Lookahead Filters in Primavera P6

Lookahead Filters in Primavera P6
Step 1 – Finding Your Footing With Filters

Start by opening a project plan. You can’t build any filters in
Primavera unless you have a project open.
Click the Filters icon on the toolbar OR goto Views -> Filters
in the menus. Click New to add a new custom filter.
Step 2 – Creating A Custom Filter In P6

Name your filter “1 Month Lookahead Basic”. Now to do the
programming part.
Click in the empty field in the “Parameter” column. You
should get a dropdown box with a long list of field names. In
this list, find the entry “Start” – which is the column that
represent activity start dates.
Step 4 – Using Primavera’s Built-In Date

Variables
When building a filter that uses a range (as in our choice
from Step 3), we’ll have to specify an upper value and a
lower value for the range in question. Then in the next
column “Value” we’ll specify the lower value of the range.
Click in the “Value” column – you should see another button
become available. If you click it, you’ll see the menu below.
The choices in the menu represent some of Primavera ‘s
built-in date variables. For example, the variable PS
represents the Project’s Start Date that was specified when
the project was first created. For our filter, we’ll use the
variable DD – the project’s Data Date.
Now click in the “High Value” column. This type we’re going
to type in a short formula. Type in “DD+1M”. This formula
sets the upper range to “1 month more than our current Data
Date”. For example, if our current Data Date is March 3rd,
this formula would set the upper range to March 3rd + 1
month which is April 3rd.
NOTE: If you hit Enter after typing in DD+1M, you will likely
have a new line added to your screen. Go ahead and delete
that line by clicking the “Delete” button on the right.
Step 5 – Viewing The Filtered Results

Click OK to lock in your custom filter. You should notice that
your new filter is checked on. Click OK to view your project
with the filter on.
The filter should show you a short list of activities scheduled

to start in the next month (assuming your Data Date is set to
reflect the last status date and you are statusing on a
consistent basis). In our sample project, we’re only showing
2 activities planning to get started in the next month.
A lookahead report can be essential for focusing on soon-to-

be-starting activities. You could easily print this layout or
create a Report from this data to discuss at your weekly
project meeting.
Creating a Better Lookahead Filter

in Primavera P6
The basic lookahead filter in Primavera P6 you’ve just built
works well in ideal situations but it doesn’t quite meet the
mark in other cases. For example, it leaves out in-progress
activities which you will likely want to be aware of. In the
case where activities started earlier than planned, it won’t
show you those either. So let’s show you how to build a
better lookahead filter.
Step 6 – Make A Copy Of The Basic
Lookahead Filter
Go back to the Filters window by clicking the Filter icon on
the toolbar. Highlight your “1 Month Lookahead Basic” filter,
click the Copy button and then the Paste button. Highlight
the new copy and click the “Modify” button.
Step 7 – Tweaking The Primavera Filter To

Include In-Progress Activities
Rename the filter to “Better 1 Month Lookahead”. Start
reprogramming by changing the paramete in the “Value”
column (currently DD). We’ll change this to “PS” instead – the
Project Start Date.
Next, click the “Add” button to add a line. Click the
Parameter dropdown box and find “Activity Status” in the
list. Change the “Is” column to “Is Not Equal To” and set the
“Value” column to “Completed”. Click OK.
Place a checkmark next to your new filter to turn it on and

uncheck any other filters to turn them off. Click OK to view
the project.
As you can see, the new filter includes the original 3
activities due to start in the next month PLUS any activities
are that are still in-progress. This new filter is much more
complete now and will ensure you report on all planned and
in-progress activities in the filtered range.
Wrap-Up
Lookahead filters in Primavera P6 are fundamental to
reporting and monitoring your project on an ongoing basis.
Create these lookahead filters in your Oracle Primavera
database and make them Global so you can share them with
your colleagues and start to set a standard for reporting in
your organization.
Don’t forget to download the Tutorial Files back at the top of

this post. We’ve included a layout your can import that has
all 3 Lookahead Filters.

Lookahead Filters in Primavera P6

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lookahead Filters in Primavera P6

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lookahead Filters in Primavera P6

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lookahead Filters in Primavera P6

Step 1 – Finding Your Footing With Filters

Step 2 – Creating A Custom Filter In P6

Step 4 – Using Primavera’s Built-In Date

Step 5 – Viewing The Filtered Results

The filter should show you a short list of activities scheduled

A lookahead report can be essential for focusing on soon-to-

Creating a Better Lookahead Filter

Step 7 – Tweaking The Primavera Filter To

Place a checkmark next to your new filter to turn it on and

Don’t forget to download the Tutorial Files back at the top of

You might also like