Grouping, Filtering, and Summarizing Data

Tips

By default, Disable Auto-Reorganization is turned off, meaning that window data will be automatically reorganized unless you turn this feature on.

A square outline surrounding the icon on the menu or in the toolbar indicates that Auto-Reorganization is currently disabled.

Auto-reorganization applies to window-level data only; it does not apply to data stored in dialog boxes. For example, activities in the Activities window may be reorganized using this feature, but related elements in an associated dialog box will not be reorganized, even if Disable Auto-Reorganization is turned off.

When you change views, apply a filter, cut, copy, paste, or refresh data, P6 Professional will reorganize the data, regardless of whether Disable Auto-Reorganization is enabled or disabled.

Your auto-reorganization setting (enabled or disabled) applies to the active window only.

Filtering

Filtering data

A filter temporarily limits the projects or activities that appear on screen, according to criteria you establish. For example, you can view active projects or activities scheduled to start during the next three weeks. Use the filters supplied or create your own. Apply one or more filters to the layout at any time.

Default filter criteria

The following table lists the criteria used for the predefined activity filters.

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Create a filter

1)Choose Project, Activities, then choose View, Filter By, Customize.

2)Click New, then type a filter name.

3)Click the Parameter field and select a data item.

4)Double-click the Is field to select a filtering criteria. Specify a value in the Value field.

5)To add multiple criteria to the filter, click Add. In the new row, click the Parameter field and select a value. Double-click the Is field and select a filter criteria. Specify a value.

To review your filter criteria to eliminate redundancy, from the Display Options bar, choose Optimize.

6)When you are finished specifying filter criteria, click OK.

Notes

New selection criteria enables you to select values within or outside a specified range. "Is within range of" enables you to select date or numeric items that fall within the specified range. "Is not within range of" enables you to select date or numeric items that fall outside the specified range.

When you type a value for duration or units in the Value field, the value is entered into the database without being converted to hours. So, for example, if you enter 2d, the value stored is 2 days, not 16 hours. If you do not specify a unit when entering a value (for example, you enter 2 rather than 2d), the time unit defaults to the time unit specified in user preferences (User Preferences, Time Units tab).

When connected to a P6 Professional database: If you are filtering by unit or duration field and the Use assigned calendar to specify the number of work hours for each time period checkbox is cleared (Admin Preferences, Time Periods tab), then filtering applies the unit or duration value based on the Admin Preferences hours per time period settings.

When connected to a P6 EPPM database: If you are filtering by unit or duration field and the Use assigned calendar to specify the number of work hours for each time period checkbox is cleared (Application Settings, Time Periods link in P6), then filtering applies the unit or duration value based on the Application Settings, Time Periods link, Hours per Time Period in P6.

If the checkbox is marked, then filtering applies the unit or duration values as follows: For a task-dependent activity, duration or unit values are applied based on the applicable global or project calendar; for a resource-dependent activity, duration or unit values are applied based on the resource calendar.

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Tip

To make this filter available to all users, select it, then click Make Global in the Filters dialog box.

Apply a filter

1)Choose Project, Activities.

2)Choose View, Filter By, Customize.

3)Mark the checkbox next to the filter you want to apply.

To preview your changes, click Apply.

Tip

Combine existing filters to narrow the activities selected. Use any combination of default, global, layout, and user-defined filters. For example, combine the Critical and Milestone filters to view critical start and finish milestone activities in the layout.

Combine filters

You can combine existing filters to narrow your activity selection. Use any combination of default, global, layout, and user-defined filters. For example, combine the Critical and Milestone filters to view critical start and finish milestone activities in the layout.

1)Choose Project, Activities, then choose View, Filter By, Customize.

2)Mark the checkbox next to each filter you want to apply.

3)Choose All or Any to determine how criteria are met.

4)Click Apply to preview the results.

Change a Gantt Chart bar's filter

1)Choose Project, Activities, then display the Gantt Chart.

2)Choose View, Bars.

3)Select the Gantt Chart bar for which you want to change the filter. Double-click the Filter column.

4)Mark the checkbox next to each filter you want to use.

5)Click OK.

To view your changes without closing this dialog box, click Apply.

Create a lookahead filter

When defining filters, you can select data based on their relationship to the project start date, finish date, or current date, rather than specific calendar dates. This prevents you from having to update the filter each time you update the project.

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