Creating Networks

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
  • Create a network with Project Builder
  • Use the network graphic

Create Networks with the Project Builder

James and Linda Discuss the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

James is a project planner at Hybrid Machinery. Linda works there as a controller. They are discussing the different options when creating projects with networks.

Note

This is their conversation:

Options for Creating Networks in Projects

The following options are available for creating networks in the Project Builder: manual, using the Network Structure Graphic, copying a project including its activities, incorporating a network, and copying a network.

SAP has developed a number of transactions to create networks. Here, we focus on the Project Builder transaction to create and maintain networks. The figure, Creating Networks with the Project Builder, illustrates the various ways in which networks and activities can be created and edited.

You can perform the following activities in the Project Builder:

  1. Create networks manually.

    You start from scratch and build each activity and relationship separately.

  2. Go to the network graphic.

    From Project Builder, you can go to the network graphic to maintain your network.

  3. Copy a network.

    You can copy standard networks or operative networks.

  4. Include networks.

    Once you have created a network, you can include activities from other networks.

  5. Copy a project.

    You can copy operative and standard projects containing WBS elements and networks.

Create a Network

ExerciseStart Exercise

Network Graphics

Working with the Network Graphic

All the functions you need to create or change a network are available in the network graphic. You can access the network graphic from various transactions in the SAP Project System (SAP PS) such as the Project Builder, the Project Planning Board, and the information system.

Options for the Network Graphic are shown. They are explained in the text that follows.
  1. Activity number
  2. Description
  3. Activity dates
  4. Control key
  5. Activity float
  6. Duration of activity
  7. Relationship
  8. Create activity
  9. Change activity (detail screen)
  10. Connect (create relationships)
  11. Align structure
  12. Full view

Cycle analysis is a function that you can perform only in the network graphic. A cycle is a closed sequence of relationships and activities. If the activity-relationship path is cyclical, you will not be able to schedule the network. Cycle analysis is a tool that enables you to detect cyclical relationships and correct them.

Project Network Graph

Alternatively to the network graphic overview in the Project Builder, you can use this app to display network activities and their relationships as an interactive graph. The app allows you to identify critical activities, their dependencies, confirmation status, and display detailed information for selected objects.

A screenshot is shown of the Project Network Graph.

The application offers the following key features:

  • Display network activities for a selected project, network, or WBS element and their relationships in a graph view.
  • Group activities by network or WBS element.
  • Detect loops.
  • Navigate by successors and predecessors.
  • Highlight activities by selected criteria.
  • Search for activities.
  • Display detailed information for selected objects.
  • Navigate to related apps to view details of networks, network activities, WBS elements.
  • Open an overview of objects assigned to the network activity: milestones, subnetworks, activity elements, material components.
  • Add and edit attributes of the network activity, including assigned objects, which are shown in the graph node in Customizing.
  • Switch between different view types.

Create Relationships with the Network Structure Graphic

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