Zümmer has been a proven and successful tool for analyzing and comparing CPM schedule for over 10 years now.
Since it’s release in 2012, Zümmer has never set still. Improvements to the applications features and reporting tools has been a continuing effort. Thanks in part to many suggestions received over the year by its faithful users. It is our goal to continue to improved on its features and functionality as long as CPM schedule continues to be the industry standard in construction scheduling.
We understand that deciding on a suitable analysis & comparison tool can be a complicated decision for any organization and especially for larger organization with extensive IT rules and guidelines. Therefore, our team is dedicated to making your decision as streamline as possible.
Zümmer has be tested and evaluated by some of the largest organizations in the construction industry and has passed Risk Assessment such as Crowdstrike Threat assessment testing with flying colors.
In addition, to make your decision making process easier, you can now download the entire Zümmer Manual (all 479 Pages, 45MB) here.
Some new Zümmer features include:
Improved Activity History reporting and graphing:
Activity History Graphing now includes Baseline and Total Float values
The Activity History module now displays the Total Float value and baseline date for each Data Date update selected.
Additional Change Logic Reporting:
4 new Change Logic reports have been added to monitor and report logic changes that are related directly to Driving Path activities and to changed Original Durations.
Track Logic changes to Driving Path Activities and Changed Original Duration
Added Item History Settings capabilities:
Improved Item Settings management
You can now better manage your Item History reporting by using the Item History Settings window shown above.
The Zümmer development team is dedicated to providing you with the tool you need to maintain the highest standards in your CPM schedules and in your CPM schedule deliverables. Even if you decide not to use Zümmer, the manual can help you understand nuanced topics regarding CPM scheduling and help you become a better scheduler.
Add an elegant and professional grade touch to your Zümmer report deliverables.
Since Zümmer is a report intensive application, using a PDF output device is probably the best option for printing. Of the many PDF options available, Adobe Acrobat PDF provides the best printer preference features.
The post: Streamlining the Printing Process with Adobe Acrobatdetails the procedures for setting up the best printing configuration found to work with Zümmer by assigning 1) an Output folder and 2) disabling the ability to view Adobe PDF results.
To date, another PDF Printer device with these features has not been found. In addition to the Printing Preference options, Adobe Acrobat allows for combining multiple PDFs into one PDF file with multiple options including bookmarking. The following steps for report combination assume:
1) Adobe Acrobat PDF is the default printer and;
2) the Adobe Acrobat PDF Printing Preferences are in accordance the topic detailing the streamlining the printing process.
Step 1: Select the Zümmer Reports to print.
In the figure below, Zümmer Analysis Reports:
a) #01 thru #47; b) Analysis Charts 1 & 2; c) Analysis Statistics 1 & 2; d) Predecessor Successor Report and; e) Project Settings
…are selected to Print for Project ID: VS2-BL4-UP13.
For this exercise, the “Include Summary” option is checked which adds the Analysis Summary Schedule report to the list. A total of 54 reports will be printed for this series.
Step 2: View the resulting output PDF files
and remove all blank reports.
In the illustration below, all reports have been printed and are display by “Date Modified” in the PDF Port folder view. For this illustration, only the last 16 Analysis Reports are displayed, however, all 54 reports are contained in the PDF Port Folder.
Note: During the printing process for this exercise, the total time to print all 54 reports was under 3 minutes. Of course, results will vary depending on many factors, however, the results achieved is typical for a standard Zümmer report series.
Next, click on the “Size” column header so that the smallest reports are on the top as shown below.
In the illustration above, an additional 6 reports not shown are reporting at 6 KB in size. Most likely, the smallest PDF file sizes indicates that there were no results that satisfied the Report’s criteria. Depending on your PC and software application configuration, zero result reports may have a different size. You can verify empty reports, by opening the first report and observing if any results are displayed.
In this configuration, a 6 KB file size indicates zero results. Therefore, all reports with a file size of 6 KB can be safely deleted. Since the file size of the remaining reports (shown below) are greater than 6 KB, they contain data and therefore will be combined into the final report.
Step 3: Combine the remaining Analysis
Reports.
Next, Select All (Ctrl-A) highlights the remaining Analysis Reports, then Right-Click to display the “Combine supported files in Acrobat…” option.
In the Adobe Acrobat Combine Files window shown below, all the Analysis Reports default to sorting alphabetically by name. Note that in this exercise, report “00 summary schedule analysis” is at the top. Each of the named reports in the combined list will become a Bookmark Panel in the combined PDF file.
Next, click on the “Combine Files” shown above. The result is a combined PDF file named “Binder1.pdf” as shown below:
Step 4: Setting Properties and renaming the Binder1.pdf file.
From the File option above, select Properties to display the Document Properties window. Then select the Page layout: option – Bookmarks Panel and Page as shown below.
Since this is schedule analysis for Project “TS2-BL4-UP13″, select File, Save As, then enter a File name such as:
VS2-BL4-UP13 – Thyme Street Building 2 – Schedule
Analysis – DD 01-May19.pdf
Finally close the file, then re-open the file to display the combined PDF file in the format shown below.
The left column displays the automated named Bookmarks while the right panel displays Page 1. Clicking on the Bookmark line item causes the right panel to display the first page of the selected report.
A combined and bookmarked PDF file in this format adds an elegant and professional grade touch to your Zümmer report deliverables.
Since Zümmer is a “report intensive application”, printing using Adobe Acrobat is an excellent way to process all Zümmer reports. However, the default Printing Preferences may slow down the process especially when printing multiple reports.
