Comprehensive Synchro Pro 4D Hands-On Training Manual

Shahabaz Bim coordinator

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Part-4
Slide 3. User Fields
Slide 4. Layouts
Slide 5. Duration Type: Physical Quantity Dependent
Slide 6. Script
Slide 7. Project Costs & Budgeted Direct Costs
Slide 8. Resource Properties>Costs
Slide 9. Task Properties>EVA
Slide 10. Task Properties>EVA
Slide 11. Navigator>Risks
Slide 12. Unassign All Resources & Correcting ResourceAssignment Mistakes
Slide 13. Auto Matching
Slide 14. Auto Matching
 User Fields Navigator ribbon → Project Data panel → open the User Fields window

User fields represent customised extra information in SYNCHRO, that can be used for a variety
of different reasons.
They are used to display information that isn’t captured within the standard SYNCHRO project
or 3D attributes; and to display User Fields which may exist in imported 3D or Schedule files.
User Fields are categorised according to whether they can be assigned to Tasks, Resources or 3D
Objects
User Fields can be created when importing a schedule or 3D Model that
has these assigned parameters in their source files. Additionally, you can create custom User
Fields in SYNCHRO PRO.

· Task User Fields can be viewed, assigned, modified, and updated via the Task Properties>User
Fields panel or the Task List by adding the appropriate column using Customise Columns To Add a User Field:
1. Select Add from the context menu or press the Insert key to display the Add User Field
Dialog
· Resource User Fields can be viewed and manipulated via the Resource Properties>User Fields 2. Select the Category - this determines whether the User Field can be assigned to Tasks,
panel or the Resources window by adding the appropriate column using Customise Columns Resources, or 3D Objects
3. Select the Type
· 3D User Fields can be viewed and manipulated via the 3D Properties>User Fields panel or the 4. Select the Calculation Type
3D Objects list window by adding the appropriate column using Customise Columns 5. For calculated User Fields, press Edit to enter a Formula. See Formula Editor for detailed
description
· Resource Group User Fields can be viewed and manipulated in Resource Group
6. (optional) Select a Colour - this colour will be used for Integer or Number Task User Field
Properties>User Fields panel or the Resource Groups list window by adding the appropriate
when displayed in the User Field Graph
column using Customise Columns
7. Press the Add button to complete the operation..
 Import Layouts - Import Layouts from an internal or external file

Layouts 1. Choose Browse to find the desired

Layout File with an .slt extension
In the same way that Viewpoints allow you to customise and 2. From the Layouts list, select the
save camera positions and view points in the 3D Window, Layouts contained in the file that you wish
Layouts allow you to customise and save the organisation of to import, or press Select All
the Task List including columns, sorting, and custom filters. 3. OK to import
Layouts may be specific to a particular Project, or Global and
shared between projects.

Right click in the Layouts panel to access the following

context menu:

Export Layouts - Export Layouts to an internal or external file

Create Layout Folder - Right click in the blank space to

create a new folder, or right click on an existing folder to
create a sub-folder
Rename - Rename the selected folder or layout
Remove - Remove the selected layout or folder (and all 1. Choose Browse to save the desired
contents) Layout File with an .slt extension
Find - Open the Find dialog to search for Layouts 2. From the Layouts list, select the
Open Layout - Apply the saved Layout to the open file Layouts contained in the project that
Save Layout - Override the selected Layout with the current you wish to export, or press Select All
settings 3. OK to export
Save Layout As - Add a new Layout. Right click on a folder
to add the Layout inside the selected folder
Duration Type: Physical Quantity Dependent
When the Duration Type is set to Physical Quantity Dependent in Task Properties>General, the task duration is calculated based
on user-entered Physical Quantity (eg. square feet of wall to paint, cubic metres of concrete to pour) and assigned production rate
Rule.

Physical Quantities is an alternative way of project planning when duration of tasks is dependent on some physical value of work
performed, for example: "pour 200 cubic metres of concrete", "paint 30 square metres of wall", "transfer 10 tons of goods", "construct
100 kilometres of railway". Below is the explanation how the Physical Quantities feature is implemented in SYNCHRO.

