Primavera P6 Training
Primavera P6 training should not be as complex as the program itself. That’s why our schedulers and instructors have created custom P6 training options that are meant to be completed within a couple of days, without needing to install Primavera P6. We have open enrollment for our online P6 training courses, and self-paced training options for those who prefer to learn at their own pace.
Live Instructor-led Virtual Training
Our Virtual training options are typically 8 hours long, and includes time at the end to allow time for questions and one-on-one time with the instructor.
Sessions are broken up into several lectures with corresponding hands-on exercises, and include three breaks. The instructor will explain and demonstrate functions in P6 using video conferencing software, and then the students will be asked to do an exercise in P6. Our virtual courses include access to P6 through our learning environment, so there’s no need to download the software!
Looking for certification? All attendees will be awarded a certificate upon completion of training.
Primavera P6 Professional Basics
This course provides hands-on training for Primavera’s client/server based solution. Participants will gain a thorough background in the concepts of planning and scheduling. Scheduling techniques will be covered. This course leads you through hands-on workshops that create and track an entire project to completion. All workshops and instruction use the three basic elements of project management: schedule, resource and costs.
Attendees will receive a certificate upon completion of training.
| TOPICS COVERED | |
| General Navigation | Schedule Errors (Loops & Lag) |
| Enterprise Project Structure (EPS) | Creating Resources |
| Creating a Project | Assigning Resources |
| Opening and Closing Projects | Expenses |
| Calendars | Analyzing Resources and Costs |
| Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) | Baselines |
| Layouts | Progressing Schedule |
| Adding Activities | Baseline Comparison |
| Renumbering Activity IDs | Exporting |
| Creating Activity Codes | Print Settings |
| Adding Logic | Reports |
| Relationship Types and Lag |
General Navigation
This lesson focuses on the default P6 interface and how to navigate it. We explore the Activities, Projects, and WBS pages, and cover the Title Bar, Menu Bar, toolbars, tables, Gantt Charts and details sections. We also look at making adjustments to the default view by turning toolbars on-and-off, resizing the table, Gantt Chart, and detail sections.
Enterprise Project Structure
This lesson focuses on creating the Enterprise Project Structure, or the EPS, which is a hierarchical structure that can be used to categorize an organization’s projects. Here, we look at how the EPS presents itself on the project page and practice adding new layers to the existing EPS hierarchy.
Creating a Project
This lesson focuses on adding new projects to the P6 database using the EPS created in the previous lesson. We go over using the New Project Wizard to adjust project metadata and create a project. Then, we look at how to use the Projects page and the details section to adjust that metadata as project parameters change.
Opening and Closing Projects
This lesson will look at the different ways of opening and closing projects. We look at opening multiple projects simultaneously and adjusting the access mode, allowing for collaboration with team members. We also look at how to close multiple projects once you’re finished to allow other users access to the updated project.
Calendars
This lesson goes over creating new calendars at the Global, Project, or Resource specific levels. Calendars will determine the workable time frame for the project. While creating a new Project specific calendar, we look at setting the standard work week, adding holidays and exceptions as non-work times, and adjusting the related time periods. Once created, we look at setting the new calendar as the default calendar for the project so all added activities will automatically use it.
Work Breakdown Structure
This lesson focuses on creating the Work Breakdown Structure, or the WBS. The WBS is a categorical hierarchy that allows you to organize your project’s activities in different phases, stages, or levels. On the WBS screen, we practice creating new WBS layers and moving those layers around in the hierarchy. Once completed, the WBS gives us an outline that we can place on the Activities screen, which will aid in adding activities to the project.
Layouts
This lesson focuses on using and creating layouts, which are unique interface configurations that allow you to adjust how data is displayed in P6. Here, we look at creating new layout configurations by adjusting the columns, grouping and sorting, and filters within the Activity Table, the activity bars and timescale within the Gantt chart, and the tabs within the Activity Details section. Once created, we go over saving a layout and switching from one layout to another to quickly adjust the current Activities page view.
