4Projects and files

This chapter tells you how to open, import, save and export projects, and where Stratum 4D keeps them.

Projects and files

In this manual, a project is a schedule that Stratum 4D keeps in its database. A file is a file on the disk, for example an XER file from P6.

You import a file to make a project. You export a project to make a file. The project database keeps each saved version of a project.

Figure 4-1. Files into and out of Stratum 4D, and the four places for the project database.

Where Stratum 4D keeps the projects

Storage	Where	Who can open the projects
Desktop application	A SQLite file in your user folder	You, on this computer
Web application	The storage of the browser	You, in this browser on this computer
Cloud folder	A Google Drive or OneDrive folder	All persons with edit access to the folder
Stratum Server	A PostgreSQL database	All users of the server, by their role

Each save gets a version number. If a different person saved the project after you opened it, Stratum 4D does not save over that version. It gives you the option Save as new.

Import a schedule file

Stratum 4D can import these schedule files:

Primavera P6 XER files (.xer), with activities, WBS, logic, codes, user fields, calendars, resources, costs and baselines.
Microsoft Project XML files (.xml). In Microsoft Project, use File › Save As › XML Format to make this file.
Microsoft Excel files (.xlsx) that you exported from Stratum 4D and changed.

Stratum 4D cannot open Microsoft Project .mpp files. Save the file as XML in Microsoft Project first.

To import a schedule in the P6 layout

Click File › Import….
Select the .xer or .xml file.
Click Open.The schedule opens as a new project.

**Figure 4-2.** The File menu of the P6 layout, with Import and Export.

To import a schedule in the Project layout

Click File.
Click Open.
Click Import XER / Microsoft Project XML.
Select the file and click Open.

To import a new version of the same schedule

Each week, you can import the new XER over the open project. Stratum 4D keeps the model links because it finds each activity by its Activity ID. If you click Cancel at step 3, the file opens as a new project.

Open the project.
Import the new XER file as usual.
Stratum 4D asks "Update the open schedule with this file?". Click OK.The Check tab lists the changes: finish slip, new and deleted activities, and changes of status.

Open and save a project

To open a project from the database

Click Projects (P6 and 4D layouts), or File › Open › Projects (Project layout).
Select the project.
Click Open.

To save a project

Push Ctrl+S, or click Save.Stratum 4D saves a new version of the project in the database.

Stratum 4D also saves your work in the background every few seconds. If the application closes without a save, it asks you to restore the work at the next start.

Export a project

Export	Use it for
P6 XER	Import into Primavera P6. Use Update Existing Project in P6 to bring the dates back.
Microsoft Project XML	Open in Microsoft Project 2010 or later.
Excel (.xlsx) or CSV	Change data in Excel, or make your own reports.
Stratum project file (.stratum.json)	Move a project, with its model links, to a different computer.

The Save As page of the Project layout — **Figure 4-3.** File › Save As in the Project layout.

To export a project

In the P6 layout, click File › Export…. In the Project layout, click File › Save As.
Click the type of file.The file goes into the Downloads folder.

Before you import an exported XER into P6, make a backup of the P6 project. An import with Update Existing Project changes the project in P6.

Share projects with a cloud folder

A team can use one Google Drive or OneDrive folder as a shared database. All persons with edit access to the folder work on the same projects. Stratum 4D does a check before each save, so no person saves over newer work.

Click the gear icon (Settings).
Click the Data & sign-in tab.
Under Cloud folder, click Google Drive or OneDrive.
Sign in to the account.A list of your folders opens.
Open the folder that your team shares.
Click Use "<folder>" as the Stratum folder.The projects in the folder show in Projects.

Your administrator must first register Stratum 4D with Google or Microsoft. The file docs/CLOUD_STORAGE.md tells the administrator how to do this.