Physical Quantity and Physical Quantity Unit can be entered directly in the Physical Quantity column of the Task List or in Task
Properties>General under Physical Quantity (Value and Unit). Physical Quantity can also be set using SYNCHRO Script commands

Physical Quantity can be assigned to the tasks where duration is not of fixed value or is not dependent on other parameters. So,
Physical Quantities cannot be assigned to:

Ø key dates (fixed zero duration),

Ø summary tasks (dependent on children)

and hammocks (dependent on
Ø predecessors/successors)

The values of the Physical Quantity and Duration of a task codetermine each other (changing one value automatically changes the
other value) using the following formula: Duration = Physical Quantity / Rate, provided that the following conditions are met:

Ø The same units are used for Physical Quantity and Rate in the Rule
ØSome Rule is applied directly to the task or indirectly via an assigned Resource
ØThe task has the duration type Physical Quantity Dependent
The SYNCHRO Script tool allows the user to create scripts to automate calculating and
updating certain values in the file, including but not limited to: Task Duration, Start and Status,
as well as Resource User Fields and assignments to tasks .

Right click in the list panel to access the following context menu:
· Add - Creates a new blank Script. Rename in the text box to the
right.
· Delete - removes the selected Script from the project

· Add External Script - Enables you to add a script from a TXT file which is stored outside the
SP file.
The script this is sequences of phrases. Each phrase is one command which is some simple
operation (eg. set property/assign uf/unassign uf/assign object/unassign object/link to/link
from/unlink to/unlink from) which is performed for all objects in project which is satisfy the
described in this phrase condition.
The available syntax is described briefly below. As you type, script commands that match the
typed letters will appear as suggestions, use the right arrow to accept the suggestion or continue
typing to receive another suggestion.

Comments can be added to the script. Comments will be colored green

· /* xxx */ - multi-line or internal comment
· // xxx - single line up to end of string
 Project Costs Navigator>Project>Costs Budgeted Direct Costs Task Properties>Budgeted Direct Costs

Budgeted Direct Costs are costs directly attributable to the execution of a Task (rather than a
Resource or a Risk)
Along with costs associated with Resources and Risks assigned to the task, they contribute to
The Costs tab lists both Budgeted Totals and Actual Totals for all tasks in the Project. Planned and Earned Value in the EVA Graph display
Budgeted Totals represent the cost of All tasks in the project that are planned but have yet to be · Multiple costs can be defined and expressed as either
executed. Fixed (incurred once) or Variable (a value that will be
Actual Totals represent the cost of All tasks in the project that have been realised, based on Task multiplied by time units to give a total cost).
execution. · The costs for Resource and costs for Risk are not created
The costs are broken down into categories which are in turn sub-divided, these are Resources, Risk, and in this dialogue.
Tasks · The value for all Task costs including those based on
Costs can be added to a Project in the following ways Resource assignment and Risk are displayed in the Cost
· Add costs to Tasks independent of resource and risk, see Task Costs Totals panel.
· Add costs to a Resource to reflect the cost of use when assigned to tasks, see Resource Costs · The following context menu options are available to
· Add costs to Risks when assigned to tasks, see Task Risks manage cost items:
In each case you can set multiple costs, these can be expressed as either fixed or variable values.
Fixed costs are incurred once each time the resource is assigned to a Task. · To Add a new direct Budgeted Cost:
Variable costs are used to set a value that will be multiplied by time or assigned resource units to give a
total cost versus a Task. Variable costs can be set against hours, days or assigned units. Ø Select Add and a “New Cost” item will appear
Cost Code assignment for each cost can be edited in the Cost Code column.
Right click in the Cost table to access the context menu Ø Rename the “New Cost”
Copy - copy the selected cells and headers as tab delimited text Ø Modify the Type under the drop down menu
Copy as HTML - copy the selected cells and headers as HTML Ø Change the amount
Copy as CSV - copy the selected cells and headers as comma
separated values
Select All - select the entire table before copying
 Resource Properties>Costs
Add Costs to a Resource to reflect the cost of use when assigned to tasks (see Task
Properties>Cost Totals)
· The Rates panel allows the resource utilisation over time to be defined:
Effective Date Determines the start date when the Use Rate comes into effect
Use Rate per Day The utilisation of the resource per day from the specified Effective Date. The value is
used by Resource Leveller tool. If summary daily resource utilization for selected tasks is greater than
the Use Rate per Day, the Resource Leveller will postpone execution of one task to the future.

