A Primavera Portfolio Management (PPM) package is a collection of predefined system objects that can be added to a PPM database. Packages provide the means to place these objects in your application. These objects are configuration elements that are set up within the database for use with the system, and include categories, items, scorecards, value lists, life cycles, security permissions, etc. Each package helps you set up the various components of your PPM system. For more information on objects, refer to the relevant sections of this online help system or user guide. For more information about the package contents, refer to Package Content.
Packages are exported from an existing PPM database. A package is always self-contained, which means that it includes all the objects that are referenced by other objects. For example, the package may include a category such as Return on Investment (ROI), which is derived from other categories, such as Expense.
Packages are created and exported using the Export PPM Package application. Packages are imported and stored using the Import PPM Package application. Both of these Windows applications use identical dialog boxes and must be run on the PPM Backend server. They can be run from the PPM Console Packages tab (refer to Working with Packages in Administration), or from the Windows Start menu (refer to Creating and Exporting a Package and Importing a Package). The packages are exported from a PPM database as XML files which can then be imported into another PPM database.
To run the Export PPM Package application, you must have read permission for the `export a package' module. By default, the Admin user has export permission.
To run the Import PPM Package application, you must have Read permission for the `import a package' module. By default, the Admin user has import permission.
You can view a list of previously imported packages on the PPM Console Packages tab (refer to Working with Packages in Administration), or on the Admin screen of the PPM application user interface (refer to The Properties Tab in Administration).
The Export PPM Package and Import PPM Package applications support hierarchies and storage. In the Export PPM Package application, Portfolio objects appear in their hierarchical structure. In general, the selection of the home portfolio/folder defines the hierarchy under it, which can be imported as is.
This section describes PPM packages, and how packages are exported and imported.