PRIMAVERA P6 R19.

12 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Lesson 3: Navigating in Primavera

Purpose and Objectives
In this lesson, you will be introduced to the basic elements of P6. At the
completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
✓ Login to Primavera
✓ Open an existing project
✓ Navigate the Home and Activities windows
✓ Open an existing layout
✓ Customize a layout
✓ Save a layout

Introduction to the Training Scenario

In this training we will create a project using one of the templates created. We
will set up a schedule based on information provided to us in this manual.
There are many factors that will determine the makeup of the project. We will
discuss these factors, review examples and determine the structure for our
project.
We will take this project through two cycles of updates. General project level
reporting will be needed at the completion of the updates.
For training purposes, we are the Project Manager for the institution we are
working for. Our security rights will be based on this scenario.

Starting P6 Professional
Before using P6, you must enter a valid login name and password.

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Login Dialog Box

Steps:
Choose Primavera Project Manager
Icon to start the application.
✓ Note: This procedure will be
published for Citrix use
when activated.
1. Type a Login Name <Admin> and
password <admin>
✓ Note: if the user name and
password is changed, please
contact your network
administrator.
2. Click OK.

The Workspace
When you first open a project, the Home workspace displays the main functions
available in the module. For example, click Activities to focus on activity data
and customize layouts. The workspace for each main window consists of a menu
bar, navigation bar, directory bar, toolbar, and command bar.

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Opening an Existing Project

Open Project Dialog Box
Lists all the projects you have access to open. By default, the projects are
grouped by EPS.

✓ Open a single project, indicated by .

✓ Open a single Enterprise Project Structure (EPS) node, indicated by .
• All projects under the node will be opened.
✓ Open multiple projects under the same or different EPS nodes.
• Press Ctrl + click to select more than one project.

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Steps:
1. Select File, Open, Highlight a project < Project X>.
2. Click Open.

Activities Window
The Activities window is used to create, view, and edit activities for open projects.
It can be divided into a top and bottom layout.

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1. Tool Bar – Icons that allow you to format the layout

2. Command Bar – Options for editing Data
3. Gantt Chart – Graphical display of activities
4. Activity Details – View/Edit detailed information
about the activity
5. Horizontal Split Bar – Extends information on top and
bottom
6. Vertical Split Bar – Extends split view in top layout
7. Activity Table – Activities in spreadsheet
8. Layout Option Bar – Menu of Available formatting
options.

What is a Layout?
A layout is a customizable view of project information. To customize a layout to
meet specific needs, you can choose from a wide range of project information,
columns, colors, fonts, and activity groupings, and you can display these data
in the top and/or bottom layouts.

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For example, show a Gantt chart in the top layout and an Activity Table in the
bottom layout. Each time you change the way data are presented in the top and
bottom layouts; you create a unique layout. The module automatically prompts
you to save a layout when you close it, allowing you to define a unique name for
it so you can use the layout again with the current project or a different project.

The Activities window provides the option of viewing data in top/bottom layouts.
✓ Choose one of the following layout types to show on top:
• Activity Table
• Gantt Chart
• Activity Usage Spreadsheet
• Activity Network
✓ Choose one of the following layout types to show on bottom:
• Activity Details
• Activity Table
• Gantt Chart
• Activity Usage Spreadsheet
• Resource Usage Spreadsheet
• Activity Usage Profile
• Resource Usage Profile
• Trace Logic

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Opening an Existing Layout

You can choose from a number of
layouts to present your project
from different perspectives. This
allows you to spend more time
managing projects instead of
repeatedly preparing the displays.
✓ You can create your own
layouts or use global
layouts provided by your
company.
Steps:
1. From the Layout Options
bar, choose Layout, Open.
2. When prompted to save changes to the layout, click No.
3. Select a layout to apply to the project <Classic WBS Layout>.
4. Click Open.

Using Hint Help

Hint Help provides onscreen help
for various items. Click on any
predefined column to view a
definition of that field.
Steps:
1. From the Layout Options
bar, choose Hint Help.
2. Place the mouse over a
column <Original
Duration>.
3. Click the tack to keep the onscreen help in one location.
4. From the Layout Options bar, choose Hint Help to disable the onscreen
help dialog box.

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Customizing a Layout
By creating custom layouts, you can easily view data in a manner specific to your
needs. The Activities window can be customized and saved as a layout. Saving
the layouts for future use allows you to quickly retrieve information.
The Layout Options bar is a centralized menu for layout customization. You can
perform key layout changes from this options bar.
The following list contains the layout elements that are customizable.
✓ Bars
✓ Bar Chart Options
✓ Columns
✓ Timescale
✓ Table font and colors
✓ Row height
✓ Filters
✓ Grouping and Sorting
✓ Top/bottom layouts
Selecting Columns
You are able to select which columns
are visible in the Activities window,
as well as the order in which they
appear from left to right.
✓ Use single arrows to
move highlighted data
items.
✓ Use double arrows to
move all data items.
✓ Use up/down arrows to
configure the order of
the data items.

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Steps:
1. From the Layout Options bar, choose Columns.
2. Click on the Plus sign by Activity Codes
3. Select a data item to display in the Activity Table <Notes>.
4. Click the single right arrow key to move the item into the Selected Options
column.
5. Use the up/down arrows to position the order.
6. Click OK.
Displaying Activity Details
The display of information in the Activity window may be customized.
✓ The width of the columns may be adjusted to accommodate the data
being displayed.
✓ Activity Details display detailed information for an activity
highlighted in the Activity Table or Activity Network.
• Use the tabs to enter and edit activity information.
Steps:
Place your cursor between the two column titles <Activity Name and Original
Duration> until the cursor changes to a double arrow, and then double click.
From the Layout Options bar, choose Show on Bottom, Activity Details.
Selecting Detail Tabs
✓ The tabs displayed in Activity Details are customizable.
Steps:
1. From the Tool bar Options,
choose Bottom Layout Options.
2. From the Display Tabs column,
select a data item <WPs &
Docs>.
3. Click the left arrow key to
remove it from the list.
4. Click OK.

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Saving Layouts
✓ Layouts can be saved and shared with other users to facilitate
project communication.
✓ Layout, Save saves changes to the existing layout.
✓ Layout, Save As prompts you to save the layout with a new name.
✓ Layouts can be global or user-specific.
• Current User – only the user
creating the layout will have
access to it in the future.
• Project – all licensed users will
have access to the layout. This
requires an enterprise security
level.

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Steps:
1. From the Layout Options bar, choose
Layout, Save As.
2. Type the Layout Name <My Layout>.
3. Click in the Available to field, Select
Current User.
4. Click Save.

✓ The layout name now shows as “My Layout”

Closing a Project
You should close the project when you are
finished working with it. You will be prompted
to verify that you want to close the project.
Data is saved automatically or when changes are committed. There is no
project save button or any undo button.
Steps:
1. Choose File, Close All.
2. When prompted, click Yes.

Note: Closing the project takes you back to the Home window.

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