· The Costs panel allows the value and type of cost for each Effective Date to be set
Use the Cost field to enter an identifying description of the particular expense
The Cost Type field allows the Type of cost to be set. Multiple costs can be set against each resource.
Fixed costs are incurred once each time the Resource is assigned to a Task. Variable costs are used to set
a value that will be multiplied by time units to give a total cost versus a Task. Variable costs can be set
against hours, days, weeks, months, or year.
To specify a Cost Type per unit, with the cost instance selected, choose whether the cost will be Fixed,
Hourly, Daily, or Per Unit using the drop-down list, then enter an amount for the cost, (amounts to 2
decimal places can be entered)
Cost Type Explanation of Calculation
Fixed One time fixed cost
Hourly (Partial) For Human, Equipment, and Location Resources: Per man/machine-hour assigned Unit
in Task Properties>Resources
Fraction of hours based on minutes spent included in the cost calculation The Resource Cost panel provides the following options via its context menu
Hourly (Complete) For Human, Equipment, and Location Resources: Per man/machine-hour assigned Unit
in Task Properties>Resources
Started hours spent considered as completed (rounding) up to next nearest hour
To add a Cost, Right click in the cost window, and choose Add from the
Daily For Human, Equipment, and Location Resources: Per man/machine-day context menu.
To remove a cost associated with an allocated Resource, choose the
Per Unit For Material Resources: Per assigned Unit in Task Properties>Resources Remove option, or Remove All to remove all costs
For Human, Equipment, and Location Resources: Per man/machine-day
 Task Properties>EVA EVA
The Statistics tab displays Task Start, Finish, Duration and Cost comparison information to summarise Baseline The task cost when the
the difference between what may have been Baselined, Planned, and Actually happened on a Task. Baseline currently selected
in
Navigator>Baselines and Sc
enarios
Planned Value [BCWS] was saved
Planned Value (PV), also = BAC *(Data Date –
known as BCWS Planned Start) / (Planned
(Budgeted Cost of Work Finish – Planned Start)
Scheduled), is the portion of
the budgeted total cost
(BAC) of a task that is
scheduled to be completed
as of the data date.
Earned Value [BCWP] Earned Value (EV), also = BAC * % Complete
known as BCWP
(Budgeted Cost of Work
Performed), is the portion
of the budgeted total cost
(BAC) of a task that is
actually completed as of the
data date.
Actual Cost [ACWP] Actual Cost (AC), also = Actual task expenses +
known as ACWP (Actual Total actual costs of
Cost of Work Performed), is assigned resources
the actual total cost incurred
on a task/project as of the
data date.
Schedule Variance [SV] Positive value if the task is = BCWP - BCWS
ahead of schedule, negative
value if behind schedule

Schedule Variance % Greater than 100% if the = BCWP / BCWS

task is ahead of schedule,
less than 100% if behind
schedule
Schedule Performance Index [SPI] = SV / BCWS * 100%

Cost Variance [CV] = BCWP - ACWP

Cost Variance % = CV / BCWP * 100%
 TPI
Cost Performance Index [CPI] = BCWP / ACWP
Cost Schedule Index [CSI] = CPI * SPI NOTE: A Baseline must be selected in Baselines and Scenarios to display TPI related fields
Include in TPI When True, the task's progress counts toward WBS, Activity Code,
Accounting Variance [AV] Positive value if the task = BCWS – ACWP and Project TPI. When False, the task's progress is not included in
is underbudget, negative the WBS, Activity Code, and Project TPI - the task's TPI is still
value if overbudget calculated and displayed regardless of this setting.

Cost % of Planned [CPP] Greater than 100% if = ACWP / BCWS *

the task is overbudget, 100% BL Time Units The Time Units allotted to complete the task. = BL Planned Duration
less than 100%
underbudget Earned Time Units The Time Units earned by the task up to the Data Date. If the = Actual Duration / (Actual
Budget at Completion [BAC] The budgeted or planned = Budgeted task direct current Duration at Completion of the task is the same as the BL Duration + Remaining
Planned Duration, then Earned Time Units equals Actual Duration) * BL Time Units
total cost through task costs + Total budgeted Duration. Otherwise if the Duration of the task has changed since
completion. costs of assigned the BL was saved, the Earned Time Units are a scaled proportion
resources of the BL Time Units.

