Clarity

  • 1.  Export Actuals from SAP into Clarity?

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 09:42 AM
    Just an open question here...     has anyone or is anyone currently exporting actual labor hours from SAP and importing those actuals to the niku database?  Our organization is looking at bringing actuals into Clarity without using Clarity for time entry and I'd like some opinions or thoughts.  Thanks


  • 2.  Re: Export Actuals from SAP into Clarity?

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 09:56 AM
    Hi,             We are not   export actuals from other than clarity. But i think is possible to export actuals from other than clarity and import to clarity time entry, tho XOG. I have attached sample xog file which is used to xogged out and xogged for time entry in clarity system.    ThanksSenthil.  

    Attachment(s)

    zip
    prj_timeperiods_read.zip   521 B 1 version
    zip
    prj_timeperiods_write.zip   1019 B 1 version


  • 3.  Re: Export Actuals from SAP into Clarity?

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 10:10 AM
    Thank you, I have the xog templates already and xsd's from the Xog client.   We would not be setting up time sheets in Clarity as we would be most likely using financial transactions to import the actuals.  Check out:  imp_transactions_read.xmlimp_transactions_write.xmlnikuxog_commontransaction.xsdClarity 8.1 Integration Guide pgs 135-140  


  • 4.  Re: Export Actuals from SAP into Clarity?

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 11:40 AM
    Hi,  i have done the Actuals Import directly way back from an system called PCTS.Now we are doing the GL Upload Non Manday Process in Clarity.From Peoplesoft Financials we will get the GL Data and Upload Monthly once.we will get an consolidated file(Again an Excel sheet But that is developed by us after mapping with Clarity) from finance that will have the actuals to be uploaded for Non Manday(Expenses) against each project.we have done an database customisation for uploading the actuals for Non Manday.we will convert in to an data by means of sql loader and then insertion will happen.
    we have written certain DML statements directly inserting in to the Clarity Intermediate Financial tables (IMP_TRANSACTIONIMPORT) and then follow the regular process,post to wip.  Some Thoughts & Suggestions:-  Note:-   You seems to be an Experience customer,must know this things already but i have  explained this Generally.  First you need to have an better understanding of the Financial Management and Financial Flow and then Database ER Relationship in Clarity.Then have rounds of dicussions with the Finance Guys and get their Input and how they want their actuals to be setup in Clarity.After that you need to some Groundwork.Then after dicussion arrive an Final Path and stick to that so that will save a lot of effort as Modification at later stage will be pain.After that analyze the Clarity System Way to import the Actuals from SAP.For that you need to Map the Financial Fields in Clarity with SAP Data Columns.After mapping the Fields then we can decide which way we are going to use either XOG or Directly Importing Actuals in to Clarity Database.This is for Non Manday or Non Labour upload of Actuals (Not Via Timesheet).  You must need an basically three things to start.Designing the FOS and Rate Matrix and then Project,Resource and Task which is Mandatory for Start.  1. Need to create projects and Financially enabling them in clarity for Loading Actuals.
            (IMPORTANT: There is a required field on this screen called Type which has for options: Standard, Contract, Retainer, and Internal.
              SELECT Internal. The other three selections are related to billing options.If the company is NOT billing (external billing to external customers
              via invoice creation), then select Internal)
    2. Create an Common Task or set of tasks for Assigning to Resources.
    3. Chargecodes and Typecodes,Transclass needs to be created.
    4. For Uploading in to the Financials it should be of Type "Resource Expense" which is called as Non Manday or Non Labour.
    5. Resource Type Expenses - Needs to be Created and Financial Enable Them.
    6. Expense resource must be Mapped against an Transcation Class and Typecode.
    6. Expense resource must be assign to Task.
    7. Set Up Financial location and Cost Centre (cost centre against which cost will be recorded).
    8. Project Class,Wip Class  Set Up.
    9. Rate Matrix Table set up.
    10.Multi Currency (Up to ur Finance Team Requirements).After mapping you  need to do an   Small customisation either in Excel or in Database to bring the Data in to Clarity Format for uploading.Assume that now you have the Data which is converted in to Clarity way then an XOG Template is prepared and finally you are ready to Xog it to Financial Tables.  1.The Data will be inserted the to IMP_TRANSACTIONIMPORT Table.
    2.Check and Store the Count in IMP_TRANSACTIONIMPORT.
    3.Run the Post Transaction to Financial Job to ensure all the new transactions from the Upload are posted.
        (Clients will need to run the Post to Financials job and monitor the Transaction Log. Errors caught during the Post to Financials job will be
          listed in the Transaction log. The errors will need to be corrected and the Post to Financials job will need to be re-run.
          Check the Transaction Log a second time in case it catches secondary errors.)
    4. Check all the Uploaded transactions in IMP_TRANSACTIONIMPORT Table are posted to PPA_TRANSCONTROL Table except erroneous ones.
    5. Fix the Error Records which can be found in Admin-->InValid Transactions and then again Run the Job.
    6. Now every thng is Transactions posted to PPA_TRANSCONTROL Table and then do the Post to Wip.
    7. After Post to wip every thing is Actuals.
    8. Check the record counts for the uploaded transactions in IMP_TRANSACTIONIMPORT, PPA_TRANSCONTROL ,PPA_WIP.Define an Standard Process and Document it.Prepare an Standard Template for Xogging.Hopefully you will recieve a raw data file from SAP every month / Week and then data is converted in to Clarity way and uploaded in to Actuals.  Best of Luck.  If you need any more info iam glad to help...............  Cheers,
    Sundar    


  • 5.  Re: Export Actuals from SAP into Clarity?

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 11:49 AM
    Thanks for the info Sundar, I will use your comments in analysis and planning.


  • 6.  Re: Export Actuals from SAP into Clarity?

    Posted Sep 22, 2009 08:00 AM
    ... exporting actual labor hours from SAP and importing those actuals to the niku database? My knowledge of SAP timehseets is quite restricted, but when I have seen them these seem to work "at project level" and not "a task level" - so I suspect this will be a primary design issue to resolve in an interface of labour hours from SAP into Clarity. The other issue is the team structure that Clarity enforces, only those who are allocated to the investment team may book time to it. How is that relationship enforced in SAP would also be a question for resolution.  Then the other matter will be the rate matrix. Can you match the $ amounts that SAP believes 1 hour is worth - all the time?  In summary:can you live with hours at "project level" and not "task level"?  can you synchronize the team structure in SAP to Clarity so that only those allocated to book time will book time?can you match the rating processes?    If you answer no to any of these then maybe the interface would be better treated as non-time cost transactions???????  I have been involved in several SAP Interfaces, all quite different. In one of these, for a very large organization that is using SAP timesheets, they opted to carry costs across into Clarity not time.  Perhaps an alternative approach would be a hybrid. Take both the hours and $ from SAP. Push the $ values through as Clarity transactions. Store the hours in custom tables. Use your own portlets/reports to bring these 2 sets of data together so you achieve a "complete view". OOTB Clarity 'hours' would be zero however.  :-) would this assignment be in an exotic location? Willing to travel......  


  • 7.  Re: Export Actuals from SAP into Clarity?

    Posted Sep 22, 2009 09:12 AM
    I appreciate the feedback.   We're not sure if that is the direction we're going in, I'm just researching the options.   And, no....   nothing exotic in my area unfortuantly.    :smileysad:  Thanks