Adding Activities
This lesson explores the different ways that activities can be added to the project. We first look at creating activities through the New Activity Wizard, which walks you through adjusting activity metadata. Then, we look at creating activities manually, and using the associated columns and details section to add further specifications for each added activity.
Renumbering Activity IDs
This lesson focuses on some tips and tricks for quickly adjusting activity information for created activities. Specifically, we look at the Renumbering Activity IDs option, which allows you to adjust the IDs of several activities simultaneously. We also go over moving an activity from one WBS layer to another and using the Fill Down tool, which allows you to “fill” data down from one activity to other selected activities.
Creating Activity Codes
This lesson teaches how to create activity codes, which are custom attributes that can be added to activities to classify and categorize them together. Using the Enterprise menu, we focus on creating new activity codes and activity code values. Once created, we look at how to assign activity code values to activities and use those assigned codes to group, sort, and filter data.
Adding Logic
This lesson focuses on tying activities together with relationships, or logic. Adding relationships to activities allows you to determine the sequence in which each activity will be performed and their connections with each other. Following the Critical Path Method of scheduling, we cover adding predecessors and successors to activities, adjusting relationship types, and using the schedule tool to place them all within the project’s timeline.
Relationship Types and Lag
This lesson covers what the Critical Path Method of scheduling is and how it works to assign start and finish dates for each activity. We focus on how the estimated early and late dates can be used to calculate total float. This lesson also covers the use of constraints, the effect of negative float and how to mitigate it by adjusting relationship types, and how to use both negative and positive lag with linked activities.
Schedule Errors (Loops & Lag)
This lesson focuses on how to account for and fix scheduling errors, such as loops in logic or missed activity relationships. We use the Schedule Log to identify schedule errors and correct them as needed.
Creating Resources
This lesson covers creating labor, nonlabor, and material resources that can be assigned to activities to create a cost-loaded schedule. Using the Resources screen, we go over creating new resources, adjusting resource data using the details section, and creating and assigning Roles, which can be used as placeholders for resources later on.
Assigning Resources
This lesson goes over assigning resources to activities and tracking their costs and units using the Budgeted Total Cost and Budgeted Labor Units columns. We also look at assigning roles and placeholders and staffing those roles with resources as the project progresses.
Expenses
This lesson focuses on Expenses, which are one-time Project specific costs that can be used to load the schedule. We look at creating and assigning Expenses two different ways: using the details section on the Activities page to add expenses individually and using the Project Expenses page to add lists of expenses at once.
Analyzing Resources and Costs
This lesson focuses on analyzing unit, cost, and resource usage within the project. We look at the Activity Usage Spreadsheet and Activity Usage Profile to view cost and unit data over the project’s timeline. Using the Resource Usage Profile, we also go over tracking resource usage over time to ensure that the assigned resources are not over or under allocated at any point in the project.
Baselines
This lesson teaches how to create a Baseline to save a copy of the project schedule at its current point in time. Baselines can be used later on to track and compare project updates to ensure that the project is running on time and within budget. We cover using the Maintain Baselines window to create new baselines, adjust baseline data, and restore previous baselines if needed later on.
Progressing Schedule
This lesson focuses on performing status updates to progress the schedule once the actual project has begun. We look at using the Progress Spotlight tool to view specific activities that need to be updated on both the activity table and the Gantt Chart. Once identified, we look at updating activity statuses using the Status tab of the details section to mark whether the activity has started, whether it has finished, or whether it is in progress with a remaining duration.
Baseline Comparison
This lesson covers comparing the planned dates and durations from the original baseline with the actual dates and durations from the current schedule. We cover how to assign baselines using the Assign Baseline window and view both baseline and actual schedule data from the activity table and the Gantt Chart.
Exporting
At this point, we have a completed project file, and this lesson covers exporting the P6 project file to share with other users and scheduling applications. Using the Export window, we look at exporting different project data to a variety of different file types, such as Primavera P6 XER, Primavera EPPM XML, and Microsoft Project XML. Additionally, this lesson covers importing projects into the P6 database from other applications.
