, you must modify the source element and map it to the data element that will be placed as a linked element on the destination form.

Select the source element and click the Modify button. The Modify Linked Element window opens.

In the Data Element field, select the data element that will be placed on the form as a linked element.

Click OK.

To link the elements in the design, see:

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Linking Elements in Shell Hierarchies for Easy Restructuring

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Linking Tagged Elements from a Schedule Attribute Form to Another Form

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Linking Elements from Other Forms to a Planning Item

Oracle Corporation