NFSKaiser

P6r8:UserGuide
Version1.1
June19,2011

NOTE:P6r8isthebrowserbasedversionofOracle/PrimaveraP6schedulingandresource
managementproduct.Thisprovidesthebasicnavigationandschedulemanagementoverviewto
facilitatethetransitionfromtheP6Clientapplicationuserinterfacetothislatestreleaseofthe
product.ItincludesDashboardandProjectScheduleManagement.(Resources,Portfolios,andReports
areexcludedfromthisguide.)Notethatthisguidecanonlycoversomeofthebasicfeaturesand
functionality.P6r8offersmuchmorethanwhatiscoveredinthisguidewhichisonlyintendedtoget
usersfamiliarwiththisnewinterface.

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Contents
1

LoginandBasicNavigation..........................................................................................3
1.1 LaunchP6Web......................................................................................................3
1.2 Login......................................................................................................................3
1.3 Dashboards,Projects,andResources....................................................................5
1.4 SetupUserPreferences.........................................................................................7

ManageDashboards.................................................................................................10
2.1 Assign/RemoveDashboardsfromView...............................................................10
2.2 DashboardPortlets..............................................................................................12
2.3 DashboardFeatures............................................................................................14
2.4 CreateaNewDashboard.....................................................................................15

ScheduleDevelopment.............................................................................................18
3.1 CreateProjectSchedule......................................................................................18
3.2 View/EditProjectData........................................................................................20
3.2.1 GeneralTab...................................................................................................20
3.2.2 CheckProjectPreferences.............................................................................21
3.2.3 EnterProjectNotebookTopics......................................................................21
3.2.4 EnterProjectCodes.......................................................................................23
3.3 Add/UpdateActivities.........................................................................................24
3.3.1 UpdateToolbars............................................................................................24
3.3.2 AddWBSandActivities.................................................................................25
3.3.3 UpdateActivityDuration...............................................................................26
3.3.4 Add/ModifyRelationships.............................................................................26
3.3.5 AddActivityConstraints................................................................................28
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3.3.6 AdditionalProjectData.................................................................................29
3.3.7 CalculatetheSchedule..................................................................................29
4

ProjectWorkspace....................................................................................................31
4.1 CustomizeProjectWorkspace.............................................................................31

ProjectBaseline.........................................................................................................34
5.1 CreateBaseline....................................................................................................34
5.2 AssignBaseline....................................................................................................35

ProjectProgressUpdates..........................................................................................36
6.1 EnterActuals........................................................................................................36

ActivityViews............................................................................................................37

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1 LoginandBasicNavigation
1.1 LaunchP6Web
UsingInternetExplorer7.0or8.0,accesstheLoadSpringwebsite.
Java6,Update20+(checkforappropriateversion)isrequiredtorunPrimaveraP6
release8.TheJavaRuntimeEnvironment(JRE)willinstallthefirsttimeyoulaunch
P6Web.P6r8isnotsupportedwitholderversionsofJava.
AllowPopupsforP6Website.(Tools,PopupBlocker,TurnoffPopupBlocker).
Ifyouinstallednonstandardtoolbars(Yahoo,Google,etc.),checkthese

too.

1.2 Login
1. EnterUsernameandPassword.ClickLogin.(u/nandp/wshouldmatchthe
LoadSpringlogincredentials).

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1.3 Dashboards,Projects,andResources

1. Withtheproperlicensing,youwillsee:Dashboards,Portfolios,Projects,
Resources,andReportsatthetopofthescreen.

Dashboardsprovidehighlevelprojectinformationforprojectsthatarepartof
theselectedfilter.
Portfoliosofprojectscanbecreatedtoanalyzegroupsofprojects(Portfolio
AnalysisiscoveredinAdvancedTraining).
Projectsiswhereindividualprojectsormultipleprojectscanbemanaged.
ThisiswhereyouwillseethetypicalGanttchartviewofyourschedule.
ResourcescontainsinformationabouttheRolesandResourcesassignedto
projects.
ReportscontaintabularreportsthatcanberunthroughtheP6r8
application(BIPublisherisrequiredtocreatereportstoberunthroughr8,
however,therearesomestandardreportsprovidedwiththeP6r8release.)

