Update the WBS number

The WBS number is a property on all the elements of the WBS hierarchy. Numbering in this way provides a consistent approach to identifying and managing the WBS across systems, regardless of vendor or service.

IPP&E allows you to update the WBS number of the WBS elements. You can select any element in the WBS hierarchy and update the WBS number. The system updates the WBS number of the selected element and all the child elements in its hierarchy.

The ability to update the WBS number depends on whether a WBS number is required or not. If you cannot update the WBS number because of number pattern validation, you can cut the WBS element from the structure and then update it. The updated elements can be added back into the structure later.

By default, the WBS number can be updated if there is only one revision for all the elements in the selected WBS Element hierarchy. If there are multiple revisions, the system does not allow you to change the WBS number. You can change this behavior by updating the IPP_update_wbs_number_for_multiple_revision preference.

To update the WBS number of a selected element in the WBS structure, click More commands > Edit > Update WBS Number and then edit the number in the Update WBS Number panel.

WBS Number as an optional value

Some projects and WBSs do not mandate WBS numbers or may not follow a fixed WBS numbering pattern. IPP&E allows you to make the WBS number optional for the WBS hierarchy. The user can provide the WBS number when creating the root or when creating the plan (program, project, subproject, and common WBS plan).

Depending on whether a WBS number is required, the system performs or skips certain validations. The following validations are performed if a WBS number is required:

• WBS elements are not created without a WBS number.
• When a child WBS node is added to the WBS hierarchy, the system validates if the WBS number pattern matches the parent's number pattern.
• The WBS number pattern is validated whenever the WBS number is updated.
• A WBS element with a duplicated WBS number is not allowed in the project WBS.

The following validations are skipped if a WBS number is not required:

• WBS nodes can be created without a WBS number.
• The WBS number pattern is not checked when a child node is added to the WBS hierarchy.
• The WBS number pattern is not validated when the WBS number is updated.
• The WBS number is not checked for duplication if the user enters the WBS number manually.

The lessons learned process compares two WBS structures to identify if any new elements are added or deleted, or if cost data is updated. By default, this comparison uses the WBS number property. If the WBS number is optional, the administrator can choose an alternative property for the comparison by updating the value of the Awb0EnableDynamicEquivalenceForCompare preference.

Using the WBS Number Separator

In general, the WBS number follows a pattern where the WBS number of a child element is the combination of a parent WBS number and a suffix, with a separator in between. IPP&E allows the user to select one of the following WBS number separators:

• "." (Period)
• "-" (Hyphen)
• "," (Comma)

The user can select the WBS number separator when creating the WBS root or the plan. The selected separator is applied to all the elements in the WBS hierarchy.