Changing the settings as noted below will vastly improve your experience when using Zümmer.
The instructions below work for Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard Version and Microsoft Windows 10. The procedure may vary with other Versions.
1) Create a New Folder on your desktop named Adobe PDF Output. (Fig. 1)
2)
Click on the Windows Start button and select Devices and Printers.
3) Right-Click on the Printer Icon used for Adobe Acrobat.
(Fig. 2)
a. Set as the Default Printer. A green check-mark appears on the bottom-left corner of the Icon.
4) Right-Click again and select Printing Preferences: (Fig. 3)
a. Uncheck View Adobe PDF results.
b. Click on the “Browse…” button to change the
Adobe PDF Output Folder setting.
c. Select Adobe PDF Output the click OK. Then click OK in
the Adobe Acrobat PDF Printing Preferences window. (Fig. 4)
In Zümmer, when the Print command button is clicked, all the selected reports
will then be immediately routed to the folder “Adobe PDF Output”. Later, you
can view all the PDF files when the print job is complete. A typical Zümmer
output run will take just a few (2 or 3) minutes to process.
The smallest PDF files by file size are usually blank (about 5-6K indicating that there were no results for that report), therefore, they can be sorted and deleted all at one time.
The instructions above apply to your computer’s user setting. Therefore, this will affect all applications. If you don’t want our printer settings to change then disregard these instructions.
Key bullet points to help you with your decision to use Zümmer.
Simplicity
in form and function
Learning to use Zümmer is easy.
There is no prerequisite for lengthy or expensive training sessions. Most users are generating Zümmer CPM Analysis & Comparison reports minutes after installation.
Simply identify the 1) “Control” Schedule and 2) the “Modified” Schedule and you’re ready to run an Analysis Series and/or a Comparison Series of reports. It’s that simple. Each Analysis/Comparison report is well defined and many are numbered to match a line item in an optional 2-Page Summary Report.
Streamlines
and standardizes technical review time.
Running a schedule analysis or schedule comparison is easy
and takes just a few minutes. The result is a series of professional grade
reports, graphics and optional 2-Page summary that provides a complete profile
of the CPM Schedule changes, status, quality and overall content. By performing
a consistent analysis/comparison on a regular basis, you can be sure that each
schedule update is of the highest quality keeping you and the project team
up-to-date with the best possible and most reliable schedule information
available.
Flexibility
in Series Analysis/Comparison Report Content.
You have complete control over the number of reports
generated with each Analysis or Comparison Series. There’s no need to run reams
of reports just to access the specific information you need. Once a selection
of reports is made, you can even run the same set of reports against other
Projects. Simply, return to the Project Selection Tab, reselect the “Control”
and/or “Modified” Project(s) then return to the Analysis or Comparison Tab,
click Print and you’re done.
Helps to maintain a high-quality CPM Schedule.
If you prepare and/or update CPM schedules you want to be sure that your product meets or exceeds the guidelines established in the Contract Specifications. If you are responsible for receiving and reviewing schedule updates you want to know exactly what changed and quickly determine if the schedule changes are reasonable. With 88 Analysis Reports and 70 Comparison Reports, Zümmer has you covered no matter which side of the Project table you’re on.
Protects
your credibility as a Professional.
Every Project Scheduler knows the feeling of the pressures associated with delivery deadlines. When it comes to schedule updates, the Scheduler is typically the last link in the update process. It is vital that the Scheduler prepare and deliver CPM schedule updates with the highest level of confidence that all activities and activity changes are checked prior to delivery. The Scheduler’s as well as the Corporate’s reputation is at stake every time a product changes hands. Why take chances? When the Scheduler complete a schedule update, an attached Zümmer schedule analysis and comparison report not only demonstrates a high-level professionalism, but also provides the reviewer with a level of confidence that the update was performed with the highest level of care and concern for accuracy.
Identifies
cost anomalies relative to activity status.
When it comes to large schedule networks that are resource loaded, it doesn’t take long before tasks and cost get out of whack. With Zümmer’s specially designed analysis reports, cost vs. schedule anomalies are quickly identified keeping your schedules and cost data always in sync.
Documents “Work Orders” and “Issues”.
Nearly every construction project has its share of Work Orders (or Change Orders) and Issues. Zümmer’s Work Order and Issues Modules are design to integrate with P6’s Global Activity Code feature to produce easy-to-read and well-organized reports ready for Upper Level Management’s use and review.
Graphs and Reports activity status across multiple updates.
Identifying and communicating trends is a vital component for keeping a Project on-track. Zümmer’s unique Activity History Module allows you to plot and/or tabulate the status of any activity across multiple schedule updates. With activity progress reporting capabilities, you can spot trends and provide Project Managers and Upper Level Management with the necessary tools to proactively respond and resolve milestone slippages. The Activity Progress Graph displays an easy-to-understand plot of data date vs. update date data points. The Activity History Report displays the Original and Remaining Duration, Start and Finish date, Total Float and Days to Complete for each Update of the selected Activity ID.
Provides clear and concise reports useful to Upper Level Management.
Most corporate executives depend on timely and valuable information in a format that’s concise and easy to understand. Every Zümmer report is neatly designed with just the right amount of information appropriate for the topic heading. Furthermore, each report layout is developed in a consistent manner allowing the reader to quickly familiarize themselves with the data format, layout and information across multiple Zümmer reports.