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Thetrianglenexttoeachfeatureprovidesamenuofactionsforthatsection.
(Basedonyouruserinterfaceviewandaccessrights,youmaynotseeall
actions.)

OtherMenuItems:
Print:Printsthecurrentpageview
Help:OnlineHelpcontextspecific
Administeruserpreferencesaresetuphere.
Logoutusetoexittheapplication(IMPORTANT:DonotusetheXonyour
browser)

NOTE:OnlineHelpiscontextspecific.Clickonhelpinanywindowandthe
appropriatehelptopicisdisplayed.(UserguidesarenotpublishedforP6,thisis
thefirst/bestreferenceguideforusingtheapplication.)

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1.4 SetupUserPreferences
1. SetupUserPreferencesSelectAdminister,MyPreferences.

YouwillseethreetabsGlobal,View,andPassword.

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2. YouwillneedtosavemostchangesmadeintheP6Webapplication.Inmost
casesyouwillbepromptedtosaveyourchanges,butmakeitapracticetoSave
orSaveandClosebeforeexitingascreen.
ThisistherecommendeduserdefaultsettingfortheDateFormat.

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ThesearetherecommendedsettingsfordisplayingTimeUnitsandCurrency.Theseare
alluserpreferenceswhichcanmodifiediftheprojectrequirementschange.

TimeUnitsareassociatedwith
resourceassignments.Planned
and/orActualhoursworkedonan
activity.

Durationsareactivitydurations,
generallydisplayedindays.

Units/Timeischeckedfor
units/duration,forexample4
hours/dayor8hours/day.

ShowUnitorDurationlabelhelps
toknowtheunitsused.For
example,8hor5dwouldmean(8
hoursor5days).

UncheckShowdecimalplacesto
allowdollarvaluestofitinsomeof
thereports.

3. ClickSaveandClosetosaveyourchanges.

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2 ManageDashboards
2.1 Assign/RemoveDashboardsfromView
Eachusershouldbesetupwithatleast1dashboardpriortologgingin.Ifyoudonot
haveanydashboardsdisplayed,youwillseethismessage.

ClickonManageDashboardswherelistedabove,orusetheDashboardsmenu
andclickManageDashboards.

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ClickthetriangletoexpandAvailableDashboardsandchecktheboxforthe
Dashboard(s)youwouldliketosee.

ClickonDashboardstoviewtheselected(Displayed)dashboard(s).

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2.2 DashboardPortlets
TheDashboardsHomepagedisplaysportletsofinformationabouttheportfolios,
projects,resources,andactivitiesspecifictoyou.Theinformationyoucanviewis
controlledbylicensingandsecuritysettings,administratorconfigurationanduser
interfaceviewsettings,yourassignmentstoactivities,yourfilteringcriteria,andthe
customizedcontentandlayoutyouselect.
Aportletisadistinctwebportalwindowthatdisplaysspecificproject
information.
TheSouthernCaliforniadashboardcontainsthefollowingportletsof
information:

1. ProjectGanttChart:UsetheProjectGanttChartportlettoquicklyviewthestatus
ofprojectsandrevieweachproject'smilestones.

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2. ProjectStatistics:Usethisportlettoviewhighlevelproject
information

TheDashboardFiltercontrolswhichprojectsaredisplayedintheDashboard.
ClicktheselecticontochooseProjectCodetodisplayprojectswiththe
selectedProjectCode.

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2.3 DashboardFeatures
AllDashboardsfeaturethesameCommands.

ExpandorCollapseportlets.Portletscanbeexpandedorcollapsedindividuallyor
allatonce.

OtherDashboardfunctions:

Printthecontentsoftheportlet(notavailableforallportlets)Gantt
ChartandPortfolioviewonly.
Helpcontextspecifichelpfortheportlet.
Refreshtorefreshthedataintheportlet.
Minimize/Maximizetheportlet.
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2.4 CreateaNewDashboard
Eachuserwillhavetheabilitytocreateadashboardfortheirownuse.Itcanalsobe
madeavailabletootherusers,butnottoallusers(thisisaglobaldashboard).
1. SelecttheDashboardMenuandclickManageDashboards.