Estimate at Completion [EAC] An estimate of the overall

cost through task BL Earned Time Units The Actual Duration that is planned to have been completed in the = BL Duration expected to
completion following the Baseline up to the Data Date be completed up to Data
current trend Date
Remaining Time Units The Time Units left to complete. The difference between BL = BL Time Units - Earned
Planned Duration and Earned Time Units. Only equal to Time Units
Variance at Completion [VAC] = BAC - EAC Remaining Duration if Duration at Completion equals BL
To Complete Performance Index [TCPI] = (BAC – BCWP) / Duration.
(EAC – ACWP )
Earned % Complete The proportion of the BL Time Units that have been "earned" to = Earned Time Units / BL
date. Time Units

BL Planned % Complete The Duration % Complete the task should have reached to be on = BL Earned Time Units /
schedule with the Baseline BL Time Units

TPI Time Performance Index is a progress indicator as a function solely = Earned % Complete / BL
of time. A TPI value of 1 indicates the task is on schedule Planned % Complete
compared to the baseline; greater than 1 means it is ahead of = Earned Time Units / BL
schedule and less than 1 means it is behind schedule. The value will Earned Time Units
always equal 1 when the task is complete.

Time Variance The difference between Earned Time Units and BL Earned Time = Earned Time Units - BL
Units. A positive value indicates the task is ahead of schedule, a Earned Time Units
negative value indicates the task is behind schedule. A task may
have a TPI value of 0 and have a non-zero Time Variance value
(i.e. The task's Actual Start is before the BL Start, or the task is still
in Planned Status after the BL Start date)
Navigator>Risks The Risk Register panel provides the following context menu

The Risks panel displays a list of Risk or Opportunity reasons that can be assigned to Tasks. The Find option displays the Find Risk dialog...

Assigning Risk
To assign Risk to Task(s):

· Right click on the Risk and choose Assign to

selected Task(s), or
· Drag and drop the Risk from the list onto one
of the selected Task(s)
Assigned Risks can be viewed in Task
Properties>Risk Adding Risk Reasons
Incurring Assigned Risk · Right-click within the Risk reasons list, select the Add context menu to create a new risk reason called
New Risk.
· Risk assigned to Tasks can be incurred if the
Tasks have a Started status. Adding Sub-Risk Reasons
· In the Task Properties->Risk tab panel, right-click · Right-click the heading for which you want to add sub-risk reason and select Add from the context menu
on an instance of risk and then select Incur.
A delay report is added to the Task Properties- Renaming a Risk Reason
>Monitoring sub-tab list to the value of the originally
assigned risk. This can be increased or decreased as · Right-click, and select Rename from the context menu or left-click the heading twice, the heading
required, or set as an advancement as opposed to a will be changed to edit mode and the heading can be renamed.
delay. Assigning Risks to Tasks
Incurring Non-assigned Risks · Use the Assign to Selected Task(s) option to assign the current risk to tasks currently selected in the
Gantt Chart
· Risks not assigned to a Task can also be incurred:
Alternately, select a Risk reason and, holding down the left mouse button, drag the risk reason
1. Select the Task (which must be set to the status of Started) on which the Risk is to be incurred . over the Task, release the mouse button and the Risk is assigned to the Task. The Risk instance
2. Either drag and drop the risk onto the Task, or right-click and select Assign to Selected Tasks(s) from is displayed in the Task Properties Risk panel.
the context menu.
A zero value delay report is generated in the Task Properties>Monitoring list .
3. Set the value for the Risk incursion.
 Unassign All Resources

To unassign All Resources and Resource Groups assigned to the selected Tasks, select Unassign
All Resources
from the Home Ribbon, or access this command via the context menu by right-clicking in the
Gantt Window

Ribbons>Assign Resources>Unassign from All Task(s)

In the Assign Resources ribbon, the Unassign from All Task(s) command will remove the
assignment of the selected Resources from ALL tasks to which they are assigned

