XER is the extension associated with Primavera P6 data file, developed by Oracle. This software is mainly used in oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, and other industries that deal with project planning.
The predecessor to P6, Primavera P3 use a .P3 file extension, but can be opened with Primavera P6. XER files are important when it comes to project planning because the save important information for planning projects such as timeline, tasks, materials, resources and other important data allowing project owners to plan and execute projects better.
Import and Export file formats
Users can export and import XER file between P6 Professional and other applications using the following file formats:
The Oracle proprietary format (XER) supports project, resource, and role information developed using the P6 Professional PM suit.
The Primavera Project Management XER file format enables users to export data between P6 Professional release 5.0 or newer versions, for use within P6 Professional.
The Contractor XER format is supported to import data from Contractor 4.0 and subsequent versions into PM, as well as export data to Contractor 5.0 or 6.1 and later.
Data exported in a XER File
The project data is stored in a central database. Users can export and import information to and from this database using external files and then share this information with other P6 Professional users, Oracle Contractor users, other project management tools (such as Microsoft Project and Microsoft Excel), and organization's human resource and accounting systems. Users can also use external files to archive projects or create a backup of a database.
When exporting a project in a XER file, all the data is mapped up to 170 Tables. Typically, not all the features are used in a P6 a schedule.
The "average" XER file has less than 20 Tables. Only the data present in the "Modify Import Configuration" can be exported.
Generally, XER files are CVS file types with TAB as a delimiter. It is a text file with tabular data that users can open and modify in a text editor or any program that read a CVS file.
When importing a project as a XER file that contains financial periods, the financial periods in the XER file must exactly match the financial periods in the Financial Periods dictionary.
If they do not match, no past period actual data will be imported.
Tables in XER file when exported
The following tables are present in an XER file when exported:
- ACCOUNT - (Cost Accounts)
- ACTVCODE - (Activity Code Values)
- ACTVTYPE - (Activity Codes)
- BUDGCHNG - (Budget Changes)
- CALENDAR - (Calendars)
- COSTTYPE - (Expense Categories)
- CURRTYPE - (Currency Types)
- DOCCATG - (Document Categories)
- DOCSTAT - (Document Statuses)
- DOCUMENT - (Work Products and Documents)
- FINDATES - (Financial Periods)
- FUNDSRC - (Funding Sources)
- ISSUHIST - (Notification History)
- MEMOTYPE - (Notebook Topics)
- OBS - (OBS)
- PCATTYPE - (Project Codes)
- PCATVAL - (Project Code Values)
- PHASE - (Project Phase List)
- POBS - (POBSS)
- PROJCOST - (Project Expenses)
- PROJECT - (Projects)
- PROJECT - (Projects continued)
- PROJEST - (Estimate History)
- PROJFUND - (Project Funding Assignments)
- PROJISSU - (Issues)
- PROJISSU - (Issues continued)
- PROJPCAT - (Project Code Assignments)
- PROJRISK - (Risks)
- PROJTHRS - (Thresholds)
- PROJWBS - (WBS)
- PROJWBS - (WBS continued)
- RCATTYPE - (Resource Codes)
- RCATVAL - (Resource Code Values)
- RFOLIO - (RFOLIOS)
- RISKCTRL - (Risk Control Plans)
- RISKTYPE - (Risk Types)
- ROLELIMIT - (Role Limits)
- ROLERATE - (Role Prices)
- ROLES - (Roles)
- RSRC - (Resources)
- RSRCCURV - (Resource Curves)
- RSRCCURVDATA - (RSRCCURVDATAS)
- RSRCCURVDATA - (RSRCCURVDATAS continued)
- RSRCLEVELLIST - (RSRCLEVELLISTS)
- RSRCRATE - (Resource Prices)
- RSRCRCAT - (Resource Code Assignments)
- RSRCROLE - (Resource Role Assignments)
- SCHEDOPTIONS - (SCHEDOPTIONSS)
- SHIFT - (Shift Names)
- SHIFTPER - (Shifts)
- TASK - (Activities)
- TASK - (Activities continued)
- TASKACTV - (Activity Code Assignments)
- TASKDOC - (Document Assignments)
- TASKFDBK - (Activity Feedback)
- TASKFIN - (Activity Past Period Actuals)
- TASKMEMO - (Activity Notebook)
- TASKNOTE - (Activity Notes to Resources)
- TASKPRED - (Activity Relationships)
- TASKPROC - (Activity Steps)
- TASKRSRC - (Activity Resource Assignments)
- TASKRSRC.TASK|wbs_id
- TASKSUMFIN - (Activity Summaries by Financial Periods)
- TASKUSER - (Activity Owners)
- THRSPARM - (Threshold Parameters)
- TRSRCFIN - (Activity Resource Assignment Past Period Actuals)
- TRSRCSUMFN - (Activity Resource Summaries by Financial Periods)
- TSAUDIT - (Timesheet History)
- UDFTYPE - (User Defined Fields)
- UDFVALUE - (User Defined Field Values)
- UMEASURE - (Units of Measure)
- WBSBUDG - (Spending and Benefit Plans)
- WBSMEMO - (EPS, Project and WBS Notebook)
- WBSRSRC WBSRSRC - (High Level Planning Assignments)
- WBSRSRC_QTY - (WBSRSRC QTY)
- WBSSTEP - (WBS Milestones)