2. ClickCreateDashboard.

3. Youwilluseanexistingdashboardforyournewdashboard.Theexisting
dashboardiscopiedandthenyouwillcustomizeittomeetyourneeds.Selectthe
existingdashboardandclickOK.

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4. Thereare3tabsofinformationtocreatethedashboard.Contentistheportlets
ofinformation,LayoutishowtheportletsareorderedandAccessiswhichusers
canaccessthisdashboard.(Adashboardonlyformatstheinformationpresented,
theprojectsthatareincludedarebasedonthedashboardfilterselectedand
whichprojectsausercanaccess.)
a. ContentSelectwhichportletsofinformationbycheckingtheboxes.Each
portletisdescribedintheHelp.

EnteraDashboardTitleandassignaDashboardFilter(byProjectorProject
Code).Whenotherusersaregrantedaccess,youwillneedtoindicateifother
userscanchangetheDashboardFilter.Ifotheruserscanchangethefilter,it
willonlychangeforthatuser,notforothers.(Thisoptiononlyappearsifother
usersaregrantedaccesstotheDashboardthroughtheAccesstab.)

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b. LayoutconsistsofNarroworWideandlocationinthelayout.Location
canbechangedusingthearrowsontheright.

c. TheAccesstaballowsausertomakethedashboardavailabletoother
users.(Asnotedabove,onlycertainuserscancreateGlobal
dashboards.)

5. BesuretoSaveyourchanges.
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3 ScheduleDevelopment
Thisprovidesdirectiononcreatingaproject.Stepsareincludedforaddinganddeleting
WorkBreakdownStructure(WBS)levelsandactivities,andaddingconstraints,aswellas
adding/modifyingactivityrelationships.

3.1 CreateProjectSchedule
1. ClickonProjectsandyouwillseetheEnterpriseProjectStructurewhich
includestheEPSforallelements/projectsforwhichyouhavebeengrantedaccess.

2. ClickonActions,Add,andAddProject.

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3. EntertheRequiredinformationandselectCreatetocreatetheproject.
ProjectID:20characterunique
projectidentifier
ProjectName=ProjectTitle
EPS=EnterpriseProjectStructure
element
ResponsibleManager=OBSdrives
securitytotheproject

PlannedStartDatedefaultstotodays
date
MustFinishbynotrequired,butcanbe
addedlater

(*)Indicatesarequiredfield

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3.2 View/EditProjectData
1. Thenewprojectiscreated.SelecttheprojectandclickontheProjectDetailstab
Generalatthebottomofthescreen.Thesetabscontainstheprojectlevel
informationforthatproject.

3.2.1

GeneralTab

1. TheGeneralTabisthefirsttabavailable.TheinformationenteredintheCreate
Projectprocessisdisplayedandcanbeupdated,asneeded.

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3.2.2

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CheckProjectPreferences

1. ClickontheSetProjectPreferencesicontoreviewandupdatetheCalculations,
Defaults,andotherpreferences.fortheproject.ClickSaveorSaveandCloseto
applyanychanges.

3.2.3

EnterProjectNotebookTopics

1. SelecttheNotebooktab.ClickAssignNotebookTopic.

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2. ClickontheDescriptionbutton.EnterthetopicdescriptionandclickOKto
save.

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3.2.4

EnterProjectCodes

ProjectCodesarealsousedformanagementofprojectsandcanassistwithdashboard
filtersandotherreportingrequirements.
1. SelecttheCodestabandclickAssignProjectCodestoselecttheProject
Codesfortheproject.

2. Oncetheprojectcodesareassigned,theywillappearlikethis:

NOTE:CheckfortheOpen/Closestatusofaproject.Toensurethatonlyone
projectisopen.ClickonActions,CloseAll.Thenselecttheprojecttoopenand
clickonActions,OpenProjecttoopenoneproject.

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3.3 Add/UpdateActivities
Aftertheprojectisopened,clickonActivitiestobeginupdatingtheprojectschedule.
ThefirsttimeActivitiesareaccessed,youwillseethisdialogbox.ClickDonotshow
thisagainandClosetoclosethedialogbox.

