Apply Actual:
Timesheet Module:
What is apply Actual?
Apply actual is an automated service which will update the actual of a schedule automatically. Apply actual can be used in various scenarios depending on requirements.
Where is Apply actual mostly used?
Apply actual is mostly used when “timesheet module/Progress Reporter” is used where actual units/hours updated by employees needs to be synchronized to current schedule.
Example:
Let’s imagine an activity named “Installation of BPC suite” planned for 5 days and have a resource “X” tied to it. Here resource X is identified as primary resource and has access to “Timesheet module”. Now if update of this activity is only via timesheet where resource X logins in to timesheet module and fills only actual hours, does he need to come back to schedule and update the same units where he is tied up?
Here comes “Apply Actual” logic:
If resource X fills his unit of work for 3 days (1st day- 4 hours: 2nd day- 5 hrs: 3rd day -7 hrs) , and submits timesheet for that week. In primavera client we can just navigate to Tools ->apply actual and apply actual as on 3 rd day >>>>>Now you will see actual from time sheet module gets synchronized to current schedule automatically.
What if i don’t use apply actual?
In the above scenario if apply actual is not used, then proper “At completion Units” will not be reported for current period and “Resource utilization Graph” in web produces unrealistic units.
Note: If user is exposed to “Timesheet module” then “Auto computes actual” option is automatically greyed out. So administrators have to explicitly run the service manually or through scheduled job services.
Auto compute Actuals:
Auto compute actual and “Apply actual” are closely related in primavera. While creating a resource if “Auto compute actual” option is checked, and actual is applied as on some data date units will get updated automatically.
Example:
Define a resource with auto compute actual option.
Tie this resource to an activity:
To Note:
Now observe the planned start and finish for task 3, it is from 2nd Nov to 8th Nov and it is not started activity. Look at resource actual unit it is still the same 40 units as budgeted since activity is not started.
Now if Tools ->Actual is done after some 3 days from planned start ( i.e on 6th Nov) .Then
After applying actual automatically schedule is started and unit is updated, which may lead a wrong picture if really that activity might not have started.
Note: Auto compute actual should also be unchecked while defining resources to avoid scenarios like above.
