A schedule contains the activities, WBS, dates, calendars, and relationships for a project’s plan. A project can hold multiple schedules, including reference baselines and successive updates.

Import a schedule

Open the project’s Files page and start an import. Upload a Primavera P6 XER or Microsoft Project XML/MPP file, review the available import options, and choose Import.

The available steps depend on the file and import mode. Some imports include selection of schedules, columns, or information to copy from an existing schedule. Review these choices before committing the import.

Source applications do not all calculate schedules the same way. Import coverage and recalculation differences are documented in P6 compatibility and Microsoft Project compatibility.

Current schedules and baselines

Current identifies the project’s active working schedule. Selecting a different current schedule transfers that designation; it does not delete the previous schedule.

Baseline identifies a reference schedule used when assessing change. An Update label identifies a schedule’s place in the project’s update sequence.

Keep meaningful names alongside these labels. For example, “Contract baseline,” “August update,” and “September working copy” explain the schedule’s purpose to other team members.

Work in the Gantt view

The grid and timeline show two views of the same schedule. WBS rows organize activities. Activities carry durations, dates, progress, and other fields; relationships connect their timing.

Use views, columns, sorting, filters, and grouping to focus on the work you need to review. If an activity appears to be missing, check the active filters and collapsed groups before assuming it was removed.

Editing requires the appropriate project role and licensing. Imported dates may change when the schedule is recalculated. Review key milestones and driving relationships after changes that affect the plan.

Understand the status date

The status date, also called the data date, is the reporting point for the schedule. Remaining work is evaluated in relation to that point when the schedule is recalculated.

Schedule dates are interpreted in the project’s scheduling context. Traveling or viewing the schedule from a different timezone does not shift activity dates or the reporting cutoff.

Progress and recalculation

Physical percent complete is a manual measure. Entering 100% on an active activity does not by itself mark the activity complete; use the activity’s completion status and actual dates. Completing an activity normalizes its physical percent to 100%.

Level of Effort activities have special calculation rules, including restrictions on physical-percent edits before they start. See CPM calculation.

For team reporting, use the Progress Update workflow to collect proposed changes and apply them to the schedule chosen by the manager.