3.3.1

UpdateToolbars

Beforeupdatingtheschedule,checkthetoolbaricons.Thetoolbariscustomizable
andthedefaultsettingsmaynotincludeallactions,view,andedittoolbaricons.

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Updatedtoolbarsomeiconsaregrayedoutwhentheaction/view/editisnot
available,basedonthecurrentselection.

3.3.2

AddWBSandActivities

1. ClicktheAddWBSElementicontoaddanotherprojectgrouping.Usethe
AddActivityicontoaddanactivitytotheschedule.(Orrightclickonanactivity
andselectAddActivity.)Theactivityisautonumbered,butcanbemodifiedIn
theActivityIDcolumn.EnterActivityID,ActivityName,OriginalDuration,Activity
Type(MilestoneorTaskDependent),andCalendar.Savechanges.

FullScreenModeallowstheprojectscheduleviewtofillthescreentoviewmore
oftheschedule.

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3.3.3

UpdateActivityDuration

1. Updatethedurationforeachoftheactivitiestoreflectthenumberofdays
requiredforeachactivity.EnterthedurationeitherintheActivityTable(columns)
orintheActivityDetails(tabs).ClicktheSaveicontosavethechanges.(Planned
DurationisthesameasOriginalDuration.)

3.3.4

Add/ModifyRelationships

IntheActivityView,relationshipsbetweenactivitiescanbecreatedby(1)assigning
relationshipsintheActivityDetails(PredecessororSuccessortab)or(2)by
draggingrelationshiplinesintheGanttChartviewor(3)LinkActivitiesby
selectingactivitiesinsequence.
3.3.4.1 EditPredecessororSuccessor
1. ClickontheactivityandselectPredecessororSuccessortab.ClickAssign
andselectthedependentactivity.ClickCloseandthentheSavebuttonto
applythechanges.

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NOTE:Ifrelationshiplinesdontshow,checktheShow/HideRelationshipLines
setting.

3.3.4.2 DragRelationshipLines
1. Selecttheactivitybar.Rtclickonthebar.SelectCreateRelationship.The
relationshiplineisvisible.Clickthebaranddragthelinetothesuccessoractivity.
Clickonthewhitesquareatthestartofthebar.

2. Savethechanges.
3.3.4.3 LinkActivities
1. Uselinkactivitiestocreaterelationships.Selecttheactivitiestobelinked.
RightclickontheactivityandclickLinkselectedactivities.
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2. FinishStartrelationshipsarecreatedinsequence.

3. Savethechanges.

3.3.5

AddActivityConstraints

InadditiontotheoverallProjectMustFinishbydate(projectconstraint),constraints
canbeaddedtotheactivitiestoindicatespecificactivitiesthatareconstrainedby
externalfactors.Constraintsshouldbeusedwithcautionas,insomecases,theymay
overridetheschedulelogic.
1. TheActivityViewViewSchedulebyWBScontainsacolumnforthePrimary
ConstraintandthePrimaryConstraintDate.Doubleclickinthecelltoassign
aconstraintandconstraintdate.

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3.3.6

AdditionalProjectData

ProjectNotebookTopics,Resources,Codes,Issues,Risks,etccanbeaddedeitherinthe
ActivityDetailstabsorcolumnscanbeaddedintheActivityTabletoincludethis
information.

3.3.7

CalculatetheSchedule

1. ClickthescheduleiconorselectF9onthekeyboard.Thiswillcalculatethe
schedulebasedonthedurationsenteredabove.

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2. ChecktheDataDatetoequalthePlannedStartdate.ClickSchedule.

3. Theschedulewillbecalculatedandtheschedulinglogwilldisplay(ifchecked).

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4 ProjectWorkspace
TheProjectWorkspaceisadashboardcreatedforeachProject.Thedefault
workspacecanbemodifiedandwillappearforallusersofthatproject.

