Primavera Unifier integration feature imports and exports data between Primavera Unifier and an outside data source. Using this feature, you can import data from an outside data source, such as a business management system or a text file, into Primavera Unifier, and export information from Primavera Unifier to an outside data source, such as an accounting system database.
Notes:
An integration interface is necessary for Primavera Unifier bulk editing feature. The bulk edit function works only on fields from the action form (upper form) for the current step in a workflow. It cannot be used to edit the following:
- Auto-populated fields
- Fields in a dynamic data set
- Read-only fields
- Fields from line items
- System-defined fields, such as record number, status, or due date
The integration feature supports:
- Cost BPs
- Line item BPs
- Simple BPs
- Text BPs
- Document BPs and documents
- Asset Manager classes
- Code-and-record-based configurable manager classes
- Planning Manager planning items
- Shell Manager shells
- User Administration
Integration operates using two methods: CSV files and Oracle Primavera Web Services.
CSV Files
You can use CSV files from the Primavera Unifier interface. This integration method is typically for bulk loading data into Primavera Unifier. It creates records and line items, and is useful for converting a company’s legacy data into Primavera Unifier forms.
Web Services
Web Services works outside of Primavera Unifier. It is useful for exchanging information between Primavera Unifier and other applications, such as a third-party accounting system that needs to interface with Primavera Unifier on a regular basis to exchange cost information. To use Web Services, customers need a basic knowledge of XML and the GET, CREATE, and UPDATE calls. Using these XML calls, Web Services can:
- Create Primavera Unifier records and line items using data from an outside database.
- Update upper form information in Primavera Unifier on demand
- Retrieve information from Primavera Unifier for use in an outside application.
For more information about Web Services integration, refer to the Unifier Integration Interface Guide. XML integration via Web Services must be coordinated with a representative (Oracle Support).
Integration Interface
To integrate data using either method, you need to create an integration interface in uDesigner. This interface specifies what fields in the Primavera Unifier forms you want to create and populate.
For CSV, this interface becomes a template in Primavera Unifier that users can use to enter data. After users enter data into the templates, they must import the template back into Primavera Unifier to create and populate specific upper or detail forms.
For Web Services, this interface is used to validate the data that is imported into Primavera Unifier. For example, the interface will be used to verify that all required fields are present and that the pull-down lists contain the correct information.
In uDesigner, the interface design consists of upper and detail forms, much as it does in business process design. The upper form of an integration interface collects the upper form information of a business process or attribute form. The detail form collects line item information. In uDesigner, you can create the integration interface for a business process or other component (such as an asset or a planning item) as you create the component itself.