Print Settings
Often, contracts require you to print project information, and this lesson looks at how to print project schedules. Focusing on the Print Preview, Print Setup, and Page Setup windows, we go over viewing and adjusting project data to ensure that the printed copy only includes the needed information.
Reports
To finish up the course, this lesson focuses on creating and running Global or Project specific reports. Reports are tabular, lean, non-graphical displays of data that can be customized to display only the needed project information. Here, we use the Reports window and the New Report Wizard to create a custom report, save it to the database, and run it on the open project.
Primavera P6 Professional Advanced
This course builds off skills learned in the P6 Fundamentals course, exploring more in-depth topics in Primavera P6. This course leads you through hands-on workshops to setup P6 with user administration, resource and cost load the project, use advanced scheduling tools and manage schedule health. Attending Primavera P6 Fundamentals training prior to attending this course is recommended.
Attendees will receive a certificate upon completion of training.
| TOPICS COVERED | |
| New User Setup | Codes |
| Organizational Breakdown Structure | Activity Steps |
| Security Profiles | Suspend & Resume Activities |
| Resource Calculation Settings | Risks |
| Unit & Cost Histograms | Thresholds |
| Resource Leveling | Issues |
| Resource Curves | Schedule Comparison (P6 Visualizer) |
| Bucket Planning | Multiple Float Paths |
| User Defined Fields | Calculating Percent Complete |
| Reflections | Earned Value Analysis |
| Global Change |
New User Setup
This lesson dives into the administrative side of the program to set up the database for multiple users to use. Here, we will cover creating new users and assigning security profiles and permissions to allow for project collaboration.
Organizational Breakdown Structure
This lesson focuses on the last step of P6 implementation: creating the Organizational Breakdown Structure, or the OBS. The OBS is a global hierarchy of the managers responsible for the projects in your enterprise that can be used to adjust security access for different types of data within the database. Here, wel cover creating new OBS levels, associating users with them, and assigning them to EPS layers, WBS layers, Issues, and Thresholds.
Security Profiles
This lesson will focus on creating and assigning security profiles to allow different users to perform different functions within the program. Here, we look at Global and Project security profiles, which allow you to adjust exactly what users are able to do within each project and the application as a whole.
Resource Calculation Settings
This lesson focuses on how the resource calculation settings from User Preferences affect assigning additional resources to activities. Here, we look at the differences between preserving and recalculating the units, durations, and units/time for multiple resource assignments. Additionally, we look at the Duration Type for activities and how different types adjust the effect of assigning additional resources to activities.
Unit & Cost Histograms
This lesson covers analyzing unit and cost data to ensure that the project is within budget and the resources are allocated appropriately. Here, we look at the Activity Usage Spreadsheet, Activity Usage Profile, and Resource Usage Profile, each of which displays unit, cost, and resource usage over the project’s timeline. We also specifically look at adjusting the histogram settings for the profiles to create filters by resource type and adjust the bars and curves that display.
Resource Leveling
This lesson focuses on the Resource Leveling tool, which can be used to automatically adjust the project schedule to fix resource overallocation. If you have a resource assigned to work more hours than they are able, the Leveler will move assigned activities to another date when they have more availability. Here, we cover setting leveling priorities and adjusting leveling settings to level the project exactly as needed.
Resource Curves
This lesson covers using resource curves to account for uneven distributions of work. We go over using the Resource Assignments page to view daily resource usage and adjusting this usage by applying default resource curves. Then, we cover creating a unique Resource Curve that can be used to distribute units and costs among the assigned activities in any manner needed.
Future Bucket Planning
This lesson focuses on another method for accounting for uneven work distributions: manually entering them in with future bucket planning. Here, we go over how to use the Resource Assignments page to manually enter resource usage per day. This allows us to be more accurate when accounting for resource usage over time.
User Defined Fields
This lesson covers creating user defined fields, or UDFs, that allow you to add custom fields and values to data in the database. We explore creating and using each type of UDFs available, including text, start date, finish date, cost, number, integer, and indicator types. Once created, we also look at adding columns for custom UDFs and assigning different values to activities accordingly.
