Oracle Primavera P6: From Beginner to Professional

📋 Course Contents

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1 Module 1: P6 Overview & Interface

1.1 What is Primavera P6?

Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM (Enterprise Project Portfolio Management) is the industry-standard software for scheduling large, complex construction and engineering projects.

1.2 P6 Versions

Version	Type	Best For
P6 Professional	Desktop (Client-Server)	Large enterprises, multi-user
P6 EPPM Web	Browser-based	Remote access, portfolio view
P6 Cloud	SaaS	No IT infrastructure

1.3 P6 Interface Layout

• Menu Bar: File, Edit, View, Tools, etc.
• Command Bar: Quick access buttons
• Directory Bar: Projects, EPS, WBS navigation
• Activity Table: Main data grid
• Gantt Chart: Visual schedule
• Details Panel: Selected activity details

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2 Module 2: EPS, OBS, and Project Setup

2.1 Enterprise Project Structure (EPS)

EPS is the hierarchical folder structure for organizing projects:

2.2 Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS)

OBS defines responsibility hierarchy:

• Links EPS nodes to responsible managers
• Controls access rights
• Used for resource roll-up reporting

2.3 Creating a New Project

1. File → New → Project
2. Select EPS node location
3. Enter Project ID (unique, e.g., "PRJ-001")
4. Enter Project Name
5. Set Planned Start date
6. Set Must Finish By (optional constraint)
7. Select Rate Type (for cost calculation)
8. Assign Responsible Manager (OBS)

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3 Module 3: WBS and Activities

3.1 Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

WBS divides the project into manageable sections:

• Hierarchical decomposition of work
• Required before adding activities
• Used for filtering, grouping, reporting
• Each activity belongs to one WBS element

3.2 Creating WBS

1. Project → WBS
2. Add top-level elements (phases)
3. Add sub-elements as needed
4. Apply consistent coding (e.g., 1.0, 1.1, 1.2...)

3.3 Activity Types

Type	Description	When to Use
Task Dependent	Duration fixed, resources calculate hours	Most construction activities
Resource Dependent	Duration calculated from resource availability	Limited resources drive duration
Level of Effort (LOE)	Duration tied to predecessor/successor	Supervision, project management
Start Milestone	Zero-duration start point	Project start, phase start
Finish Milestone	Zero-duration end point	Key deliverables, handovers
WBS Summary	Roll-up of WBS children	Summary reporting only

3.4 Duration Types

Duration Type	What Changes When Resources Change
Fixed Duration & Units	Units/Time stays same (most common)
Fixed Units	Duration changes with units
Fixed Duration & Units/Time	Total units changes
Fixed Units/Time	Duration changes

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4 Module 4: Relationships & Constraints

4.1 Relationship Types

Type	Meaning	Example
FS (Finish-to-Start)	B starts after A finishes	Pour concrete → Wait → Cure
SS (Start-to-Start)	B starts when A starts	Excavation → Shoring (parallel)
FF (Finish-to-Finish)	B finishes when A finishes	Testing → Documentation
SF (Start-to-Finish)	B finishes when A starts	Rarely used

4.2 Lag and Lead

• Lag (+): Delay between activities (e.g., FS+3d = wait 3 days)
• Lead (-): Overlap activities (e.g., FS-2d = start 2 days before predecessor finishes)

4.3 Constraint Types

Constraint	Effect	Example Use
As Late As Possible	Pushes to latest possible date	Default for non-critical
Start On	Forces exact start date	Contractual milestones
Finish On	Forces exact finish date	Contractual deadlines
Start On or Before	Must not start after date	Soft deadlines
Mandatory Start/Finish	Ignores logic, forces date	⚠️ Use sparingly!

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5 Module 5: Calendars

5.1 Calendar Types

Type	Scope	Use
Global	All projects	Company standard calendars
Project	Single project	Project-specific holidays
Resource	Individual resource	Personal leave, availability

5.2 Creating a Calendar

1. Enterprise → Calendars
2. Click Add (or copy existing)
3. Name the calendar (e.g., "6-Day Week")
4. Set Work Hours/Day
5. Define Workdays (check/uncheck days)
6. Add Exceptions (holidays, special days)

5.3 Common Calendar Setups

• 5-Day Week: Mon-Fri, 8 hrs/day = 40 hrs/week
• 6-Day Week: Sat-Thu, 8 hrs/day (Middle East)
• 7-Day Week: All days work (shutdown, emergency)
• Night Shift: 10pm-6am working hours

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6 Module 6: Scheduling & Critical Path

6.1 Running the Scheduler

Press F9 or Tools → Schedule to calculate the schedule.

6.2 Scheduling Options

• Data Date: The "today" for calculation
• Schedule Mode: Retained Logic vs Progress Override
• Activity Option: Using relationships, constraints
• Resource Leveling: Auto-level or manual

6.3 Critical Path Method (CPM)

P6 calculates:

Term	Definition
Early Start (ES)	Earliest possible start date
Early Finish (EF)	Earliest possible finish date
Late Start (LS)	Latest start without delaying project
Late Finish (LF)	Latest finish without delaying project
Total Float (TF)	LS - ES (or LF - EF)
Free Float (FF)	Delay without affecting successor ES

6.4 Viewing Critical Path

Apply a filter: View → Filters → Critical

Or highlight critical bars in Gantt: View → Bars → Critical (red color)

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7 Module 7: Resources & Costs

7.1 Resource Types

Type	Unit	Example
Labor	Hours	Carpenter, Engineer
Non-Labor	Hours	Crane, Mixer
Material	Quantity	Concrete m³, Rebar ton

7.2 Creating Resources

1. Enterprise → Resources
2. Add Resource Hierarchy (optional)
3. Add Resource with ID, Name, Type
4. Set Max Units/Time (availability)
5. Set Price/Unit for costing

7.3 Assigning Resources

1. Select activity
2. Open Resources tab (or press F7)
3. Click Add Resource
4. Set Budgeted Units (hours or quantity)

7.4 Resource Leveling

When resources are over-allocated (100%+ usage):

1. Tools → Level Resources
2. Set priority rules (earliest start, total float...)
3. Review results - leveling may extend schedule

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8 Module 8: Baselines & Progress Updates

8.1 Creating a Baseline

Baseline = snapshot of the approved schedule for comparison.

1. Project → Maintain Baselines
2. Click Add
3. Select which fields to baseline
4. Name it (e.g., "Contractual Baseline Rev 0")
5. Assign as Primary/Secondary baseline

8.2 Baseline Types

• Project Baseline: Copy of current project data
• User Baseline: Custom selection of dates/costs
• Initial/Primary/Secondary: Display positions (3 max)

8.3 Progress Update Process

8.4 % Complete Types

Type	Calculation
Physical %	User-entered based on site assessment
Duration %	Actual Duration / (Actual + Remaining)
Units %	Actual Units / (Actual + Remaining)

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9 Module 9: Reporting & Layouts

9.1 Layouts

Layouts save your view configuration:

• Columns displayed
• Filters applied
• Grouping/Sorting
• Gantt bar settings

Save: View → Layout → Save As

9.2 Built-in Reports

• Schedule Reports: Activity lists, bar charts
• Resource Reports: Usage, histograms
• Cost Reports: Budget vs actual
• Earned Value: S-curves, EVM metrics

9.3 Export Options

Format	Use
XER	P6 native exchange (best for sharing)
XML	Import to other tools
Excel	Data analysis, custom reporting
PDF	Print layouts, presentations

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🎯 Final Quiz

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