What Is ItMakesSense
ItMakesSense is an advanced MS Project and Excel Add-in that significantly enhances routine scheduling and Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) tasks. Designed for MS Office versions 2010 and higher, it is fully compatible with both Master/Subprojects (Server or Online) and standalone projects.
A prominent feature of this tool is its ability to seamlessly export, modify and import Deltek Cobra©, MS Project and MS Excel estimates (Baseline and EAC) to Deltek Cobra©. It generates precise, time-phased workbooks that include changes to Hours, Cost, and Full-Time Equivalents prior to loading, effectively minimizing the need for repetitive iterations that are common in traditional processes.
Furthermore, ItMakesSense provides powerful task tracing capabilities, comprehensive navigation, and organized sorting features within the MS Project Add-in. While certain advanced functionalities, such as 14pt, DECM, and QBD, may be used less frequently, they are instrumental in ensuring robust scheduling practices. The initial setup consultation is offered at no cost, as is access to the Add-in. Elevate your project management practices with ItMakesSense.
Critical Path
Constraint, Longest Path and Brute Force methods and an option to run the Deadline/Constraint method with one click
DECM
(Formerly EVAS) Run several of the DECM checks with an option to check Cost-Schedule Integration with Cobra
Clipboard Filter
Copy UIDs from any app and Clipboard filter will display them in Project
Health Checks
Quickly check your schedule to make sure it is compliant with industry standards
Resource Analysis
Export your resource data into Excel quicker than ever. Load custom rates for cost comparisons.
Status
Export Status Sheets with Conditional Formatting that informs users of what must be updated
Proposals / Cost
Create Rate Files that allow you to buildup cost vs. using Projects Wrap Rates
QBD
Manage Quantifiable Backup Data in MS Project for subtasks that don't make sense to apply traditional schedule logic
Task Tracing
Path Tracker and Classic Trace helps you easily and visually trace task dependencies throughout the schedule
EV Light / Integration
Easily export your MS Project schedule to the most popular EV Tools and produce EV drill-downs before import
Change Control
Managing baseline changes is difficult. Using Excel was cumbersome until now.
Risk
In Test
More info coming soon
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?
Why Use ItMakesSense?
ItMakesSense does not create an Integrated Master Schedule but it will help you build a better one. It is intended to make MS Project easier for Planners, Control Account Managers, and Program Managers. More specifically, those who work in large Master Schedules. ITMakesSense was also designed to be the middle-ware between your schedule and the other systems that depend on the data.
Is this really free?
The MS Project and Excel Add-in are 100% free. We also offer the initial field setup for free. We just ask for you to provide feedback so we can continuously improve your experience.
ItMakesSense works with any version of MS Project higher than 2010, including MS Project Server and Project Online
My ultimate goal is to make this tool work for you
Every company has a different way to create a plan. Despite any attempt to make a one size fits all solution it's nearly impossible to do. I can't guarantee that all of the features in this tool will work for you. However, what I can guarantee is that I can make it work for you. Contact Us to find out how.
1.0.9.0011 released
Field Selector changed to be more intuitive. Visit Field Selector for more information. Also, added Cobra One File Export to the MS Project Add-in that can take the place of the Activity and Resource File Exports.
1.0.9.0010 released
Cobra activity file updated to the correct Min and Max of Dates for work package summaries
1.0.9.0009 released
Updated Excel Add-in to reflect the correct wrap rate for Non-Labor when creating a rate file from Cobra data. Also, updated MS project Add-in rate calculation for similar issue. New Code Signing Certificate also utilized due to old cert. end of life.
1.0.9.0007 released
Misc. bug fixes (Eliminate possible use of Date Text Fields, Elapsed Days Driving Slack Calc, Err. connecting Excel to Project, and no resources in 14pt). Also, added detail on 14Pt stating whether Summaries and/or Milestones were included in the list.
1.0.9.0006 released
Milestone Pro Export Export any and all paths to Milestone Pro within seconds. Summary Schedules can also be exported. See the bottom of the Critical/Driving Path page for more information.
1.0.9.0005 released
Settings files are now .txt (not .csv) A user reported that occasionally they would open the .csv in Excel and save. This corrupts the file and cannot be imported. Settings can now be imported and exported as .txt files. Simply export a new settings file or change the extension of you old settings file's to .txt.
Settings error report Each setting error would be reported if there was an issue with the settings file. Now, the number of errors and the first error is the only thing reported.
Excel Add-in Default to HOURS option There is now an option to default to HOURS vs. CURRENCY and not export rates when exporting BCR/ECR templates.
Excel Add-in automatic calendar consolidation Each period in the calendar used to be exported to BCR/ECR templates. Now, the function attempts to find the minimum date in the data and start the calendar in the ECR/BCR template as the minimum date minus 2 months.