Reflections
When working with a schedule, there are some times that you may need to experiment with schedule changes that you may not want to make permanent. This lesson focuses on using the Reflections tool, which allows you to create what-if copies of the project schedule. Once created, we also look at how to merge the reflection with the current project schedule to make the project changes permanent.
Global Change
This lesson teaches how to use the Global Change tool, which allows you to make changes to multiple activities, resources, and expenses simultaneously. Here, we look at using the default global change definitions, such as Increase Durations, and their effect on the overall project. We also cover creating and using unique definitions, allowing you to make any change to any kind of data within the program – such as increasing the units of only specific assigned resources.
Codes
Codes are categorical attributes that can be created and assigned to capture additional information that can be used to group, filter, sort, and report on. In this lesson, we look at creating project codes, activity codes, resource codes and role codes. Once created, we look at assigning code values to specific types of project data and use them to categorize and classify data types.
Activity Steps
Activity steps allow the scheduler to break down a project’s activity into smaller units of work. In this lesson, we cover how to set up the activity setting to work with steps, how to add individual activity steps, and how these steps can contribute to the activity’s overall percent complete. We also cover creating Activity Step Templates, which allow you to save steps as a template to be used on future, similar activities.
Suspend & Resume Activities
This lesson goes over using the Suspend and Resume fields in the Status tab to identify an activity that needs to pause work and resume it at some point in the project schedule. Additionally, we also look at how to account for these suspensions on the Gantt Chart by creating “necked” activity bars for non-work periods.
Risks
Risks are uncertain events or conditions that have the potential to negatively or positively impact the project. In this lesson, we focus on using P6’s Risk Management tool to add potential risks, manage their details, and view quantitative risk analysis scores. After, we look at how to account for risk responses and view the effect of the response on the project as a whole.
Thresholds
This lesson focuses on creating and using thresholds, which are user-defined triggers that identify when the status of an activity has exceeded or is close to moving beyond an acceptable range. Here, we cover how to create a threshold by setting threshold values and choosing a threshold parameter. After, we cover using the Monitor Thresholds tool to view any activities that have exceeded the created threshold.
Issues
Issues are problems encountered within a project plan that require attention or corrective action by project team members. In this lesson, we focus on using the Issues page to add potential issues or opportunities, manage their details, and track their effects on the project. Here, we also go over the Issue Navigator, which quickly links you to issues and data related to the issues within the project.
Schedule Comparison in P6 Visualizer
This lesson focuses on the successor to the Claim Digger tool that was featured in older versions of P6: the Schedule Comparison tool. Here, we cover how to open and use the P6 Visualizer’s Schedule Comparison to create a comparison report for two projects, or a single project and its baselines. After creation, we also cover how to Save this customized report to run it on future projects.
Multiple Float Paths
In Primavera P6, the critical path is the sequence of activities that represent the longest path through the project and determines the shortest possible duration. In this lesson, we look at how to create multiple float paths, allowing you to account for the second and third longest paths, along with the critical path.
Calculating Percent Complete
This lesson focuses on the use and effects of the three percent complete types: Physical Percent Complete, Duration Percent Complete, and Units Percent Complete. Here, we look at how each of these individual percent complete types work, what types of activities they should be used with, and how status updates should be performed for each.
Earned Value Analysis
Earned Value management is a technique to measure performance and progress for your project. This lesson teaches how to perform basic earned value analysis with Primavera P6. Here, we cover the preliminary settings that must be used to allow for earned value, and how to use related analysis columns, such as the Schedule Performance Index and the Cost Performance Index.
Self-paced, Hands-on Training
Primavera P6 Professional Basics
Sample Lecture and Exercise Set
Primavera P6 Basics is our hands-on, self-paced course that is based on our live instructor-led class. Learn the fundamentals of Primavera P6 Professional, the leading CPM scheduling and resource management software tool. Your enrollment provides access to this course for 60 days. It is organized into a series of lessons, hands-on exercises, and a final exam, all of which are viewed and performed within our learning environment; there is no software to install or exercise to download. A certificate is available by request after successful completion.