Correcting Resource Assignment Mistakes

1. In Task Properties → Resources, right click on the resources and select Unassign All to
remove all the resources.
2. If you want to remove just one resource, right click on each item’s lowest level and select
Unassign
3. Alternatively, you can select the object in the 3D View, right click and Unassign from All NOTE: After selecting and editing an object in the Task Properties → Resources, make sure
Tasks, or use the Ctrl+U keyboard shortcut you click in the open space in this window or the 3D window and press Esc on your
4. If you have assigned an object using the wrong Profile you can change it by selecting the keyboard to deselect it and avoid accidentally assigning it to another task later
lowest tree level of the resource in Task Properties → Resources and select the correct
Appearance Profile from the dropdown box below.
 Auto Matching NOTE: The dialogs for Resource Groups to Tasks, Resources to Resource Groups, and 3D
The Auto Matching feature in SYNCHRO provides a facility to automatically assign one object to Resources are almost identical to the dialog for auto-matching Resources to Tasks.
to another among Resources, Resource Groups, Tasks and 3D. Its primary use is to Exceptions are noted where appropriate. Images shown are for the Resource to Task Auto
automatically assign Resources or Resource Groups to Tasks, using custom filters and search Matching dialog.
rules. In this case, the match is based on the Resource (or Resource Group) Names or User
Fields, Task Names, Task ID, Task Comment, or Task User Field. Similar methodology also
applies to Auto Matching Resources to Resource Groups, and 3D Objects to Resources.
Using the Auto Matching function greatly simplifies the task of linking main objects in
SYNCHRO 4D Pro, which is not limited to linking resources or resource groups to tasks to
create a SYNCHRO Project suitable for scheduling and 4D Simulation.

Resources to Tasks - Use this to assign Resources to Tasks. You may also wish to use Resource
Groups to Tasks Auto Matching
Resource Groups to Tasks - Use this to assign Resource Groups to Tasks. You may also wish
to use Resources to Tasks Auto Matching (e.g. if not all Resources belong to Resource Groups)
- if so, consider applying Use only selected Resources setting in the Rule to avoid assigning
Resources to the same task twice (once via Groups and once via Resource directly)
Resources to Resource Groups - Use this to assign Resources to Resource Groups. You may
subsequently use Resource Groups to Tasks Auto Matching also to assign the Resource Groups
3D to Resources - Use this to assign 3D to Resources. You may subsequently use Resources to
Tasks Auto Matching to assign the Resources to Tasks.

Using Auto Matching Resources to Tasks as an example:

To match Resources to tasks using the Auto Matching feature, select Assign Resources>Auto
Matching>Resources to Tasks to display the Auto Matching Dialog
OR to match Resource Groups to tasks using the auto matching feature, select Assign
Resources>Auto Matching>Resources Groups to Tasks to display the Auto Matching Dialog
 The dialog contains a number of control sections:
Rules - to define rules to match Resources and Tasks o The Add button is used to define a new rule - this will open Add New Rule... window
o The Import option can be used to read a previously exported Auto Match rules file, via the o Edit can be used to modify an existing rule - this will open the Edit Rule window which is
Import Rules dialog: identical to the Add New Rule window, except that it contains the saved rule.
o The Remove button can be used to delete the currently select rule.

1. Press the Browse Button to select an o The Remove All is available to delete ALL currently defined rules
XML file containing Auto Match Rules Operations - are used to apply the selected matching rule
2. Press the Open button to read the
file and list its content o Search - searches the SYNCHRO project using the currently defined rules. After running
search, if there are any matches, the Group panel will be populated.
3. Select the desired rules to import,
and press the Import button o Assign All – assigns all the identified resources to tasks
4. Press Cancel to close the dialog o Close - exits the Auto Matching window without making any assignment
o Clear – clears any previous search results
· Groups - to review matching results. Selecting a Resource (or Task) from the Groups panel
will populate the Resource (or Task) Tree and Attributes panels. If more than one Resource
matches a Task, the Task will be listed only once at the top of the group of Resources. All
o The Export option can be used to save a Rule-Set to an XML File, via the Export Rules Resources in the same group must be assigned using the same Use Profile.
dialog:
o Resource Attributes - Displays the key attributes of matched Resources including Company, Name,
User Fields, Matched Tasks, and Assigned Tasks.

o Resource and Task trees – Displays the selected Resource or Task's location in the
Resource Tree or WBS.
1. Press the Browse Button to select a
location to save the XML Rules file o Task Attributes - Displays the key attributes of matched Tasks including Name, Activity
Codes, User Fields, Matched Resources and Assigned Tasks.
2. Select the desired rules to export,
and press the Export button
3. Press Cancel to close the dialog
Thank you