Quickly enter the same text in multiple table rows

In some table format display columns, you can use the Fill Down feature to quickly enter the same text in successive rows.
• To copy text from one row to successive rows within a column, select the row containing the text you want to copy and the rows you want to copy the text to, and then choose Edit, Fill Down.
• See example:

Export Primavera P6 project to Microsoft Project file

1. Open the projects you want to export.
2. Choose File, Export.
3. Choose Microsoft Project and select the type of file to which you want to
export.
4. Choose Project.
5. Mark the Export checkbox for all projects you want to export. Double click
in the Export File Name field if you want to change the name and location of
the Microsoft Project file.
6. Add a new template or modify the existing template (if necessary). The
template contains options for exchanging data with Microsoft Project.
7. Click Next to review the settings for your export.
8. Click Finish.

If your project is very far behind time, try one of this method..

Shortening the critical path

The critical path is a series of activities that determines a project's completion time. The duration of the activities on the critical path controls the duration of the entire project; a delay to any of these activities will delay the finish date of the entire project. Critical activities are defined by either the total float or the longest path in the project network.

To shorten the duration of a project, focus on the critical path. Filter the critical activities and make any of the following adjustments:
• Enter shorter original and remaining durations (work faster).
• If resources are assigned to an activity, reduce the durations of those resources or increase the number of units assigned to reduce the duration of the activity itself (use more people or equipment).
• Change the appropriate calendar, changing some nonworkdays to workdays (more worktime).
• Use start to start relationships to overlap activities (work on more activities at once).
• Divide long activities into several shorter-duration activities, so that portions of the activity can be overlapped (work on several portions of an activity simultaneously).
Activities can appear critical without being on the critical path, if they are part of an open-ended chain. To make these activities appear noncritical, so that you can focus on the critical path, choose Tools, Schedule. On the General tab, clear the Make Open-Ended Activities Critical checkbox.

Using the Data Date in Primavera P3 and P6

For all P3 and P6 users:

The data date is the last date you recorded progress in the form of actual dates, percent of work completed, revised remaining duration, or actual quantities or costs.

Activities are scheduled from the project data date, using the project start date as the initial data date.

Be sure to change the data date and reschedule a project each time you record progress for activities. For example, suppose you update the schedule every Tuesday and the current data date is Tuesday, November 4. When one week elapses and it is November 11, update progress through the end of the day November 10, then advance the data date to November 11. The schedule revises based on the actual dates, delays, and other changes you recorded during the past week.

Always assume that the data date starts the workperiod; the data date can be the beginning of the hour, day, week, or month. Work accomplished on the data date is not included because it is the beginning of the period.

During the project, the data date moves forward toward the project completion date. The actual dates can serve as historical data for planning another project.

If you have problem understand what I explained, please call Kent 012-2538283 or email to Kent: kent@icpsprojects.com for discussion.

Primavera training in P3 and P6

If you are not sure whether to choose P3 or P6 for your project planning, then consult Kent Chan for advice. You can access the training courses in www.icpsprojects.com.

Kent

Primavera P6 Simplified

For newcomers and experienced users:
Get a better undestanding and practical training in Primavera P6. The whole course takes 4 days from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Please login to www.icpsprojects.com to see more information about the course. The course modules covers 4 levels:

Level 1 : Planning without respources
Level 2 : Tracking progress without resources
Level 3 : Scheduling with resources, roles and budgets
Level 4 : Monitoring and controlling a resourced schedule

Drop a few lines to kent@icpsprojects.com for further information and advice.

Primavera or MS Project

Which software do you choose to use in your project planning? Primavera or MS Project?
Do you understand what is called total float? Do you face any problem when your project is ahead of time, yet you are not able to see the positive value in the Total Slack column in MS Project? You are welcome to provide tips how to solve this problem if you know. Primavera does not have this problem to show the positive value in the Total Float column it seems. (note: Total slack in MS Project = Total Float in Primavera).
Feel free drop me a few lines if you like to contact me personally at the following: kent@icpsprojects.com