Already enrolled? Login to access our training environmnent.
| TOPICS COVERED | |
| General Navigation and Menus | Schedule Errors |
| Enterprise Project Structure | Creating Resources |
| New Project Wizard | Assigning Resources |
| Opening and Closing a Project | Expenses |
| Calendars | Unit and Cost Views |
| Work Breakdown Structure | Baselines |
| Layouts | Updating |
| Adding Activities | Schedule Comparison |
| Renumbering Activity IDs | Exporting |
| Creating and Assigning Activity Codes | Print Settings |
| Adding Logic | Reports |
| Relationship Types and Lag |
Primavera P6 Professional Advanced
Primavera P6 Advanced is our hands-on, self-paced course that is based on our 2 day, instructor-led class. Learn advanced concepts and techniques to hone your skills and knowledge of Primavera P6 Professional, the leading CPM scheduling and resource management software tool. Your enrollment provides access to this course for 60 days. It is organized into a series of lessons, and hands-on exercises, all of which are viewed and performed within our learning environment; there is no software to install or exercise to download. A certificate is available by request after successful completion.
Already enrolled? Login to access our training environmnent.
| TOPICS COVERED | |
| User Preferences | Activity Steps |
| New User Setup & Security Profiles | Suspend & Resume Activities |
| Organizational Breakdown Structure | Constraints |
| Resource Loading Review | Managing Negative Float |
| Resource Calculation Settings | Risks |
| Unit & Cost Histograms | Thresholds |
| Resource Leveling | Issues |
| Resource Curves | Out of Sequence Activities |
| Future Bucket Planning | Trace Logic |
| User Defined Fields | Schedule Comparison in P6 Visualizer |
| Reflections | Multiple Float Paths |
| Global Change | Calculating Percent Complete |
| Project Codes | Earned Value Analysis |
| Fast Tracking & Crashing |
Custom Training Options
Virtual P6 Training
In addition to our self-paced and open enrollment training, we offer custom P6 training options tailored to you and your company’s needs. Our instructors are available to host virtual private or group classes. Custom courses can be anywhere from a couple hours to a couple days depending on your needs, and the material is based on a discovery call with one of our instructors. For more information on custom P6 training options please reach out to us!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a virtual training course?
A virtual training course is a training that is conducted over a Zoom conference call. Users are able to watch and listen to the instructor as they work through the program. After each lesson is an activity, in which the attendees can get hands-on practice within the program. Students can communicate with the instructor throughout the training via their microphone, sharing their screen, or using Zoom’s chat function.
How long is the training course?
This is a 1 day course, with a duration of 8 hours at the most. Some courses may run shorter, depending on attendee’s needs.
What time is the training course?
Our open enrollment courses are scheduled from 8am – 4pm, PST. Private courses can be tailored to times that work for both the trainer and the attendees.
Are there any breaks throughout the training?
Yes, standard courses have several breaks scheduled throughout: a fifteen minute break in the morning, an hour-long lunch break at noon, and a fifteen minute break in the afternoon. Additional breaks can be added to the course as needed.
Do I need to have Primavera P6 Professional installed on my computer for this training?
No. This course is conducted within Taradigm’s training environment via remote desktop connection, so there is no need to have P6 installed on your computer.
Do I need a webcam or a microphone?
No. For this course, we keep webcams off. Microphones are recommended but not required – if you do not have a microphone, you can still communicate with the instructor using the chat function in Zoom.
Can I share my screen with my instructor?
Absolutely! We often utilize screen sharing to assist with walkthroughs and perform any troubleshooting.
Can I ask the instructor questions during the training?
Absolutely! This is an interactive, hands-on course, and students are encouraged to ask as many questions as needed throughout the course.
Will I receive any additional resources after the course is finished?
Yes, the instructor will provide attendees with a Primavera P6 training manual that reviews the topics covered in the course. Additionally, the instructor will be available to answer any follow-up questions via email as needed.
Does the course include a certificate?
Yes. Attendees will receive a certificate upon completion of training.
Can I book a private course for my organization? Or a private, 1-on-1 course?
Yes, please feel free to contact us here to discuss.