Deadline Method Critical Path The Deadline Method Critical Path now checks for only tasks that total slack is changed by putting a deadline in the past. This speeds up the process and prevents driving paths from getting miscellaneous other paths in the output.
Settings
Popular Tutorials (In Work)
- Using Cobra Data To Change BAC or EAC (Step 1 - Generating the Cobra data)
- Using Cobra Data To Change BAC or EAC (Step 2 - Generating the Workbooks)
- Using Cobra Data To Change BAC or EAC (Step 3 - Importing the data back into Cobra)
- Further Definition Of Cobra Columns (Issues you can run into and its reason for existence)
Product Comparison
| This Add-in | Other MS Project Add-in's | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| It Makes Sense | SSI Tools | ForProject | OPDEC | Steelray | |
|
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$0
|
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$950+
|
$80/year*
$400
|
$150-
$708
|
FreeXML*
$1500
|
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| Digitally Signed Application and SSL Website | |||||
| Digitally Signed Application and SSL Website | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Critical Path Capability | |||||
| Critical Path Capability | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Status Capability | |||||
| Status Capability | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Cost-Schedule Integration Capability | |||||
| Cost-Schedule Integration Capability | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Rate Buildup Capability | |||||
| Rate Buildup Capability | ✔ | ||||
| Custom Accounting Calendar | |||||
| Custom Accounting Calendar | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Comprehensive List of Schedule Related DECM Checks | |||||
| Comprehensive List of Schedule Related DECM Checks | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 14 Point health check | |||||
| 14 Point health check | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Project Server and Online support | |||||
| Project Server and Online support | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Custom Color Code of Multiple Paths within MS Project | |||||
| Custom Color Code of Multiple Paths within MS Project | ✔ | ||||
| Longest Path Capability even with Multiple Task Calendars, Elapsed Days, and/or Constraints in Path | |||||
| Longest Path Capability even with Multiple Task Calendars, Elapsed Days, and/or Constraints in Path | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Single Click Critical Path Capability With No Setup Required | |||||
| Single Click Critical Path Capability With No Setup Required | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Generates UN/CEFACT XML File | |||||
| Generates Format 6 UN/CEFACT XML File | X (See Steelray for free version) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ Free | |
| Risk Capability | |||||
| Risk Capability | In Alpha Test Phase | ✔ | |||
| Flag tasks that break EV thresholds in order to determine updates. (DCMA requirement to use metrics to drive ETC updates) | |||||
| Flag tasks that break EV thresholds in order to determine updates. (DCMA requirement to use metrics to drive ETC updates) | ✔ | ||||
| Quantifiable Backup Data (QBD) Capability Integrated within MS Project | |||||
| Quantifiable Backup Data (QBD) Capability Integrated within MS Project | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Custom Curves | |||||
| Custom Curves | ✔ | ||||
| Optional Resource Loading Without Assignments | |||||
| Optional Resource Loading Without Assignments | ✔ | ||||
| Capability to create Baseline/ETC-EAC Change Templates in MS Excel from Cobra Data | |||||
| Capability to create Baseline/ETC-EAC Change Templates in MS Excel from Cobra Data | ✔ | ||||
| Multiple .mpp Schedule Comparisons including Resource Assignments | |||||
| Multiple .mpp Schedule Comparisons including Resources | ✔ | ||||
| Bookmarks | |||||
| Bookmarks | ✔ | ||||
| Show All | |||||
| Show All | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Show Tasks in MS Project from any other Applications | |||||
| Show Tasks in MS Project from any other Applications | ✔ With Clipboard Filter | ||||
| Generate Cobra Activity/Status and Resource Files | |||||
| Generate Cobra Activity/Status and Resource Files | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Task Tracing | |||||
| Task Tracing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Transferable Configuration Files | |||||
| Transferable Configuration Files | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Client Specific Add-in Customization | |||||
| Client Specific Add-in Customization | ✔ Client ID Customization | ||||
| User defined Health checks | |||||
| User defined Health checks | Customization by Client | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| VBA Macro Free | |||||
| VBA Macro Free | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Includes Support/Maintenance | |||||
| Includes Support/Maintenance | ✔ | 1st Year Free | Unknown | Unknown | |
| SPA, BEI, CEI, Earned Schedule Reporting | |||||
| SPA, BEI, CEI, Earned Schedule Reporting | ✔ | ||||
| Make PowerPoint Presentation from Selected Tasks in the Schedule | |||||
| Make PowerPoint Presentation from Selected Tasks in the Schedule | Adds $250 | ||||
| Supports Multi-project Planning using External Dependencies | |||||
| Supports Multi-project Planning using External Dependencies | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Earned Value Reporting Capability | |||||
| Earned Value Reporting Capability | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Available on GSA Schedule 70 | |||||
| Available on GSA Schedule 70 | ✔ | ||||
| Custom Earned Value Drill-down analysis | |||||
| Custom Earned Value Drill-down analysis | ✔ | ||||