To copy a schedule in Primavera P6, you essentially duplicate an entire project, which encompasses all its activities, resources, and intricate logic. This process is straightforward and essential for various project management scenarios, such as creating 'what-if' analyses or establishing new baselines.
Step-by-Step Guide to Copying a Project Schedule in P6
Copying a project schedule in Primavera P6 involves a few key steps within the application's interface. Follow these instructions to duplicate your desired project:
- Navigate to the Projects View:
- From the top menu bar, select Enterprise, then click on Projects. This action will display a list of all projects organized within your Enterprise Project Structure (EPS).
- Select the Project to Copy:
- Browse through the EPS to locate and highlight the specific project (schedule) you intend to duplicate. Ensure you select the correct project that holds the schedule you wish to copy.
- Initiate the Copy Command:
- With the project selected, go to the Edit menu and choose Copy. Alternatively, you can click the Copy icon (often represented by two overlapping pages) found on the Edit toolbar for quicker access.
- Choose the Paste Location:
- Next, navigate within the EPS to the specific node where you wish to place the copied project. This is where your new schedule will reside within your project hierarchy.
- Execute the Paste Command:
- Go to the Edit menu again and select Paste. You can also click the Paste icon on the Edit toolbar (often represented by a clipboard).
Understanding Copy Project Options
Upon executing the paste command, Primavera P6 will present a "Copy Project Options" dialog box. This is a critical step where you define exactly what elements of the original project will be included in your new copy. Carefully select the relevant options based on your specific needs:
| Option Category | Common Elements Included | Typical Use Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Project Details | WBS, Activities, Activity Codes | Essential for any copy; forms the core structure. |
| Relationships & Logic | Relationships | Crucial for maintaining the schedule's logic. |
| Resource Management | Resources & Roles, Resource Assignments | For schedules needing resource planning. |
| Baseline & Progress | Baselines, Activity & Resource Actuals | Baselines for comparison; Actuals for historical copies or archives. |
| Documentation & Costs | Notebooks, Project Expenses, Financial Periods, Risks & Issues | For comprehensive copies including detailed project information. |
Practical Insight: For 'what-if' scenarios or new baselines, you typically exclude "Activity & Resource Actuals" to start with a fresh, planned schedule. If creating an archive or a historical record, you would often include everything.
Why Copy a Schedule? Common Use Cases
Duplicating a project schedule in P6 is a fundamental practice for several project management activities, offering flexibility and control:
- What-If Scenarios: Create multiple versions of a schedule to explore different strategies, resource allocations, or potential changes without affecting the live project. This aids in robust risk management and decision-making.
- Baseline Creation: Before significant updates or as part of formal project control, a copy can be made and designated as a baseline, providing a static snapshot for performance measurement. You can learn more about managing baselines in Primavera P6 through official documentation, such as Oracle's Primavera P6 EPPM documentation.
- Template Development: If your organization utilizes a standard project structure, copying an existing, well-configured project allows you to quickly start new projects based on a proven template, saving time and ensuring consistency.
- Archiving Project States: Preserve a project's status at a specific point in time (e.g., end of a phase, prior to major changes) for historical reference, auditing purposes, or post-project analysis.
- Training Purposes: Create practice schedules for new users or for testing new functionalities without impacting live, active project data.
Best Practices for Copying Schedules
To ensure efficient and effective schedule management when duplicating projects in P6, consider these best practices:
- Rename Immediately: After pasting, immediately rename the new project with a clear, descriptive name that distinguishes it from the original (e.g., "Project Alpha - What If Scenario A," "Project Alpha - Baseline Q4 2023").
- Review Global Data: Be mindful of global data (such as global activity codes, calendars, or resources) that might be shared across projects. If you copy a project into a different database or EPS node, ensure consistency and proper setup.
- Check Data Dates: Always verify the data date of the copied project, especially if you opted to include actuals, to ensure it aligns with your analysis period.
- Update Project IDs: P6 will automatically assign a new Project ID. You might want to adjust it to conform to your organization's specific naming conventions or project numbering schemes.
- Understand Implications: Each option in the "Copy Project Options" dialog has specific implications for the integrity and usability of your new schedule. For instance, copying actuals might not be desired for forward-looking analyses, whereas copying relationships is almost always necessary.
By diligently following these steps and carefully considering the various options presented, you can efficiently copy project schedules in Primavera P6, thereby supporting robust project planning, analysis, and control.