4.1 CustomizeProjectWorkspace
1. ClickonWorkspace,Customizetomodifytheworkspace.

2. SelecttheContent(typically,ProjectStatistics,RisksandIssues(ifused),Project
Notebooks,Milestones)CustomPortletscanbeaddedforspecificwebsites,
ProjectCollaborationrequiresworkflow,andProjectPerformanceisgenerally
associatedwithsomeearnedvaluecalculations.)Savetheselections.

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3. GotoLayouttabandconfiguretheWorkspacelayout.ClickSaveandClose.

4. CustomizetheProjectStatisticstoaddthecolumns.ClickCustomizeinthe
ProjectStatisticsportlet.

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5. TheMilestoneStatusportletenablesyoutoviewallprojectmilestones
completedorduewithinaspecifiednumberofdaysbeforeandafterthecurrent
date.Thedefaultsettingforthemilestonestatusis10daysforbothsettings.The
recommendedsettingis30days.ClickCustomizeintheWorkspace.

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5 ProjectBaseline
5.1 CreateBaseline
Oncetheschedulehasbeenupdated,aBaselinecanbeaddedfortheschedule.(A
BaselineisacopyofthecurrentscheduleatanypointintimetheBaselinefunction
replacessavingscheduleversionsandensuresthattheprojectscheduleisalways
themostcurrent.)Multiplebaselinescanbeaddedtoaprojectschedule,butinP6
Web,onlyonebaselinecanbeassignedforcomparisonpurposesatanyonetime.
1. IntheActivitieswindow,SelecttheDefineBaselinesiconorActions,Define
Baselines.

2. SelectAddBaseline.AbaselineisaddeddefaultnameistheProjectNameB1

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1. AssigntheBaselinetype.NametheBaseline,AssignaTypeandclickSave.Close
thedialogbox.SelectBaselinesagainandtheDataDateispopulatedforthe
baseline.

5.2 AssignBaseline
1. SelectthebaselinetobeusedintheActivityTableandGanttChartbarsfor
comparison.AssigntheProjectBaselineandthePrimaryBaseline.Click
Save.

UsingtheActivityViewCompareBaseline,thecurrentschedulecanbecomparedto
theassignedbaselineschedule.

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6 ProjectProgressUpdates
6.1 EnterActuals
1. LogintoP6.Opentheproject.SelectActivitiesandopentheview
ProgressUpdates.
2. ForCompletedActivities(includingmilestones),enterActualStartand
ActualFinishdatesdirectlyinthecolumns.(Milestoneswillhaveeitheran
ActualStart,forStartMilestones,orActualFinishforFinishMilestones).
3. ForInProgressActivities,enterActualStartandeitherRemainingDuration
orExpectedFinishdate.
4. SelecttheSavebutton.

5. IfResourcesareassignedtotheactivities,updatetheactualunitsinthe
ActivityDetailsAssignmentstab.
6. SelecttheSavebuttontosavethechanges.
Oncetheactualprogresshasbeenapplied,recalculatetheschedule(advancethe
datadate)andopentheBaselineComparisonviewtocompareplannedvsactual.

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7 ActivityViews
Theprojectschedule(Activities)viewscanbemodifiedbyeachusertocreateuser
activityviews.
IntheActivitieswindowforeachproject,theActivityViewselectionislocatedinthe
upperrightsectionofthescreen.
Globalviewsareavailabletoallusers.Onlyadminuserscancreate/modifyglobal
views.Thesearetypicallyviewsthatalluserswillneedtoperformspecificfunctions.
Selectaviewbyclickingonthearrowintheviewselectionwindow.
Customizeaviewbyselectingthemenunexttotheselectiondropdown.

Viewscanbecustomizedby:Columns,Grouping,Filters,Bars,GanttChart,Activity
Network,andAccess(whichuserscanaccesstheview).(Applywillmakethe
changes,butkeepthedialogboxopen.OKwillapplythechangesandclosethe
dialogbox.)

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Createanewviewbystartingwithaviewthatisclosetotheoneyouwanttocreate.
SelectSaveViewasandrenametheview.ThenselectCustomizeViewandpick
thecolumns,grouping,filters,andbars.SelecttheAccesstabtomaketheview
availabletojustasingleuserorpickotheruserswhocanaccesstheview.

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